The Writers Studio - New York, New York

Allie A.

From the very first session, Darien created an environment that was both welcoming and supportive, encouraging each of us to take risks and push beyond our creative comfort zones. His insights into craft were not only thoughtful but deeply practical—offering new ways to approach writing that I hadn’t considered before.

What makes this workshop truly special is its unique process. Instead of simply discussing writing in abstract terms, we were challenged to engage with the work in a way that made me see the mechanics behind the stories I admire. I walked away with a much deeper understanding of creating tone and mood through narration and tense —things that always felt instinctual but are, in fact, intentional choices.

If you’re looking for a space that will both challenge and support you, that will make you a better writer not just in theory but in practice, I can’t recommend this workshop enough.

Jane M.

I have very much enjoyed my memoir writing class with Francesca Moroney. Her feedback has been extremely insightful and the class discussions have been thoughtful and interesting. Overall, I am impressed with The Writer's Studio and look forward to taking more classes in the future.

Ana C.

I took two beginning-level poetry writing classes with Lisa Bass and they were fantastic!! The structure of the courses and teaching methodologies of the Writers Studio are highly effective in giving you exposure and practice with developing different narrative voices and writing styles. The online course platform helps and weekly meetings help create a wonderful writing community where you receive lots of excellent feedback. But, most importantly, I felt the quality of guidance, course facilitation and feedback Lisa gave were exceptional. She clearly puts a great deal of time and care into attending to the work she selects for the course and in crafting her feedback to the students. I learned so much with her.

Ying C.

Highly recommend The Writers Studio for practical and engaging guidance on the creative writing process. I've taken two Level 1 courses with Susan Tatiner who is a fantastic instructor. In each course, there has also been a friendly community of fellow classmates and lively discussion. On the whole, I love the Writers Studio method of focusing on narrator at the first level, as well as the short weekly assignments that have helped me continue to write regularly. Participating in the two courses has definitely helped me hone my own craft and push through writing impasses.

Nina H.

I started taking the introductory level Memoir classes a year ago. My writing has leapt forward in substance and style. I have learned dozens of craft techniques that help me shape my storytelling and refine my scenes. I (finally) feel like a writer who knows a bit of what goes on behind the page, and how to make my narrator and other characters vivid, relatable, interesting.

The method at the Writers Studio is to study good and great pieces of work across genres, and to learn from them. I have been exposed to an amazing gamut of styles and prose and learned more of what I like in both reading and writing.

Note that (in my experience so far) the Memoir and Essay classes do not focus on larger, over-arching structure-- you may have to go elsewhere for a class in chapter by chapter book writing. But I have found that writing craft as it's taught here has, over time, given me a path forward with my larger memoir project.

Naomi I.

I am loving every moment of my time in Francesca' Moroney's Level 2 class. I feel both challenged and inspired to give my best effort to every week's assignment. I also appreciate the diverse range of writing samples we are given and Francesca's thoughtful comments.

Peter K.

I am just finishing my first course with The Writer's Studio, Memoir, with Francesca Moroney. I was introduced to "Personal Narrator" for the first time, deepening my understanding of the importance of identifying and crafting a voice, distinct from the stream of thoughts and emotions that run through me, the writer, all the time.

Stars are subjective. I am enthusiastic about my experience, and will consider returning.

I learned that I understand any creative writing more upon second and third reads. I appreciated the personal sharing and experimenting all my classmates did. I learned from each of them. I learned a lot from the critiques and commentaries of Francesca Moroney. The variety and sequence of author samples led me to learn more each week--and learn by doing!

One "to be improved" is I wished for more time management during the short hour together. Yet Francesca's open answer to every raised hand, plus Francesca's enthusiasm for the writing process by every single writer in the course, were encouraging and compassionate. Optional 15 minutes "after class" would be nice.

I said on the final Google Meet session a paraphrase from a quote from Major Jackson, If you give yourself over to the writing, or, to the Personal Narrator…..! The story emerges from somewhere beneath conscious intention! As a "plan before you act" person, I will experiment more with setting a goal, a preamble, and a strong opening sentence, and give my narrator to them, and see what happens.

Thank you all,
Peter Klotz-Chamberlin

Already my own complicated memoir project, based in part on journals, receives new focus from what I learned so far. I know I could learn more, amplify my toolbox, in another course. For now I am called to put more time into my own writing project.

Emma H.

I found Darien's workshop in the The Writers Studio program to be rewarding, engaging, and a lot of fun. I really appreciated how Darien gently pushed us to push ourselves in our writing while always encouraging us through supportive comments on whatever piece we brought to class. He also fostered a fantastic group environment in our workshop. Highly recommend!