Writing Pad
Upcoming Classes in Los Angeles

Storytelling I: Story Time

Writing Pad @ 10200 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA

Performance essays are all the rage. In this five-week Los Angeles storytelling class, solo performer, Moth Host and master storyteller Lauren Weedman will teach you how to be a storytelling pro. You’ll do fun, improvised storytelling drills, learn about the structure of performance essays, and explore ways to use your stories to boost your writing career. Lauren will show you how to transform relationships gone bad, family feuds, adventures, and...

Novel I: Intro to Novel Writing Workshop

Writing Pad @ 10200 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA

Is it your dream to write the great American novel? In this 5 week Online intro novel writing class, successful novelist Jennifer Brody will teach you the fundamentals of long form fiction! She’ll also teach you techniques for creating a thrilling story arc, irresistible dialogue, characters and conflict. If you like, you can even bring in up to 1000 words of your novel for targeted feedback every session! With the aid of fun, hands-on exercises...

Good In The Room: A TV Writer’s Pitching Workshop

Writing Pad

Want to have an engaging story to pitch yourself on the fly when running into a creative exec, showrunner or agent at a party, networking event or in a meeting? How do you use your stories to pitch in a room or get staffed? Let 2x Moth GrandSLAM winner, Moth Host and successful screenwriter Matteson Perry share his tips for turning moments of your life into riveting elevator pitches that will leave listeners begging for more.  You’ll practice...

TV Drama 2: TV Drama Pilot and Dance Workshop

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TV Drama 2: TV Drama Pilot and Dance Workshop You have a killer beat sheet for your TV Pilot, but when you sit down to write, everything turns to mush: vague characters, huge data dumps, clunky dialogue, and scenes that go nowhere. In this ten-week Online TV Draft Writing Workshop, you’ll get Oscar-nominated screenwriter Cami Delavigne’s (Amazon’s Homecoming, 3 pilots, Blue Valentine) help crafting a rock-solid outline and writing propulsive...

TV II: A TV Drama Draft Writing Workshop

Writing Pad @ 10200 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA

You have a killer beat sheet for your TV Pilot, but when you sit down to write, everything turns to mush: vague characters, huge data dumps, clunky dialogue, and scenes that go nowhere. If this sounds familiar, successful writing partners John Herrera and Nina Fiore (The Handmaid’s Tale) can help.  In this ten-week Online TV Draft Writing Workshop, you’ll get John and Nina’s help crafting an amazing outline and writing scenes that have...

Humorous Personal Essay: Find the Funny

Writing Pad

Using fun in-class exercises, we’ll help you transform your bad blind dates and visits from unruly parents into insightful, compelling revelations. We will help you dig deep into your treasure trove of personal experience to find the literary diamond in the rough that you can polish into a hilarious, relatable and tantalizing gem. You’ll even get a private meeting to get final notes on your piece and figure out where to send it. By the end of...

Personal Essay 1

Writing Pad @ Online Classroom via Zoom, Los Angeles, CA

Have you always wanted to write a personal essay but you don’t know where to start? Or have you dreamed of seeing one of your essays published in the New York Times or Salon? Then this six week live online personal essay writing class is for you. Using fun in-class exercises, we’ll help you transform your bad blind dates and visits from unruly parents into insightful, compelling revelations. NY Times Modern Love alum Kalle Mattila (NY...

What Do You Think? Writing the Op-Ed or Cultural Essay

Writing Pad @ 10200 Venice Blvd #203, Los Angeles, CA

Do you have strong opinions and no one to share them with? Write an op-ed and make some money off of your passion (op-eds are opinion essays with a strong personal point-of-view). The market for op-eds and cultural essays are huge right now, and there are plenty of places to break in. In this class, L.A. Times contributing op-ed editor Erin Aubry Kaplan will show you how to write an op-ed, make your argument as strong as possible, and pitch to...

Writing & Publishing the Modern Short Story

Writing Pad @ 688 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Writing and Publishing the Modern Short Story

Writing Pad

You’ll learn how to write a clear, compelling tale in five pages or less. The secret formula? He’ll share imaginative ways of creating an engaging premise, sparsely crafted descriptions for maximal effect, and techniques for staying true to the logic of your story. Short, Smart and Literary: Writing and Publishing the Modern Short Story Picture it: you open up the fiction page of The New Yorker and the top story is yours! Award-winning author...

Grand Slam Story: A Storytelling Workshop (4 WK)

Writing Pad @ 688 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Want to tell powerful true stories without schmaltz to a packed audience of adoring fans? Let essayist and three time Moth Grand Slam Winner Cole Kazdin share her tips for turning heartbreak, humiliation, and tragedy into a riveting five-minute piece that is the perfect mix of vulnerability and comedic vavoom. In this four week storytelling workshop, you’ll learn how to find what’s funny in your foibles, structure a compelling story and connect...

Crime Scene Confidential: Writing the Suspenseful Novel

Writing Pad

Every story needs a great mystery to hook readers in. But to do it right, you’ll need some serious chops. In this five-week class, Author Eric Beetner will show you how to build scintillating suspense and use the techniques of mystery to enhance your novel. Through fun in-class exercises you’ll learn what makes a good mystery. In informative lectures, Eric will help you find the genre that fits your story best,such as hard-boiled, cozy, and...

Promise of the Premise: A 2nd Act Screenwriting Class

Writing Pad

The meat of any movie is the second act, and it’s the place where even seasoned writers fall down. In this five week class, veteran scribe, Chris Reed will show you how to tackle this sixty-page beast. Through fun, in-class exercises, you’ll learn to utilize the emotional reality of storytelling to keep your audience involved, how characters and relationships create action, how to employ twists and turns, the source of great dialogue, and how...

Short Story Overdrive: An Advanced Short Story

Writing Pad

You’ve learned the Short Story Basics, but how do you do you take your skills to the next level? In this four-week class, award-winning short fiction author Ben Loory will show you how. Through fun in-class exercises, you’ll learn to how to evaluate your ideas, write glorious prose, and troubleshoot problematic arcs. He will teach you how to transform your rough drafts into literary gold. You?ll also explore the midpoint transition from character...

A Novel Approach: Mastering the Long Format Project

Writing Pad @ 688 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Is it your dream to write the great American novel? Finishing a book is a tough thing to do even for the seasoned professional. In this class, successful novelist Amber Benson will help you nudge your book to the finish line! She’ll also teach you techniques for creating compelling characters, exciting plot lines, and vivid worlds. If you like, you can even bring in up to 1200 words of your novel for targeted feedback every other session! With...

It’s All About You: A One-Person Show Intensive

Writing Pad @ 688 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Have you ever thought about turning your life’s trials and tribulations into a hit one-person show? In these one and two-day intensives, actress and writer Lauren Weedman will show you how to make your solo-show so hysterical and moving, the audience will be putty in your hands! In this class, you’ll learn how to transform personal events into compelling tales, how to spice up your truth with just the right lie, and how to pull your show together...

Grand Slam Story: A Storytelling Workshop (5 WK)

Writing Pad @ 10200 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA

Want to tell powerful true stories without schmaltz to a packed audience of adoring fans? Let essayist and three time Moth Grand Slam Winner Cole Kazdin share her tips for turning heartbreak, humiliation, and tragedy into a riveting five-minute piece that is the perfect mix of vulnerability and comedic vavoom.  In this four week class, you’ll learn how to find what’s funny in your foibles, structure a compelling story and connect solidly...

Get Your Webisode On (5 Sessions)

Writing Pad @ 688 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Got a cell phone, a laptop, and the desire to create the next Broad City? Or maybe you are looking for a way to show off your acting chops? Then this 5-week Webisode class in Los Angeles is for you!  Successful actor and writer, Lou Perez will show you how to develop the next breakout web series. Through fun, in-class writing prompts, you’ll tease out a killer idea and brainstorm the perfect first episode for your pilot and develop compelling...

A Novel Approach: Tackling The Long Format Writing

Writing Pad @ 10200 Venice Blvd #203, Los Angeles, CA

Is it your dream to write the great American novel? Finishing a book is a tough thing to do even for the seasoned professional. In this class, successful novelist Lauren Strasnick will help you nudge your book to the finish line! She’ll also teach you techniques for creating a thrilling story arc, irresistible dialogue, characters and conflict. With the aid of fun, hands-on exercises and balanced workshopping sessions, you will have completed...

Humurous Personal Essay

Writing Pad @ 688 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Have you always wanted to write a humorous personal essay but you don’t know where to start? Or have you dreamed of seeing one of your essays published in the New York Times or Salon? Then this humorous personal essay class is for you.  Using fun in-class exercises, we’ll help you transform your bad blind dates and visits from unruly parents into insightful, compelling revelations. Christopher Noxon (NY Times) will show you how to make...