Rachel Swirsky began teaching Creative Writing in 2006, while she was attending the Iowa Writers Workshop. She taught undergraduates general fiction writing, poetry, and memoir, as well as offering specific sessions in science fiction and rewriting. She’s since taught at the Clarion West One Day Workshops; given brief workshops at conventions including WorldCon, Wiscon and Fogcon; and come in as a guest instructor at the FenCon Workshop. She began teaching at the Cat Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers in 2015, where she teaches classes on topics ranging from finding ideas to breaking the rules.

UPCOMING CLASSES:
(All classes are Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM Pacific Time unless otherwise noted)

April 7: Verses of Sky and Stars
May 5: Poetic Tools for Prose Writers
May 25: Breaking the Rules
June 9: Verses of Sky and Stars
August 11: Poetic Tools for Prose Writers

LIVE ONLINE CLASSES:

Break the Rules! Write fiction that explodes the box

Rules mark what’s difficult, not what’s impossible. There’s a whole range of exciting storytelling possibilities beyond them. You can break any rule–if you do it right. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

Career Coaching How to grow and move forward as a writer

Come in for a Q&A session focused on your questions about your writing, your career, and your path onward. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

Detail & Image You are how you see the world

Develop your characters and plots more richly by incorporating details and imagery that give them breath. This course is heavy on writing exercises. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

Fiction Workshop Hands-on discussion and critique

A six week intensive short story workshop, emphasizing speculative fiction. Tailored lectures will supplement critique and discussion. Each student will bring at least one story. See here for more information on signing up for the next session.

First Pages with Cat Rambo Make your novel’s first 500 words shine

Provide the first 500 words of your novel. After reading it aloud, we’ll critique and discuss it. We’ll also talk about agents, and editors, and how important the first page is when engaging them. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

Old Stories Into New The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Retellings

Authors constantly draw on earlier narratives–not only folklore, mythology, and fables, but also beloved literature and media. How do you keep your work original and interesting when you’re playing with familiar stories? See here for more information on signing up for the next live session. This class is also available on-demand for $29.

Poetic Tools for Prose Writers

Everyone talks about the writers’ toolbox, but how do you go about actually filling it? Poetry provides plenty of techniques applicable to prose that will help make it both more beautiful and more effective. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

Ideas Are Everywhere So gather them up and write

It may be a cliche, but a lot of people want to know: how do you get your ideas? Ideas are everywhere, and this class will teach you how to turn one up whenever you need it. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

Everyone talks about the writers’ toolbox, but how do you go about actually filling it? Poetry provides plenty of techniques applicable to prose that will help make it both more beautiful and more effective.

Verses of Sky and Stars Write the poetry of science fiction & fantasy

What is speculative poetry, and how do you write it? Through lecture, discussion, and writing exercises, this poetry workshop covers some of the main forms and challenges of writing the poetry of science fiction and fantasy. See here for more information on signing up for the next live session.

ON-DEMAND:

Old Stories into New The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Retellings

Authors constantly draw on the stories that have preceded them–particularly folklore, mythology, and fables, but also beloved literature and media. How do you keep your work original and interesting when you’re playing with familiar stories?Purchase for $29. This class is also available live.