26 Best Writing Classes in New York

A two-year residential MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus, run through the George Polk School of Communications, covering poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting and translation. Worth knowing before you apply: LIU offers the same degree fully online as well, so check you are applying to the Brooklyn residential track if being in the room is the point. The publishing half of the title is meant literally - the programme pairs craft workshops with editorial and industry work.

Brooklyn Writers offers a two-year MFA in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Listed price is annual tuition. Scholarships are available.

In-person workshop in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, $1150 with a $1050 rate for returning writers, taught by Ted Thompson. Eight Monday evenings from 14 September 2026, 7:00-9:00pm, with no class the week of 21 September. The most selective class Sackett runs - a writing sample is required, and it is aimed at writers polishing work for publication. Taught by their most experienced advanced fiction instructor; alumni have gone on to top MFA programmes and major awards.

In-person workshop in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, $900 with an $850 rate for returning writers, taught by novelist and playwright Ledia Xhoga. Eight Thursday evenings from 17 September 2026, 7:00-9:00pm. Selective: a writing sample is required at application, and prior workshop experience is expected. Class time goes on in-depth discussion of student work with detailed written feedback for each writer.

In-person workshop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, $750 with a $700 rate for returning writers, taught by Meg Charlton. Eight Wednesday evenings from September 2026, 7:00-9:00pm. Exercise-intensive and aimed squarely at writers who are stuck - built to restart a stalled project and raise output rather than polish a finished one. Open to fiction and nonfiction writers, no writing sample required.

In-person workshop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, $900 with a $50 discount for returning writers, taught by Erin Crosby Eckstine. Eight Thursday evenings from the week of 10 September 2026, 7:00-9:00pm. Generative rather than critique-only: students write new work in and out of class from prompts, then develop it. No writing sample required, which makes it the most accessible of Sackett’s in-person fiction classes.

In-person course in Manhattan, $370 plus a $25 once-per-term registration fee, taught by Mo Krochmal. Six Thursday evenings from 1 October 2026, 6:30-9:30pm at 555 8th Avenue. Introduction to writing true stories with the techniques of fiction - memoir, essay and literary journalism. Capped at 14 students, and the latest-starting Gotham in-person section this term.

In-person course in Manhattan, $370 plus a $25 once-per-term registration fee, taught by Mo Krochmal. Six Saturday afternoons from 26 September 2026, 12:00-3:00pm at 555 8th Avenue. The broadest entry point in the catalogue - covers prose craft for fiction and nonfiction alike, so useful if you have not settled on a form yet. Capped at 14 students. Saturdays make it the easiest Gotham section to attend without taking an evening off.

In-person course in Manhattan, $490 plus a $25 once-per-term registration fee, taught by Philip Cioffari. Ten Tuesday evenings from 8 September 2026, 6:30-9:30pm at Gotham headquarters, 555 8th Avenue between 37th and 38th. Grounding in fiction craft across both short stories and novels, ending with a completed short story. Class size capped at 14. Gotham runs the same course online and on Zoom - this is the NYC in-person section specifically.

The City College of New York's MFA offers an MFA in fiction, nonfiction, drama, screenwriting, experimental, genre fiction, and more.

Brooklyn College offers a two-year MFA in fiction, poetry, and playwriting. Fellowships are available.

Syracuse University offers a three-year MFA in fiction and poetry. All students are fully funded through a teaching assistantship with a tuition waiver and stipend. Funding requires teaching.