Narratively Academy
Ready to tell your story? We’d love to help! Narratively is an award-winning, critically-acclaimed storytelling platform that’s been named one of Time’s “50 Best Websites” and Columbia Journalism Review’s “11 Best Experiments in Journalism.” We are incredibly proud to have edited and published 2,000+ true stories, working with thousands of storytellers from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists to emerging writers sharing their very first pieces — many who have since gone on to publish acclaimed and bestselling books. Our mission has always been to celebrate underdogs and elevate overlooked voices, and Narratively Academy is all about sharing knowledge throughout our unique and diverse community. We offer classes, seminars and writing critiques taught by Narratively’s editors, contributors and storytelling heroes. All classes are conducted online and accessible to students anywhere in the world.
Browse our current lineup of upcoming Fall 2024 classes below. Don’t see the type of writing class you want? Let us know!
October Classes
Kavita Das, author of the book Craft and Conscience: How to Write About Social Issues, is leading a six-week class called How to Write About Social Issues, a workshop-based course designed to help writers tackle all the thorny issues that come with writing articles, essays and op-eds about the most pressing issues facing humanity.
In Ace Your Opening Words: The 90-Minute Guide to Writing a Perfect First Line, author Lorraine Allen will show you how to grab attention from editors, agents and readers by crafting opening words that no one will ever forget.
Great personal essays can set the web on fire and resonate with readers around the world. They’re also among the hardest things to write. In this intensive five-week workshop with Caroline Rothstein, students will learn how to craft compelling personal essays about the experiences that matter most to them.
Kick your book project into high gear with The Art of Writing a Nonfiction Book That Reads Like a Novel led by acclaimed author Audrey Clare Farley. “Audrey has the rare ability to listen to each of her students, to synthesize their goals and questions and help find paths forward with our projects,” writes one recent student from this class.
November Classes
In Using Monologues to Power Your Memoir Writing, an intensive three-hour workshop, Rebecca Evans will help writers explore innovative methods to heighten your memoir writing through the use of monologue.
Is’s about time we all started getting paid to pursue our passion projects! In The Insider’s Guide to Writing Personal Statements and Applying for Grants & Residencies, Abeer Hoque, who has won fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fulbright Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts and more, will walk writers through how to put your best foot forward and reel in some of that grant money.
In How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal That Sells, Narratively Contributing Editor Shawna Kenney, who has published an award-winning memoir, authored two nonfiction books and edited an anthology, will guide you through how to write a compelling book proposal.
Kristina Gaddy — acclaimed author, essayist and editor at the literary journal true — is leading this craft-focused seminar called Reporting the Personal Essay. If you’re working on a memoir or a personal essay that you want to infuse with original reporting and research, don’t miss this class.
Critiques
As part of Narratively Academy, we’re very pleased to offer a brand-new service: Narratively Critiques. Whether you’d like feedback on your one-page pitch, a 5,000-word story or your entire book, our experienced editorial team is ready to dive in. We’ll provide an in-depth developmental edit, including specific notes throughout, a detailed overall plan for perfecting your story (or larger project) and a one-on-one phone consultation with you to discuss and answer your questions.
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Past/Future Classes
Each of the classes below will return soon. Email academy@narrartively.com to join an advance waiting list for the next session of any of these classes. Just tell us which class you’re interested in and we’ll make sure you’re the first to know next time it’s offered.
Questions? Not sure which class is right for you? Don’t see what you’re looking for and want to suggest a different class we should offer? Want to teach a class yourself? Drop us a line: academy@narratively.com.