FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where should I start at The Writers Studio?
Many people are intrigued by what they've heard and read about The Writers Studio, but they don't know where to start. Some people have been writing for a long time, but have taken few if any writing workshops; others have experienced many writing workshops and want to try one here.

Everyone new to The Writers Studio enters at Level I. Because we use our own teaching technique, the classes wouldn't make sense to someone entering above Level I.

When should I take the Craft Class?
Students new to The Writers Studio who want to immerse themselves in our method sometimes register for the Craft Class in addition to a workshop. Each week the class reads a work of classic or contemporary literature and attends a 90-minute class in which the teacher explains the techniques used to make that work effective. At the end of the class an exercise is given based on that week's reading.

The Craft Class meets Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 PM in NYC, but due to scheduling or geography, the majority of the students do not attend in person. The weekly craft classes are made available to students via podcast.  Students who take Craft along with a workshop deepen their understanding of writing at a faster pace, and spend more time reading as writers than students who just take a workshop.

Starting with the Craft Class is another way to study at The Writers Studio. It is important to note, in this case, that the class that meets on Tuesdays is not a discussion class, but a lecture with some advanced students involved in the lecture. A new student attending the class in person should go prepared to listen. Also, when the craft class is taken alone, there is no teacher available to review the exercises if the students chooses to do them.

Should I study Online or in New York City?
The first Online Class in February 2001 was a response to writers outside the New York City area who had read or heard about us and wanted to become a part of The Writers Studio community. The response has been great and there are now six Online Classes at four levels, with plans to expand to a fifth level. Students from Scotland, Mexico, Thailand, California and Alaska have all participated in the classes. Increasingly, though, we are getting students from New Jersey, Soho, and Central Park West. It seems that some local writers prefer the Online Classes because their schedules prevent them from attending evening classes, or they feel less vulnerable turning in work online. We recommend taking whichever class will help you write. If you're local, and it feels easier to study online, take a Level I Online Class. If you wish to continue in person, you can sign up for a NYC class next session.

Should I take a tutorial?
Writers who are working on novels or poetry manuscripts that they want to focus on exclusively, or students who wish to start writing with an intensive and entirely personal program designed only for them should take a tutorial. Tutorials may be taken in NYC in person, or by email, fax and phone from anywhere in the world.

Why doesn't The Writers Studio hire famous writers to teach? Some writers don't struggle with their writing, but the students who come to us have generally encountered some hurdles, such as not knowing where to start, not being able to write convincingly, or not connecting emotionally in their work. All of our teachers have struggled with their own writing, and are trained to help students overcome the natural hurdles they encounter.

Do you teach screenplay, memoir, children's book or creative non-fiction writing?
The Writers Studio teaches fiction and poetry writing techniques that students have used successfully to write memoirs, documentaries, television shows, magazine and newspaper articles, and books for young readers. Once a writer has a command of various narrative techniques and uses language effectively and convincingly, there is nothing he or she can't write.

I took classes at The Writers Studio for a while, and then stopped. Now I want to come back. Which level should I register for?
Register for the level you were in when you left. If you were supposed to move into Level III, start at Level III. If you really feel rusty and want to start with the last level you completed, go ahead and register for that class.

The teenager in my life wishes to study at The Writers Studio. Do you have classes for writers age 14-18 who have not yet graduated high school?
The Writers Studio Kids Write provides creative fiction and poetry workshops to high school students living in Brooklyn. After-school workshops and an intensive summer writing camp are offered free of charge in Bedford-Stuyvesant at the Beacon Center inside Middle School 35. The purpose of these workshops is to help high school students discover their personal voices through writing and reading contemporary fiction and poetry. Otherwise, students in the workshops are adults 18 and over. In addition to Kids Write, private tutorials are available for writers 14-18 who have not yet graduated high school.

Do you offer scholarships?
The Writers Studio does not offer scholarships. Many students who work in book and magazine publishing, advertising, corporate communications, and as teachers are reimbursed for their workshop fees by their employers. In some cases, payment plans may be arranged by calling 212-255-7075.

How can I invite Philip Schultz to give a reading or a talk to my school or organization? Please contact his reading agent, Ofer Ziv, at Blue Flower Arts, LLC. PO Box 1361, Millbrook NY 12545 or ofer@blueflowerarts.com.

I would like to reprint Philip Schultz's poetry in an anthology, magazine, or newsletter. How do I gain permission? Kindly contact his literary agent, George Borchardt, 136 East 57 St., 14th floor, NY NY 10022-2707.

I have more questions
Call 212-255-7075 to discuss how The Writers Studio may be right for you, or email: question@writerstudio.com with your questions.

Read more answers to frequently asked questions in an interview with Lesley Dormen.