FICTION-WRITING CLASSES
Jonathan Blum’s fiction-writing workshops are among the best in L.A. according to “15 Top Writing Classes in Los Angeles” by Katrina Kwan of Writing Tips Oasis.
Welcome, writer. I offer a mix of in-person workshops in Downtown Los Angeles as well as on Zoom. You may enroll in any of my classes by scrolling down to the pay option and following the steps.
Please feel free to contact me with questions.
Classes are refundable up until 10 days before the class starts.
Students must be at least 18 years old.
Upcoming Courses
- Six-Week Workshop on Zoom (Saturdays, March 23 - April 27)
- Six-Week Workshop in Downtown LA (Saturdays, November 4 - December 9 ... SOLD OUT)
- Two-Month Advanced Workshop in Downtown LA (every other Saturday, January 13 - March 9)
- Two-Month Advanced Workshop on Zoom (TBA)


Segment: Openings
SIX-WEEK WORKSHOP
Course Description
- Open to writers of all experience levels, including beginners. Class size limited to ten.
- We’ll start by discussing how fiction works, what makes for a good opening, and how to create and develop characters.
- Each member of the class will draft a short story or novel excerpt of up to 20 pages, to be workshopped by the group.
- You will read and discuss published short stories and do weekly writing exercises, designed to sharpen your fiction writing skills and generate new work.
- Throughout the course, you will study how to structure a story, imbue your writing with meaning, improve your use of language, and revise drafts.
WORKSHOP
Time: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT
Location: Zoom
Text: Best American Short Stores 2004, edited by Lorrie Moore
Fee: $630
Time: Saturdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT
Location: Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
Text: Best American Short Stories 2019
Fee: $630
Pay Here:
TWO-MONTH ADVANCED WORKSHOP
Course Description
- In this course, called Revision Workshop, you will study how to revise works of fiction.
- The course is open to committed, experienced writers seeking community and support with longer-term projects, such as story collections and novels. Class size limited to ten.
- Each writer will be able to workshop fiction up to 30 pages.
- You will do at-home revision-based activities, which we’ll discuss in class. You’ll also study published short stories and earlier drafts of those stories. The text will be a course reader that I compile and mail to you.
- The caliber of instruction will be that of a course in an MFA program.
- A writing sample may be requested for entry into this workshop.
WORKSHOP
Time: Every other Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT
Location: Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
Text: Revison Workshop course reader. I will compile and photocopy the reader ($45). You will buy the reader from me, and I will mail it to you.
Fee: $770 + $45 = $815
Pay Here:
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Manuscript Services
I read fiction manuscripts, from short stories to novels. I am thorough about it too.
I will closely read your work, send you a detailed written response, and talk with you on the phone about the work.
The fee is 5 cents/word with a minimum charge of $200.
Let me know if I can help.