Our instructors, your voice.

Hone your craft with guidance from published authors. Join an online creative writing workshop with the Gilliam Writers Group.

Abstract line drawing of a female face representing an author leading a writing workshop; the Gilliam Writers Group logo; abstract line drawing of a pensive face representing a writer in a creative writing class.

If you’re craving accountability or seeking specific tools for your writing practice, consider signing up for one of our creative writing classes online. Designed and led by published authors with substantial teaching experience, these courses will challenge you to learn new skills while refining the ones you’ve already developed. 

 

Finding Recklessness in Form

with Julián Delacruz
 
a 6-week poetry writing workshop
 
Julian Delacruz, an award-winning poet & creative writing coach, will lead a summer 2025 poetry writing workshop & poetry writing class online. 
Reserve your spot here:
 
  • Mondays from 7-9pm ET / 4-6pm PT
  • July 7, 21, 28 and August 4, 11, 18
  • $450
  • Meets online with Zoom
This poetry workshop privileges evolution in writing style rather than perfection, learning to be unapologetically yourself, and leaning into your own necessary subjects with depth and ease.

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From week to week, we’ll examine and write poems from the margins and look at ways that we can build language around our flood subjects, and methods for betraying form. We’ll also be using these readings as a basis for talking about how one goes about exposing the secret self, and what it really means to risk in your work. In this workshop we will move away from writing simplistic poems, and begin writing from a place that cannot be categorized. We’ll become poets who can make silk dresses from worms.
This online creative writing workshop will feature an anti-Iowa style which encourages compassionate editing, as we exhaust our own poems to their emotional limits. Poets of all writing levels are welcome.

scholarship +

One scholarship is available for this workshop. To apply, poets may email a 3-page writing sample to naomi@gilliamwritersgroup.com before June 23, 2025. The subject of the email should read [Last Name of Applicant / Finding Recklessness in Form / Summer 2025] Applicants will be notified of their application status by July 1, 2025.

julián's bio +

Julián Delacruz teaches English at Viewpoint School in Calabasas, California. He earned his M.F.A in poetry at Arizona State University, where he was a June Jordan Teaching Fellow under Poetry for the People, a workshop focused on poetry as a medium for telling the truth and building beloved community. While deeply attentive to craft, he loves mentoring writers who want to embrace more reckless and frayed modes of questioning.
As a teacher, Julián seeks to balance his own sensibilities with attention to the problem areas his students have identified in their work. He is a firm believer in compassionate editing that amplifies a writer's strengths. Julián's specialties include Queer issues, issues of race and social justice, myth writing, and academic writing.
Having taught creative writing for multiple years, and also worked a series of editing internships at Roof Books (’11), The Paris Review (’12), PEN American Center (’14), The Iowa Review (’15-’17) and Catapult (’16), he is poised to give insightful editorial feedback to writers of many different persuasions.
During his time at ASU, Julián was the co-host of Equality Arizona’s Queer Poetry Salon, the largest queer reading series in the southwest. He had the pleasure to feature such esteemed poets as CA Conrad, Ariana Reines, Richard Siken, Eduardo Corral, and Tommy Pico, alongside queer indie poets across many identities. Delacruz was awarded the 2020 Mabelle A. Lyon award in poetry, and a Glendon & Kathryn Swarthout Award in writing at Arizona State.
He lives, teaches, and writes in Los Angeles, CA.

client testimonials +

"Julián is a deeply gifted, informed writer and teacher. His feedback on my work has been incisive and thorough, generous and compassionate, and sensitive to my unique goals as an artist. His reading assignments and prompts are thoughtfully curated to demonstrate stylistic excellence, formal innovation, and the importance of personal risk in craft. You can be yourself in Julián’s class because he cultivates an environment that feels safe, welcoming, and playful. It wasn’t long before he and my colleagues felt like home. There is so much room to experiment with choice in his curriculum. Like a choose-your-own-adventure, you can go off-prompt to follow the call of your instincts, revise and recycle old poems. Under his wing I am gradually building a nest (dare I say a collection?) with scraps from colorful works in progress, abandoned projects and research rabbit-holes. Julián is essential for Gilliam Writers’ Group. He knows how to meet all writers at any level of experience and guide them closer to the heart of their vision. I am a more courageous and honest writer because of him." --Dina Peone, Nonfiction Writer / Lecturer @ University of Chicago
"Julián’s class “Finding Recklessness in Form” is special. Julián has somehow cultivated a beautiful classroom environment, lending to some courageous and vulnerable and experimental works. Julián’s readings and prompts are fantastic: gracefully shaking me into experimenting with a variety of forms — I’ve been stunned a couple times by where that’s led me." --David Ayala, Associate Professor of Mathematics @ Montana State University
"Julián Delacruz is a fantastic teacher. He not only brought out the part of me I didn’t know was hidden, but taught me how to write better. How to experiment, how to be reckless, and how to have fun writing poetry. He also changed the way I read poetry. The class was a safe nurturing environment that opened many doors for me. I could go on and on, so I hope it’s sufficient to say that Julián creates a loving atmosphere, and a forgiving and kind atmosphere to learn how to write better. I am grateful for him and his class on many levels, I can’t recommend it highly enough!" --Brainard Carey, Artist / Yale University Radio Host
"Julián Delacruz has become one of my favorite people…ever! And I am only on week 4 of the workshop “Reckless.” Julián has a brilliant way of creating a safe space for all the participants in a group. He is truly gifted in the realm of inclusivity. It is no easy task to lead a multi level group. We are a group of published poets and there are a few of us..like me..who are writing a poem for the first time in our lives. It is within this context of creating safety that I am able to lean into writing in ways I never thought were possible. I am surprising myself. Julián gently nudges me to go deeper and celebrates my authenticity. I have fallen deeply in love with every poet he has introduced to us. The class is opening me in ways that have informed how I walk in this world. And has absolutely informed how I work as a Life Coach. I am so excited to take another workshop with Julián this summer. Julián Delacruz is one of a kind! As a new student to poetry, he has made me feel so welcomed and accepted, and has encouraged me every step of the way! He has encouraged me and has been patient with me as I learn. He always admonishes me to go deeper, explore more, and to really look for what it is I'm actually trying to connect with in myself through the poem I'm composing. He's very concerned with our personal growth as writers as well as our spiritual and emotional growth as human beings which is evidenced in his empathy and compassion as he engages with our most intimate stories." --Allison Parr-Plasha, Life Coach / Therapist
"Julián has such a special way of helping groups of people to connect in kindness and on a heart level, and he has really succeeded in that manner in this workshop! His kindness and joy overflows into all of us in the class, and he has successfully curated an environment of acceptance and genuine care which exists simultaneously with safety, so that we all feel comfortable opening our hearts and sharing our truth in "recklessness". As a poet, Julián is mind-blowing. His works are original in style, they celebrate language, take the reader on a journey, light up the imagination, and are enchanting in every way. They are perfectly composed with carefully chosen lyrics and no superfluous words, and beg to be shared with the world. His poems transport the reader, make the reader FEEL, and bring the reader a new EXPERIENCE, every time. In my opinion, Julián's works are often INEXHAUSTIBLE and are experienced anew with each reread. If you are ever given the opportunity to experience a workshop or class with this master, please do yourself a favor, and take the class! It will be challenging. It will stretch you in ways you have never been stretched, BUT, you will grow in ways you never could have without having experienced a class with the incredible Julián Delacruz!" --Becca Canny, Virtual Assistant
"I have really enjoyed taking a poetry class with the Gilliam Writers Group. I have found it to be an incredibly interesting experience. I have learned a lot through the poems and writings that Julián has shared and the feedback he has given each of us. I have also had the pleasure of meeting and sharing my work with some really creative and talented people. I would definitely take this class again and I would happily take another workshop with the Gilliam Writer’s Group." --Katie May, Engineer
"Participating in the Finding Recklessness in Form workshop led by Julián Delacruz was an incredibly generative, helpful, and powerful experience for me. I had only taken a few poetry classes before this, but have always wanted to be a poet. Julián's facilitation of this course helped me feel so supported, inspired, encouraged, and motivated to write. I left this course feeling like I have really good drafts to work with, great ideas for editing, and a new confidence and commitment to my writing. I am so grateful for this transformative experience that was more than I could have hoped for." --Danielle Minna Austin, Program Manager at The Jewish Studio Project
"Julián Delacruz helped me torch the walls that separated my words from their blood lineage of memory, emotion and song." --Duana Fullwiley, Associate Professor of Anthropology @ Stanford University
 
 

You Know What's Funny?

with Mariana Roa Oliva
 
a 4-week humor & comedy writing workshop
 
Mariana Roa Oliva, a professional writing consultant & author of "Seedlings_: Walk in Time", will lead a summer 2025 humor & comedy writing workshop. 
Reserve your spot here:
 
  • Tuesdays from 7-10pm ET / 4-7pm PT
  • July 8, 15, 22, 29
  • $400
  • Meets online with Zoom
What makes funny things funny? In this workshop we’ll get serious about humor, thinking about how and why a text can make us laugh, and getting plenty of practice at writing our own.

read more +

Humor plays a vital role in how we bond with our fellow humans, how we make sense of the world around us, and how we cope when things just don’t seem to make sense. In these sessions we’ll explore how writers use humor to tap into difficult or strange aspects of the human experience so as to grow our own toolkits for crafting pieces that engage readers through humor.
Whether you are looking to explore the world of comedy writing, or to infuse new life into your prose, you’ll come out with a sharpened eye for the humorous potential at the core of—almost—any situation, as well as a richer understanding of the ethics of humor writing. With the goal of helping you get better acquainted with your own sense of humor, you’ll be assigned to read and write short works in a variety of genres. Be ready to turn mundane occurrences into an epic space opera novel! Or at least into a short essay, a comedy sketch, and many, many flash fictions.
Open to all ages (21 and above), genders, and levels of experience with writing and with comedy. If you work in a different medium (comics, video, etc.) you may incorporate those elements into your responses to the prompts.

mariana's bio +

Mariana Roa Oliva is, alongside media artist and programmer Qianxun Chen, co-author of the book Seedlings_: Walk in Time (Counterpath, 2023), which incorporates elements from fiction, poetry, and digital language art. Mariana graduated from Brown’s Literary Arts MFA and their short stories and essays have been published in collections and anthologies including Our Red Book (Simon & Schuster, 2022), Eleven Stories (The Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize Shortlist Selection, 2022), and Los cuerpos que habitamos (An.alfa.beta, 2021). Mariana has over ten years of experience coaching and teaching at a variety of levels.

client testimonials +

"Mariana provided great exercises and meaningful feedback. The guest speaker was also incredibly interesting and helpful, providing a window into comedy insights I'd never heard before. It made me want to learn more! My fellow classmates were also charming and very funny. So to sum it up, I think the people are what made the class so lovely. I would love to see this curriculum expanded. I haven't been able to find any other workshops like it, so I'd love to return for Comedy Writing Level II, Level III, and beyond!"
"Mariana was an excellent teacher for Comedy Writing! Had a great time and learned so much while with her."
"A great mini-MFA class to refresh your writing and help you work on aspects of your craft with other well seasoned writers."
"I took a four-week course in Comedy Writing with Mariana and found it to be highly inspiring and useful, with writing insights that I’ll be using from now on. Best of all, there’s an instant support group of peers to share your writing with and learn from. I look forward to trying some of Gilliam’s many other classes."
 
 

Place as Character

with Naomi Krupitsky
 
a 1-day intensive writing workshop
 
Reserve your spot here:
 
  • Saturday, August 2, 2025
  • 1-4pm ET / 10am-1pm PT
  • Sliding scale, $80-$120
  • Meets online with Zoom
In this single-afternoon workshop we’ll take a deep dive into fiction which uses setting as an integral part of the narrative.

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Through close reading, group discussion, and writing exercises, we’ll explore how a well-wrought setting can make a piece of writing feel immersive, create suspense, and mirror the actions and conflicts of human characters. We’ll consider examples in speculative, historical, and literary fiction. We’ll write our own settings, which can be just as vibrant, multifaceted, and emotional as the human characters. You’ll leave feeling connected to the world around you, inspired to make a place important in your next piece of writing, and with all the tricks and tools you need to do so.
This workshop is open to anyone who feels interested in joining us. Writers of all levels, backgrounds, and styles are encouraged to attend.

naomi's bio +

Naomi Krupitsky is a writer and editor. Her debut novel, The Family, was an Instant New York Times bestseller, a TODAY Show Read With Jenna Book Club Pick, a Book of the Month Pick, and a Barnes and Noble Discovery Pick when it was published in 2021. She lives in San Francisco with her partner and son, where she is at work on a second novel.
As a writing coach and literary consultant, Naomi specializes in helping her clients find their unique voice. She believes that everyone who wants a consistent writing practice deserves one. Many of her clients are parents learning how to make creative space for themselves, students and educators who speak English as a second language, or people working through writer’s block. She loves working with writers on their novels at any stage of development, from outlining to big structural edits to small-scale word choices. She also specializes in demystifying the publishing process, from getting an agent through working with a publisher. Her goal is for her clients to feel confident and competent working through the emotional and technical ups and downs of the writing process.
 

  • Write better, together<autoplay speed=4></autoplay>

    Our online creative writing workshops challenge groups of all levels and backgrounds—professionals, students, hobbyists, and more—to hone their craft together, trusting in and beyond the guidance of their instructors.

    Each Gilliam Writers Group creative writing class is facilitated by an accomplished author who loves to teach. 

    All workshop instructors partner with our firm’s administrators throughout the curriculum design process, ensuring that every aspect of your learning experience has been vetted by multiple parties beforehand.

    (In-person creative writing classes are available in select locations. Please contact us to learn more about creative writing workshops near you.)

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  • Learn better, together.

    GWG’s workshops provide an invaluable opportunity to deepen your writing practice with expert guidance and feedback from your peers. Every creative writing class we offer imparts actionable knowledge to help you achieve your literary goals.

    You’ll be simultaneously challenged and supported by select members of our coaching faculty, who are not only successful authors with ample publishing experience, but passionate teachers who understand how to instruct and motivate.

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  • Work better, together.

    We also design custom creative, academic, and professional writing workshops for schools, universities, companies, nonprofits, and other organizations. 

    Our Workshops Coordinator and Organizational Partnerships Coordinator will collaborate with you to craft a group learning experience that effectively refines your team’s communication skills, no matter your industry or field.

    Our expert-led workshops for organizations can take place either online, or in person in NYC, Chicago, or LA.

    contact us about professional writing workshops for organizations

  • Book your spot today.

    Ready to participate in a focused, rigorous, and fun learning experience? Eager to build community with other thinkers and writers?

    Check out our current schedule of online creative writing classes above, or contact us about custom options for your private group or organization.

    view our current selection of writing classes

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