If you’ve ever searched for creative writing classes online, chances are you’ve come across Gotham Writers Workshop. With its long-standing reputation and New York City roots, Gotham has become a popular choice for aspiring writers looking to sharpen their skills in fiction, memoir, screenwriting, poetry, and more.
But with so many writing programs available today, how does Gotham stack up? Does it actually help you write and complete a manuscript, or is it more of a place to explore creative ideas without reaching the finish line?
In this Gotham Writers Workshop review, we’ll take a close look at what Gotham Writers Workshop offers, the pros and cons of its classes, what students are really saying, and how it compares to more comprehensive programs.
If you’re trying to decide whether Gotham is the right investment for your writing goals – or if you’re better off with a course that offers coaching, publishing support, and marketing help – this deep dive will help you make an informed decision.
What is Gotham Writers Workshop?
Gotham Writers Workshop is a private adult‑education writing school, originally founded in New York City in 1993 by Jeff Fligelman and David Grae.
Gotham offers a wide range of writing instruction – covering genres like fiction, memoir, screenwriting, poetry, and essay writing, as well as business writing and craft-specific classes (dialogue, character, grammar).
Their formats include:
- 10‑Week Workshops: Standard, immersive courses (Levels I–III) featuring lectures, exercises, and peer workshopping where students submit work for feedback.
- 6‑Week Classes: Shorter, lower‑pressure explorations of forms and concepts, often entry-level.
- Selling Classes: Focused on writing for business, query letters, or publication; these vary in length depending on delivery mode.
- Intensives: One-day deep dives (in‑person) or brief multi‑week formats online.
Pros and cons of Gotham Writers Workshop
Here are some pros and cons of taking Gotham Writers Workshop classes:
Pros of Gotham Writers Workshop
Structured environment with accountability
- Weekly deadlines and peer reviews help keep students on track.
- Especially helpful for writers who struggle with procrastination or staying motivated.
Community and networking
- You’ll connect with other writers at a similar stage.
- In live classes (NYC or Zoom), discussion and critique can be energizing and insightful.
Professional feedback
- Instructors are published writers and often have teaching experience.
- Peer critiques follow a structured format (“Gotham Booth”), which can train you to give and receive feedback effectively.
Reputation and longevity
- Founded in 1993 with a strong track record and notable alumni (Min Jin Lee, Melissa Broder, etc.).
- A recognized name in the NYC writing scene and beyond.
Cons of Gotham Writers Workshop
Not always writing-heavy
- Some students report doing more reading/talking than writing in class.
- You may only produce 1–2 pieces for feedback in a 10-week course.
Information often available elsewhere (for free)
- Some students say the material is basic and can be found via books, YouTube, blogs, or free writing groups.
- You’re paying for structure and feedback more than exclusive knowledge.
Quality varies by instructor
- Some instructors are deeply invested and others less so – this inconsistency affects student experience.
- There’s no guarantee your feedback will be rigorous or transformative.
Peer critiques can be hit or miss
- While structured, peer feedback varies in usefulness depending on classmates’ skill and seriousness.
- Some writers find this part frustrating or unhelpful.
Gotham Writers Workshop reviews
Most Gotham Writers Workshop reviews are positive and they have a 4.0 rating overall on Yelp. Here are just some of the Gotham Writers Workshop reviews you can find online:
As you can see, these writers had a great time with Gotham and recommend them wholeheartedly. Unfortunately that is not always the case for the reviews.
It’s unfortunate if you pay hundreds of dollars for a writing course and barely do any writing. Isn’t that what you should be paying for? There are other negative Gotham Writers Workshop reviews as well:
As you can see from the Gotham Writers Workshop reviews above, the classes aren’t always helpful for writers. It seems like most of the information can simply be found by a quick Google search online, and there isn’t a lot of helpful feedback or back and forth in the classes.
Courses compared: Memoir courses
Gotham’s Memoir Writing II: Book
Gotham’s Memoir Writing II: Book is a 10-week workshop designed for students who have already completed Memoir Writing II (Level II) and are looking to develop a book-length memoir.
The course combines weekly lectures, guided writing exercises, and structured workshopping sessions in which students present their work (typically two to three times over the course of the program) for peer and instructor feedback.
Classes are offered both online and in person (NYC/Zoom) and cover a range of core craft topics including narrative arc, voice, memory, character development, emotional resonance, time management in storytelling, and the early stages of book proposal and publishing considerations.
The key value of Gotham’s program lies in its craft-based instruction and the opportunity to receive detailed critiques in a group setting. Writers use the course as a space to explore and refine their memoir’s structure and style while gaining feedback from both instructors and fellow students.
However, the course is focused almost entirely on the writing phase, and does not offer support for editing, design, formatting, marketing, or actual publishing processes. The learning experience also varies depending on the instructor and the level of engagement from peers, which some students have found inconsistent.
While it’s great for building discipline and honing storytelling skills, writers looking to bring a memoir all the way to publication may find Gotham’s course limited in scope.
Self-Publishing School – Memoir Program
In contrast, Self-Publishing School offers a much broader and more comprehensive Memoir Program, built around a complete start-to-finish system for writing, editing, and publishing a memoir.
The program includes 11 in-depth modules totaling over 100 lessons, covering everything from writing fundamentals and storytelling techniques to research, self-editing, and publishing readiness – including how to obtain an ISBN, choose categories, and format a manuscript for various platforms.
Writers are matched with a dedicated 1-on-1 coach, who is a published author in the memoir genre, to provide personalized, genre-specific guidance throughout the process.
What sets Self-Publishing School apart is its end-to-end support. Beyond writing, the program includes professional assistance with cover design, formatting, editing guidance, and publishing logistics. It also walks authors through book marketing strategies, launch plans, and community-building tools such as launch teams and promotional materials.
Writers gain access to a private author community, live sessions, virtual writing rooms, and continuous accountability support. This program is especially well-suited for aspiring authors who want to publish and promote their memoir, not just write it.
Gotham’s course is ideal if your primary goal is to improve your memoir-writing craft in a structured, feedback-driven environment, especially if you’re at an early or exploratory stage in your project. It’s relatively affordable, but it stops short of offering guidance on publishing or marketing.
On the other hand, Self-Publishing School provides a much more expansive path, guiding you from blank page to published book with help on everything from structure to launch strategy. You get more than just lessons – you get expert coaching, community support, and a full publishing toolkit.
Courses compared: Nonfiction courses
Gotham Writers Workshop – Creative Nonfiction 101
Gotham Writers Workshop – Creative Nonfiction 101 is an accessible, six‑week introductory course tailored to those curious about creative nonfiction. Students explore a variety of nonfiction forms (memoir, personal essays, feature articles, profiles, reviews, and travel writing) through a combination of lectures and writing exercises.
While there’s no formal workshopping of full student projects, the assignments invite experimentation and offer feedback on these short pieces.
Priced at approximately $339 for the online version (or $1,195 for a one-on-one format), the course offers a solid-style foundation with a modest financial commitment.
That said, Creative Nonfiction 101 is intentionally narrow in scope. It’s designed to spark genre exploration rather than produce a publishable manuscript. Feedback is generally limited to short exercises and can vary depending on the instructor and engagement level of the class – an experience echoed by former students who valued deadlines and interaction but noted inconsistent peer involvement and lecture quality.
selfpublishing.com – Become a Bestseller
selfpublishing.com – Become a Bestseller, in contrast, is a full-spectrum program built for nonfiction authors (especially entrepreneurs and professionals) who aim not only to write, but to publish and market a bestselling book.
The program offers a structured, step-by-step path, capable of taking participants from concept to published, with the support of a proven system that can yield results in as little as 90 days.
Central to this program is access to a dedicated coach (a bestselling author) who provides tailored guidance, goal setting, accountability, and strategy. You also get four private coaching sessions, unlimited daily office hours, and group coaching calls for ongoing support.
The program includes professional polishing of your book through book production services like layout formatting, custom cover design, and editorial guidance, ensuring a polished final product.
Further, it handles the publishing logistics: obtaining an ISBN, crafting an optimized book description, selecting categories and keywords, and uploading the manuscript to platforms such as Kindle KDP.
The program also builds a community through mastermind groups, virtual writing rooms, and regular live writing sessions.
On top of all that, Become a Bestseller includes strategic marketing and launch planning – the kind that can elevate your book beyond being available to having strong visibility, sales, and career impact
Gotham’s Creative Nonfiction 101 is an excellent starting point if you’re exploring the genre and want structured, low-pressure feedback loops to build your writing muscles. It’s affordable and approachable, perfect for dipping your toes into nonfiction.
However, if your intention is to go all the way – from drafting to delivering a professionally polished, published book with strategic marketing to maximize reach and impact – then Become a Bestseller offers a far more comprehensive, end‑to‑end solution. It’s a holistic, high-touch experience investing in both your manuscript and your author brand.
Courses compared: Fiction courses
Gotham Writers Workshop – Fiction Writing I
Gotham’s Fiction Writing I is a 10-week foundational workshop tailored to beginners or writers who want to sharpen their fiction skills.
Through a combination of lectures, writing exercises, and two peer-critique sessions, the course helps participants explore elements such as character development, plot, POV, dialogue, description, pacing, voice, theme, revision, and early guidance on manuscript formatting and query letters.
Classes are offered online, via Zoom, or in person in NYC, and tuition is typically around $439, plus a $25 registration fee.
The program’s strength lies in its structured yet accessible approach: you receive hands-on craft instruction and the chance to have your work reviewed by peers and an instructor. Many students appreciate the discipline and interaction—one wrote, “I took the 10‑week Fiction I class … the content was great, the instructor provided very actionable feedback and most of the other students were accomplished readers/reviewers as well”
That said, some experienced writers find the workshop model limited – particularly regarding inconsistent peer feedback and lack of comprehensive writing guidance.
Overall, Fiction Writing I is an excellent gateway into fiction craft, especially if you’re beginning and want community-driven feedback in a fairly affordable format.
selfpublishing.com – Fundamentals of Fiction & Story
On the other hand, Fundamentals of Fiction & Story is a full-spectrum, self-paced program designed to take writers from blank page to published novel with real-world support. The offering includes:
- A robust online training platform with 13 modules and 157 lessons, featuring topics like character & setting, writing scenes, self-editing, hiring an editor, mindset, launch strategy, audiobooks, and the business side of writing.
- Six one-on-one coaching sessions with a bestselling fiction author, plus unlimited daily office hours, virtual writing rooms, and group coaching to provide structured accountability and expert feedback.
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- Professional book production services, such as formatting, custom cover design, ISBN assignment, optimized descriptions, keyword/category selection, and manuscript uploading to platforms like KDP – so you’re fully supported through publication.
- Membership in an author community, where you can engage in live sessions, access training, and gain peer support throughout your writing and publishing journey
- A comprehensive publishing process, including marketing, launch strategy, and distribution, all designed to help you become a bestselling author
This program caters not just to writing development but also to building an author career, providing both the creative tools and the infrastructure to launch your book successfully.
Choose Gotham Writers’ Fiction Writing I if you want to learn the craft fundamentals in a workshop setting and price is a factor.
Opt for selfpublishing.com’s Fundamentals of Fiction & Story if your goal is to actually publish and promote your book with comprehensive support at every stage.
Final thoughts: Gotham Writers Workshop Review
If you are looking to simply improve your writing craft, Gotham Writers Workshop can be a good jumping off point. That being said, with the exception of the Memoir Writing II: Book class, most of their courses don’t encompass how to write a full book – let alone editing, cover design, or publishing.
If you are actually looking to publish your book, then there are much more helpful and comprehensive courses out there. At selfpublishing.com, we walk you through every step of the writing, editing, and publishing process from start to finish.
You also get one-on-one coaching, so you don’t have to compete with a class for attention. And you can be sure that the course is 100% focused on helping you achieve a finished product that is ready to be the next bestseller.