Method Writing 7-week Classes on ZOOM:

I teach four semesters each year: weekly classes run for seven weeks: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. During my regular 7-week classes, I teach the different levels of Method Writing. Level One covers the techniques in my book Method Writing: The First Four Concepts. Levels Two through Five cover the techniques in my second book, Advanced Method Writing: The Art of Tonal Dynamics. My classes are a bit like a “Little Red Schoolhouse,” in that they are composed of writers and poets who might be working on fiction, memoir, stories, poems, non-fiction, etc. – some doing Level One, some doing Level Two, some doing Level Three, etc., or beyond. You can choose the weekly class that suits your schedule best. (Listed times are all Pacific Standard Time, since Operation ZOOM  Central is here in Los Angeles, not far from Barney’s Beanery, Farmer’s Market,and the Beverly Center.) While a class may run for 4 hours, you’re only expected to attend for any three-hour period. We’re quite flexible and loosey-goosey. Classes are held on Monday Afternoons 1-5pm PST; Tuesday Afternoons 1-5pm PST; Wednesday Mornings 7am-12noon PST; Wednesday Afternoons 1-5pm PST; Thursday Mornings 8am-12noon PST; Thursday Afternoons 1-5pm PST; and Friday Mid-Mornings 11am to 2pm.

Those who take the First Level Class often continue with the next four levels based on Advanced Method Writing techniques. Once you’ve completed the first five levels, you can continue working on the voice, styles, points-of-view, and techniques of specific prose authors and poets. We call studying these techniques “car washing.” Everyone likes the “car washing” techniques. In other words, the writer drives through the “car wash” by mimicking another writer’s writing, the same way an actor might adopt the mannerisms and voice and attitude of a particular character, but the writer’s story — whether a novel, a memoir, or poem — remains their own, nice and dry in their Porsche 718 Boxster poised and nimble on the road, their engine’s throaty roar begging for an endless drive. 

Between the regular semesters, I also teach a 5-week course on Monday afternoons and Wednesday morning called “The Flip Side-B” classes (for more info on these classes, see Jack’s Flip Side-B class).

My classes are not traditional “lecture” classes. They often run for more than 3 hours, but you’re not expected to be there for more than 3 hours. Some students come early and leave early, while others mozey in later and leave later. Whatever time you come/log in, figure you’ll be there for 2½ to 3 hours. In that time, you will hear 8 to 10 people read their work, get feedback, and you will read assigned work, get feedback, etc. So if a class runs from 7am to 12noon, you come in through the bathroom window at 7am and wave sayonara  at 10am, or saunter in at 8am and skedaddle at 11am, or tip-toe in at 9am and skedaddle at 12noon. We’re flexible and loosey-goosey. This may seem confusing at first, but it’s really quite simple and allows for everyone’s shifting schedules. Furthermore, if you can’t come to your scheduled class on any given week, you can do a “make-up”class by attending any one of the other classes that week or come to two classes the following week. Options abound!

If this is the first time you are taking a Method Writing class, I recommend the Tuesday class, but if that doesn’t work for your schedule, any of the other classes work just as well. 

Jack teaches all the listed classes below except for the Friday class which is taught by Josh Grapes.

Co-Teaching with Jack are Lisa Segal and Kevin Jacobsen, who also teach classes of their own at different times based on other aspects of Method Writing. See Co-Teachers’ Classes

For more info or to register for one of Jack’s classes go to contact page.

Schedule

Contact Jack for registration and pricing information.

All times Pacific Standard Time

Learn from Jack…