I finished a first draft I felt proud of

I liked the balance of feeling encouraged to write, but not pressured to write. It's been maybe years since I've sat down to write something purely creative and finished it. In the course of this class, I finished a first draft that I felt proud of. It was great to think about writing again.

— Melina, Creative Writing I

I came away feeling truly inspired

I feel so grateful to have secured a spot in Creative Writing I with Daniel Castro, a deeply considerate, warm, and engaging instructor (even over Zoom in the era of Covid-19). I came away feeling truly inspired and able to start writing in a way I hadn’t before, and would recommend Berlin Writers’ Workshop courses to anyone. Thank you!

—Leila, Creative Writing I

Thank you Tracy for being such a great mentor. You have quite literally changed my life as a writer.

—Sam, Poetry Writing I

Warmth and kindness

I particularly liked the warmth and kindness Kannan brought to the class, creating a safe place to write and discuss immediately on the first evening. …His perceptions were sharp, and they came to us through his kind way of sharing knowledge, thought-provoking suggestions, and a generosity of spirit - no mean feat to bring all of this to the table in this screen-to-screen setting.

—Rebecca, Fiction Writing I

A rush of dopamine!

I was afraid of being workshopped. I imagined this huge pressure to produce something good enough to show to others. But actually being workshopped was the most amazing experience: incredibly helpful and generative. A rush of dopamine! I loved people's feedback. Being workshopped under Tracy's guidance felt safe and thrilling.

—Anne-Sophie, Poetry Writing I

I feel more confident as a writer

I very much enjoyed the relaxed and friendly atmosphere during our sessions, and I appreciated how structured the class was. I found that the materials were well-organized and the readings complemented each other nicely. My understanding of different formats and styles of creative writing has deepened. Also, I feel more confident as a writer and encouraged to continue working on my projects.

—Laura, Creative Writing I

A stimulating yet safe space

Daniel was awesome—perceptive, encouraging, calm, unpretentious, kind, articulate, full of knowledge and insights about the craft. He created a stimulating yet safe space for discussion. I would take another class with him.

—Sherng-Lee, Creative Writing I

One of the most satisfying things I've done for my mind this year :)

—Student, Creative Writing I

I liked everything about the class

I liked everything about the class and could have continued for twice as long. I learned a great deal. And I really really enjoyed the group! The people were super nice and seemed very smart and very different, so it made the whole learning experience even more enriching.

—Joana, Creative Writing I

Really thoughtfully structured

The classes were really thoughtfully structured (both in terms of the themes we tackled each week and within the classes themselves). Ben was really skilled in creating a comfortable and encouraging environment for us to share ideas and constructive criticism.

—Student, Nonfiction Writing I

A writer’s hub

The classes were helpful to get to know different genres and techniques, and also provided an opportunity to create a small writer's hub with people originating from different cultures.

—Matt, Nonfiction Writing I

I can highly recommend this class

I learned a lot in Ben's class: about the craft of writing and the ethics behind nonfiction, how to read more closely, and, cumulatively, ways in which I can improve my own writing. Ben is very structured, generous with advice, and courteous and concise when giving feedback workshopped pieces. I can highly recommend this class.

—Lisa, Nonfiction Writing I

This class was so inspiring

Ben created a trusting community of invested participants in class. Because of this safe environment, I had the courage to submit a very personal story from my memoir, a story I wouldn’t even want to show my closest friends yet. The feedback I received from Ben and the students was extremely helpful and encouraged me to continue working on this memoir. This class was so inspiring that we now continue to meet on our own once per month to workshop our work.

—Ingrid, Nonfiction Writing I

Everything I was looking for

The class has truly been everything I was looking for. I particularly liked the practical, hands-on approach to writing ("looking at a piece of writing the way a carpenter would look at a table")…. Daniel did a great job guiding our discussions and creating an environment in which people felt secure enough to share what they thought or felt about the material. Our group became close as the weeks went on, which made it all the more enjoyable. It has truly has been the gift that keeps on giving.

—Ferdinand, Creative Writing I

A unique and useful approach

I particularly enjoyed the full reading list and the non-required readings for those of us who want to read a little more. I also thought that the structure of the syllabus, with each week exploring something poetry can "do," was a really unique and useful way to approach a workshop.

—Don, Poetry Writing I

14/10

Tracy switches effortlessly between mentor/coach, peer support, and subject matter expert. She's able to deliver constructive feedback that is actionable and non-judgy. 14/10.

—John, Poetry Writing I

This workshop was hugely uplifting in pandemic-time. A life-affirming experience in every way.

—Rebecca, Fiction Writing I

This class was fantastic

I used to struggle to provide feedback as a reader and now feel much more comfortable with it. I had never written poetry before and now will continue to write poetry after the course. This class was fantastic.

—Student, Poetry Writing I

The best workshop I have ever taken

I absolutely loved the class! It was the best workshop I have ever taken. The syllabus was fantastic and the questions Tracy asked were generative and enlightening. I loved the way the instructor spoke about poetry and made every student feel that the possibilities for them as writers were endless within the universe of poetry.

—Student, Poetry Writing I