NOTE: Registration requires a $60 deposit (which can be waived by Porch members using the member discount code). You will receive a payment link in your registration receipt, and the remaining $1200 payment can be paid in full immediately or in monthly installments.
This six-month multi-genre cohort is designed for you if you're a writer who is seeking a flexible yet focused environment to make meaningful progress on your manuscript—whether you’re working on short stories, poetry, nonfiction, or a novel. You’ll join a small, dedicated group of fellow writers who share your passion for storytelling, providing feedback and camaraderie. Together, you’ll set personalized goals, holding each other accountable and ensuring you maintain motivation.
Monthly Meetings (Online via Zoom):
Once a month, we’ll gather over Zoom for a two-hour session, where you’ll have dedicated time to workshop excerpts from your manuscript. In these meetings, we’ll dive deep into narrative arcs, key craft elements, and larger project goals. Some meetings will focus on page-by-page feedback—sometimes we’ll zero in on overall structure or a specific scene, allowing for tailored discussions that propel your project forward. Workshopping one writer’s piece can also provide invaluable insights for others, fostering a rich, collaborative learning experience. Other meetings will discuss your writing goals, challenges, successes, general questions, and offer some generative exercises.
Meeting Dates and Times
Between Meetings (Asynchronous):
In between sessions, you’ll stay connected through a shared Google Classroom, where you can share resources, weekly snippets of your writing, read fiction and craft selections on topics drawn from class needs and requests—such as structure, dialogue, character agency, techniques for handling time, and more. There will also be weekly, optional exercises to weave into your projects (or not). We will discuss process, help each other stay motivated, and know we are not alone.
You’ll also have the option to engage in additional check-ins or discussions, whether through email or one-on-one meetings. This flexible structure ensures continuous progress on your manuscript, while still providing opportunities for personalized guidance and accountability.
By the end of the six months, you’ll not only have made substantial progress on your manuscript but also have a deeper understanding of your writing process and the tools needed to persevere.
Expectations:
What you can expect from the instructor:
What you can expect from yourself:
What you can expect from your peers:
Nathaniel Rosenthalis is the author of three books of poetry, including Works and Days (Broken Sleep Books) and The Leniad (Broken Sleep Books). He teaches writing at NYU. Also an actor and singer, he is a member of Actors Enquiry and works in musical theater in NYC.
"Nathaniel completely demystified the elusive prose poem for me! Not only did he cover a wide range of examples with close readings, but he provided accessible prompts to get us into a first draft of our own. He also gave us creative tools to use in our practice, making the process fun instead of daunting. I came away from his class with much possibility and excitement!"
"Nathaniel gave me generous feedback, which has given me incredible direction for where to go with my piece. Thank you!"
"Nathaniel has a lightning fast intellect, an encyclopedic knowledge of contemporary verse, and an extraordinary gift for offering the right piece of criticism at the right moment."
"Nathaniel's class on finishing a poetry manuscript was exactly what I needed. The course was well structured with clear advice at every step, but also intentionally flexible so that our individual interests could shape each day's discussion. Nathaniel gave thoughtful, detailed feedback, and he offered each person a unique list of recommended poets for continued reading. I was amazed by his encyclopedic knowledge of poetry collections both old and new."
