Finishing School: Draft to Craft (Fall 2026)
Meets Online, Tuesday Nights, Sept–Dec 2026
This fall, build the muscle that writers most need: finishing.
The number one way I have seen writers grow, and quickly, is by finishing drafts and moving forward. But that's easy advice to give and hard to implement. If you are drowning in half-finished drafts, you already know this paradox: the surest way to never finish a story is to try to perfect it too soon. If you're applying to MFA programs this fall, looking to get unblocked, or just trying to improve, this class is for you.
Ray Bradbury claims that for ten years he wrote at least one short story a week. This class is a somewhat audacious attempt to follow the Bradbury model. We will write a new story draft (1000 words minimum) every week for 10 weeks. The drafts can be short, but they have to be complete. And they will be imperfect. That's the point -- to improve together with reps, not with perfection. Then we'll focus on one, and finish it.
Most workshops help you make a piece better. This one helps you get strong enough to write any story you want. Writers' best work is rarely the stuff they spend the most time refining. It usually comes from trusting their own voice and getting out of their own way.
Let's get imperfect this fall.
The Class Works Like This:
-
Weeks 1-10: Each week you write a complete 1000 word short story (don't worry, I'll give you prompts). Then two people in the class will be called on randomly to present their work aloud each week to the group, and we'll discuss it. Nobody knows when they'll be called on, so everyone's in it together. Each person will present work twice.
-
Weeks 11-15: You'll take one of those stories and finish it for real (flesh out the scenes, polish the prose, make the thing sing) and workshop it. You'll get a deep read from your peers and, by the end, one story that's ready to go, and nine others that are on their way.
-
You'll get two one-on-one conferences with me. After each time you present a first draft, we'll meet to talk about what's working and what's next for that piece. You'll also receive written feedback on the story you workshop.
-
You'll leave with a portfolio, not just a lesson. Ten complete drafts with one polished, workshop-tested story, ready for submission.
Cost
The cost of the class is $350/month, or $1350 if you pay up front.
About the Instructor
Ted Thompson has been working with writers as a teacher, editor, and manuscript consultant for over a decade. In addition to Longhand, he teaches in the Brooklyn College MFA Program and for Sackett Street Writers' Workshop.
His novel The Land of Steady Habits was a finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was adapted into a film for Netflix. He was a finalist for the 2021 National Magazine Award in Fiction.
He received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and lives in Brooklyn with his daughters. To learn more about Ted, see here.
Apply
Application deadline for this class is September 1st, 2026, though admissions is rolling and the class may fill up fast. If that happens, I will keep a short waiting list. For questions, you can email longhandworkshop at gmail or contact me here.
TO APPLY FOR THIS CLASS:
Please answer the following questions in an email to longhandworkshop@gmail.com with the subject "Finishing School"
1. Please tell me (in paragraph or so) why you want to join this class, and what you hope to gain from it.
2. How did you hear about the class?
3. Have you taken writing classes/workshops in the past? If so, where?
4. Please include a short writing sample (3000 words max).