Refining Your Fiction

Online

Instructor: Ben Adams

Schedule: Thursdays | 6:30-8:30 pm PST

Feb 12 – Mar 19, 2026

Tuition: $450

Enroll now

Refining Your Fiction

We’ve all had the magical experience of finding that one remarkable book, of being incapable of putting it down, and disappointed when it ends. While the reasons we love these books are personal, they all share certain traits that we as writers can learn and apply to our fiction, enabling us to write captivating stories.

In this two-hour class, we’ll dive into some of the underdiscussed techniques fiction writers use. We’ll look at the different ways authors play with Time, Rhythm, and Tone. We’ll even examine the various places in a story where a writer can practice restraint to create ambiguity. By immersing ourselves in short stories and novel excerpts, we’ll see how authors utilize different craft elements to enrich their work, as well as for inspiration in our own writing.

The second half of class will follow a workshop format, where you’ll get feedback on your writing, helping you polish your prose, whether you’re writing a coming-of-age YA novel or multi-POV sci-fi epic.

At the end of six weeks, you’ll have a better understanding of various craft elements, and how you can use them to level up your own writing. But mostly, we’ll have fun delving into different storytelling practices. This class is intended for writers of all levels, from folks just starting to put pen to page, to experienced writers looking for ways to enhance their stories.

Ben Adams

Ben Adams is the author of three critically acclaimed novels, The Enigmatologist (Ravenswood Press), The Resurrectionist (Ravenswood Press), and Relativity (BHC Press). His short fiction has appeared in Flash Fiction Magazine, Lenticular, and elsewhere. He recently graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing at University of San Francisco, where he was Editor-in-Chief at Four Leaf Collective. He is the co-founder of Two Staple Press, and Editor in Chief at Destapled Literary Magazine. He is a 2025-26 teaching artist fellow at SF Creative Writing Institute.