Write the fiction you want to read.

Together, we’ll bring your world to life.

 
 

Our online fiction writing coaches support authors and creative writers at all levels of experience, from beginners to published novelists. Contact us to refine your prose, learn new writing skills, or finish your latest manuscript: we’ll be with you all the way, from blank page to final draft.

 
 

novels - short stories - flash fiction - microfiction - literary & realist fiction - speculative fiction - magical realism - fantasy - sci fi - romantasy - historical fiction - romance - mystery - horror - young adult & middle grade - autofiction - more

 

explore fiction

 

Our Pillars

Learn what sets the Gilliam Writers Group apart.

 

A Hands-On Approach

write better, together.

 
The Gilliam Writers Group is committed to providing actionable, practical feedback that helps every client become a better writer, no matter their training or goals. We believe that a creative writing coach should offer not only technical support, but a collaborative, participatory learning experience, to each person they work with. The interactive, growth-oriented nature of this service is what distinguishes writing coaching from editing; while editing is asynchronous, coaching calls for real-time human connection. While editing is product-focused, coaching attends equally to the writer, their product, and their process of production.

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GWG’s fiction coaches take a hands-on approach to our clients’ writing. Though this might seem incompatible with the virtual format of our meetings, it isn’t; we’ve found that our online sessions are highly effective for learning — not despite, but because of their digital format. Meeting on Zoom and Google Docs allows the participants to engage with written text in organic, cooperative ways; by collaborating on cloud-based documents, our coaches can shift seamlessly between dialogue and demonstration, idea and experiment, critique and revision. The virtual environment introduces an unprecedented level of immediacy into the workshopping process, making it possible for us to intervene in our clients’ output far more naturally than we could in a physical setting.
Practically speaking, this means our creative writing coaches can mark up your work with you live on video, demystifying editorial methods. We can observe your writing process unfolding in real time and provide actionable pointers on technique. We can instantly demonstrate the skills you want to learn — all without the awkwardness of peering over each other’s shoulders or passing notebooks back and forth.
If you’re still feeling uncertain (or excited!) about the logistics of one-on-one fiction writing classes online, we invite you to contact us or schedule a free consultation call. One of our skilled Enrollment Managers will be happy to answer your questions and match you with a professional writing coach. If you’re ready to take the plunge and schedule your first coaching session, let us know.

Long-Term Collaboration

coaching changes lives.

 
Whether you want to learn to write a novel or you’re looking for short story writing help, we hope you’ll consider building a long-term creative partnership with your GWG fiction writing coach. Why? Because the longer you work with a writing coach, the more impactful their insight becomes. A coach’s most valuable assets – nuanced interpersonal awareness, an intuitive grasp of clients’ evolving skill sets, and deep familiarity with their work – just aren’t available off-the-shelf.

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These layers of comprehension take time to emerge, relying as they do on data from months and even years of regular meetings. As time passes and the client-coach relationship deepens, this data becomes understanding, and informs our work as creative writing coaches in countless beneficial ways. We rely on the long process of trial and error to gain perspective on which interventions lead to the greatest improvements in a given client’s writing, for example, or which strategies most consistently mitigate their writer’s block. The more thoroughly we know our clients as individuals, the more precisely and impactfully we can apply our expertise to their writing.
Many of our senior faculty members have met with the same clients weekly for years; in fact, several of GWG’s very first customers are still active in our community today. Long-term collaboration is a core value of the Gilliam Writers Group, foundational to both the sustainability of our business and the quality of our services.

Qualified Faculty

training you can trust.

 
Gilliam Writers Group coaches are highly trained writers, expert editors, and passionate teachers of the art and science of fiction. Scroll through our Faculty page and you’ll see graduate degrees in writing and literature from the country’s top MFA and PhD programs; years of professional experience in the publishing industry, media, and education; and strong track records of literary publication.

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Writing by our faculty and emeritus faculty appears in top publications including The New Yorker, Bookforum, Artforum, Granta, Longreads, The Southern Review, Tin House, A Public Space, The New York Times, AGNI, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Cincinnati Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, American Poetry Review, The Common, Los Angeles Review of Books, Ploughshares, and more.
We have been published by Simon and Schuster and Penguin Random House, among other presses large and small, and have earned multiple awards and prizes for fiction, poetry, and criticism.
Before hiring an online fiction writing coach through the Gilliam Writers Group, we invite you to request a writing sample from their portfolio. That way, you can experience for yourself the exceptional combination of talent and training our team has to offer.

Forms & Genres

Perfect your technique, improve your draft, or learn to write fiction of any kind with an online creative writing coach. Our faculty works in every form and genre.

Novels

The long haul, made lighter.

 
Many people carry the kernel of an idea for a novel within them, but even if you’re a practiced author, the prospect of writing a novel can be daunting. For beginners, such a long-term, massive project can seem completely out of reach. Technical inexperience, excessive self-criticism, trouble with setting a writing schedule, short-term thinking, imposter syndrome — these are just a few of the many (conquerable) obstacles that prevent capable writers from starting — and finishing — novel manuscripts. What a loss for readers!

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A writing coach can partner with you to overcome these doubts and pressures, whether internal, external, or both. Our faculty have supported countless creative writers, from hobbyists to full-time professionals, and we have found that no matter a client’s training or experience, regular meetings with a novel writing coach can significantly ease the process of planning, drafting, and editing a book.
Your coaching sessions are yours; make of these meetings what you will. Some clients seek structured, linear guidance as they piece together their manuscript; their sessions might resemble a series of online novel writing classes, weekly tutorials structured around topics like setting, character, and point of view in which they learn and practice the fundamentals of craft. Other clients prefer a more open-ended format, approaching each meeting not as a formal “novel writing class” but something more like an editorial scrum, a back-and-forth critique in which client and coach pursue new ideas organically.
If you want the structure of a custom novel writing class online, your coach will consult with you on the course’s aims, trajectory, and focus areas. If you’re more interested in workshop-style feedback or developmental editing for your manuscript (delivered in regular weekly or bi-weekly meetings), our fiction coaches can provide that as well. If your needs change in the course of your coaching journey, tell your coach and we can develop a new plan for moving forward. And once you’ve completed your manuscript, we can guide you through the arduous, obscure process of getting your words into print.
You do not need a full manuscript, or part of a draft, or even a basic plot outline, to work with a novel writing coach. All you need is the desire to write a novel and a willingness to engage in the coaching process.
Please note that writing coaching takes place live on Zoom and Google Docs. Though most of our work is virtual, the Gilliam Writers Group may also offer novel writing classes near you — especially if you live in New York City. To discuss options for a private novel writing class in NYC, please contact us. For more information on our asynchronous editing services, see our Editing page.

Short Stories

tiny worlds, come to life.

 
The short story, though in some ways less intimidating than the novel, is a deceptively difficult form to master; many prolific authors have struggled to thrive within its confines. Nonetheless, every creative writer will benefit from learning how to turn a lack of space to their advantage. Guidance from a professional story writing helper can make this abstract goal concrete.

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Edgar Allan Poe theorized that the short story should work toward a single purpose, calling this goal “unity of effect.” Determining what this effect might be and using every word of a story to work toward it requires discipline bordering on asceticism, qualities that counter the natural verbosity of the storyteller. Learning to channel this gift more thoroughly, but in fewer words, requires ingenuity, self-awareness, and artistic subtlety. Most of all, it requires practice — when it comes to creative writing, theory won’t get you far. If you’re looking for hands-on story writing help of any kind, whether lessons in the basics of craft, professional editorial feedback, or anything in between, our faculty have the expertise to guide you toward your goals.
That’s because GWG’s fiction coaches are highly experienced not only in supporting other writers, but in writing short stories of their own; our team members have published short fiction in many of the most distinguished literary journals in the US and beyond, as well as in several major collections and anthologies — more every year. Our faculty’s extensive writing experience makes them uniquely insightful editors, mentors, and collaborators. Each of our writing coaches is also an expert storytelling coach, as sensitive to the more organic elements of pacing, plot, and entertainment value as they are to the line-level details of clients’ work.
Ready to learn the ropes of short story writing? Eager to improve your latest draft? Let’s have a conversation. No matter your level of experience, we’d love to discuss how our storytelling coaching and short story writing coaching service can benefit you. Book your no-cost, fifteen-minute consultation call with a GWG Enrollment Manager today.

Flash Fiction & Microfiction

brevity at its best.

 
Browse our Publications page, and you’ll discover that many a creative writing coach on our faculty has dabbled in flash fiction and microfiction – two literary forms whose rising popularity has, in recent years, inspired countless writers to take up their pens. For the still-uninitiated, a definition of terms may be useful here: while “flash fiction” refers to stories of roughly one thousand words or less, “microfiction” refers to even shorter works of around one hundred or (more rarely) two hundred words.

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It’s easy to interpret the popularity of these forms as yet another manifestation of consumer culture’s “faster, easier” mindset – hardly an encouraging thought. But closer consideration leaves room for other, more auspicious readings of brevity’s growing appeal in literature. In some ways, ultra-short story writing seems like an attempt to bring fiction closer to poetry.
Rather than leading to sloppier, more quickly produced work, the flash fiction and microfiction craze actually seems to be pushing writers to slow down, encouraging us to prioritize quality at a microscopic level by applying rigorous scrutiny to each sentence and word on a page. Such a deliberate pace would impede someone writing a novel, or even a standard-length short story. But the constraints of flash fiction and microfiction – extreme by comparison – actually free the writer to produce less and think more.
Like poets, the authors of ultra-short fiction may choose to approach the writing process as an exercise in contemplation. They might allow themselves to pause more, to lose momentum. They might spend hours playing with syntax and structure, exploring the associations between form, content, and emotional resonance. In other words, they might forget the forest for the trees – at least, more readily than they could if they were writing a longer piece. While our online novel writing classes tend to incorporate strategies for increased output, our flash fiction and microfiction courses prioritize close readings instead.
For a skilled fiction writing coach, the opportunity to support clients in such detail-oriented work can be deeply fulfilling. At the Gilliam Writers Group, we find just as much value in a trek through the proverbial “weeds” as we do in the climb toward a more holistic bird’s-eye view. If you’re interested in speaking with a representative from our leadership team to discuss one-on-one microfiction classes, flash fiction classes, or how an online storytelling coach can transform your writing practice, click here. Though most of our services occur online, feel free to inquire about the possibility of setting up fiction writing classes near you – particularly if you’re based in NYC.

All Genres

a coach for every client.

 
The Gilliam Writers Group faculty has experience in every type of fiction. Whatever your preferred genre, at least one creative writing coach on our team has either written it themselves or supported an author who has. Don’t be shy with your inquiries. We read, write, and teach it all: literary fiction, speculative fiction (including fantasy, science fiction, romantasy, and horror), magical realism, historical fiction, young adult and middle grade, action and adventure, thriller, romance, mystery, family saga, autofiction, and more.

 Determining Fit

Is Gilliam right for you? Learn more about how – and who – a fiction writing coach can help.

  • Hobbyists who write creatively for fun

    Creative writers (of all levels) interested in seeking publication, entering writing contests, or submitting their work to literary magazines and journals

    Professional writers in other genres who want to transition into fiction

    Professional authors and published novelists who need additional support (beyond their current agents or editors)

    Students interested in improving their work or exploring a passion

    Clients of all ages (our writing coaches work primarily with adults – most of our younger clientele hire us for tutoring rather than coaching)

    Total beginners who want to try out creative writing coaching or learn new skills

    Applicants to writing fellowships, writing residencies, MFA programs in creative writing, etc.

  • Guide you through the processes of submitting and seeking publication (we have lots of experience querying agents, pitching to journals & literary magazines, etc.)

    Help you start – and finish – a novel manuscript, short story draft, or story collection

    Collaborate with you to develop a book or story concept

    Work with you to edit, restructure, and improve your existing work – see our Editing page for more detail if you’re interested in hiring an asynchronous (outside-of-session) editor

    Give you the skills you need to improve your own work independently, whether you’re writing at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level

    Enrich your plot development, pacing, or organizational skills through storytelling coaching

    Support you in finding your voice as a writer

    Teach you to write more clearly and elegantly, or to write in a certain style

    Reinforce your mastery of grammar and punctuation, even by providing formal grammar lessons if desired

    Show you how to craft compelling characters

    Strengthen your writing practice by advising you on time management, planning, and writing strategy

    Help you learn to write fiction if you’re a total beginner

    Guide you through a private, highly customized online course such as a novel writing class or short fiction writing class

    Meet with you regularly and consistently on a weekly or biweekly basis (online via video chat and a shared digital document)

    Offer encouragement and motivation beyond technical feedback

    Facilitate engaging and productive coaching sessions, even when you don’t show up with any written work

    Provide and co-sign a thorough NDA to protect your privacy as a client of the Gilliam Writers Group

  • Write on your behalf or produce written work for you outside of meetings

    Read or edit your work without payment, on our own time

    Take responsibility for your attendance at coaching sessions (though we will absolutely remind and encourage you to attend)

    Force you to maintain a certain writing schedule (we can help you create a schedule, but we cannot ensure that you stick to it)

    Guarantee publication, admission to programs or fellowships, or a successful career in our industry

    Tolerate plagiarism of any kind

    Take the place of a therapist – we are coaches, teachers and editors, not counselors

    Guarantee that one of our faculty members will be available to provide fiction writing classes near you or novel writing classes near you (we do, however, guarantee that we can provide online novel writing classes and fiction writing classes of the very highest quality)

    Act as your representative or personal correspondent to agencies, agents, publishers, magazines, journals, contest administrators, admissions boards, or any other person or entity

Pricing

Fiction coaching costs between $85 and $200 per hour.  To learn more about our rate structure, use the drop-down menu below or visit our pricing page for authors, creatives, and professionals.

  • The Gilliam Writers Group bills hourly for online creative writing coaching, following our standard rate model for time-based services.

Getting Started

Connect with a fiction writing coach in 3 simple steps. Our onboarding process is thorough and convenient, resulting in successful client-coach matches.

Step 1

Schedule your consultation.

 
To connect with a creative writing coach on the Gilliam Writers Group faculty, we invite you to first schedule a free, 15-minute consultation call with a representative from our company’s leadership team.

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During this intake call, we’ll guide you through a series of standardized questions about your background, experience, and goals, taking detailed notes on your responses. These notes will form the basis of your client brief – an internal document central to GWG’s client-coach matching process. After answering any lingering questions, your representative will conclude the call and email you two important documents.
First, you’ll receive our new client onboarding brochure, a PDF containing useful resources including a list of best practices, contact information for everyone on our leadership team, and the link to a feedback form you can submit at any point during your work with the Gillam Writers Group. Second, you will receive a link to our service agreement (fillable online). We co-sign this form with all new clients to establish clear terms of engagement and, above all, to protect your interests – for example, to legally bind ourselves to nondisclosure. You can later dissolve this agreement at any time, for any reason, with just 24 hours’ notice.

Step 2

Connect with your coach.

 
Within 24 hours of your consultation call, your newly assigned writing coach will reach out via email and text to schedule your first session.

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At this point, they’ll already have a clear sense of your background, needs, and preferred meeting schedule; it is our policy to always read a new client’s brief before making contact. This mitigates redundancy in GWG’s onboarding process; as you establish communication with your fiction coach, you won’t need to rehash the basics of your interest in online novel writing classes, for example, or the personality profile of your ideal short story writing helper. Your coach will already be in the loop.

Step 3

Enjoy your first session.

 
Our online writing coaching sessions take place on Zoom and Google Docs, and emphasize guided, real-time practice combined with immediate feedback.

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The structure of your first session will depend largely on your particular needs and the discernment of your coach; there is no standard formula, though most such meetings are necessarily focused on gathering information, assessing the client’s writing and goals, and developing a plan of action. After your first session, we suggest that you and your coach agree on a regular weekly or biweekly (once every two weeks) meeting time and stick to it. Over the years, we have found that consistent weekly or biweekly sessions generate the clearest improvements in our clients’ writing and writing processes.
The Gilliam Writers Group is primarily an online company; however, if you’re interested in setting up in-person fiction writing classes near you, please contact us. In certain cases, we may be able to offer a short story or novel writing class in NYC, where many of our coaches live.

Swapping Coaches

Just in case.

 
If you find that you and your writing coach aren’t a match, or you decide to work with other GWG faculty in the future, our leadership team can support you in choosing another fiction writing coach.

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Before matching you with another faculty member, we will usually suggest that you first tell your writing coach as clearly as possible what you believe is missing in your work together. Open, honest dialogue is essential to the service we offer; all GWG coaches have strong interpersonal skills, but none of us can read minds.
If clear communication does not yield the hoped-for results, or you no longer want to work with your writing coach for any reason, just let our leadership team know. We’ll initiate a new, more streamlined client-coach matching process, supplementing your original client brief (the one created during your initial consultation call) with updated information to reflect both your progress and the reasons you are pausing work with your previous coach.

Ready to work with a fiction writing coach?

Schedule a free consultation call with a Gilliam Writers Group Enrollment Manager. We’ll help you find a writing coach online in 24 hours or less.

You can book your call directly on our scheduling page by clicking the button below:

 

  • Brady Gilliam, Founder

  • Tadeh Kennedy, Enrollment Manager

  • Misha McDaniel, Enrollment Manager

 

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