Private Sessions for Individuals and Groups

"My son has never liked writing before but after taking Writopia’s private workshops, I find him writing on his own! From poetry to fantasy to non-fiction, he looks forward to every session!"

Megan Hahn, Writopia Parent

Our instructors and tutors are available to meet for private sessions with students to work on short stories, memoirs, novels, college essays, expository writing, and more. Sessions can be scheduled during the day, after school, and over the weekend. All private sessions are led by our published writers, produced playwrights, or experienced tutors.

For more information or to schedule sessions, contact one of our regional coordinators:

• Please fill out this form to get started with Private Sessions.
• To arrange a private online workshop for your child and their friends, please contact privatesessions@writopialab.org.

Online or In Person Sessions

We are happy to work with you at any of our following Labs:

• Upper West Side, New York
• Park Slope, Brooklyn
• Hartsdale, New York
• Tenleytown, Washington, DC
• Santa Monica, California
• San Francisco, California

If you live too far from any of our Labs to come to us, don't fret. Writopia Lab instructors can work online via Zoom. Since 2008, we have worked remotely with families across the US and the world (including India, China, Europe, and Latin America). Contact privatesessions@writopialab.org with questions and scheduling requests.

College Essays

Dozens of seniors each summer and fall write their college essays at Writopia Lab. Almost every one of our college essay students have won admittance to their top choice schools.

Short Stories, Memoir, or Plays

During the first session, your young writer brainstorms ideas with the instructor, discusses elements of what makes a powerful short story, memoir, or play and begins writing. During the sessions that follow, the instructor continues to walk through the writing process with your child. Young writers have time to process, revise, and write on their own. By the end of ten sessions, most writers will have completed a short piece which they may choose to submit to various recognition programs, publications, or festivals!

Novel Writing

In our series of ongoing private sessions, each writer receives focused, in-depth feedback on his or her novel from a published author that considers each line and the entire novel. Typically, writers start with at least a partially completed draft. Prior to the first meeting, the author will read the writer's work-in-progress. Throughout the rest of the process, the writer and author explore and discuss the elements of the central story, how each chapter contributes to this central story, and literary tools that deepen the book's themes as the writer completes a strong draft of the novel. The author and writer often also work through revisions as part of this process.

Academic Support and Homework Help

Writopia Lab tutors help students across the country become better essay writers, test takers, and researchers. We start with the basics with younger writers, and help teens think critically, analyze, express ideas, and apply a clear structure to their creative and intellectual concepts within their school papers.

We cover homework help for all core humanities courses, as well as, but not limited to:

• The Five Paragraph Essay
• Persuasive essays
• Literary analyses
• Research papers
• Book reports

And more!

Private Sessions Tuition

• Creative and Essay Writing: $125
• College and School Admissions Essay: $210*
• Filmmaking: $145
• Semi-Private: $85 per writer (limit of 2 writers)
• Private Workshops Tuition: $325 per writer for five sessions

*Please note that we have a sliding scale option available for College Essay sessions if needed:

• FULL TUITION: $210/hour
• TIER 1: $180/hour
• TIER 2: $155/hour

Tuition Discount

We offer the following discounts on session packages:

• 5 sessions - Your scheduled private sessions + 1 drop-in session for any of our creative writing workshops at no extra cost
• 10 sessions - Your 10th session will be half-off the original price

*Test Preparation includes ELA, Regents, SAT, ACT, SSAT, AP.

Cancellation Policy

Sessions that are not cancelled more than 24 hours ahead of time must be paid for in full.