The Final Draft
A writing intensive at Drawing Room
From prompt to polished. Turn your project into a finished piece.
Anyone who’s tried to write something knows about the middle. You have a piece you keep circling — a short story, a memoir chapter, a poetry collection, a novel in fragments — and you've been chipping away at it for months, or years. You keep meaning to get back to it, but haven't finished it yet.
The Final Draft is an eight-week intensive for that piece. Whether its a short story, a narrative essay, chapters of a memoir/novel, collection of poems, or a piece of dramatic writing, writing in a group setting with structured assignments, sharing, and feedback cycles help move you through the stages, unblock, and commit time towards your project to get it to the finish line.
An 8-week writing intensive for anyone ready to complete a substantial piece.
Great for those who have a vision for a project or one already in motion. This intensive consists of reviewing structured revisions, weekly submissions, generative critique, and a 1-on-1 with the instructor every week. You bring a piece. You leave with something complete. A shared experience with a group of up to twelve people.
Now Enrolling for Winter
“The Final Draft”
4 installments of $230
(or $890 upfront)
8 sessions over 8 weeks. Mondays, 6:30pm-9:30pm, between Nov 23 to Jan 18 in our Midtown location.
Exact dates: Nov 16, Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14, Jan 4, Jan 11, Jan 25, Feb 1.
Limited spots available, don’t wait to save your seat!
Sessions in this Intensive
Session 1
“Blueprint”
We'll build the room together over dinner, receive our Revision Toolkits, and map out a path forward for your project.
Session 2
“Start Your Engine”
We shift from possibility to propulsion. Workshop your structural map in small groups to uncover the driving force behind your piece.
Session 3
“Architecture of Story”
Discover the peculiar quirks that make a voice yours. Hear early pages from others and learn how to listen and respond in ways that feel actionable and specific.
Session 4
“Hearing Voices” (A Field Trip)
We're going on a field trip! This session focuses on dialogue and subtext, what people say, what they don't, and what happens in between. During a visit to a public space or storytelling, we’ll eavesdrop on conversations, observe body language, and find the unique characters next to us.
We’re going on a trip! Tickets for admission are included.
Session 5
“Glorious Mess”
Learn how to get unblocked by writing a complete disaster draft that is messy, wandering, or full of wrong turns.
Session 6
“Kill Your Darlings”
Learn practical editing techniques: cutting words, tightening scenes, and making every sentence earn its place. You'll leave with a leaner, meaner, more alive draft.
Session 7
“Feedback Fandango”
Slow down and listen in a full-group workshop with a twist. With playful yet meaningful critique, gain a deeper understanding of your piece and its impact on others.
Session 8
“Literary Party”
We end with a celebration and sharing of a single polished page or story up to five minutes. Guests are welcome. Cheese, wine, sweets, included.
Cheese, wine, & sweets included–its a celebration! (Allergen-free options available)
Showcase at Drawing Room Night
We invite all intensive participants to showcase their works at our seasonal event, Drawing Room Night! Open to members, friends, and the public, it’s an opportunity to show off your work to a large, engaged audience. We’ll have food, drinks, and cake!
Your Instructor
Rachel (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and educator based in Brooklyn. At Drawing Room, she leads storytelling centered classes that blend craft, play, and collaboration, with a strong focus on building creative confidence and genuine community through shared practice.
What makes up an Intensive?
Dive deeper and build confidence
While Intensives are still open-level and beginner-friendly, we dig deeper and push ourselves to gain confidence, practice, and see improvement.
Intensives are great for when you know you’re really interested in pushing yourself in a particular area. It’s an opportunity to actively create and discuss the philosophy of creativity—exploring how we can weave the practices into our daily lives with intention and purpose.
Unique program design at a great value
Each Intensive is designed with intention and care for the Drawing Room community by professional working artists that reflect their own practice.
We focus on learning and deepening new skills while also connecting with the group over food, drink, and conversation.
Recurring schedule and accountability
Intensives are recurring on the same day for 8 weeks, made up of the same group of up to 16 people.
Build connections with your classmates over the entire Intensive program, see each other grow, and hold yourself accountable to your commitments.
Drawing Room as your campus
Intensive enrollment includes the Creative Flow Membership, giving you access to the Art Library and Open Hours. Just show your digital member card to drop by anytime the space is open—whether to keep practicing, co-work, or connect with friends.
Get 15% off everything else with the membership, too.
Workshop materials and supplies
All materials and supplies needed for your workshops are provided on-site and you take home the pieces you create.
Depending on the intensive, you’ll also receive storage space or take-home kits to work on your projects between sessions!
Office Hours with Instructors
Starting Fall 2026
Intensive students and alumni have the ability to schedule time with Instructors to receive additional support, access to class equipment, and ask questions as you work on independent projects during Open Hours.
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