Editorial Services
Fast, meticulous developmental and line editing for individuals and creative organizations. My work is based on 30-plus years experience, with proven results in both fiction and nonfiction.
Recent clients have received big-press and small-press contracts, along with major media attention, and have won serious literary recognition, including being long-listed for the National Book Award and many best-of-year lists. For rates and further information please use the form on my contact page. I’d be happy to tell you more!
I teach creative writing through the Center for Fiction in New York and International Literary Seminars in Nairobi and Lamu, Kenya. In addition, I have taught at Summer Literary Seminars in Tblisi, St. Petersburg, Vilnius, Lithuania, and Montreal; as an adjunct in the MFA Program at Columbia University; and at the New York Public Library through the New York Writers Workshop.
2023 Classes
History in Literary Fiction & Memoir , September 12-October 3
Four Tuesdays, offered by the Center for Fiction, via Zoom, 7-9 PM ET. Information and registration here.
International Literary Seminars in Kenya December 5-20. Applications for fellowship are now open.
PAST CLASSES
Crossing the Lines: Applying Writing Strategies Across Genres
Six Mondays, via zoom, April 10-May 15, 7-9PM ET, offered through the Center for Fiction.
2022 Classes
INTERNATIONAL LITERARY SEMINARS, KENYA
December 2-22, Nairobi & Lamu, Core faculty
THE ART OF COMPRESSION
The New York Public Library (offered through new York Writers Workshop), Nov. 2, 9, and 16
THE ART OF COMPRESSION (FLASH FICTION BOOTCAMP)
Wednesday & Saturday, 6/8 & 6/11
6-9pm ET (6/8), 11am – 2pm ET (6/11)
What can a writer learn from compression? In a word, everything. Short works allow us to examine in a granular way how we make art out of language. Every great work, no matter its length, issues out of precision–of language, of structure, of vision and voice. In the first session, we’ll discuss sentence-making, voice, and structure, with specific examples, in an interactive format. We’ll end with a few prompts from which to chose. In the second session, we’ll share work that we’ve created, look at strategies for refining the work (including titles), and consider the ways that short pieces can be layered into longer narratives. The door is open to innovation and suggestion, to language, to mystery and to surprise.
Writing the Story That Only You Can Tell (via zoom) January 26-March 9
This Wednesday evening class is offered via Graver Good’s Impracticum Series and applies applies a granular, analytical attention to sentence-making, composition, and editing, while surfacing students’ deeper layers of creative consciousness through principles of yoga and meditation. For more information or to register, please go here.
2021 Classes
Crossing the Lines: Mixed-Genre Workshop (via zoom), Fall 2021
September 22--October 27: Six Wednesdays from 7-9PM ET.
This workshop is for anyone writing literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, or hybrid work, and for those who genre-hop. We’ll explore writing strategies that apply across the board, from tapping into the roots of creativity, to sentence-making and structure, to sustainable writing practices.
Class meets every Wednesday from 7-9PM ET over zoom.
Offered through the Center for Fiction. For more information and to register, please go here.
Crossing the Lines: Mixed-Genre Workshop (via zoom), Spring 2021
April 21-May 26: Six Wednesdays from 7-9PM ET. This workshop is for anyone writing literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, or hybrid work, and for those who genre-hop. We’ll explore writing strategies that apply across the board, from tapping into the roots of creativity, to sentence-making and structure, to sustainable writing practices.
Class meets every Wednesday from 7-9PM ET over zoom.
Offered through the Center for Fiction. For more information and to register, please go here.
Summer Literary Seminars/St. Petersburg Review (Via zoom) Mixed-Genre/hybrid masterclass. Intensive two-week course, January 17-January 31, 2021.
(complete)
2020 Classes
Summer Literary Seminars/St. Petersburg Review Two-week intensive, Fall 2020
(Sold out)
Yoga & Creative Writing, the Center for Fiction, Fall 2020
(Sold out)
Yoga & Creative Writing, the Center for Fiction, Spring 2020
(This course is sold out. Please contact me if you would like to be notified of future sessions.)
2019-2019 Teaching
Ocean State Writer’s Conference, the University of Rhode Island, October 25-27
Columbia University, Short Form Prose, Spring semester
The Center for Fiction, 6-week class, March 19-April 30. Register here.
Trinity College, reading and discussion, March 14
Westport Lighthouse Writers Retreat, Zen & Ink, Pacific Post, Washington State May 16-19
The New School, Summer Writers Colony speaker, June 12
Wildacres Writers Retreat , Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, July 6-12
Summer Literary Seminars, Tblisi, Georgia, July 15-28
Testimonials
“Not just a fabulous writer, Dawn Raffel is also an incisive, thoughtful, and passionate editor with a long track record of taking books and writers to the next level. Dzanc Books has turned to her time and time again to help guide projects from conception to completion and will continue to do so for a long time to come.”
“Dawn Raffel is one of the industry’s very finest. An extraordinary writer herself, she cares deeply as well about the work of others. Asking the right questions, weighing the consequences, Dawn brings both integrity and compassion to her editing. I worked with Dawn on my Shebooks memoir, “Nest. Flight. Sky.” She invited me to write it. She waited while I did. She cared. That book exists because of Dawn.”
“Dawn Raffel is simply the best. Her edits make perfect sense and she really goes the extra mile to understand what it is you are trying to do, and how she can point the way forward toward your own chosen direction. Her advice has made all the difference for me.”
“Dawn Raffel is hands-down the smartest and most creative magazine editor I’ve worked with. I’ve written for her for about 20 years at places including Redbook, Oprah, Readers Digest, and Shebooks, and would follow her anywhere.”
““Dawn Raffel’s brilliance is unique. I strongly recommend her workshops for the opportunity to encounter her original, elegant, insightful and astounding aesthetic IQ, which is within one of the most tactful and generous of spirits.”
— Sari Friedman”
“Dawn Raffel’s editing class was an immense help in shaping the first chapter of my novel. Her astute edits clarified the ideas I was attempting to express and aided me in revealing the essence of my story as quickly as possible. Dawn has tons of experience and knowledge, sees clearly what you’re trying to do, and helps you get there in the best possible manner. She engages everyone in the class, gets to the point, and has practical, sensible advice. Dawn not only made my writing better, but gave me a dose of confidence to keep going. Take her class!
—Mauro M.”