Ron Nyren

I teach creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, including in the Stanford Continuing Studies Online Certificate Program in Novel Writing. This summer, I’m teaching an open class for Stanford Continuing Studies starting June 22 called “Plot and Structure: Novel Workshop for Manuscripts in Progress.” To find out more or to register, click here. And to see all of Stanford Continuing Studies’ creative writing courses this quarter, click here.

Testimonials from Students

“Ron is not only a knowledgeable teacher, but a fantastic human. He fostered an environment of open discourse and valuable feedback. He gave us flexible assignments and was generous with deadlines. His feedback to our work was always incredibly thoughtful and thorough; he bolstered us while giving us food for thought. Ron encouraged us to be messy and make mistakes, take a step away to regroup and to know that first drafts need room to breathe. I appreciate him and his expertise. Thank you for a wonderful quarter of growth, Ron!”

“Ron is in the top 3 instructors I've had in my academic lifetime - and that includes 2 Masters and one Doctoral degree. His energy, calm demeanor, sense of humor, high intellect, talent as a writer and general humanity are simply remarkable. I've learned so much in the last 10 weeks and am indebted.”

“Ron is a fantastic teacher who cultivated an atmosphere of gentle encouragement and exploration. He provided very helpful notes on students’ writing, and his craft instruction during Zoom sessions was excellent. I learned so much and really enjoyed the class.”

“The instructor was great, and I feel I learned a lot from him. A memorable teacher is one who leads you to a shift in your thinking/approach/ perspective, and Ron has a very thoughtful and gentle way of achieving this. I respected his views and his approach in the class, and he's someone whose opinions I would seek out in the future if I had an opportunity. I appreciated the way he prepped the class for the feedback sessions and workshops, and I think we all got a better sense of our work thanks to that, and I feel excited about going back to working on my chapter. His lectures in class and the in-class exercises all tied together very nicely, and each exercise did take me to a new level in my thinking and appreciation for whatever topic it was that we were looking at that week.”

“This class was a wonderful experience. Ron did a great job of structuring the class. He delivered the content very well and structured the class so the readings were relevant and the workshop discussions were highly productive. Without exception the workshop sessions were appreciated by those contributing their work. Ron's personal experience and depth in the subject made students feel he was credible yet he always focused on drawing out the best contributions from students during class discussion in a comfortable and congenial atmosphere. His leadership made the flow of dialogue open and constructive. I learned a great deal and more importantly, personally felt more motivated to continue developing my writing skills.”

“PLEASE bring Ron Nyren back! He's clear, insightful, and an amazing discussion facilitator. This was such an enjoyable course, and he ran it so well. I've taken other courses in the Continuing Studies program before, but I almost don't want to take another one unless Ron is teaching it. :) Truly, and without exaggeration, this was a fantastic course that brightened up my week.”

“One of the best writing classes I have taken. Weekly topics, handouts, readings, discussions all superbly planned and executed. Most importantly, Ron has a rare and essential gift for creating an atmosphere of sensitivity, trust, and respect during discussions of beginning writer's work.”

“Ron Nyren is an extraordinarily considerate, articulate and thought-provoking teacher. He has an exceptionally keen eye for the intricacies of writing and is able to share that sensitive, discerning perspective with his students in a way that increases the depth of a conversation without turning it in any way harsh or negatively critical. I have an MFA in creative writing, so I have the experience of taking quite a lot of writing classes. Ron's class went into depths of understanding and critique that I have never before experienced.…I felt intellectually and creatively challenged and invigorated by the class. It inspired me and supported me, making me more certain and appreciative of myself as a writer. I would absolutely love to take any future classes Ron teaches and plan to check each quarter to see if a new one is offered.”

“I enjoyed this course immensely and would definitely take another class with Ron! He was well prepared, paced the subject matter appropriately and made the class fun. Although I was a novice, I felt encouraged and supported. Well done!”

I would take another course by this instructor in a heartbeat! His written lectures alone were a treasure of information and suggestions on how to navigate possible difficulties with the topic of the week. Ron is a great listener, which I know is the hallmark of a good instructor. Due to that ability, his answers/suggestions were tailored to the need or the question from the student.”

“Ron is a wonderful creative writing instructor. I learned a lot from him in this class thanks to the readings he assigned, the way he structured the course, the feedback he gave during our discussions of workshop pieces, the lectures he gave on elements of creative writing, and the writing assignments he selected. I also found his demeanor and teaching style extraordinarily pleasant, helpful, and informative. Ditto for his manner of providing feedback.”