Stephen Cooper

Instructor Biography:

MFA, PhD, and NEA Fellow whose short stories have appeared widely, is the author of Full of Life: A Biography of John Fante, an LA Times Best Book of the Year. He developed and coproduced the 2018 Netflix Original documentary Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski.

Instructor Statement:

Whether I am teaching Introduction to Fiction, Advanced Short Story Workshop, or anything in between, I encourage my students to read and write, and above all to rewrite the way that real writers know they must do--and then to take heart from their own successes. By attending to the words, the images, and the shape of manuscripts in an atmosphere of mutual and clear-eyed support, we collaborate in the construction not only of stories but also of writers themselves.

Our Students Say it Best!

“Stephen was a great instructor. He does a really good job of facilitating the class discussion while also providing his own valuable feedback.  I would definitely recommend his class to others!”  —Writers’ Program student