Supporting Writers and Everyone Who Wants to Write
The Writer’s Center offers hundreds of writing workshops, hosts dozens of free events, and fosters a community of writers, virtually and in-person.
Workshops & Free Events Calendar
Events
Calendar of Events
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Saturday
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10 events,
Venue :
Zoom
Bring your novel to life with best-selling author Susan Coll! Whether you have been thinking about writing a novel for years but are not sure how to get started, or are already published but embarking on a new project, this year-long workshop is intended to help get the next book off the ground. Watch the Virtual Info Session Meet Susan Coll, instructor for our Novel Year workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered! WATCH NOW >>> Over the course of twenty sessions, we will: create a fun, warm, and supportive writing community discuss and engage in exercises focused […]
Venue :
Wet Ink
Through reflection, community, and practice, you’ll awaken the artist within and build a creative life that feels aligned and alive. This year-long journey through The Artist’s Way offers a sustained path for creative reawakening and artistic growth. Writers, artists, and creative seekers will move chapter by chapter through Julia Cameron’s classic text, reconnecting with their sense of purpose and play. The course offers the freedom to move at your own pace on Wet Ink, while regular virtual gatherings provide structure, engagement, and a sense of shared creative energy. Participants will receive guidance, accountability, and community support as you nurture your creative […]
Register
$2,000.00
Venue :
Zoom
Work on your memoir with bestselling author Nicole Chung! This intensive workshop is open to writers working on a memoir or memoir-in-essays. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in lively craft discussions, generative exercises, and in-depth workshops designed to help you identify and hone your strengths as a writer. If you have an idea for a memoir and are looking to jumpstart it—or are already underway, but want some help to maintain your momentum—this class will help you take concrete next steps and deepen your craft in a supportive community. Watch the Virtual Info Session Meet Nicole Chung, instructor for our […]
Venue :
Zoom
Jumpstart your novel and writing practice in this ten-month intensive! If you're wondering how to write a novel and sustain a writing practice in the midst of everything, Novel Club is for you. Together, with the guidance of an experienced mentor and author and the camaraderie of your Novel Club cohort, this is the year we will write and revise our novels. Through craft talks, workshops, and generative exercises, you'll experiment, look at your blocks, and define your creative process, building a regular writing practice that works for your project and busy life. You'll find a clear path forward for your […]
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions 
Writing poems is discovery on paper, and good poems surprise and delight the poet as much as anyone....
Register
$295.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions 
This six-week interactive class is designed to give you the skills to write rich descriptive sentenc...
Register
$215.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 7 Sessions 
This workshop studies how poems can respond to paintings, photographs, monuments, advertisements, fi...
Register
$350.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 10 Sessions 
In this 10-week intermediate to advanced workshop, writers will complete a feature-length screenplay...
Register
$415.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions 
Are you serious about writing a novel but struggling? This intermediate course will examine the eigh...
Register
$395.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions 
Deep reading and insightful questions are the hallmarks of this course. If you have previous worksho...
Register
$295.00
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11 events,Self-Publishing 101
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session
Discover the core steps of self-publishing from a 40-time bestselling author. Explore editing, writi...
Register
$60.00
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9 events, |
9 events, |
11 events,Let the Soft Animals Speak: Writing the Wild with Craft and Care
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 2 Sessions 
When Mary Oliver tells us to let the soft animal of love what love, we know exac...
Register
$100.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 2 Sessions
When Mary Oliver tells us to let the soft animal of love what love, we know exac...
Register
$100.00
Virtual Craft Chat w/ Author Haili Blassingame
Venue :
Zoom
The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of nonfiction! We’re joined by author Haili Blassingame for a discussion of her new publication, They All Fall in Love at the End. Haili is in conversation with Amy Freeman, author and Development Director at The Writer’s Center. RSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public, all times Eastern We encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local, independent bookseller or online from Bookshop.org » Haili Blassingame is a producer for the NPR program 1A. She has written for […]
Register
Free
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10 events, |
10 events, |
11 events,Building a Writing Process
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions
Do you ever think to yourself: “Why is it so hard to get my ideas out of my head and onto the page?”...
Register
$150.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions
Do you ever think to yourself: “Why is it so hard to get my ideas out of my head and onto the page?”...
Register
$150.00
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13 events,Novel 101: How to Craft the Story
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions 
This class offers the key concepts of plotting and pacing while delving into different genres. Begin...
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions
This class offers the key concepts of plotting and pacing while delving into different genres. Begin...
Register
$215.00
How to Write a Heist
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 2 Sessions 
This one-day, generative workshop will help you brainstorm a heist story, explore how heists immerse...
Register
$115.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 2 Sessions
This one-day, generative workshop will help you brainstorm a heist story, explore how heists immerse...
Register
$115.00
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13 events, |
14 events,Poetry Potluck: 5 Forms in 3 Weeks
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions 
Build your literary muscles by practicing a mix of five contemporary and traditional forms: sonnets,...
Register
$150.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions
Build your literary muscles by practicing a mix of five contemporary and traditional forms: sonnets,...
Register
$150.00
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14 events, |
13 events,DIY Novel Revision
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Do you have a finished draft of a novel but don’t know what to do next? This workshop will take you ...
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Do you have a finished draft of a novel but don’t know what to do next? This workshop will take you ...
Register
$215.00
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13 events, |
15 events,Persona Poem Crash Course
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
In the Persona Poem, or Dramatic Monologue, the poet writes in the voice of another real or imagined...
Register
$60.00
Women Writers Mixer
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Women writers of DC! Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center! It’ll be a chance to talk shop, network, and hang out with other writers. Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six, and bring a friend, too. See you there! FREE & open to all women writers from the DMV. RSVP required below. Attending? We encourage you to become a member of The Writer’s Center for only $65/year »
Register
Free
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14 events,Making a Broadside
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session
A broadside is an art print with text and drawings. Participants will receive printmaking paper, ste...
Register
$60.00
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13 events,Virtual Info Session for One Year to Your YA Novel w/ Betsy Cornwell
Venue :
Zoom
Meet Betsy Cornwell, instructor for our yearlong YA novel workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered! The Writer’s Center staff will be on hand, too, to address any logistical questions. Register below! About the Program Application Deadline: September 4, 2026 Workshop Dates: Begins September 15, meeting twice a month for ~10 months Cost: $5,400 | Members $5,300 Write your YA novel over the course of a school year with bestselling author Betsy Cornwell! In this intensive ten-month course, you'll take your young adult novel from concept to complete manuscript with guidance from New York Times bestselling author Betsy Cornwell, […]
Register
Free
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14 events,Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and readings begin promptly at 7pm. Limited to 20 readers, so arrive early if you plan to read. Sponsored by Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry magazine. FREE and open to the public. Please note that we no longer offer advance sign-up. If you need an accommodation for this event, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services. Enjoying […]
Register
Free
Poetry Book Club w/ Adam Gianforcaro!
Venue :
Zoom
Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry journal and The Writer’s Center welcomes poet Adam Gianforcaro to our monthly Virtual Poetry Book Club for a discussion of his collection, Poems to Stage Dive to. Adam is joined by Book Club Host, Hannah Grieco. We encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local, independent bookseller or online » ***Get a 30% discount on Poems to Stage Dive to through the above link (Stanchion Zine) with the coupon code STAGEDIVE*** FREE & open to the public. RSVP below. Adam Gianforcaro is the author of the poetry collection Every Living Day (Thirty West, 2023). […]
Register
Free
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13 events,Inner Loop Author’s Corner w/ Stephanie Dupal!
Venue :
Zoom
The Inner Loop and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of fiction! We’re joined by Stephanie Dupal to discuss her short story collection, The Kindness of Terrible People and Other Stories. Stephanie is in conversation with author Emily Mitchell. The Kindness of Terrible People and Other Stories is The Inner Loop’s Author’s Corner spotlight. The Inner Loop cultivates and promotes the distinctive literary culture of Washington, DC. Author’s Corner supports local authors’ independently published books by spotlighting them in community programming and collaborations. RSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public, all times Eastern We […]
Register
Free
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12 events, |
14 events,Writing the Truth
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session
Writers will explore how honesty and vulnerability can strengthen personal narrative. Through guided...
Register
$60.00
Polishing Your First Draft
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
When the first draft is complete, the real work begins. You should not be your only editor, but you ...
Register
$60.00
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12 events, |
11 events, |
11 events, |
11 events, |
12 events,Your Literary Lineage: From Beloved Work to New Poems
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session
Our poetic inspirations are a kind of chosen family. In this workshop, we will explore the ways we c...
Register
$60.00
Write Like the News
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Lead with the future — not background — for lead-ership, especially in a crisis. That’s the most imp...
Register
$60.00
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9 events, |
10 events,Cover Letters and Agent Queries
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Your query letter is your first introduction to a potential agent--which is to say, your first intro...
Register
$60.00
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11 events,Subtleties of Meter
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
To explore some of the fine points of meter, we will examine how metrical patterns can vary between ...
Register
$60.00
Book Launch for Poet Robert Tobias
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes poet Robert Tobias for a reading from his newest collection, What Lives in Me. FREE & open to the public. RSVP below. Robert M. Tobias, a debut author at 82, completed his fourteen-year career as the General Counsel of the National Treasury Employees Union successfully suing Presidents Nixon ($533M in back pay) and Reagan (reversing his cancellation of all federal appointments from the time of his election to the date of his inauguration), and several federal agencies concerning violations of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act. He then served as the union president for sixteen years leading […]
Register
Free
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9 events, |
9 events,Virtual Info Session for Your Narrative, Your Year w/ Edgar Gomez
Venue :
Zoom
Meet Edgar Gomez, instructor for our yearlong memoir workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered! The Writer’s Center staff will be on hand, too, to address any logistical […]
Register
Free
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8 events,Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and readings begin promptly at 7pm. Limited to 20 readers, so arrive early if you plan to read. Sponsored by Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry magazine. FREE and open to the public. Please note that we no longer offer advance sign-up. If you need an accommodation for this event, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services. Enjoying […]
Register
Free
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7 events,A Beginner’s Guide to Lit Mags and Submitting
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session What exactly is a tiered rejection? How does Submittable work? How do I learn about different literary journals? This pop-up is for writers who are new to submitting, as well as more experienced writers who want to improve their odds of acceptance. We'll discuss all the basics of submitting your fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry to literary journals. You’ll learn the submission vocabulary, how to write a cover letter, how far to cast your net, methods to improve your acceptance rate, and how to connect with other writers (and editors!) in the literary community to help you learn and grow as a writer. We'll finish with […]
Register
$60.00
The Eerie Twinship Between the Haunted and the Nostalgic
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
This craft talk and generative workshop examines how absence, memory, and longing operate in fiction...
Register
$60.00
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6 events,Virtual Craft Chat w/ Poet Diana Cao
Venue :
Zoom
The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry! We’re joined by author Diana Cao for a discussion of her debut poetry collection, Slipstream. Diana is in conversation with Brandon Johnson, poet and Events Director at The Writer’s Center. RSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public, all times Eastern We encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local, independent bookseller or directly from the publisher Diana Cao is the author of the chapbook Relational. Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, The Kenyon Review, The Yale Review, The Threepenny Review, and […]
Register
Free
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How Can We Support You?
Discover more about what we offer in the categories below.
Rent a Space at TWC
Make The Writer’s Center the venue for your next meeting or event in Bethesda, Maryland! From off-site business meetings to theater productions, we have a space that’s right for you.
Our Impact
How We Support Writers
Writing classes. Free events for writers. New friends and networking. Every year, The Writer’s Center delivers hundreds of ways to connect more deeply with the literary life. Our writers hone their writing craft, master editing and revision, share their work, and get published. Most importantly, we bring likeminded writers together into a fun and welcoming community.
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workshop registrations annually
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programs for writers every year
Curated Conversation(s):
a Latinx Poetry Show
Curated Conversation(s) is a virtual discussion series. Season 1 features debut Latinx poets, and Season 2 pairs Latinx poets from the United Kingdom and United States.
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What does it mean to write from a wound? What does it mean to write from a scar? There are readers out there right now who need to see someone giving language to what they feel. But even with permission, it can be hard to find our way into a hard piece. In this gentle 2-hour class, we’ll explore five different hermit crab forms that work beautifully for grief writing and take inspiration from freeing, empowering examples. Each participant will leave with the starts of five pieces of writing and inviting ideas for how to continue. There is nothing you need to prepare in advance–come as you are.
Register at writer.org
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When the first draft is complete, the real work begins. You should not be your only editor, but you can be the first. Learn tips on how to tighten your prose, improve the immediacy and urgency of your work, identify plot holes, and more so that your work shines when you send it out wherever you decide to send it next. Note, this is not a class in grammar. You will learn the rules of developmental editing, so that you can follow or break them if you choose!
Register at writer.org
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Writers will explore how honesty and vulnerability can strengthen personal narrative. Through guided prompts, reflection, and discussion, participants will examine the internal barriers—such as fear, perfectionism, and self-censorship—that can prevent deeper truth from emerging on the page. By the end of the workshop, writers will leave with fresh insights for writing with greater authenticity and emotional clarity. No preparation required.
Register at writer.org
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Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry journal and The Writer’s Center welcomes poet Adam Gianforcaro to our monthly Virtual Poetry Book Club for a discussion of his collection, Poems to Stage Dive to. Adam is joined by Book Club Host, Hannah Grieco. FREE & open to the public. RSVP at writer.org
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