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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15 events,
Register
$2,000.00
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions This workshop will help you understand the process of writing a novel so you can get started putting pen to paper. The workshop will focus on everything from generating ideas to developing characters to establishing point of view. Participants will discuss many elements of fiction (dialogue, scene, etc.) but the emphasis will be on discovering the writing process that works best for each writer.
Register
$395.00
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions An introduction to archival research through narrative writing and experimentation. Learn how to work with and historical resources, interpret gaps, and reconstruct your own story as a public history tool. The workshop will include a presentation of examples from the instructor's current research process, featuring archival imagery, documents and story iterations. Participants will engage in exercises to think and write through their own narrative projects, whether meant for personal memoir or public scholarship. Designed for emerging scholars, writers, and community members interested in recovering underrepresented histories.
Register
$250.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Discover how creative constraints can unlock surprising new possibilities in your writing. In this four-week generative workshop, we will explore how playing with time, form, and omission can change stories and move them beyond the familiar. Through close reading, discussion, and in-class exercises, participants will experiment with techniques to play with their stories. By the end of the workshop, participants will have several new drafts as well as a toolkit of exercises and strategies for future work. Participants should come prepared to write and to read a small selection of flash fiction between sessions; no advance preparation is required for the first class.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions Look beyond your inner critic and limiting beliefs to tap into the flow of your boundless creativity, as you discover the powerful impact of your authentic voice. Over eight weeks, we'll be identifying unhelpful thoughts, deconstructing doubt, and building a sustained creative recovery practice that lets you write compelling pieces and foster a special connection with your readers. In a safe and supportive space, reintroduce your childlike wonder around creativity so you can write freely, reclaim your power, and uncover your true gifts. Unleash your brilliance and honor the impact of your stories, lessons, and innermost thoughts. Walk away feeling empowered with fresh awareness, confidence in your writing, and practical tools to stay inspired and let your art flow freely—long after the workshop ends. While the core workshop runs asynchronously on Wet Ink, it includes two optional live Zoom sessions, one at the start to meet as a group and set intentions, and one at the midpoint to check in, share progress, and troubleshoot together. Dates and times will be pre-set and shared upon registration; attendance is optional and encouraged, not required.
Register
$395.00
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions This workshop deconstructs and demystifies the novel-writing process for struggling and/or aspiring writers. We'll go all the way from getting the nub of an idea to getting your book into the hands of expectant fans. Along the way, you'll learn how to stay organized, write in the voice of other genders, the art of rewriting, and how to overcome your writing and marketing fears. By the end of our time together, you'll be prepared to begin work on a novel and will be equipped with the skills to perfect it. The sessions will include time for writing and for being critiqued.
Register
$295.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions More and more, popular culture has been fascinated by narratives that depict coming of age from the perspective of the child in the form of memoir, often demonstrating cultural diversity. This workshop will focus stories drawn from participants’ own life experiences that have certain fictional elements and are structured like fiction. During each week of the course, we will write short pieces of memoir, based on the following: certain places and individuals you remember, certain traditions and even collective traumas that predate the first-person narrator, certain positive events as well as troubling events, with the liberty to fictionalize and embellish the autobiographical story. We will develop a foundation for the elements of fiction: plot, character, internal monologue, and dialogue while studying published works in the genre.
Register
$250.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 8 Sessions Can't find the time/energy/inspiration to get your novel written? This popular course, developed by the author of the book by the same name, will help you complete a rough draft in record time. During the 8 weeks of the course, students will receive encouraging guidance from professional writing coach Kathryn Johnson. Each author will commit to an aggressive writing schedule and learn the tricks pros use to create a productive working environment and meet their deadlines, despite life’s distractions. Each class will include accountability and progress reports from each student, live troubleshooting discussions, a brief lecture on a key skill of fiction writing, and the opportunity to submit a portion of the students’ works-in-progress to the instructor for individual feedback and guidance. (Note: This is not a work-shopping course. Further information will be sent to registered students, in advance of the first class.)
Register
$395.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 2 Sessions You’ve written, or are writing your book; now it’s time to fight for it! In this workshop you’ll discover over 25 practical, budget-friendly book marketing strategies, from building a book launch to leveraging social media, blogs, podcasts, Amazon tools, press releases, and more. Each session will be fast-paced, idea-heavy, and packed with real-world tactics you can apply immediately. By the end of the program, you’ll walk away with a personalized, actionable marketing plan, and the confidence to promote your book like a pro.
Register
$100.00
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16 events,Finish Your Poetry Book
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 10 Sessions Whether you have just started your manuscript, or have made significant progress, this course will help you get over the finish line. We'll learn how to structure the book in a way that adds layers of meaning to the poems within, generate new work to fill in the structure, and hone poems until they are book-ready. To finish, students will revise the book as a whole and make a publication plan.
Register
$415.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 10 Sessions Whether you have just started your manuscript, or have made significant progress, this course will help you get over the finish line. We'll learn how to structure the book in a way that adds layers of meaning to the poems within, generate new work to fill in the structure, and hone poems until they are book-ready. To finish, students will revise the book as a whole and make a publication plan.
Register
$415.00
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17 events,Fundamentals of Persuasive Writing
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions Learn how to pack a powerful punch when writing persuasively! This four-week workshop covers the processes involved in writing persuasively and with confidence, whether it is crafting newspaper op-eds and speeches or official emails, memos, letters and proposals. Everything starts with a core message. Think. Plan. Write. Participants will learn the techniques of audience analysis, message development, targeted research, organization, using persuasive language and effective use of "AI" in planning/strategizing. This class features hands-on writing instruction, engaging discussion and an extensive reading list.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions Learn how to pack a powerful punch when writing persuasively! This four-week workshop covers the processes involved in writing persuasively and with confidence, whether it is crafting newspaper op-eds and speeches or official emails, memos, letters and proposals. Everything starts with a core message. Think. Plan. Write. Participants will learn the techniques of audience analysis, message development, targeted research, organization, using persuasive language and effective use of "AI" in planning/strategizing. This class features hands-on writing instruction, engaging discussion and an extensive reading list.
Register
$215.00
|
18 events,
Register
$395.00
Novel 101: How to Craft the Story
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions If you’ve always wanted to create your own exciting novel then this is the class for you. This class offers the key concepts of plotting and pacing while delving into […]
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions If you’ve always wanted to create your own exciting novel then this is the class for you. This class offers the key concepts of plotting and pacing while delving into […]
Register
$215.00
|
17 events,(Wet Ink) Plotting Your Novel
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Whether you are an organized planner or a writer who flies by the seat of their pants, a novel still needs structure. In this workshop, participants will study the architecture of a novel and devise plans for plotting their novels. Using the three-act structure as a map, we will explore the basic components of a novel’s plot.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Whether you are an organized planner or a writer who flies by the seat of their pants, a novel still needs structure. In this workshop, participants will study the architecture of a novel and devise plans for plotting their novels. Using the three-act structure as a map, we will explore the basic components of a novel’s plot.
Register
$215.00
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20 events,Poetry Vs. Trauma
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions Trauma can shut us down; writing poems can help free us to open up again. This workshop will present some of the many ways poetry has helped writers both heal trauma and prevent post-traumatic stress syndrome. Guided by an internationally published poet and health journalist, you will explore the science behind this and learn a range of techniques, immediately putting several of them to use in drafting new work. The workshop includes reading and discussion of time-honored poems, close attention to emotional and sensory aspects of poetry, several in-class writing exercises, and feedback on poems for those who wish to share them. (NOTE: All sharing is optional. This workshop is not a substitute for therapy.)
Register
$150.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions Trauma can shut us down; writing poems can help free us to open up again. This workshop will present some of the many ways poetry has helped writers both heal trauma and prevent post-traumatic stress syndrome. Guided by an internationally published poet and health journalist, you will explore the science behind this and learn a range of techniques, immediately putting several of them to use in drafting new work. The workshop includes reading and discussion of time-honored poems, close attention to emotional and sensory aspects of poetry, several in-class writing exercises, and feedback on poems for those who wish to share them. (NOTE: All sharing is optional. This workshop is not a substitute for therapy.)
Register
$150.00
Creating Conflict and Tension
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Strengthening the conflict in any type of fiction will bump up the tension and turn limp, ordinary fiction into an extraordinary tale that will keep readers turning pages. Whether you choose to write literary fiction, mysteries, family sagas, thrillers, historical fiction, sci-fi or fantasy—you can learn techniques for drawing readers into your tales through action, dialogue, setting details, and plot twists that make your work stand out from the crowd. Join us and leave with ideas to apply to your stories.
Register
$60.00
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20 events,Lyrical Memoir Writing
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions How do we turn the fragments of memory into writing that resonates? In this workshop guided by award-winning poet Chioma Urama, you’ll learn the techniques of lyrical memoir writing—using image, rhythm, and voice to shape personal experience into powerful narratives. Through guided exercises and discussion, we’ll explore how to access subconscious thought and emotion, and how to find the deeper story hidden in everyday moments. With in-class prompts, shared readings, guided reflection, and a workshop, you’ll practice transforming raw memory into evocative writing that moves both you and your reader. You’ll leave with 2-3 new pieces of writing, a workshopped lyric essay, and inspiration to continue exploring your inner landscape.
Register
$295.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions How do we turn the fragments of memory into writing that resonates? In this workshop guided by award-winning poet Chioma Urama, you’ll learn the techniques of lyrical memoir writing—using image, rhythm, and voice to shape personal experience into powerful narratives. Through guided exercises and discussion, we’ll explore how to access subconscious thought and emotion, and how to find the deeper story hidden in everyday moments. With in-class prompts, shared readings, guided reflection, and a workshop, you’ll practice transforming raw memory into evocative writing that moves both you and your reader. You’ll leave with 2-3 new pieces of writing, a workshopped lyric essay, and inspiration to continue exploring your inner landscape.
Register
$295.00
Triolet Crash Course
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session When you have an idea for a poem but aren’t sure where to start, try a triolet. This eight-line framework can become a powerful poem, or a stanza in a larger one. We’ll start by reading time-honored triolets to see how and why they work. Next we’ll write one together, then individually, with time at the end for feedback.
Register
$60.00
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21 events,(Wet Ink) The Art of the Pitch
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions In this class, we’ll learn how to write a well-crafted pitch that can land you publication in top newspapers and magazines. Whether you are writing newsy personal essays or reported articles, we’ll learn how to catch an editor’s attention by pegging our pitch to a current event, and and showing that we're the right person to tell this story. The teacher will share example pitches that have gotten her published, even with few credits to her name. You'll leave class having sent 3-4 pitches to editors.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions In this class, we’ll learn how to write a well-crafted pitch that can land you publication in top newspapers and magazines. Whether you are writing newsy personal essays or reported articles, we’ll learn how to catch an editor’s attention by pegging our pitch to a current event, and and showing that we're the right person to tell this story. The teacher will share example pitches that have gotten her published, even with few credits to her name. You'll leave class having sent 3-4 pitches to editors.
Register
$215.00
Cafe Muse Literary Salon
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes the Café Muse Literary Salon for a reading featuring writers Lola Haskins and Mary Sesso. The evening begins at 7 PM with Michael Davis live on […] |
22 events,
Register
$5,400.00
Writing Poetry From Where You Live
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions Go beyond nature and love poetry to explore how you live and work in the suburb/city. Participants each week can expect to learn about basic poetry elements, such as line, image, point of view, and rhythm/music, as well as workshop poems each class as a group. Students will also learn how the themes of suburb/city can be used to create poetry that has relevance and purpose for readers and editors. By the end of the class, participants will learn how to go beyond their normal subjects for poems, as well as revise at least one poem.
Register
$250.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions Go beyond nature and love poetry to explore how you live and work in the suburb/city. Participants each week can expect to learn about basic poetry elements, such as line, image, point of view, and rhythm/music, as well as workshop poems each class as a group. Students will also learn how the themes of suburb/city can be used to create poetry that has relevance and purpose for readers and editors. By the end of the class, participants will learn how to go beyond their normal subjects for poems, as well as revise at least one poem.
Register
$250.00
|
23 events,The Sketch Comedy Lab
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions Sketch comedy has a specific architecture, and learning it will sharpen every kind of writing you do. Over four weeks, we'll break down the formulas professional comedy writers use to build original characters, sharp dialogue and hilarious situations from scratch. Each session we'll review popular comedy sketches and hold interactive table reads where your classmates perform your work on screen! By the end of the workshop, you'll have a polished, stage-ready comedic sketch and a set of comedy writing tools you can apply to fiction, essays, plays, and screenplays. No prior comedy experience required.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions Sketch comedy has a specific architecture, and learning it will sharpen every kind of writing you do. Over four weeks, we'll break down the formulas professional comedy writers use to build original characters, sharp dialogue and hilarious situations from scratch. Each session we'll review popular comedy sketches and hold interactive table reads where your classmates perform your work on screen! By the end of the workshop, you'll have a polished, stage-ready comedic sketch and a set of comedy writing tools you can apply to fiction, essays, plays, and screenplays. No prior comedy experience required.
Register
$215.00
Activating Creativity Through Play
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Even the most disciplined writers encounter creative stalls, moments when the page feels resistant and momentum fades. This workshop is designed to help writers restart their creative engines through structured exercises, collaborative prompts, and short creative challenges. Across a series of guided activities, participants will engage in quick writing sprints, storytelling games, and group sharing designed to lower resistance and spark new ideas. The goal isn’t simply to “have fun,” but to reconnect writers with the generative side of their practice, where curiosity, experimentation, and risk-taking often lead to unexpected breakthroughs. By combining playful exercises with thoughtful discussion, the workshop offers writers practical strategies for overcoming blocks, generating fresh material, and maintaining a sustainable creative rhythm.
Register
$60.00
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25 events,From Idea to First Draft
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 3 Sessions This class is designed for writers of all levels to help them find the story tapping them on the shoulder right now so they can put it on the page and begin the process of getting it out in the world where it belongs. The first session will focus on germinating new ideas or further exploring existing ones through prompts and discussion. The second is finding joy and harnessing the power of revision. The third and final session focuses on next steps and sharing your work. Writers will leave the class with a start of a new piece of creative nonfiction, memoir, or hybrid work.
Register
$150.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 3 Sessions This class is designed for writers of all levels to help them find the story tapping them on the shoulder right now so they can put it on the page and begin the process of getting it out in the world where it belongs. The first session will focus on germinating new ideas or further exploring existing ones through prompts and discussion. The second is finding joy and harnessing the power of revision. The third and final session focuses on next steps and sharing your work. Writers will leave the class with a start of a new piece of creative nonfiction, memoir, or hybrid work.
Register
$150.00
Writing Picture Books
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions Learn how to write a picture book from a successful author of thirty award-winning books for children. Each session will begin with a short discussion of an aspect of writing for children, including story openings and arcs, characterization, plot/pacing, rhythm/sound, and marketing. Suggested readings, prompts, and feedback on in-class writing will inspire and guide writers in the class. By the end of the workshop, participants should have written and/or revised part or all of a picture book and have a better sense of how to create one in the future. Feedback will be offered on in-class exercises only rather than workshopping writing done outside of class.
Register
$150.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions Learn how to write a picture book from a successful author of thirty award-winning books for children. Each session will begin with a short discussion of an aspect of writing for children, including story openings and arcs, characterization, plot/pacing, rhythm/sound, and marketing. Suggested readings, prompts, and feedback on in-class writing will inspire and guide writers in the class. By the end of the workshop, participants should have written and/or revised part or all of a picture book and have a better sense of how to create one in the future. Feedback will be offered on in-class exercises only rather than workshopping writing done outside of class.
Register
$150.00
Inner Loop Author’s Corner w/ Lenna Jawdat!
Venue :
Zoom
70,000 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 […]
Register
Free
Breathwork for Creative Breakthroughs
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session This breathwork and generative writing workshop is a transformative experience for both writers who wrestle with creative blocks and resistance and those who simply wish to write with more ease and flow. We will begin by learning a short breathwork technique that you can use whenever you write. We will then do a short experimental writing exercise to get in a writing headspace. The heart of the workshop will be a deep breathwork session, followed by a guided visualization to stimulate creativity. You will then channel that creative energy into your writing, either using the provided prompt or working on an existing project. We will close by coming back together to celebrate. By the end of the workshop, you will be writing freely and easily, and you will have the tools and knowledge to regulate before your regular writing sessions. Please bring your own yoga mat and optional eye shade.
Register
$60.00
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23 events, |
25 events,Preparing Your Work for Submission
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 10 Sessions Each week, participants will focus on a different stage of the revision and publishing process, including structural and line-level revision strategies, identifying common problems in manuscripts, understanding the role of agents and editors, and exploring different paths to publication. The workshop will combine discussion of craft principles, practical publishing guidance, and analysis of participant work in a supportive, workshop-based setting. By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer, more polished manuscript excerpt, a realistic understanding of its readiness for submission, and a practical toolkit for querying agents and navigating publication options with greater confidence. Participants should submit a draft of a short story or novel excerpt up to 3000 words to the first class.
Register
$415.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 10 Sessions Each week, participants will focus on a different stage of the revision and publishing process, including structural and line-level revision strategies, identifying common problems in manuscripts, understanding the role of agents and editors, and exploring different paths to publication. The workshop will combine discussion of craft principles, practical publishing guidance, and analysis of participant work in a supportive, workshop-based setting. By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer, more polished manuscript excerpt, a realistic understanding of its readiness for submission, and a practical toolkit for querying agents and navigating publication options with greater confidence. Participants should submit a draft of a short story or novel excerpt up to 3000 words to the first class.
Register
$415.00
Writing Beyond Genre
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session In this short workshop, we'll explore writing that doesn't care what you call it, work that resists easy attempts at categorization and chooses to wow us instead. We'll read samples from some contemporary writers who are doing this best, and consider why anyone would bother to categorize their work at all, then we'll get into prompts that lead us toward our own hard-to-classify texts. We'll work through a few prompts of our own and leave the workshop with some short pieces to polish or expand, along with a better understanding of resisting genre.
Register
$60.00
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26 events, |
24 events, |
27 events,Shaping Beginnings & Endings in Your Stories
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions In this class, we will look at what makes effective openings in stories, how we draw readers in, introduce characters and begin creating their world, and how we develop resonant endings. We'll also discuss how beginnings set the tone for endings. Each week, looking closely at a few short story openings or endings, we'll discuss style, setting, characterization, and answer the often asked questions how to show and what to tell. Classes include generative exercises writing openings and endings, and guidance on developing a daily writing practice.
Register
$150.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions In this class, we will look at what makes effective openings in stories, how we draw readers in, introduce characters and begin creating their world, and how we develop resonant endings. We'll also discuss how beginnings set the tone for endings. Each week, looking closely at a few short story openings or endings, we'll discuss style, setting, characterization, and answer the often asked questions how to show and what to tell. Classes include generative exercises writing openings and endings, and guidance on developing a daily writing practice.
Register
$150.00
Building Your Author Platform
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session In this hands-on workshop, discover three proven strategies to attract email subscribers, grow loyal social followers, and turn speaking opportunities into fans and clients. Walk away with clear calls-to-action and a platform strategy designed around your ideal reader audience.
Register
$60.00
UnClogging Your Brain
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session Prompts will spark memories, characters, and places, turning them into poems, scenes, dialogues, and stories. During ‘UnClogging’ you will likely come up with an ‘idea’ that you feel compelled to expand on, or perhaps be re-inspired to continue an unfinished work later. Find new perspective and confidence!
Register
$60.00
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27 events, |
27 events, |
25 events, |
31 events,
Register
$100.00
A Beginner’s Guide to Food Writing
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 2 Sessions Everyone has a food history. Learn to write yours in this short, two-week beginner course. In week one, students will learn the basics about what food history is and the different ways that they can write about it. They will also delve into how to write and publish food history blogs and articles. In week two, learners will explore the ins and outs of writing and publishing books and memoirs on food history. Students will finish the class with the knowledge and confidence to write and publish these four types of prose online and in print.
Register
$100.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 2 Sessions Everyone has a food history. Learn to write yours in this short, two-week beginner course. In week one, students will learn the basics about what food history is and the different ways that they can write about it. They will also delve into how to write and publish food history blogs and articles. In week two, learners will explore the ins and outs of writing and publishing books and memoirs on food history. Students will finish the class with the knowledge and confidence to write and publish these four types of prose online and in print.
Register
$100.00
Characters That Matter (Fiction and Memoir)
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session At the core of every good tale is a character with whom the reader wants to spend time. Discover how to move beyond the superficial and cliché, crafting characters who invite the reader to explore the human condition. Illustrations and exercises will help you uncover your character's inner values (in memoir, that character is you), understand how flaws shape what a character wants and does, and recognize why a character must act—not just react—for a story to move forward. We'll examine techniques for depicting yearning, internal conflict, and transformation, and consider what's at stake if your character fails. This workshop will benefit those writing a novel, short story, or memoir.
Register
$60.00
How to Find Your Voice
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Agents say it all the time. What sells a manuscript? A standout voice! Acquire the tools you need for developing a compelling voice of your own through the study of entertaining published examples, a clear explanation, and writing exercises designed to ignite your unique way of expressing yourself. You will enjoy a sense of excitement in this inspiring and instructive workshop as you successfully translate the voice in your head to the page.
Register
$60.00
Writing About Mental Health Topics in Fiction
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Learn techniques to write about mental health with intention. Along with general guidelines, examples from popular media will be reviewed so you can learn how to avoid clichés and dig deeper into what shapes people’s various experiences with mental health. Participants will apply psychological concepts to plot and character development.
Register
$60.00
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29 events,Jumpstart Your Creativity: 3 Genres
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Jump-start your creativity with fun exercises in poetry, memoir and fiction. You’ll take home two original poems plus at least one short piece of fiction and a memoir scene or character. Opportunities to read your writing aloud and receive positive feedback can help you identify your specific writing talents. Please bring your favorite writing instruments to the workshop and check your email the night before to print out any handouts to bring with you the next day.
Register
$60.00
Writing Practices for Busy Minds
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Traditional writing advice doesn't work for every writer. Created with neurodivergent writers in mind, this workshop is also for anyone whose writing process is shaped by a busy mind, limited time or energy, or the competing demands of everyday life. If you think in loops and layers, struggle with focus, overwhelm, or organizing ideas, or find yourself caught between bursts of inspiration and periods of resistance, you're not alone. Drawing from lived experience and years of teaching writers, we'll explore writing practices that honor the way different minds create. You'll learn to recognize your unique attention patterns, work with rather than against your creative process, and develop strategies for navigating common challenges such as idea overwhelm, perfectionism, non-linear thinking, executive dysfunction, and wavering motivation. You'll leave with practical techniques to support each phase of the writing process—from prewriting and drafting to revisin —in ways that are flexible and sustainable. Whether you're navigating ADHD or another form of neurodivergence, living with chronic illness, balancing caregiving responsibilities, experiencing burnout, or simply finding that traditional writing advice doesn't fit your life, this workshop offers adaptable tools that help you build a writing practice that works with your mind and circumstances, not against them.
Register
$60.00
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26 events,Reading Your Work Out Loud
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session Practice sharing your story and yourself Spend an evening practicing and learning about the art of public speaking. This in-person coaching session will give you the opportunity to bring your […]
Register
$60.00
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29 events,Boot Camp for Writers
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 7 Sessions Each session of Boot Camp for Writers will begin with a prompt followed by writing time. Participants will have the opportunity to share and discuss their work as well as receive in-class feedback. The workshop is designed so that participants will have the start of six new pieces by the end of class. Former Boot Camp participants are always (and happily) welcome. Note: No meeting November 3 and 24.
Register
$350.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 7 Sessions Each session of Boot Camp for Writers will begin with a prompt followed by writing time. Participants will have the opportunity to share and discuss their work as well as receive in-class feedback. The workshop is designed so that participants will have the start of six new pieces by the end of class. Former Boot Camp participants are always (and happily) welcome. Note: No meeting November 3 and 24.
Register
$350.00
Introduction to Art Journaling
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 2 Sessions Using quotes, poems and/or personal reflections, students will combine words with easy to follow art techniques to create an art journal reflecting their own personal style. *Students should bring to all classes a blank watercolor journal, 8x8 or larger. All other art materials used in class will be provided by instructor.
Register
$100.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 2 Sessions Using quotes, poems and/or personal reflections, students will combine words with easy to follow art techniques to create an art journal reflecting their own personal style. *Students should bring to all classes a blank watercolor journal, 8x8 or larger. All other art materials used in class will be provided by instructor.
Register
$100.00
Reading like a Writer: Imitation as Generative Writing
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 5 Sessions We all read for pleasure, but a writer also reads to learn. It feeds a writer’s writing practice. In this generative workshop, each week we will become familiar with the work of an established poet as a means to examine elements of craft and draft their own poems. This course also includes an optional workshopping element to receive feedback from your peers and the instructor.
Register
$250.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 5 Sessions We all read for pleasure, but a writer also reads to learn. It feeds a writer’s writing practice. In this generative workshop, each week we will become familiar with the work of an established poet as a means to examine elements of craft and draft their own poems. This course also includes an optional workshopping element to receive feedback from your peers and the instructor.
Register
$250.00
|
28 events,
Register
$5,400.00
|
28 events,Crafting Compelling Characters
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Fictional characters are the entry point for readers to engage with the worlds that writers create. In this class, we will explore three facets of character—tragic flaws, contradictory behavior, and backstory—and reveal how you can combine them to create characters readers will love. Come ready to write! This class includes hands-on writing exercises. Attendees will walk away with the tools they need to craft compelling characters.
Register
$60.00
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25 events, |
22 events, |
22 events,Managing Queries with QueryTracker
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session QueryTracker is a powerful tool for finding literary agents, sending them queries, and tracking their responses. In this course we’ll cover the basics: search tools, the who-represents-whom tool, and data view options. We’ll look at cool features that are a little harder to find: pasting in agency/agent notes, flagging agents by priority, and setting alerts for when closed agents become open. We'll also discuss other resources like Publisher's Marketplace. Coupons for a free year of premium QueryTracker membership will be provided for up to 10 attendees. Bring your laptop to follow along.
Register
$60.00
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21 events, |
20 events,Advanced Nonfiction
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions This advanced class will go beyond the basics of nonfiction writing to provide an extra focus on fleshing out characters, incorporating a narrative voice, and developing more sophisticated tools for narrative storytelling.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions This advanced class will go beyond the basics of nonfiction writing to provide an extra focus on fleshing out characters, incorporating a narrative voice, and developing more sophisticated tools for narrative storytelling.
Register
$215.00
|
21 events,Memoir Tools from Start to Finish
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions Whether you are writing short pieces or are embarking on a full-length memoir, you need a roadmap. Over the course of four weeks, we will cover the tools you need to write a memoir from start to finish. We will discuss methods for starting a piece and getting content on the page. We’ll explore memoir structures and the relationship of form and content. We will learn editing techniques on both the sentence and big picture levels. Finally, we will talk about publishing options for memoir projects large and small. Participants will leave with the tools and confidence to start and complete a memoir project.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions Whether you are writing short pieces or are embarking on a full-length memoir, you need a roadmap. Over the course of four weeks, we will cover the tools you need to write a memoir from start to finish. We will discuss methods for starting a piece and getting content on the page. We’ll explore memoir structures and the relationship of form and content. We will learn editing techniques on both the sentence and big picture levels. Finally, we will talk about publishing options for memoir projects large and small. Participants will leave with the tools and confidence to start and complete a memoir project.
Register
$215.00
Dialogue Master Class
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session Dialogue is essential to characterization storytelling, yet can be incredibly tricky to master. In this course, we’ll look at transcripts of conversations from life and published work to develop strategies to make your dialogue shine in your writing. Then we’ll do some targeted exercises to explore different types of dialogue strategies that go beyond direct quotation to create a symphony of distinct speaking voices for your characters. All genres welcome.
Register
$60.00
|
21 events,Book Promotion Through Podcasting
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 2 Sessions In this workshop we’ll focus on how to prepare your pitch materials, how to get booked on podcasts, how to be a great guest, and even how to create a professional podcasting environment.
Register
$100.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 2 Sessions In this workshop we’ll focus on how to prepare your pitch materials, how to get booked on podcasts, how to be a great guest, and even how to create a professional podcasting environment.
Register
$100.00
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21 events,(Wet Ink) Intermediate Novel Writing: The 8 Cs
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions Are you serious about writing a novel but struggling? This intermediate course will examine the eight fundamental elements of the novel to help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your work-in-progress. From Concept to Conclusion, we will study the key components of a novel, with generative and evaluative exercises along the way. Written lessons, curated online resources, and targeted exercises (along with instructor and peer feedback) will help guide you as you continue to draft your novel. (Note: This course is a good follow-up to Tammy Greenwood’s Intro to the Novel workshop.)
Register
$395.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions Are you serious about writing a novel but struggling? This intermediate course will examine the eight fundamental elements of the novel to help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your work-in-progress. From Concept to Conclusion, we will study the key components of a novel, with generative and evaluative exercises along the way. Written lessons, curated online resources, and targeted exercises (along with instructor and peer feedback) will help guide you as you continue to draft your novel. (Note: This course is a good follow-up to Tammy Greenwood’s Intro to the Novel workshop.)
Register
$395.00
(Wet Ink) Fiction POV Workshop
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Do the multitude of Point of View options elude you? We will look at everything from the first person point of view to the editorial omniscient, as well as some of the less traditional points of view, to help you choose the best voice to tell your story.
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions Do the multitude of Point of View options elude you? We will look at everything from the first person point of view to the editorial omniscient, as well as some of the less traditional points of view, to help you choose the best voice to tell your story.
Register
$215.00
|
22 events,Lessons and Inspiration from a Literary Life
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session Reframe your understanding of the joys, purpose, struggles, and successes associated with being both a writer and a member of the wider literary community. In a presentation that spans my […]
Register
$70.00
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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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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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#memoir #shortstory #publishnow #PublishNow #nonfiction #literarylife #literaryfiction #personalessay #writinganovel #fictionwriter #literaryevents #creativewritingworkshop #writerscenter #creativewriting #dcwriters #dcliterary #dcartists #DCArts #editing #editor
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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#memoir #shortstory #nonfiction #nonfictionwriter #nonfictionauthor #LiteraryEvent #literarylife #personalessaywriting #personalessayclass #personalessay #virtualwritingevent #virtualwritingworkshop #literaryevents #creativewritingworkshop #writerscenter #creativewriting #dcwriters #dcliterary #dcartists #DCArts
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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#virutalbookclub #bookclubbooks #BookClubReads #bookclubs #bookclub #LiteraryEvent #poetryreadingdc #poetryreadings #poetryreading #poetrydc #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers #poetry #literaryevents #creativewriting #dcwriters #dcliterary #dcartists #DCArts