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UID:10004737-1747252800-1772056800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Novel Year w/ Julia Phillips
DESCRIPTION:Write your novel with bestselling author Julia Phillips!\nThis 10-month intensive class is open to writers working on a book-length work of fiction. It focuses on creating a propulsive story that is truly satisfying for the reader. Together\, we’ll explore the different aspects of craft that help make a thrilling\, fulfilling novel\, including stakes\, characterization\, voice\, and structure. By studying narratives both in and out of our workshop time\, we’ll work to figure out how fiction functions. Our goal as a class will be for you to gain clarity on your own story as well as storytelling as a whole. \nAPPLICATION DEADLINE: May 2\, 2025 \n\nVirtual Info Session\n \nMeet Julia Phillips\, instructor for our Novel Year workshop\, and have all your questions about the program answered! Recording now available! \n\nFormat\nClass meetings will consist of brief lectures focusing on different craft elements\, group discussions on those aspects of craft\, writing exercises\, and workshops. You will workshop your work three times during the year for a total of up to 75 pages. After each of those times\, you can choose to have a 30-minute one-on-one call with Julia for further discussion. The last two class meetings will be dedicated to workshopping student query letters or one-page book outlines\, giving us the opportunity to prepare together for future writing\, revising\, or seeking publication. \nYou will read and prepare written comments on up to 50 pages of your peers’ work for each class meeting. You may also read a short story\, novel excerpt\, or excerpt of a craft book (no more than 50 pages and provided by Julia) to prepare for class discussion. As the class continues\, we’ll cover writing\, outlining\, revising\, and seeking publication\, with the aim of supporting your process in creating your book and sharing it with the world. And we’ll build community with each other so that support might continue far past the class’s end date. \n\nSchedule\nThis class will meet over Zoom every other Wednesday\, May 14\, 2025 – February 25\, 2026\, for a total of twenty sessions\, with breaks for holidays and independent work. Between Zoom meetings\, you can expect readings and assignments. \n\nApplications\nTo be admitted into the program\, please submit: \n\nA 10- to 20-page writing sample from your book in progress\nA brief cover letter explaining why you want to take this class\, what your book in progress is about\, and where you’re at in your project (e.g.\, in the middle of writing a first draft\, on your fifth round of revisions\, doing a final polish before querying)\n\nAdmissions will be on a rolling basis\, and the number of participants will be limited to 12\, so please submit early. Send your submission to laura.spencer@writer.org by May 2. \n\nAcceptance to the program is required before registering.
URL:https://writer.org/event/novel-year-julia-phillips/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:21 Sessions,Advanced Level,Fiction,Master Level,Workshop,Zoom
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250603T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260324T213000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250505T172347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T190425Z
UID:10004821-1748977200-1774387800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Memoir Year w/ Edgar Gomez
DESCRIPTION:Write your memoir with award-winning author Edgar Gomez!\nIn this intensive\, you will learn about the art of creative nonfiction and be given the tools to ready your memoir or memoir-in-essays for publication. \n\nFormat\nWe will begin our time together with discussions about essential craft elements\, such as structure\, voice\, audience\, setting\, characterization\, navigating time\, and weaving in research.  We’ll have lively conversations about ethics\, including approaches to writing about people you love (and don’t love…) and what responsibilities we have to our readers. \nThen\, we will workshop your stories\, spending time considering your larger projects as well as your specific goals as a writer. I will give you concrete\, actionable feedback to guide your future revisions and help you to create a sustainable writing practice for yourself. \nI believe learning about the business side of publishing is important\, so along the way\, I will invite guests in the field\, from award-winning writers and editors\, who can offer you advice based on their own experiences in publishing. I will also address any questions you have about writing book proposals\, querying agents\, and pitching your stories to magazines\, using real examples from book proposals and pitches that have led to deals. \nBy the end of this intensive\, you will leave with stories workshopped multiple times\, a growing community of writers\, and an understanding of what next steps to take to get your memoir out in the world. \n\n\n\nWatch the Virtual Info Session recording\nMeet Edgar and have your questions about the program answered! \n \n\nSchedule\nGenerally this class will meet twice per month\, from June 3\, 2025 – March 24\, 2026\, although there may be one or two breaks for students to focus on writing. Workshops will be held via Zoom\, with additional opportunities to meet 1:1 with Edgar upon request. Outside of class\, students will generate new writing and read and respond to their peers’ work. All students will have the option to schedule an individual follow-up with Edgar during the first quarter of 2026. \n\nTestimonials from Past Students\n“I really wasn’t sure of myself walking into the class. But Edgar’s encouragement really gave me the go-ahead to just get my ideas out on the page\, in all their candid messiness\, in a way that I haven’t been able to accomplish otherwise…. I’m so excited to keep returning to the tools I picked up in class—I already know they’re gonna stick around for the long-haul!” —Patrick Mullen-Coyoy\, poet and former student \n“Taking a memoir class with Edgar was truly transformative for me. Their class was my first time taking my nonfiction writing seriously\, and I credit his teaching as giving me both the confidence and the skills to turn the essay I worked on with my cohort into an entire book of personal essays…. And even years later\, Edgar has continued to offer me guidance\, mentorship\, and support. I would highly recommend Edgar to anyone–they are a rare combination of deep expertise and boundless generosity. I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without this class and his guidance.” —Chaelee Dalton\, author of Mother Tongue \n\nTo Apply\nDeadline: May 23\,2025 \nSubmit a writing sample of 10-20 pages (double-spaced\, Times New Roman font) and 1-2 paragraphs detailing your writing goals\, intentions\, and questions. You may also choose to include a one-page résumé or CV if you have one. Send your submission to laura.spencer@writer.org by May 23. \nAcceptance into the workshop is required before registering.
URL:https://writer.org/event/memoir-year-edgar-gomez/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:21 Sessions,Master Level,Nonfiction,Workshop,Zoom
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250805T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260428T123000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250626T224806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T145321Z
UID:10004845-1754388000-1777379400@writer.org
SUMMARY:Memoir Maker w/ Diane Zinna
DESCRIPTION:Write your memoir in 9 months!\nIf you’re finally ready to write the memoir of your heart\, we invite you to join longtime writing teacher and author Diane Zinna for her new class\, Memoir Maker. This will be Diane’s 12th time leading a book-in-a-year course\, which has helped bring so many writers to a finished draft. Classes will be a mix of proven lessons\, exploratory exercises with opportunities for sharing\, and workshops. There will be classes on captivating beginnings\, mushy middles\, climax scenes\, and meaningful endings. As participants near the end of the course\, lessons will cover publishing\, including writing a successful book proposal. Each student will have four scheduled workshops during the year and receive thoughtful\, guided class feedback. And the best thing: You’ll have a cohort of new writer-friends doing this right alongside you. \n\nSchedule\nThis class will meet every other Tuesday morning\, August 5 – April 2026 from 10am – 12:30pm ET\, for a total of 20 sessions: \n\nAugust 5\, 19\nSeptember 2\, 16\, 30\nOctober 14\, 21\nNovember 4\, 18\nDecember 2\, 16\nJanuary 6\, 20\nFebruary 3\, 17\nMarch 3\, 17\, 31\nApril 14\, 28\n\n\nFrequently Asked Questions\nTell me more about workshops.\nWorkshops meet during our regular class time. You will send the class up to 25 double-spaced pages of your writing in advance of your scheduled date. You’ll be sending your pages to your classmates as Word documents\, and they’ll provide thoughtful feedback during class. My teaching style involves you asking questions of your classmates about your own work. You’ll be able to leave every workshop with answers to questions you have really been asking yourself. We don’t get derailed in this class; you can expect workshops to feel positive. \nHow much reading is expected of me?\nGenerally\, there will be two workshops per class\, which may require you to read up to 50 double-spaced pages every two weeks. As I get to know your project\, I’ll also be suggesting books you might want to check out that feel like they are in conversation with your memoir\, or those with similar themes\, style\, or structure. \nDo I have to provide feedback to the other students on their work?\nYes. Providing feedback on the work of other writers helps to reinforce what you believe about writing. You can be more objective when looking at the work of others\, then apply that understanding to your own work. If you aren’t yet comfortable with giving feedback to others\, don’t worry—I will provide a template to help you. \nDo I need to know what my story is before I start this class?\nSo much of writing any book—especially memoir—is about discovery as you go. You should have a general sense\, but even if you feel confident that you are sure what your book is about\, I’m going to encourage you to be open to surprises. You may discover 3/4 of the way through the book that you’ve really been writing about hope the whole time you thought you were writing about illness. You may realize the book is not so much about your daughter but about your own sense of self. Be open\, be free\, and you’ll find the truest path. \nAm I ready?\nOnly you know that for sure. If this is your year to do this\, look at your year ahead. Of course there will be unexpected things that come our way\, and we can always adjust and adapt class-wise. But if you have a lot of travel or demanding work coming up this year\, it might be best to wait for another time. But maybe you were wondering if I think you are ready\, as a writer? Here is what I can promise: I take care in accepting writers only when they are prepared for an intensive experience such as Memoir Maker. I will be meeting with applicants 1:1 before the class begins\, so I’ll know what kind of group I am putting together. If you decide to join us\, you can trust that you’ll have intentionally been included among writers with great instincts\, smarts\, and compassion. \n\nApply Today!\nApplication Deadline: July 28 \nNote: Acceptance to the course is required before registration. \nTo be admitted into this intensive program\, potential candidates will need to submit: \n\nA one-page cover letter detailing their interest in the program.\nA twenty-page writing sample from their memoir in progress. (Submissions must be double spaced and use a standard font.)\n\nAdmissions will be on a rolling basis\, and the number of participants will be limited to 8\, so participants are encouraged to submit early. Send your application materials to laura.spencer@writer.org. \n 
URL:https://writer.org/event/memoir-maker/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Master Level,Nonfiction,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Paper-Curls.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251001T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260722T210000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250902T182412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T015743Z
UID:10004964-1759345200-1784754000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Novel Mill w/ Kristen Arnett
DESCRIPTION:Write your novel in a year with bestselling author Kristen Arnett!\nAre you looking for an exciting\, fun\, collaborative way to get your writing brain into gear? Are you ready to finally sit down and write that novel that you’ve been thinking about forever? Do you wish you had a confident\, cheerful writing coach to guide you to the finish line? If so\, then this is definitely the course for you! \nStudents of this generative workshop will share their work with others in the class\, learn to edit their own writing effectively\, become naturals at crafting powerful openings\, and will learn to stick the landing when it comes to novel endings. Place-writing techniques\, craft capsules on injecting humor into your work\, and myriad other learned skills will guide students through the sticky patches that often crop up in the middle of a project. \nRegardless of the fact that we often write alone\, novels are not formed completely in a silo. Crafting a novel with the help of a supportive community can mean the difference between finally drafting your dream project or leaving behind yet another empty word document. Students will have the opportunity to further develop their projects both inside of class and outside of it: we will read and comment on everyone’s work. Writers participating in this workshop will discover how to spot successful techniques already loaded in their arsenal. They will learn what engages readers\, and how to effectively keep that engagement. Students will learn to ask questions of their work that will help them analyze tone\, POV\, structure\, characterization\, and much more. We will work toward developing processes that are the correct fit for each individual project. Every novel is like a thumbprint: perfectly unique. \n\nVirtual Info Session Recording\nMeet Kristen Arnett\, instructor for our Novel Mill workshop\, and have all your questions about the program answered! \nWatch the recording on YouTube >>> \n\nThis course will include:\n\nInformation of intros and how to make them sizzle\nHow to draft compelling ends to your work\nPlotting/Planning/Shaping– determining pace\, finding what works for your particular project\nLists of tips and techniques to employ when you’re feeling stuck in a scene\nInstructive readings that will help students fine tune their work\nHow to develop momentum to keep a project moving forward\nA clear sense of process\nDeeper understanding of the underpinnings of the novel\nDetermining the proper voice and perspective for your project\nHow to develop compelling characters\nMaster crafting finely detailed place writing\nA clear discussion of writing difficulties when it comes to crafting a longform project\nHow to create and maintain reasonable writing goals\nAn assortment of helpful writing prompts\n\n\nSchedule\nThis class meets via Zoom every other Wednesday beginning October 1\, 2025\, for a total of 21 sessions\, with breaks for holidays and dedicated writing periods. Between Zoom meetings\, participants can expect readings and assignments. Exact class dates subject to change at the discretion of the instructor and in collaboration with participants. \nOctober 1\, 15\nNovember 5\, 19\n\nDec 3\, 17\nJan 7\, 21\nFeb 4\, 18\nMarch 4\, 18\nApril 1\, 15\, 29\nMay 13\, 27\nJune 10\, 24\nJuly 8\, 22\n\n\n1:1 Mentoring\nEach student will have the chance for a private mentoring sessions with Kristen\, including a 6-month follow up after completion of the workshop. \n\nTo Apply\nApplication Deadline: September 19\, 2025 \nSend a cover letter and writing sample of 5-20 pages to laura.spencer@writer.org by September 19th. Admissions will be on a rolling basis so participants are encouraged to submit early. \nAcceptance into the workshop is required before registering. \n\nAbout Book Farm @ The Writer’s Center\nThe Writer’s Center hosts a series of workshops for serious writers to complete book-length projects\, generate new work for publication\, or master the elements of craft within a specific genre. You’ll work with an acclaimed author\, guiding you through 4-12 months of lessons\, workshops\, and revisions. Our instructors are all accomplished educators with a track record of student success. Limited enrollment with rolling admission up to the application deadline\, so apply right away to secure your spot! \nAll Book Farm participants receive an exclusive tote bag\, a craft book recommended by the instructor\, and a $100 gift certificate good toward future TWC workshops. Participants also receive exclusive access to The Writer’s Center staff\, all of whom are accomplished writers with extensive experience in editing and publishing.
URL:https://writer.org/event/novel-mill/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Master Level,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Writing-Paper-Curves.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251108T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T160000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250814T152933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251010T141942Z
UID:10004935-1762610400-1775923200@writer.org
SUMMARY:Personal Essays from Start to Finish: 10 Essays in 6 Months w/ Hannah Grieco
DESCRIPTION:Inspiration\, accountability\, and the tools you need to get your essays out into the world!\nJoin us for six months of craft lessons\, workshops\, editor visits\, and personal editorial feedback! This small and inclusive class meets bi-weekly on Zoom\, with the goal of creating an intimate\, writer-based community of essayists who learn and grow together. \nYou’ll read\, brainstorm\, and write drafts. You’ll explore different essay forms and practice a variety of narrative techniques. You’ll learn tangible self-editing tools\, then revise\, workshop\, and revise some more! You’ll discover the publications you love\, whether literary or freelance in nature (or both!)\, and you’ll create a plan to get those bylines! You’ll receive supportive\, thoughtful peer workshop feedback on six drafts. You’ll have three personal one-on-one meetings (with detailed line edits) from your instructor. You’ll meet editors\, attend panels\, and participate in a final online reading event to celebrate your hard work! You’ll discuss next steps in publication\, including how to pitch editors and begin forming a full collection. \nThis workshop is for writers who already have some experience publishing personal essays in either literary or freelance publications. The workshop model will be carefully scaffolded and writer-centric\, evolving as the class evolves. Writers will finish the class with ten complete drafts and a path forward for publication. \n\nVirtual Info Session w/ Hannah Grieco!\nMeet Hannah Grieco\, instructor for our Personal Essays from Start to Finish workshop\, and have all your questions about the program answered! \nWatch the recording on YouTube » \n\nApplication Deadline: October 27\, 2025\nTo apply\, send a cover letter and a 10- to 15-page personal essay writing sample to laura.spencer@writer.org by October 27\, 2025. Acceptance is competitive and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This course is limited to 15 participants. Please note that acceptance to the program is required before registering. \nWriters who are Black\, Indigenous\, and/or People of Color are warmly encouraged to apply. This course offers two full scholarships for BIPOC writers. To be considered for the scholarship\, in addition to the regular submission\, state in your application email that you would like to be considered and include a 2-3 sentence statement of need. If more than 2 applicants qualify\, the scholarship recipients will be chosen from among them via lottery. \n\nLIVE VIDEO CONFERENCE: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. Shortly before the start date participants will receive an email with login info. Please check your spam if you don’t see it. \n\nThis Zoom class has live captioning. If you need another type of accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/personal-essays-from-start-to-finish/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Intermediate/Advanced Level,Nonfiction,Workshop,Zoom
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T200000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250903T181338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T165657Z
UID:10004967-1767898800-1767902400@writer.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Craft Chat w/ Novelist Marisa Kashino
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of fiction! We’re joined by author Marisa Kashino for a discussion of her new novel\, Best Offer Wins. Marisa is in conversation with Amy Freeman\, author and Development Director at The Writer’s Center. \nRSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public\, all times Eastern \nWe encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local\, independent bookseller or online from Bookshop.org » \n\nMarisa Kashino was a journalist for 17 years\, most recently at The Washington Post. She spent the bulk of her career at Washingtonian magazine\, writing long-form features and overseeing the real estate and home design coverage. She grew up near Seattle\, graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in journalism and political science. She lives in the DC area with her husband\, two dogs\, and two cats. Best Offer Wins is her first novel. \n\nAbout the Book\nAn insanely competitive housing market. A buyer pushed to the breaking point. How far would you go for the American dream? \nEighteen months and eleven lost bidding wars into house-hunting in the overheated Washington\, DC suburbs\, 37-year-old publicist Margo Miyake gets a tip about the perfect house\, in the perfect neighborhood\, slated to come up for sale in one month. Desperate to escape the cramped apartment she shares with her husband Ian—and in turn\, get their marriage\, plan to have a baby\, and whole life back on track—Margo becomes obsessed with buying the house before it’s publicly listed and the masses descend (unbeatable\, all-cash offers in hand). \nWith some (harmless!) stalking and a bit of (very light!) trespassing\, she worms her way into the homeowners’ lives. But just when she believes she’s won them over\, she hits a snag in her plan. Undeterred\, Margo will prove again and again that there’s nothing she won’t try—no secret too dark to leverage\, no tactic too unhinged—to finally kickstart the dream life she’s worked so hard to achieve. Most terrifying of all? You’ll cheer her on\, even as she leaves you gasping in disbelief. \nDark\, biting\, and laugh-out-loud funny\, Best Offer Wins is a propulsive debut and a razor-sharp exploration of class\, ambition\, and the modern housing crisis. \n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/marisa-kashino/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Event
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260109
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260131
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T181337Z
UID:10005014-1767916800-1769817599@writer.org
SUMMARY:Creating Novel Characters
DESCRIPTION:Bring your characters to life on the page.\nWhen writing a novel\, we must know our primary characters inside and out. We need to understand their desires\, motivations\, and frustrations\, their histories and their futures. This workshop will focus on the development of authentic characters. Participants will examine character as both autonomous and residing within the context of the other novelistic elements\, and we will examine the challenge of creating and integrating these various elements into a cohesive and credible whole. Participants will explore the main character(s) in their novels-in-progress. \n\nLearn at your own pace: This workshop will take place over Wet Ink\, which is an asynchronous creative writing platform. The instructor will post a lesson and assignment at the beginning of each week\, and participants can log in and read the lessons/post assignments/comment on other classmates’ work at their convenience. Shortly before the start date\, participants will receive an invite from Wet Ink to create their login info and access the class. Please check your spam if you don’t see it. \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nYour character’s past and future\nYour character’s motivations\nHow the plot will bring about your character’s arc\nHow to reveal your character on the page\n\nTime requirements\n\n3-5 hours/week\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is designed for writers looking to add dimension to their fictional characters.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/creating-novel-characters-7/
LOCATION:Wet Ink
CATEGORIES:4 Sessions,All Levels,Fiction,Wet Ink,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Writing-in-Notebook-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260109
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260228
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T181705Z
UID:10005013-1767916800-1772236799@writer.org
SUMMARY:Intro to the Novel
DESCRIPTION:Have you always wanted to write a novel but didn’t know where to start?\nThis 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. \n\nLearn at your own pace: This workshop will take place over Wet Ink\, which is an asynchronous creative writing platform. The instructor will post a lesson and assignment at the beginning of each week\, and participants can log in and read the lessons/post assignments/comment on other classmates’ work at their convenience. Shortly before the start date\, participants will receive an invite from Wet Ink to create their login info and access the class. Please check your spam if you don’t see it. \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn how to:\n\nDevelop your Premise\nEstablish Point of View/Narrative Voice\nCreate authentic Characters\nOrganize Plot and Structure\nCreate good writing habits\nDetermine your personal Process\n\nTime requirements\n\n3-5 hours/week\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is designed for those who have never written a novel before – or for those who are looking for a strong foundation in the basic components of novel-writing.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/intro-to-the-novel-7/
LOCATION:Wet Ink
CATEGORIES:8 Sessions,Beginner/Intermediate Level,Fiction,Wet Ink,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Writing-Open-Book-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T123000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T182902Z
UID:10005015-1768039200-1768048200@writer.org
SUMMARY:How to Plot Like a Pro
DESCRIPTION:Build a strong story structure from page 1.\nYou have a great idea for a story. Do you dive in and just begin writing\, or start by drafting an outline? Understanding how to structure a well-conceived story around a main character and central conflict\, while paying attention to pacing\, can make the difference between a finished\, publishable manuscript and an abandoned work-in-progress. Plotting provides a safety net that never robs the author of the joy of writing\, and always reduces revision time. Think you can’t plot? Join us for this course\, and we’ll show you how! \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nCharacter as plot\nPlot as a journey\nBuilding active details\nKeeping things moving\nConflict’s role in plotting\n\nTime requirements\n\nNo time required outside of class.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nAuthors whose plots feel limp\, disconnected or less than compelling–or any author wanting help to make the plotting process easier and more effective.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/how-to-plot-like-a-pro-4/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:1 Session,All Levels,Fiction,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Writing-Pen-and-Notebook-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T123000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T183304Z
UID:10005017-1768041000-1768048200@writer.org
SUMMARY:How to Get Your Work Accepted at Literary Conferences
DESCRIPTION:Get accepted to read your work at a professional writers’ conference!\nBeing invited to read your creative work at a conference is a huge feather in your literary cap. This workshop offers information\, guidance\, and strategies for writers wishing to have their work accepted at a writers’ conference\, whether virtual or in-person. This workshop is open to writers of all levels who feel prepared to present their work at a professional writers’ conference. We will be engaging in hands-on research and working on our literary resumes. Participants completing this workshop will be prepared to select and prepare submissions for several literary conferences and have leads on finding funding to support travel. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nWe will explore how to:\n\nchoose the right writers’ conference for you\nprepare a polished submission\nmake a professional impression from submission to attendance\nsecure financial support to attend\npractice conference etiquette: the do’s and dont’s of both applying and attending\navoid common\, costly mistakes in your CV and bio that mark you as an amateur\n\nTime requirements\n\nStudents will complete a pre-work questionnaire prior to class.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is open to writers of all levels who are ready to take the next step in their professional development journey: presenting their creative work at a professional conference.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/how-to-get-your-work-accepted-at-literary-conferences/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:1 Session,Intermediate/Advanced Level,Publishing,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/writing-bookshelves.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T143000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T184123Z
UID:10005016-1768048200-1768055400@writer.org
SUMMARY:On Duende and Surrealism
DESCRIPTION:Experience concepts of duende and surrealism through the lens of poet Federico García Lorca and artist Salvador Dalí.\nParticipants will be prompted to create literary works inspired by Federico García Lorca’s concept of duende\, Salvador Dalí’s concept of surrealism\, as well as the two artists’ friendship. Generative writing exercises will encourage participants to think of friendship as a creative space where literary work can be exchanged and as a means to deepen friendships. Participants will have the opportunity to write poems and request feedback on their writing. \n\nIn-person class: This workshop will take place at The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh St\, Bethesda MD. \n\nIn this workshop you’ll:\n\nIdentifying duende in a literary piece\nUnderstanding Surrealism in poetry\nDeciphering craft’s utility\n\nTime Requirements\n\nNo time requirement outside of class.\n\nMaterials\n\nPoet in New York – Poeta en Nueva York by Federico García Lorca (Any bilingual copy)\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is designed for new and experienced poets and writers\, alike.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/on-duende-and-surrealism/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:1 Session,All Levels,Poetry,The Writer's Center,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Writing-Crinkled-Paper-Deep-Blue.jpg
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260111T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260111T163000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251022T160132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T160132Z
UID:10004994-1768140000-1768149000@writer.org
SUMMARY:End of Season Celebration Reading!
DESCRIPTION:Ever wonder who else is taking classes at The Writer’s Center? Want the chance to hear the work being made in other classes? Meet with Instructors of the coming season’s courses? \nWe invite you to attend our first ever End of Season Celebration\, a time to meet and hear work from the participants from the numerous workshops we’ve hosted for the past four months. \nThis in-person event will gather the community of writers and instructors of the past four months to showcase work generated\, revised\, and inspired by the workshops held this season. Following this showcase\, there will be a reception to meet fellow workshop participants and instructors. \nWe hope to see you\, at the Center\, in celebration of our wonderful community. \n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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. \n\nAttending? We encourage you to become a member of The Writer’s Center for only $65/year »
URL:https://writer.org/event/end-of-season-reading-jan-26/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/McInturff_Architects_The_Writers_Center_DC_02-1-2.jpg
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X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Writer’s Center 4508 Walsh Street Bethesda MD 20815 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=4508 Walsh Street:geo:-77.090791,38.97949
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260111T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260111T180000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T185202Z
UID:10005018-1768143600-1768154400@writer.org
SUMMARY:Writing about Family
DESCRIPTION:Find the story beneath the story in your family narrative.\nIn this workshop\, participants will receive guidance on writing about family relationships\, dynamics\, and experiences to start drafting stories that can be developed into personal essays. We’ll explore the emotional and ethical complexities of writing about family\, the importance of understanding the intention behind your writing\, and key elements to include in the personal essay format. Participants will do in-class writing exercises\, share their work if they choose\, and come away with themes for future writing. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nHow to Identify themes and stories from family experiences\nHow to translate personal moments into essay form\nHow to navigate the challenges of writing about complex relationships\nIdea generation for future writing projects\n\nTime requirements\n\noptional 1 – 2 hours\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is for beginning and intermediate writers seeking to explore and articulate family experiences with both insight and compassion.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/writing-about-family/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:1 Session,Beginner/Intermediate Level,Nonfiction,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Writing-Handmade-Paper-Notebook.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260202T210000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T185134Z
UID:10005019-1768244400-1770066000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Fast Drafting: The Art of Speed and Imperfection
DESCRIPTION:This course will teach you how to write as quickly and imperfectly as possible to finish a first draft of your novel.\nJohn Boyne wrote The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in less than three days. Kazuo Ishiguro drafted The Remains of the Day in four weeks. About his process\, Ishiguro explained\, “The priority was simply to get the ideas surfacing and growing. Awful sentences\, hideous dialogue\, scenes that went nowhere – I let them remain and ploughed on.” By examining the fast-drafting process of established writers\, this course will teach you how to silence the inner critic and accept imperfection as a necessary part of writing the first draft of any book. The majority of each session will be a lecture; however\, you should also expect to complete writing exercises or respond to writing prompts. You can expect each lecture to discuss some aspect of fast drafting\, including but not limited to where to begin\, how to outline and prepare\, how to set goals and deadlines\, and how to overcome mental obstacles. By the end of this course\, you’ll have learned fast drafting techniques to help jumpstart a new writing project or reignite enthusiasm for a languishing manuscript. For the first class\, you should make sure you know which writing project you’d like to focus on for the duration of the course. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nhow to outline and prepare to write a first draft\nhow to write a first draft\nhow to set drafting goals and deadline\nhow to overcome mental obstacles\n\nTime requirements\n\nAbout one hour outside of class to prepare for each session.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nFiction writers at various levels with a novel manuscript they would like to start or complete.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/fast-drafting-the-art-of-speed-and-imperfection/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:4 Sessions,Fiction,Intermediate/Advanced Level,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Writing-Open-Book-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260202T210000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T185548Z
UID:10005020-1768244400-1770066000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Writing from Deep Emotion
DESCRIPTION:Plunge into emotion and emerge with heart-driven new writing!\nWhen asked about her creative process\, the writer Can Xue said: “Emotions are completely unleashed. I turn towards the dark abyss of consciousness and plunge in\, and in the tension between those two forces\, I build… my stories.” In this generative writing workshop\, we’ll plunge into our deepest emotions and emerge with heart-driven new writing. Each week’s session will be structured around a single emotion: joy\, anger\, fear\, surprise\, excitement\, disgust\, love\, hope\, sadness. During the session\, we’ll read from examples in various genres by authors who have channeled that emotion into their work. From the seeds of these examples and other narrative prompts\, we’ll plunge into our own consciousness and build new pieces of writing. After we emerge\, we’ll share and compliment what we write. Authors we may read include Susan Choi\, Han Kang\, James Baldwin\, Percival Everett\, Clarice Lispector\, Mariana Enriquez\, Jose Saramago\, and others. The emotions that structure the first three sessions will be of the moderator’s choosing; the last session will be selected by the students through vote. This workshop’s primary focus is to create and share new writing. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll gain:\n\nA number of new\, fresh pieces.\nA greater sense of how to channel emotion into your work\nPrompts to continue sparking ideas and overcoming blocks\n\nTime requirements\n\nNo time required outside of class.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is designed for all writers looking to create new work inspired by their own emotions.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/writing-from-deep-emotion/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:4 Sessions,All Levels,Nonfiction,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Writing-Paper-Streamers.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T203000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251015T204745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251015T204745Z
UID:10004992-1768330800-1768336200@writer.org
SUMMARY:$40 POP UP: QueryTracker 101
DESCRIPTION: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 also 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. Coupons for a free year of premium membership will be provided for up to 10 attendees. Bring your laptop to follow along.
URL:https://writer.org/event/40-pop-up-querytracker-101/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:1 Session,All Levels,Mixed Genre,Publishing,Workshop,Zoom
GEO:38.97949;-77.090791
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Writer’s Center 4508 Walsh Street Bethesda MD 20815 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=4508 Walsh Street:geo:-77.090791,38.97949
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260217T220000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T190024Z
UID:10005021-1768334400-1771365600@writer.org
SUMMARY:Writing Poetry Like a Movie
DESCRIPTION:Organize what you show and tell your audience in your poems like a movie director.\nImagine your poem as though you held a camera and planned a sequence\, choosing what to include “in the frame\,” and where to go from shot to shot. Choose visual imagery and other poetic elements\, and how to present them\, whether in close-up\, middle distance\, or long shot\, and move from one set of images to another as you uncover the structure of your poem. By the end of the workshop\, poets will have two poems which hold the attention like a good movie. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\n“Camera” placement\n\nDistance: close-up\, middle distance\, long shot\nPoint of view\nPanning – presenting information in continuous sequence\nCutting – presenting information in segments\n\n\nNarration/Dialogue\n\nSolo voice\n“Over the shoulder”\n“The two shot”\n\n\nPace\n\nLine length\nMeter/rhythm\n\n\n\nTime requirements\n\n45-60 minutes weekly\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThose with experience writing narrative or story poems will benefit most from this approach to organizing such poems\, but it also opens up the imagination for those who write lyric poetry – what do we show and tell the reader; how and when?\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/writing-poetry-like-a-movie/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:6 Sessions,Intermediate Level,Poetry,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Writing-Fountain-Pen-Orange-Background.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260114T210000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251216T163036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T163148Z
UID:10005116-1768417200-1768424400@writer.org
SUMMARY:Open Mic @ The Writer's Center
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\nSign-up starts at 6:45pm\, and readings begin promptly at 7pm.\nLimited to 20 readers\, so arrive early if you plan to read.\n\nSponsored by Poet Lore\, America’s oldest poetry magazine. \nFREE and open to the public. Please note that we no longer offer advance sign-up. \n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/open-mic-jan2026-1/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Open-Mic-1400.jpg
GEO:38.97949;-77.090791
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Writer’s Center 4508 Walsh Street Bethesda MD 20815 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=4508 Walsh Street:geo:-77.090791,38.97949
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T120000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251209T164724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T190311Z
UID:10005110-1768471200-1770897600@writer.org
SUMMARY:Let's Write! A Generative Workshop
DESCRIPTION:What is this next story\, and how shall I tell it?\nUsing various writing prompts will invite ourselves into new stories\, and explore new ways to tell familiar ones. Each week we will write together in response to prompts\, and have the option and opportunity to share our fresh writing for positive feedback. We will consider aspects of technique\, structure and genre as appropriate\, and enjoy the enrichment of writing in community. \n\nIn-person class: This workshop will take place at The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh St\, Bethesda MD. \n\nIn this workshop you’ll have:\n\nA number of fresh\, unique pieces.\nA greater sense of how your writing style resonates with readers.\n\nTime Requirements\n\nNo time requirement outside of class.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is for beginning writers who want to explore and grow\, as well as more experienced writers who would like a fresh start\, creative inspiration\, or just some company on this often lonely journey.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/lets-write-a-generative-workshop-3/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:5 Sessions,All Levels,Mixed Genre,The Writer's Center,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Writing-Pen-Shadows.jpg
GEO:38.97949;-77.090791
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Writer’s Center 4508 Walsh Street Bethesda MD 20815 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=4508 Walsh Street:geo:-77.090791,38.97949
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260115T200000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250812T184444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T152331Z
UID:10004874-1768503600-1768507200@writer.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Craft Chat w/ Poet Ally Ang
DESCRIPTION:Poet Lore and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry! We’re joined by Ally Ang to discuss their debut collection\, Let the Moon Wobble. Ally is in conversation with Emily Holland\, poet and editor of Poet Lore\, America’s oldest poetry journal. \nRSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public\, all times Eastern. \nWe encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local\, independent bookseller or online from the publisher » \n\nAlly Ang is a gaysian poet & editor based in Seattle\, WA. Their work has appeared in The Rumpus\, Muzzle Magazine\, ANMLY\, and elsewhere. Ang is a 2023 National Endowment for the Arts fellow and MacDowell fellow. Their debut poetry collection\, Let the Moon Wobble\, is forthcoming from Alice James Books in 2025. Find them at allysonang.com or on Twitter and Instagram @TheOceanIsGay. \n\nAbout the book\nWhat makes the end of the world worth surviving? Ally Ang’s audacious\, urgent\, and full-hearted debut collection Let the Moon Wobble follows multiple unnamed narrators through crisis after crisis\, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate emergency to the rise of fascism in the U.S. With lyrical trips into grief and rage\, Ang deftly plumbs the depths of institutions whose aim is to repress and kill queer people of color.\n\nYet this isn’t a despairing collection. Ang’s narrators refuse erasure. They take up space and tap into the absurdity of debilitating moments. With humor and lyricism\, this debut is a testament to the ways queer joy and community fuel resistance\, and how we might imagine radical new ways of existing in a world that’s breaking apart.\n\n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/ally-ang/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Ally-Ang-Event-Header-scaled.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T120000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T175939Z
UID:10005024-1768644000-1768651200@writer.org
SUMMARY:How to Discover Your Voice
DESCRIPTION:Acquire a writing voice that is unique to you and irresistible to agents and editors.\nAgents 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. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nWhat we mean by authorial voice\nHow to acquire one authentically yours\nHow to make your voice distinct from others\n\nTime requirements\n\nNo time required outside of class.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is ideal for both new and seasoned writers seeking to discover the most genuine way to express themselves on the page and in such a way as to attract the eye of agents and editors.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/how-to-discover-your-voice/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:1 Session,All Levels,Mixed Genre,Workshop,Zoom
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://writer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Writing-Pencil-Sharper.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T130000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T175903Z
UID:10005025-1768644000-1768654800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Memoir? Maybe?
DESCRIPTION:Thinking of writing a memoir? Let’s talk it over\, look at options\, and build a plan!\nThis class is for writers who are exploring the idea of writing a memoir. Maybe you have an idea\, or half of an idea\, or a strong pull to tell your story\, but you’re not sure what this Dream looks like on the Ground. Let’s talk about it. We’ll look at the logistics (size\, time commitment\, final product) and also talk about strong mindsets\, good planning\, and ways to keep the momentum. We’ll do some in-class exercises to help you get focused\, get organized\, and plan for potholes. Create a realistic plan so you can succeed! Join me and let’s get a strong roadmap in place. \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nWhat makes a memoir (size\, scope\, audience)\nWriting a “book” – and other options\nSteps to completing a book\, and the time it takes\nPublishing options\nThings to consider at different steps of the process\n\nTime requirements\n\nNo time required outside of class.\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis class is designed for writers of all levels who are considering writing a memoir and want to learn more about what that process entails.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/memoir-maybe/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:1 Session,Beginner/Intermediate Level,Nonfiction,Workshop,Zoom
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T153000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250925T163028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T164027Z
UID:10004983-1768658400-1768663800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Novelist Nancy Garruba in Conversation w/ Katherine Gekker
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes novelist Nancy Garruba for a reading and discussion of her debut novel\, The Vanishing of Rose B. Nancy is in conversation with Katherine Gekker. FREE & open to the public. RSVP below. \n\nNancy Garruba studied Comparative Literature at Rutgers University. She later trained in the conservation of rare books in Florence\, Italy and at the Library of Congress\, work which led to her study of bookmaking history\, book design and photography\, and to the making of artist’s books—her writing combined with visual images. Nancy has received grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts\, the DC Commission on the Arts\, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts for her Skin of Glass and Not Altogether True Not Altogether False. The Vanishing of Rose B. is her debut novel. \nKatherine Gekker’s first full-length collection\, In Search of Warm Breathing Things\, was published by Glass Lyre Press in 2019. Her poetry has been called “affecting” and “elusive” by the New York Times\, and “ethereal” and “sensuous” by other newspapers. Her poems have been nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart Prizes. Her poems have been published or are forthcoming in Calyx\, Quartet Journal\, Rappahannock Review\, Delmarva Review\, Little Patuxent Review\, Gargoyle\, ASP Bulletin\, Broadkill Review\, Baltimore Review\, Northern Virginia Review\, Poetry South\, Claudius Speaks\, Last Call Anthology\, and others. A collection of eight poems\, Childhood Poems\, was published in 1974. \n\nAbout  The Vanishing of Rose B.\nRose B. defied mid-century expectations of what a woman could be and do. Not only a devoted wife and mother\, and one never to be seen without gloves and a hat\, she was the family’s main breadwinner. Exemplary\, indeed—although in private\, Rose suffered her charismatic\, volatile husband’s abuse\, abuse witnessed by their twin daughters\, Claire and Frances. Frances urged Rose to divorce\, Claire played mediator\, and Rose persevered\, determined to preserve her family\, even if at cost to herself. But a violent incident one spring evening would upset Rose’s plan and propel Frances to a life far from her parents and sister. \nDecades later\, Claire’s a reclusive high school art teacher who creates beautiful photographs but never exhibits. Frances is an architect in Los Angeles. Rose has died\, and Frances has flown home to help Claire sort through their mother’s clothes. Claire\, insisting that Frances is their mother’s mirror image\, one that she must capture\, asks Frances to pose for her as Rose\, dressed in Rose’s clothes. Frances\, wanting to force a discussion of that long-ago violent spring evening\, agrees\, but on one condition: She’ll tell stories as she poses\, stories about Rose. Told in two voices—that of the dynamic\, conflicted Frances and the tender\, diffident Claire\, who has her own stories about Rose—The Vanishing of Rose B. explores the difficulties mothers and daughters encounter in defining themselves within the world and against each other. \n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/nancy-garruba/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260201T133000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251211T191051Z
UID:10005026-1768734000-1769952600@writer.org
SUMMARY:Poetry Vs. Trauma
DESCRIPTION:Learn\, and try out\, some of the ways poetry can help free the writer.\nTrauma 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 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.) \n\nLive video conference: This workshop will be held via our online video conferencing platform\, Zoom. You can view brief tutorials on using the platform here. On the start date or the day before\, participants will receive an email with login info (please check your spam if you don’t see it). \n\nIn this workshop you’ll learn:\n\nIndividual and societal healing through poetry\nWriting to help heal or prevent PTSD\nEmotional and sensory aspects of poetry\nFeedback on participant poems (optional)\n\nTime requirements\n\nUp to one hour per week\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is designed for all those who would like to learn new ways of using poetry to help free themselves and/or others from effects of trauma.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/poetry-vs-trauma-4/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:3 Sessions,All Levels,Poetry,Workshop,Zoom
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T203000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251203T161225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T161225Z
UID:10005102-1768935600-1768941000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Eric Lichtblau Book Launch
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes author Eric Lichtblau for a reading from his new novel\, American Reich: A Murder in Orange County\, Neo-Nazis\, and a New Age of Hate. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP below. \n\nEric Lichtblau is a Washington author and investigative journalist and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. His latest non-fiction book\,  American Reich: A Murder in Orange County\, Neo-Nazis\, and a New Age of Hate\, is being released in January\, and he has written three previous books: the New York Times best-seller The Nazis Next Door\, as well Bush’s Law\, and Return to the Reich. He was a Washington reporter for the New York Times for fifteen years\, where he earned two Pulitzer Prizes\, and for the Los Angeles Times for fifteen years before that\, and he has also written for The New Yorker\, TIME Magazine and other publications. He has been a frequent guest on NPR\, MSNBC\, C-SPAN\, and other networks\, as well as a speaker at many universities and institutions\, and a teacher in writing and journalism at Georgetown\, UCLA\, the Writer’s Center in Bethesda\, Md.\, and elsewhere. \n\nFrom the Pulitzer-winning author of the New York Times bestseller The Nazis Next Door \nA deeply reported exploration of the violent resurgence of hatred and white supremacy through the lens of Orange County\, California—“ground zero” for racial extremism—and the story of one brutal murder there that revealed the deep roots of violent bigotry as a bellwether for the country. \nOne night in early 2018\, while he was home from college\, an Ivy League student named Blaze Bernstein snuck out of his parents’ house in Orange County. Waiting for him in a car outside was an old high-school classmate: Sam Woodward\, someone who Blaze mostly remembered as a brooding\, bigoted loner. But that night\, after months of flirtatious messaging\, Sam had succeeded in coaxing Blaze—a gay\, Jewish sophomore at UPenn—out for a rendezvous. No one would ever see him alive again. \nIn American Reich\, veteran investigative journalist Eric Lichtblau uses the story of Blaze’s life and death to shine a light on the epidemic of hate in Southern California and\, increasingly\, the nation as a whole. Orange County has long been a bastion of the ultra-right: carved out of farmland as a haven for wealthy whites fleeing the diversifying metropolis to the north\, it was the birthplace of the far-right John Birch Society\, a hub for neo-Nazi recruitment\, and a powerful springboard for race-baiting Republican politicians including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. But in the years leading up to Blaze’s disappearance\, Orange County was changing: like the country as a whole\, it was rapidly diversifying\, to the outrage of many of its white residents. No one was more opposed to the changes than America’s resurgent neo-Nazi groups\, one of which had recently gained a new member: Sam Woodward. \nRevealing how Orange County has exported racial hatred to the rest of the country and the world\, American Reich weaves this tragic tale together with stories from across the nation\, showing what this haunted place and the colliding paths of two of its residents reveal about America’s fractured soul and our hope for healing. \n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/eric-lichtblau/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261201T213000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251106T210852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T180846Z
UID:10005006-1768935600-1796160600@writer.org
SUMMARY:The Novel Year w/ Susan Coll
DESCRIPTION:Bring your novel to life with best-selling author Susan Coll!\nWhether 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. \n\nWatch the Virtual Info Session\nMeet Susan Coll\, instructor for our Novel Year workshop\, and have all your questions about the program answered! \nWATCH NOW >>>\n\nOver the course of twenty sessions\, we will:\n\ncreate a fun\, warm\, and supportive writing community\ndiscuss and engage in exercises focused on various aspects of craft including dialogue\, setting\, plot\, point of view\, character development\, tense\, and much more\nworkshop one hundred pages per student\, broken into four submissions of 25 pages each (*students are also welcome to use their allotted workshop time to discuss their work and/or writing dilemmas rather than submit pages).\ndiscuss publishing\, including drafting sample query letters and elevator pitches\nhear from guest speakers including published novelists and industry experts\nread two novels (tbd) to discuss and deconstruct as a group with an eye toward both craft and publishing trends\nthe instructor is happy to schedule individual follow up sessions as requested following critique sessions\, as well as a six-month or one-year check in after the class concludes.\n\n*Students should be prepared to read and offer comments on the work of other participants. Detailed guidance will be provided at the first class about how this process will work. \n\nSchedule\nThis class will meet virtually every other Tuesday\, with a two-month reading and writing break over the summer.  Workshop dates run from January 20\, 2026 – December 1\, 2026\, 7–9:30pm ET\, with a month-long break over the summer for students to focus on writing.  \nJan. 20\nFeb. 3\nFeb. 17\nMarch 3\nMarch 17\nMarch 31\nApril 14\nApril 28\nMay 12\nMay 26\nJune 9\nJune 23 \nSUMMER BREAK \nAugust 25\nSept. 8\nSept. 22\nOct. 6\nOct. 20\nNov. 3\nNov. 17\nDec. 1 \n\n1:1 Mentoring\nAll workshops will be held over Zoom\, with additional opportunities to meet 1:1 with Susan upon request. All enrolled students will have the option to schedule an individual follow-up meeting (1 hour) with Susan approximately 6 months after the conclusion of the workshop.\n \n\nTo Apply\nApplication Deadline: Friday\, January 9\, 2026 \nTo apply\, please submit a cover letter describing your background and the project that you have in mind. The first five pages of the novel you will be working on are welcome as part of the application\, but not required. The class will be limited to ten students. Send your submission to emily.holland@writer.org by Friday\, January 9th\, 2026. Admissions will be on a rolling basis so participants are encouraged to submit early. \nAcceptance into the workshop is required before registering. \n\nAbout Book Farm @ The Writer’s Center\nThe Writer’s Center hosts a series of workshops for serious writers to complete book-length projects\, generate new work for publication\, or master the elements of craft within a specific genre. You’ll work with an acclaimed author\, guiding you through 4-12 months of lessons\, workshops\, and revisions. Our instructors are all accomplished educators with a track record of student success. Limited enrollment with rolling admission up to the application deadline\, so apply right away to secure your spot! \nAll Book Farm participants receive an exclusive tote bag\, a craft book recommended by the instructor\, and a $100 gift certificate good toward future TWC workshops. Participants also receive exclusive access to The Writer’s Center staff\, all of whom are accomplished writers with extensive experience in editing and publishing.
URL:https://writer.org/event/novel-year/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Master Level,Workshop,Zoom
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T200000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251218T175458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T182203Z
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SUMMARY:Virtual Info Session for Novel Club w/ Lisa Ko
DESCRIPTION:Meet Lisa Ko\, instructor for our Novel Club 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. \nRegister below! \n\nAbout the Program\nApplication Deadline: February 16\, 2026\nWorkshop Dates: Begins March 4\, meeting biweekly for ~10 months\nCost: $5\,400 | Members $5\,300 \nJumpstart your novel and writing practice in this ten-month intensive! \nIf 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 manuscript and actionable next steps. \nFind the full details and apply here »
URL:https://writer.org/event/virtual-info-session-for-novel-club-w-lisa-ko/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Fiction,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260121T203000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251001T174152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T150640Z
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SUMMARY:Researching for Creativity: Practical tips of DC-Area writers\, from the1930s and Now
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes Kim Roberts\, David Nicholson\, and David Taylor for a conversation and practical creative exercises on how to research in your writing. This event will also include examples of local resources. \n\nAbout the Event\nHow can real-world research foster your creative work and thinking? In connection with The People’s Recorder podcast\, this conversation with three DMV writers starts from the experiences of writers in a Depression-era cultural experiment\, the Federal Writers’ Project. And it comes up to now with views from writers today about how research and interviews feed their own creative work. \nAs heard in the People’s Recorder podcast\, many emerging writers in the 1930s found their voices in community with peers on a government project intended to put people to work documenting American life and history. Young writers — including some who later grew to prominence including Margaret Walker\, Tillie Olsen\, Richard Wright\, Ralph Ellison and John Cheever — honed skills in archival research\, oral history interviews\, and street-level research. Those skills also helped in shaping their distinctive voices in poetry\, novels and nonfiction. \n\nDavid Nicholson was born in Washington\, D.C.\, where he attended public schools and the private Sidwell Friends School. He has worked as a reporter for the Associated Press and the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News. After earning an MFA at the Iowa Writers Workshop\, Nicholson returned to Washington\, where he started Black Film Review and worked as an editor and daily book reviewer for The Washington Post Book World. He’s the author of three books\, most recently The Garretts of Columbia: A Black South Carolina Family from Slavery to the Dawn of Integration (University of South Carolina Press\, 2024). He and his wife live in Vienna\, Va. https://davidnicholson.info/ \nKim Roberts is the author of seven books of poems\, most recently Q&A for the End of the World\, a collaboration with Michael Gushue (WordTech Editions\, 2025)\, and The District’s Departed: Walking Tours of DC-Area Cemeteries (Rivanna Books\, 2026)\, her second guidebook. Roberts co-curates DC Pride Poem-a-Day each June\, and co-directs the Pride Poetry Residency at the Arts Club of Washington. She has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities\, Humanities DC\, and the DC Commission on the Arts\, and has been a writer-in-residence at 21 artist colonies and nonprofit organizations. http://www.kimroberts.org \nDavid Taylor is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. His journalism appears in the Washington Post\, Scientific American\, and Smithsonian\, and his nonfiction includes Ginseng\, the Divine Root (Algonquin\, 2006) and Cork Wars: Intrigue and Industry in World War II (Hopkins Press\, 2018)\, featuring two Baltimore families. His fiction includes Success: Stories (WWPH\, 2008) winner of the Washington Writers’ Publishing House fiction prize; has appeared in Gargoyle\, Rio Grande Review\, and Subnivean; and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He teaches in the Johns Hopkins Science Writing Program and is a producer for The People’s Recorder podcast. He lives in Washington\, DC. https://davidataylor.org \n  \n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/researching-for-creativity/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T200000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20250916T191650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T152844Z
UID:10004974-1769108400-1769112000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Craft Chat w/ Memoirist  Mai Serhan
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of nonfiction! We’re joined by author Mai Serhan for a discussion of her new memoir\, I Can Imagine It for Us. Mai is in conversation with Amy Freeman\, author and Development Director at The Writer’s Center. \nRSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public\, all times Eastern \nWe encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local\, independent bookseller or online from Bookshop.org » \n\nMai Serhan is a Palestinian writer who grew up in Egypt. She is the author of CAIRO: the undelivered letters\, winner of the 2022 Center for Book Arts Poetry Award\, and I Have Never Been to the Place Where I am From\, But I Will Imagine It For Us\, a finalist for the 2022 Narratively Memoir Prize. She holds an MSt in creative writing from Oxford University\, and has studied at NYU and AUC. She lives in Cairo. \n\nAbout the Book\nA young woman’s search for connection with her estranged father\, her family’s past\, and the Palestinian homeland she can never visit \n“Mai Serhan’s writing is unique\, sincere\, dark\, funny\, and cuttingly tragic.”—Selma Dabbagh \nMai Serhan lives in Cairo and has never been to Palestine\, the country from which her family was expelled in 1948. She is twenty-four years old when one morning she receives a phone call from her estranged father. His health is failing and he might not have long to live\, so he asks her to join him in China where he runs a business empire about which Mai knows nothing. Mai agrees to go in the hopes that they will become close\, but this strange new country is as unknowable to her as her father. There\, the ghosts of the Nakba come to haunt them both. With this grief comes violence\, and a tragic death brings a whole new meaning to the word erasure. \nIn a narrative made rich by its layers of fragmentation\, as befitting the splintered and disordered existence of exile over generations\, this courageous memoir spans Egypt\, Lebanon\, Dubai\, China and\, of course\, Palestine. It is filled with bitter tragedy and loss and woven through with an understated humor and much grace. \n\nIf 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. \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/mai-serhan/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T213000
DTSTAMP:20260214T161753
CREATED:20251125T210805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T175609Z
UID:10005027-1769108400-1769117400@writer.org
SUMMARY:Let the Soft Animals Speak: Writing the Wild with Craft and Care
DESCRIPTION:Explore the essence of unexpected characters across genres.\nWhen Mary Oliver tells us to let the soft animal of [our bodies] love what [they] love\, we know exactly what she means. But how does she engage the natural world to create pieces that linger on our tongues and in our hearts\, and how can we endeavor to do the same? In this workshop\, our goal is to learn how to enter the diverse topographies and umwelts around us and represent them authentically on the page. We will begin by examining exemplary works in a discussion of how to navigate and move beyond “othering” in human relationships with animals and nature. Following our critique\, together we will explore the art of “noticing” and — through our own on-the-spot attempts — see how the practice can open up opportunities to use places\, natural elements\, and animals as compelling characters and structural guides in our writing. \n\nIn-person class: This workshop will take place at The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh St\, Bethesda MD. \n\nIn this workshop you’ll:\n\nExplore the unique essence animals and nature as critical story elements\nUnderstand the value of non-traditional characters\nWriting outside of your comfort zone\nCreatively incorporating science\n\nTime Requirements\n\nA handful of short selections to read in advance.\n\nMaterials\n\nReading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis is workshop is designed for multi-genre writers interested in exploring new ways of “seeing” the world around them and representing it on the page — through the eyes and senses of non-traditional (and non-human) characters.\n\n\nIf you need an accommodation for this workshop\, 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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/let-the-soft-animals-speak-writing-the-wild-with-craft-and-care/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:1 Session,Beginner/Intermediate Level,Mixed Genre,The Writer's Center,Workshop
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