Exceptional workshops led by amazing writers
The Writer’s Center has been sharing the craft of writing for nearly 50 years, and we couldn’t do that without the outstanding writers who lead our workshops.
Our instructors have won awards, published bestsellers, and achieved the highest levels of literary success. They’re ready to share their best tips and tools with you.
Genre
Ginny Barnes
Ginny Barnes is an artist and environmental advocate. She has published several articles on trees and nature. In particular for the magazine Plenty which sings the praises of Montgomery County's 93,000 acre agricultural reserve.. She also serves as Vice-chair of Conservation Montgomery and has written several pieces on nature for their website: conservationmontgomery.org
Genre
Elizabeth Poliner
Elizabeth Poliner’s books include the novel, As Close to Us as Breathing (Little, Brown), winner of the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize in Fiction and an Amazon Best Book, and Mutual Life & Casualty, linked stories. She’s published fiction in Kenyon Review, TriQuarterly, Story, Michigan Quarterly Review, and many other journals.
Teaching Style: Liz explores fiction from a craft and skills development perspective. As an instructor she is experienced (including teaching fiction for 15 years in the M.F.A. program at Hollins University), relaxed, passionate about craft, and welcoming of participation.
Genre
Laura Lannan
Laura Lannan is a recent graduate of the MFA program at American University where she received the Myra Sklarew Award for outstanding poetry thesis. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in THAT Literary Review, Burnt Pine Magazine, The Blood Pudding, and Prometheus Dreaming. A lover of horror movies, libraries, and heavy metal music, she lives in Washington, D.C. with her partner.
Genre
Sam Nelson
Sam Nelson is a teacher and writer. He’s entertained young students with dramatic read-alouds for years and has taught creative writing and public reading to writers of all ages. He’s published work in The Washington Post, Two Hawks Quarterly, DCist, and other places. You can read more about his work here: samnelson.xyz
Genre
Thibault Raoult
Thibault Raoult holds an MFA from Brown University and PhD from University of Georgia. He has published three books: Person Hour, Disposable Epics, and Pro(m)bois(e). A former editor at The Georgia Review, TR currently directs RealPoetik and makes letterpress and music (as Historic Sunsets) in and near Mount Rainier, Maryland.
Genre
Diana Parsell
Diana Parsell is the author of Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Trees (Oxford University Press, March 2023). She has worked as a journalist, science writer and editor for a wide range of publications and nonprofits in Washington and Southeast Asia. See more on her website at www.dianaparsell.com.
