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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260709T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260820T150000
DTSTAMP:20260609T164646Z
CREATED:20260427T234904Z
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UID:10005265-1783602000-1787238000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Poems After Art\, Media\, and Ruin
DESCRIPTION:Write poems that look hard at public images without reducing them to commentary\nThis workshop studies how poems can respond to paintings\, photographs\, monuments\, advertisements\, films\, and other public images without collapsing into summary or explanation. Each week includes a short reading\, a brief craft talk\, and a generative prompt centered on image\, stance\, and tonal control\, followed by discussion and optional sharing. By the end of the workshop\, participants will have drafted a small sequence of poems that engage visual culture with pressure\, clarity\, and formal intelligence. No preparation is required for the first class beyond bringing something to write with. \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 learn:\n\nHow to build a poem from visual material without merely describing it\nStrategies for writing ekphrastically with tension\, distance\, and authority\nWays to use public imagery as structure rather than backdrop\nTechniques for managing tone when writing toward history\, violence\, or spectacle\nRevision methods that sharpen image\, syntax\, and line-level pressure\n\nTime Requirements\n\n3 hours\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is for poets and hybrid writers who are drawn to art\, film\, photography\, archives\, and public culture\, and who want to turn visual encounter into serious poetic material. It will suit both emerging and experienced writers who want to deepen their control of image\, tone\, and composition.\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/poems-after-art-media-and-ruin/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:7 Sessions,All Levels,Poetry,The Writer's Center,Workshop
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260730T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260806T210000
DTSTAMP:20260623T175008Z
CREATED:20260427T234905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T175008Z
UID:10005269-1785438000-1786050000@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 in writing\n\nTime Requirements\n\nN/A\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading 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-2/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:2 Sessions,Beginner/Intermediate Level,Poetry,The Writer's Center,Workshop
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260809T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260809T173000
DTSTAMP:20260713T154735Z
CREATED:20260713T154735Z
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UID:10005320-1786291200-1786296600@writer.org
SUMMARY:Women Writers Mixer
DESCRIPTION:Women writers of DC! Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center! It’ll be a chance to talk shop\, network\, and hang out with other writers. Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six\, and bring a friend\, too. See you there! \nFREE & open to all women writers from the DMV. RSVP required below. \nAttending? We encourage you to become a member of The Writer’s Center for only $65/year »
URL:https://writer.org/event/women-writers-mixer-aug26/
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:20260810T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260810T193000
DTSTAMP:20260605T194728Z
CREATED:20260427T234901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T194728Z
UID:10005259-1786386600-1786390200@writer.org
SUMMARY:Making a Broadside
DESCRIPTION:Create a broadside of your poetry.\nA broadside is an art print with text and drawings. Participants will receive printmaking paper\, stencils\, stamps\, and a surprise material based on the venue or setting to create a broadside. Generative writing exercises will be interwoven with examples of historically-revered posters\, visual art pieces\, and literary works printed by letterpresses. The broadside continues to transform over time while telling our stories as a form of literary artifact. This workshop offers the opportunity to write poems\, or literary works\, and receive editorial feedback. Participants will receive printmaking paper and stamps to create their own broadside. \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 learn:\n\nEkphrasis\nRhetoric\nElegy\n\nTime Requirements\n\n1 hour\n\nMaterials\n\nKingdom Animalia by Aracelis Girmay\nCitizen Printer by Amos Paul Kennedy\, Jr.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is designed for advanced and early writers\, alike.
URL:https://writer.org/event/making-a-broadside/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:1 Session,All Levels,Poetry,The Writer's Center,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T170026Z
CREATED:20251216T170026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T170026Z
UID:10005129-1786561200-1786568400@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-aug2026-1/
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:20260820T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260820T220000
DTSTAMP:20260630T194614Z
CREATED:20260427T234907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T194614Z
UID:10005272-1787252400-1787263200@writer.org
SUMMARY:Your Literary Lineage: From Beloved Work to New Poems
DESCRIPTION:Turn your favorite poems into new and original work.\nOur poetic inspirations are a kind of chosen family. In this workshop\, we will explore the ways we can ethically be inspired by and pay homage to the writers we align with\, the ones who form our “literary lineage.” Choosing from both existing prose and poetry\, participants will generate new work. We will explore strategies and forms including allusions\, found verse\, ekphrastic\, centos and golden shovels. \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 learn:\n\nEthical uses of other people’s work\nnew forms\nvoice and style development\n\nTime Requirements\n\n120 minutes\n\nMaterials\n\nAll reading materials will be provided.\n\nWho should take this workshop?\n\nThis workshop is for beginning and intermediate poets who want to explore and deepen their connection to other voices while generating new work.\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/your-literary-lineage-from-beloved-work-to-new-poems/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:1 Session,Beginner/Intermediate Level,Poetry,The Writer's Center,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260823T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260823T153000
DTSTAMP:20260616T175446Z
CREATED:20260616T175446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T175446Z
UID:10005300-1787493600-1787499000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Book Launch for Poet Robert Tobias
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes poet Robert Tobias for a reading from his newest collection\, What Lives in Me.  \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP below. \n\nRobert M. Tobias\, a debut author at 82\, completed his fourteen-year career as the General Counsel of the National Treasury Employees Union successfully suing Presidents Nixon ($533M in back pay) and Reagan (reversing his cancellation of all federal appointments from the time of his election to the date of his inauguration)\, and several federal agencies concerning violations of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act. He then served as the union president for sixteen years leading federal employees as they lobbied for increased federal employee pay and benefits. His third twenty-four-year career involved creating the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program at American University\, targeted toward increasing career federal supervisors’ leadership capacity. What Lives in Me\, is career four \n\nAbout What Lives in Me\nWhat Lives in Me is a collection of autobiographical poems that explores how a father’s toxic masculinity can echo across a lifetime. The speaker’s father—a 1921-born farm boy\, relentless competitor\, and hard-edged “man’s man”—teaches his son early that failure is unforgivable. By age four\, through sharp words and head slaps\, the boy has absorbed the lesson: he is not good enough and Real Men don’t cry. \nThrough scenes drawn from small-town storefronts\, factory floors\, classrooms\, and family memory\, the poems follow him into adulthood—law school\, labor organizing\, leading others\, teaching others about leadership and the cost of secrets. Along the way\,the same fear of failure becomes the hidden engine of success\, driving him to work harder and longer than those around him. \nTaken together\, the poems reveal how a father’s voice can live inside a son long after childhood ends. Moving from secrecy and shame toward self-recognition\, What Lives in Me examines the emotional inheritance of masculine toxicity in a culture that prizes toughness over tenderness. \nAs the speaker confronts the beliefs that shaped him\, he begins the difficult work of reclaiming his own voice through developing the courage to name his fear\, feel it\, and ultimately develop the courage to face it. These poems seek to give language to experiences that often remain unexamined by men. \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/robert-tobias/
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:20260826T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260826T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T170216Z
CREATED:20251216T170216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T170216Z
UID:10005130-1787770800-1787778000@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-aug2026-2/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260909T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260909T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T170517Z
CREATED:20251216T170517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T170517Z
UID:10005131-1788980400-1788987600@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-sep2026-1/
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:20260912T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T153000
DTSTAMP:20260701T174715Z
CREATED:20260630T175055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T174715Z
UID:10005310-1789221600-1789227000@writer.org
SUMMARY:Hunger Action Month Reading
DESCRIPTION:EC Poetry and Prose\, The Writer’s Center\, Poet Lore\, and Poetry x Hunger are partnering to raise funds in honor of Hunger Action Month! \nEach September\, Hunger Action Month unites millions to raise awareness and provide nutritious food to neighbors facing hunger. Join us at The Writer’s Center on September 12th\, 2026 at 2pm for a reading of writers against hunger. \n100% of your donation goes directly to the Maryland Food Bank helping hungry children\, working families\, older adults\, and Maryland’s Under-resourced Communities throughout the state. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP below.  \nDonate in advance of the event using this link>>> \n\nAbout Poetry X Hunger\nPoetry X Hunger is bringing a world of poets and their poems to the anti-hunger cause. We are using poetry to raise awareness\, compassion and funding. And\, speaking of funding\, by holding poetry fundraisers\, we magically turn poetry into food. In recent years\, we’ve raised thousands of US dollars for anti-hunger organizations. \nAbout EC Poetry & Prose\nWe are a collective of poets and writers who believe in the power of language to convey truth and promote peace. Our members are spoken word artists\, published authors\, and emerging writers. Our founder and partners are from Howard\, Anne Arundel\, and Frederick Counties; members reside throughout the state. \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/hunger-action-month/
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:20260913T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260714T153210Z
CREATED:20260702T160248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T153210Z
UID:10005311-1789304400-1789318800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Submit-O-Thon!
DESCRIPTION:Submit your Work for a Cause!\nEach autumn\, thousands of lit mags and journals open their portals/queues/websites to read your work. We know that submitting on your own can be a slog\, so let’s get it done\, together! \n \nThe Writer’s Center is hosting our first ever Submit-o-thon\, a marathon-like afternoon where you commit to submitting your work for 4 hours\, and enlist your friends and family to support you along the way! \nThe donations you raise will help pay for \n\nOur public programming (including readings\, panels\, and craft chats)\nBi-monthly open mics\nQuarterly mixers\nCreative writing workshops\nScholarships\nAnd more!\n\nAs a fundraiser\, you’ll receive a one month free subscription of Chill Subs  and an optional  30 minute submission crash course on best tips for submitting! \nYou’ll spend your time submitting to a minimum of 20 literary journals and magazines to get your work out there! \nIn return for you hard work\, we will have prizes like mugs\, gift certificates\, and more! \nOnce you’ve registered\, you will receive an email with a personal fundraising page to send to your loved ones.  \n\nWatch an Informational Video\nLearn all the logistics of this fundraiser! \nWATCH HERE >>>\n\nWhat to Expect:\n12:30-1pm: Sign in\, Pick a spot\, Receive your ChillSubs Benefit\n1-5 pm: Quiet time to submit work\n1-1:30pm: (optional) Tips and Tricks for a great submission\n5pm: Prizes Awarded and Reception Begins!\n\nOnce you’ve registered\, you will receive an email with a personal fundraising page to send to your loved ones.  \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.
URL:https://writer.org/event/submit-o-thon/
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:20260914T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260914T203000
DTSTAMP:20260105T201822Z
CREATED:20260105T201822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T201822Z
UID:10005144-1789412400-1789417800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Cafe Muse Literary Salon
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes the Café Muse Literary Salon for a reading featuring writers  Luther Jett and Julia Kolchinsky. The evening begins at 7 PM with Michael Davis live on classical guitar. The readings begin at 7:30 PM with opening remarks by a Café Muse co-host. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP on the Cafe Muse Website. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/cafe-muse-literary-salon-sep-26/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
GEO:38.97949;-77.090791
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T130000
DTSTAMP:20260713T155009Z
CREATED:20260713T155009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T155009Z
UID:10005321-1789815600-1789822800@writer.org
SUMMARY:Recent Grad Writers Mixer
DESCRIPTION:Are you a writer who recently graduated? Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center to hang out and talk writing! Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six. You’re welcome to bring a friend\, too. \nFREE & open to all DMV writers who have recently graduated. RSVP required below. \nAttending? We encourage you to become a member of The Writer’s Center for only $65/year »
URL:https://writer.org/event/recent-grad-writers-mixer-sept26/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T210000
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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-sep2026-2/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T153000
DTSTAMP:20260730T145925Z
CREATED:20260716T172652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T145925Z
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SUMMARY:Writer James Kleiger Book Release
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes writer James Kleiger for a reading from his new book\, Pareidolia. Illusions\, Deceptions\, and Murder. James is joined by writers Francene M. D. Hill and Gary Rosen for a reading excerpts from his new book work and a discussion. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP below. \n\nBorn and raised in Denver\, Jim Kleiger journeyed from the Rocky Mountains to the New England coast. Writing about people and their struggles has been central to Jim’s work throughout his career. He has authored six professional books and scores of papers on the psychological assessment of severe mental disorders\, including psychosis\, post-traumatic stress\, and bipolar disorders. Unable to resist the pull of his imagination\, Jim turned to fiction. In 2020\, publishing under the name J. Herman Kleiger\, he wrote his debut novel\, The 11th Inkblot. Since then\, he has written three books in the Nicola Kitts psychological thriller series\, including his recently released book\, Pareidolia\, Illusions\, Deceptions\, and Murder. Jim brings his expertise as a clinician and personality assessor to his psychological fiction\, weaving captivating stories that explore his characters’ inner conflicts and how these struggles drive the drama\, suspense\, and mystery of their lives. \nFrancene M. D. Hill (reader) is the author of Tiny Tots in Tiaras and Tuxedos: The Life\, Love\, and Business Success of Kermit B. Hill—a powerful creative biography about her mother that Kirkus Reviews calls “an accessible\, valuable addition to the histories of Black businesswomen in America.” Holding a B.A. from Smith College and an M.S. from Penn State University\, Francene preserves Kermit’s inspiring legacy\, from safeguarding WWII secrets at the Pentagon to building the Tiny Tot School\, where Black children were empowered as kings and queens for 60 years. A natural storyteller\, Francene brings her mother’s journey to life on stages across the country\, including open mics\, book readings\, literary festivals\, and The Moth StorySLAM in Washington\, DC. \nGary Rosen (moderator/reader) began his writing career in 2020 as a way to deal with a personal trauma. He began to journal and quickly those entries became poetry. In addition to poetry (@goodmourningpoet)\, Gary has published a children’s book\, Just Like Me\, and is about to release Who Took My Sock? He lives in Maryland with his wife and two dogs. His son lives in Virginia with his two cats\, and his daughter and son-in- law live in Maryland with their two cats and Poptart the hedgehog. When Gary isn’t writing you will probably find him practicing his guitar or on a pickleball court either teaching or playing the sport. \n\nAbout Pareidolia. Illusions\, Deceptions\, and Murder\nA gun.  An empty whiskey bottle. A soul teetering on the edge… \nPareidolia. Illusions\, Deceptions\, and Murder\, the third book in the Nicola Kitts psychological thriller series\, is a gripping\, fast-paced thriller. Pareidolia offers readers a suspenseful plot\, crisp dialogue\, and haunted\, haunting characters.  \nCan a startling phone call be Nicola Kitts’ salvation\, or will it lead her down a twisted path of deception and danger\, where nothing is as it seems? In a Shutter Island-esque labyrinth where reality and illusion intertwine\, Pareidolia\, the gripping sequel to Whispers\, compels readers to confront the razor-thin line between madness and sanity\, and between despair and hope. Unexplained messages\, chilling calls from the dead\, and an unimaginable menace drive Nicola Kitts to battle her darkest fears and find her only friend before time runs out. \nLike his earlier fiction\, Pareidolia is a story of battling external threats and internal demons\, set against the backdrop of trauma\, grief\, and the crucible of healing\, instructing and delighting its readers.   \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/james-kleiger/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T180000
DTSTAMP:20260729T175252Z
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SUMMARY:Bill Wilburn Book Release
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes writer Bill Wilburn for a reading from his debut novel\, First Comes Winter. Bill is joined by Emily Barrosse for a discussion of his novel. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP below. \n\nThe son of a Navy pilot\, throughout his dad’s career\, Bill Wilburn grew up in seven locations in the U.S. and Europe. After college\, he worked as a news reporter\, eventually leaving the Associated Press to begin law school. In his career as a lawyer\, he published numerous professional articles in prominent law reviews and journals. His literary and op-ed works have appeared in The Ekphrastic Review\, The Wall Street Journal\, the Dallas Times Herald\, the Baltimore Sun\, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. \nEmily Barrosse is the founder and CEO of Bold Story Press and Xander Press\, two boutique publishing imprints dedicated to amplifying strong\, honest storytelling. After more than three decades in the publishing industry—including serving as Vice President and Editor in Chief at McGraw Hill—Emily launched her own presses to create a more transparent\, collaborative\, and empowering path for authors. \n\nAbout First Comes Winter\nEarly in World War Two\, at her twin brother’s funeral\, a privileged young woman from Baltimore meets a Navy pilot her same age. Rachel is drawn to Bob’s boyish charm and artistic interests. But she feels prejudice toward the Southerner who comes from a hardscrabble Protestant background\, so different from her Jewish upbringing. Bob\, in turn\, admires the beautiful Rachel\, whose drive and decisiveness set her apart from the hometown Alabama sweetheart he seems destined to marry. \nAs Rachel and Bob begin a tentative long-distance correspondence\, the war’s effects on their personal lives challenge each of them to face their own lifelong biases. \nWhen the Navy transfers Bob to Chicago\, where Rachel now lives and works\, their relationship unexpectedly deepens into an interfaith romance. In this heart-warming historical novel\, they overcome their own prejudices in different ways as their love grows. \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/bill-wilburn/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260927T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260927T170000
DTSTAMP:20260729T135929Z
CREATED:20260706T144422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T135929Z
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SUMMARY:Latine Heritage Through a Literary Lens
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center and Tintas DC presents a FREE\, informative\, and inspiring symposium exploring Latine heritage in literature and popular culture. The event will feature free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion with featured writers Dahlia Aguilar\, Raffi “DJ Raffi” Umanzo\, and María Amelia Viteri. The symposium concludes with a reception for all attendees. \nAll events are FREE and open to the public. Limited space\, registration required. The workshops are simultaneous\, so please only sign up for ONE. Scroll down to register! \n\nCheck In | 1:00pm\n\nWorkshops | 1:30-3:00pm\nPlease register for ONE workshop using the form below. Workshop registration includes admission to the panel discussion and reception. \n\nThe Nature of Things | Workshop Leader: Dahlia Aguilar\nThe Nature of Things is that we are the nature. This session will explore how poetry can be used as a tool for healing and sustainability. Participants will explore concepts of sustainability\, explore nature writing from writers of color\, and generate their own poetic tributes to the loving world around them.\n Breaking Through Writer’s Block: Using Music to Inspire Your Next Story | Workshop Leader: Raffi “DJ Raffi” Umanzor\nMusic and writing have connected me to so many in the past\, so in this interactive workshop\, participants will explore how music can spark ideas\, shape characters\, and unlock scenes by learning the techniques I use in my own writing process. Attendees will leave having written a short 2–3 minute scene inspired by either a favorite song of their own or one selected from a curated playlist. Bringing earbuds is highly encouraged!\nThe Body as Archive: Our Embodied Memories | Workshop Leader: María Amelia Viteri\nThe Body as Archive invites participants to explore the body as a living archive\, a place where memories\, experiences\, care practices\, inheritances\, territories\, and acts of resistance are inscribed through skin\, breath\, gestures\, scars\, and movement. Together\, we will reflect on the traces we carry\, both visible and invisible\, and consider how our bodies preserve stories that often remain absent from official records and institutional archives. Drawing on excerpts from the bilingual fanzine The Body as Archive\, developed by the Body as Archive working group co-founded by the facilitator\, participants will engage in brief readings\, creative exercises\, writing\, and body mapping to imagine archives of care\, silence\, migration\, sounds\, resistance\, pleasure\, and community memory. Through words\, symbols\, colors\, and images\, each participant will create a visual and narrative cartography of embodied memory and contribute to a collective living archive that expands how we understand history\, knowledge\, and remembrance beyond documents.\n\nPlease register for ONE workshop using the form below. Workshop registration includes admission to the panel discussion and reception. \n\nPanel Discussion | 3:15-4:15pm\nTo attend the ONLY panel and reception\, please register for the panel-only option below. \nWhere Our Stories Live: Memory\, Music\, Nature & the Body \nWhat holds our stories before they’re ever written down? This conversation explores the many places stories live: within our bodies\, our relationships to the natural world\, the music that shapes us\, and our collective memories. The panelists will discuss how these living archives influence their creative practice and how writers can access them to create work that is both deeply personal and resonates with others. \n\nWorkshop Leaders/Panelists\nDahlia Aguilar is a Texas-born Chicana poet and calls D.C. her hometown. A 2025 DC Arts and Humanities Fellow\, she is an alum of the Macondo Writers Workshop and has held residencies with Under the Volcano\, Elk River\, and Gemini Ink. Her poems appear in Naugatuck River Review\, Acentos Review\, The Skinny Poetry Journal\, Journal X\, Boundless\, and the award-winning anthology Somos Xicanas. Her debut manuscript La Otra Cara\, will be released this fall as part of Finishing Line Press’ New Women’s Voices Contest and her manuscript Por La Costa paneled for the Purple Ink Press Beloved Chapbook Contest.  She is a co-founder of Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS\, a local public elementary school whose mission it is to prepare young people to be stewards for sustainability. She lives in Deanwood with her teenage son\, two dogs\, and menopause. \nRaffi “DJ Raffi” Umanzor is a DC based writer\, producer\, DJ\, and event host whose work celebrates Latine culture\, queer storytelling\, and community connection. As the creator of Reggaeton Brunch DC and host of the Wait! Don’t Do It! podcast\, he has built a career bringing people together through live entertainment and sharing/ over sharing experiences. Alongside his work in events\, Raffi is an emerging screenwriter with a passion for blending horror and comedy to tell stories that are both unsettling and deeply human.His first scripts date back to when he was 8 years old.  His current original screenplay\, Capital Punishment\, explores fears\, (imaginative and real) like anxiety and gentrification told distinctly through a queer lens while also paying tribute to the slasher films that inspired him to start writing. Whether it’s through event production\, DJing\, or writing horror\, Raffi is fascinated by the relationship between them in order to tell relatable stories. \nMaría Amelia Viteri\, Ph.D. is a cultural anthropologist whose hemispheric scholarship moves across ethnography\, archives\, gender studies\, migration\, memory\, and public humanities in the Americas. She holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from American University\, a B.A. in Linguistics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador\, and an M.A. in Gender and Development from FLACSO–Ecuador; her transnational academic formation shapes her commitment to historically grounded\, community-engaged\, and interdisciplinary research. An internationally recognized scholar\, she has authored ten books and more than thirty peer-reviewed publications\, including Desbordes (SUNY Press\, 2014) and The Tropical Silk Road (Stanford University Press\, 2022). She is currently an Associate Researcher in Anthropology at the University of Maryland\, College Park. Inspired by her grandfather’s story\, her current research approaches the archive as a living body of memory—holding visible and invisible traces and reclaiming histories official records often leave behind. \nAdrian Gaston Garcia (aka AGG) is a queer Latine storyteller and cultural organizer whose work explores belonging\, identity\, and collective healing. Originally from Chicago and now based in Washington\, D.C.\, he creates work that celebrates queer Brown joy. His poetry and performances have been featured at Arena Stage\, the American Poetry Museum\, Busboys and Poets\, the DC Latino Book Festival\, Dupont Underground\, World Poetry Festival\, and other venues across the region. Recent projects include co-directing and performing Jotería: Our Untold Stories during WorldPride 2025\, co-producing Oye DC\, and collaborating with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company for Noche de Joteria. Adrian is the founder of Tintas DC\, a writers collective centering Latine voices in the DMV\, and co-host and producer of Los Bookis Podcast. In 2026\, he was named Mr. DC Latinx Pride for his contributions to LGBTQ+ storytelling\, arts\, and community. \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\nPlease register for ONE workshop using the form below. Workshop registration includes admission to the panel discussion and reception.\nIf a workshop is full\, you can join the waitlist by sending an email to claude.olson@writer.org specifying the workshop you’re interested in attending.
URL:https://writer.org/event/latine-through-a-literary-lens/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261005T203000
DTSTAMP:20260310T182414Z
CREATED:20260105T201930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T182414Z
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SUMMARY:Cafe Muse Literary Salon
DESCRIPTION: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 classical guitar. The readings begin at 7:30 PM with opening remarks by a Café Muse co-host. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP on the Cafe Muse Website. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/cafe-muse-literary-salon-oct-26/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
GEO:38.97949;-77.090791
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261011T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261011T163000
DTSTAMP:20260713T155239Z
CREATED:20260713T155239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T155239Z
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SUMMARY:BIPOC Writers Mixer
DESCRIPTION:Calling all BIPOC writers in the DMV! Let’s hang out and talk writing!  \nCome join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center to meet new writers\, make new friends\, and share your love of the written word. Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six. You’re welcome to bring a friend\, too. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP required below.
URL:https://writer.org/event/bipoc-writers-mixer-oct26/
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:20261014T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261014T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T171507Z
CREATED:20251216T171507Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T171507Z
UID:10005133-1792004400-1792011600@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-oct2026-1/
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:20261019T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261019T210000
DTSTAMP:20260729T232114Z
CREATED:20260603T163755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T232114Z
UID:10005298-1792432800-1792443600@writer.org
SUMMARY:Reading Your Work Out Loud
DESCRIPTION:Practice sharing your story and yourself\nSpend an evening practicing and learning about the art of public speaking. This in-person coaching session will give you the opportunity to bring your voice– and self– to the words you’ve written. You’ll learn how to become a more genuine and effective communicator of your work\, which will in turn fuel a more authentic writing process and outcome. You’ll leave the workshop with an experience of camaraderie\, community\, and a more deeply rooted sense of your creative and expressive self. Please have on hand a number of pieces you’d be comfortable sharing during the meeting. There will be a break; please also bring a snack and water.
URL:https://writer.org/event/out-loud-with-jennifer-hamady/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:1 Session,All Levels,Fiction,Mixed Genre,Nonfiction,Poetry,Professional Writing,Stage and Screen,The Writer's Center,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261023T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261023T200000
DTSTAMP:20260720T133013Z
CREATED:20260720T133013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260720T133013Z
UID:10005326-1792782000-1792785600@writer.org
SUMMARY:An Evening of Tributes to Tobias Wolff
DESCRIPTION:A Free Fitzgerald Festival Event Co-sponsored with The Writer’s Center\nThe F. Scott Fitzgerald Festival and The Writer’s Center present a reading in tribute to legendary author Tobias Wolff. Featuring multiple award-winning author Richard Bausch\, award-winning novesist Varun Gauri\, PEN/Faulkner winner Mahreen Sohail\, plus concluding remarks by Wolff. \nFREE and open to the public. RSVP required below. \n\nTobias Wolff is the author of the memoirs This Boy’s Life (1989) and In Pharaoh’s Army (1994)\, and he has also written novels and short story collections\, including Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories (2008). His novel The Barracks Thief (1984) won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received a National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in September 2015. Wolff is the Ward W. and Priscilla B. Woods Professor of English\, Emeritus\, at Stanford\, where he lives with his wife Catherine. They have three children and four grandchildren. \nRichard Bausch is the author of thirteen novels\, among which are Hello to the Cannibals (2002)\, Thanksgiving Night (2006)\, Peace (2008)\, Before\, During\, After (2014)\, and Playhouse (2023). His ten collections of short fiction include The Fireman’s Wife (1990)\, The Selected Stories of Richard Bausch\, in The Modern Library (1996)\, The Stories of Richard Bausch (2003)\,Wives & Lovers: 3 Short Novels (2004)\, Something is Out There (2010)\,Living in The Weather of the World (2017) and\, most recently\, The Fate of Others (2025). His multiple honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship\, the Award in Literature Academy of Arts and Letters\, the Lila Wallace Reader’s Digest Writer’s Award\, the 2004 PEN/Malamud Prize; the 2009 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for his novel\, Peace; and the Rea Award for Achievement in the Art of Short Fiction. In addition\, his work has been adapted for three full length feature films. He has been with the Writing Program of Chapman University in Orange\, CA since 2012. \nVarun Gauri’s debut novel\, For the Blessings of Jupiter and Venus\, was selected for NPR’s Books We Love 2024\, chosen as a Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Winner in Adult Fiction\, and won the 2024 Carol Trawick Fiction Prize. While at the World Bank’s research department\, Varun led studies on social policy and behavioral economics in dozens of countries around the world\, and his academic work was covered in The New York Times\, The Economist\, Le Monde\, The Hindu\, and The Guardian. Varun now teaches at Princeton University and serves on the board of The Writer’s Center in Bethesda\, MD. \nMahreen Sohail was born in Islamabad\, Pakistan. Her debut story collection\, Small Scale Sinners\, won the 2026 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. She has an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College\, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar\, and was a Writing Fellow at A Public Space and a Charles Pick Fellow at the University of East Anglia. Her work has appeared in Granta\, The Kenyon Review\, Pushcart Prize XLII\, and elsewhere. She lives in Washington\, DC. \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/tobias-wolff/
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:20261028T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261028T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T171644Z
CREATED:20251216T171644Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T171644Z
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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-oct2026-2/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T193000
DTSTAMP:20260713T155457Z
CREATED:20260713T155457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T155457Z
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SUMMARY:LGBTQ+ Writers Mixer
DESCRIPTION:Are you a writer who identifies as LGBTQ+? Let’s hang out and talk writing! Come join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center. Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six. You’re welcome to bring a friend\, too. \nFREE & open to all DMV writers who identify as LGBTQ+. RSVP required below. \nAttending? We encourage you to become a member of The Writer’s Center for only $65/year »
URL:https://writer.org/event/lgbtq-writers-mixer-nov26/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261111T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261111T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T171816Z
CREATED:20251216T171816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T171816Z
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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-nov2026/
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:20261114T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261114T200000
DTSTAMP:20260730T184805Z
CREATED:20260730T184805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T184805Z
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SUMMARY:Ole Blue Claw: Tales from the Crustier Side of Maryland Anthology Launch
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes the Ole’ Blue Claw Maryland Anthology for a reading a celebration of a new anthology featuring twenty-three distinctive works\, a mix of flash and short fiction\, by writers from across Maryland. \nJoin Maryland writers Preston Ford\, Greta Ehrig\, Judy Harding\, Rhonda Zimlich\, Cathy Tsang\, and Theodore Carter for a reading of their anthologized work and to meet the editors as we celebrate Maryland storytelling. \nFree and Open to the Public. \n\nAbout Ole’ Blue Claw\n\n\nAn Anthology of Place-Based Fiction\n\n\n\n\nOle’ Blue Claw is the brainchild of three graduates of the Johns Hopkins University Master of Arts in Writing Program. Our desire was to capture the diversity and little-known wonders of the Old Line State of Maryland\, including its crustier side. As long-term residents of the state\, we are proud to have filled the pages of Ole’ Blue Claw with engaging\, place-infused stories and vibrant\, idiosyncratic\, memorable characters whose personality quirks and clashes swell the heart of our readers and of course\, ole’ blue claw himself\, the Old Line State’s most infamous decapod crustacean. \n\n\n\nTheodore Carter is the author of several books including Stealing The Scream\, Frida Sex Dreams and Other Unnerving Disruptions. His fiction has appeared in The North American Review\, Pank\, Necessary Fiction\, and elsewhere. He’s a staff writer for Daily Art Magazine. You can see his street art out and about in Washington\, D.C.  \nGreta Ehrig earned an MFA in Creative Writing from A.U.\, where she was Editor of Folio literary journal and a Lannan Fellow.  Her poetry has appeared in numerous publications\, including: Southern Poetry Review; Beltway Quarterly; and Mid-Atlantic Review.  Her songwriting has been recognized by the Bernard-Ebb and Mid-Atlantic Song Contests.  She has received support from Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County; Maryland State Arts Council; and National League of American Pen Women.  In 2024\, Greta was nominated for Best of the Net and a Pushcart Prize for poetry.  She teaches piano and songwriting at Montgomery College. \nPreston Ford is a teacher with a life-long interest in creative writing. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University\, he has lived throughout the South and now makes his home near the nation’s capital. Ford is the author of Quarter Moon: A Novel of the American South (A Thousand Candles Press\, 2023) and numerous short stories\, some of which can be found in the collections Impressions in Half-light (Outskirts Press\, 2009) and Days of Unease (A Thousand Candles Press\, 2024). He plays chess\, writes\, and worries about the state of the world in his spare time.  \nRitchie Porter lives in Silver Spring\, MD\, and is the father of two boys\, not two girls. After acting in the D.C. region for a number of years\, he transitioned to teaching and now instructs theater and directs at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac. In his spare time he plays music\, acts and writes short fiction and plays. He would like to thank the editors of the Ole Blue Crab for taking a chance on his story\, and for their expert and caring guidance. \nCathy Tsang is a Chinese American who grew up in Florida. She has been published in newspapers and magazines. This is her first time being published in a book. She loves reading cozy murder mysteries\, historic fiction and tries to find time to write while taking care of two young children. She resides with her family in Rockville\, Maryland. \nRhonda Zimlich teaches creative writing and serves as the Director of the MFA in Creative Writing Program at American University in Washington D.C. She writes about intergenerational trauma and the unbreakable spirit of youth. Her debut novel\, Raising Panic\, won the Steel Toe Books 2023 Book Award for prose. She was awarded the 2020 Literary Award in Nonfiction from Dogwood\, earning an honorable mention in Best American Essays. She received the 2021 Fiction Award from Please See Me\, and the 2024 Nonfiction Award from Barely South Review.. Other works have appeared in Brevity\, Past-Ten\, American Writer’s Review\, and more.www.rhondazimlich.com \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/ole-blue-claw/
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:20261207T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261207T203000
DTSTAMP:20260105T202101Z
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SUMMARY:Cafe Muse Literary Salon
DESCRIPTION:The Writer’s Center welcomes the Café Muse Literary Salon for a reading featuring writers from Washington Writer’s Publishing House reading from the America’s Future Anthology. The evening begins at 7 PM with Michael Davis live on classical guitar. The readings begin at 7:30 PM with opening remarks by a Café Muse co-host. \nFREE & open to the public. RSVP on the Cafe Muse Website. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nEnjoying our free events? Help us offer more programs to support writers with a $10 donation »
URL:https://writer.org/event/cafe-muse-literary-salon-dec-26/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
GEO:38.97949;-77.090791
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261209T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261209T210000
DTSTAMP:20251216T171944Z
CREATED:20251216T171944Z
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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-dec2026/
LOCATION:The Writer’s Center\, 4508 Walsh Street\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20815\, United States
CATEGORIES:Event
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