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If you love to read or write, there’s a place for you at hugo house..

Hugo House isn’t just a place. It’s a community.

Hugo House is a nonprofit literary arts organization that aims to make writing accessible. Everyone has a story to tell. Whether you’re a new writer wanting to learn, an experienced author seeking a supportive environment to share your work, or a reader looking for new books to love—at Hugo House, you’ll find ways to explore your creativity, whatever your interest or budget.

Registration for classes in winter quarter 2024 is now open. Register now!

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Whether you’re struggling to write your first poem or have a few novels under your belt, Hugo House offers classes, workshops, and other programs to help you achieve your writing goals. Our classes are taught by published writers who are also stellar teachers. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. What they all have in common: a love of words.

This Actually Happened: Writing Real Life (Sliding Scale Tuition)

Instructor: Alli Parrett. Explore elements of craft that translate real life moments into captivating stories on the page, examining excerpts from Brandon Taylor's Real Life and more.

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Open hours with frances mccue, open hours at hugo house.

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Leadership Transition at Hugo House

Jenne Hsien Patrick, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Neena Viel, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Celeste Chan, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Adelle Dimitui, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Featured free resource, open mic events.

Works in Progress is Hugo House’s semi-monthly writing open mic series inclusive of diverse formats. Read your work—poetry, fiction, essays, memoirs, plays, music, comedy, and more—and connect with your literary community.

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Supporting writers through writing workshops, free events, and so much more.

Supporting Writers and Everyone Who Wants to Write

The Writer’s Center offers hundreds of writing workshops, hosts dozens of free events, and fosters a community of writers, virtually and in-person.

Workshops & Free Events Calendar

Events search and views navigation, event views navigation, calendar of events, 6 events, 28, novel year with dr. mathangi subramanian.

Application deadline extended to August 31! Finish your novel in just one year! Do you have a book-length work of fiction that can't seem to find the time to finish? […]

Personal Essays from Start to Finish: 10 Essays in 5 Months!

Inspiration, accountability, and the tools you need to get your essays out into the world! Join us for five months of craft lessons, workshops, editor visits, and personal editorial feedback! […]

Novel Year with Diane Zinna

Complete your novel and prepare for publication! Novel Year is an intensive, advanced workshop geared toward writers with either a draft of a novel ready for revision or a novel […]

Intermediate Novel: The 8 Cs of Novel Writing

Are you serious about writing a novel but struggling? This intermediate course will examine the eight fundamental elements of the novel to help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your work-in-progress. From Concept to Conclusion, we will study the key components of a novel, with generative and evaluative exercises along the way. Written lessons, curated online resources, and targeted exercises (along with instructor and peer feedback) will help guide you as you continue to draft your novel. (Note: This course is a good follow-up to Tammy Greenwood’s Intro to the Novel workshop.)

Getting Your Poetry Published

Expand the audience for your poetry! This intensive one-day workshop will offer all poets—whether they have yet to submit their first poem to a literary journal or are ready to […]

Creative Courage and Self-Care for Writers

Learn how to navigate all phases of the creative process without burning out. As writers, it’s vital that we nurture our creativity through self-care so we can work with our […]

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4 events, 30, 4 events, 1, 4 events, 2, 5 events, 3, creating novel characters.

When 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.

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From idea to script: a beginner’s guide to screenwriting.

Discover how to translate your passion for screenwriting into actionable skills. Every week students will build on the foundations of story, structure, character arcs, the do's and don'ts, industry standards, and the technical side of writing a script until they have a completed short screenplay that will be workshopped during the last weeks of class. We'll start with one page scripts, build to a three-page script, and finally five to ten page scripts for the final workshop. Please come to class with a few ideas you'd like to use to create a final script.

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6 events, 6, 8 events, 7, how to write a stand-up comedy act.

How do comedians come up with ideas? It all starts with finding the funny in your life and turning it into material. Learn how to recognize a premise, extract the humor and hone it into a stand-up act or funny story. We study comedians and styles and work on your unique voice in a fun and supportive class. This is for people who want to go out and try performing or just want to learn how to polish up their writing with wit and humor. No preparation or experience necessary.

Women Writers Mixer

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 […]

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Crafting fiction: element by element.

By working through basic craft elements of fiction, participants will build a strong foundation for their writing--be it stories or novels. This 7-week workshop will explore craft elements one at a time and ask participants to practice them through in-class exercises. Reading published fiction will also help us understand how writers regularly employ these elements. You'll also begin to put the elements together as you start a story. You'll leave the workshop with the tools you need to write wonderful, authentic fiction.

The Muddle in the Middle

This quick-take session focuses on ways to get yourself unstuck when a story’s middle gets thorny, or you lose your way. A relaxed, informative 90 minutes chockful of information from a multi-published author who often has to fight her way out of the middle of a manuscript…and onward to a completed novel. Loads of tips and tricks for you to take away!

Tips for Revision from the Pros!

In this hands-on, active learning workshop, you will learn some of the various ways writers reshape, rethink, and "re-vision" their pieces. We’ll learn about and try out deep cutting, shifting style or point of view, switching up or mixing genres, and more! By the end of class, you’ll have a variety of revision techniques to try out so that you can choose the approach (or approaches) that will inspire you to take your writing forward.

Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center

Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and […]

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Second-generation immigrant writers mixer.

Join us at The Writer’s Center for an informal gathering with other second-generation immigrant writers. It's the perfect opportunity to network and share stories. Please bring a drink or an […]

Virtual Craft Chat with Novelist Lisa Ko

The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of fiction! We’re joined by National Book Award finalist Lisa Ko to discuss her new novel, Memory Piece. Lisa […]

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10 events, 11, how to create a compelling voice.

Agents say it all the time. What sells a manuscript? A standout voice. Acquire the tools you need for developing a compelling voice of your own through the study of entertaining published examples, a clear explanation and writing exercises designed to ignite your unique way of expressing yourself. You will enjoy a sense of excitement in this inspiring and instructive workshop as you successfully translate the voice in your head to the page.

Latine Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center

Bilingual Open Mic for Latine writers! All Latine writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work in English, Spanish, or spanglish. Limited space (sign up […]

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8 events, 13, 8 events, 14, 11 events, 15, writing about mental illness.

Whether you have experienced mental illness personally or have a loved one with mental illness, writing about it can help you process the challenges and inner conflicts while creating powerful narratives that reduce stigma and stereotypes. In the spirit of healing through storytelling, participants will write about how mental illness has directly or indirectly affected their lives. You will learn creative ways to practice self-discovery through writing and turn personal experience into art, and you will come away with two rough drafts in whatever genre you choose. For inspiration, we will read pieces by Elyn Saks, Bassey Ikpi, Mariah Hornbacher, and more. Please note, this is not a replacement for therapy. It’s an opportunity to explore a difficult topic through a creative lens.

The Power of Structure: Fixing your Table of Contents

Join us for an immersive workshop where we'll guide you through the art of creating a compelling table of contents. In this hands-on session, you'll learn how to organize your ideas effectively, create a roadmap for your readers, and ensure your manuscript flows seamlessly from start to finish. Whether you're working on a novel, a thesis, or any other project, mastering the table of contents is key to captivating your audience. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your craft and take your writing to new heights.

How to Write a Key Scene

A key scene is an essential building block in any work of fiction. In this session, you'll learn tips and strategies for making the scene you see in your head come alive on the page so that your reader is compelled to keep turning the pages, rather than turn out the light. Writing exercises will give class members a hands-on feel for how to add texture, dynamism, and drama to a story. The session also provides practical, hands-on guidance about the rewriting process. An added benefit: giving and receiving critical feedback. You’ll come away from the class with the creative muscle memory to write and revise with confidence.

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9 events, 17, 10 events, 18, your first (or next) novel.

Writing a novel takes commitment, but it doesn’t need to be daunting. Learn how to generate a handful of plots to choose from, methods for effectively planning your story, and simple hacks for fine tuning your basic fiction skills. Participants will initiate a flexible writing plan that will keep their writing flowing. This is a great half-day session for the beginning long-form fiction writer, or for the more experienced author in need of a quick strategy brush-up.

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10 events, 20, crafting short stories.

In this workshop, participants will examine the qualities of good writing and good storytelling. After a recap on the constituent elements of short fiction, we will take a fresh look at contemporary and classic stories alike. Each week, writers will craft a new piece and offer feedback to fellow participants. By the course's end, writers will have workshopped several stories each and revised them with an eye toward publication.

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Ronald collins in conversation with carolyn finney.

Ronald Collins’s mind-opening book, Tragedy on Trial: The Infamous Story of the Emmett Till Murder Trial, is a long-overdue and indispensable account of the 1955 murder trial. This amazing book […]

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10 events, 23, opening art reception for ekphrasis by jeffrey berg.

The Writer's Center welcomes artist Jeffrey Berg for an opening reception for Ekphrasis, a collection of color pencil drawings and mixed media on paper. The exhibition will be on view […]

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Plotting your novel.

Whether you are an organized planner or a writer who flies by the seat of their pants, a novel still needs structure. In this workshop, participants will study the architecture of a novel and devise plans for plotting their novels. Using the three-act structure as a map, we will explore the basic components of a novel's plot.

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9 events, 26, 9 events, 27, 9 events, 28, 9 events, 29, facing your writing fears.

Not only is writing a lonely process, it can be downright scary. And, when it comes to mustering the courage to share our work with others, fear can turn to terror. In this session we'll look at understanding what frightens us -- and how to get beyond those fears.

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Book marketing on a budget.

You’ve written – or are writing your book – now fight for it! In this workshop we’ll focus on over two dozen book marketing tips, with a close eye on budgets. From book launches, social media, blogging and podcasting, to writing press releases, creating Amazon Author’s pages, and connecting with publicists, we’ll fill your head, and notebook with ideas; over 30 of them! If you think writing a book is exciting, wait until you feel the thrill of professionally promoting it!

Micro Memoirs

Join us to explore the elements of memoir in small manageable bites. We'll read and discuss Micro Memoirs, also called Flash Memoir, (50-250 words) to inspire your own writing and enhance your storytelling skills. Each week, with provided prompts, you’ll write about a variety of incidents, stories, or memories while building specific craft skills (image, metaphor, point of view, rhetorical strategies to address memory “gaps,” and more). In each class there will also be time for students to read their work out loud, to receive specific appreciations. Using a writer-focused workshop process, we’ll replace opinions and invasive "fix-its" with specific answers to their questions to best serve the writer and support them in revision. This class is perfect for poets and prose writers who want to write about their lives or family histories, get out of their writing ruts, and enhance their skills with feedback and revision.

Virtual Craft Chat with Poet Amanda Shaw in Conversation with Majda Gama

The Inner Loop and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry! We’re joined by Amanda Shaw to discuss her debut collection, It Will Have […]

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14 events, 1, writing compelling historical fiction.

Setting your fictional characters in the real time and place your story occurs makes it a vivid read that will draw readers in and keep them turning pages. The first three workshops will teach participants how to access the broad spectrum of information available in person and online in the unique research institutions that exist in the DC area, including the National Archives; the Library of Congress; Federal Records Centers; Federal agencies' Public Information Offices; Federal and state courts; libraries specializing in Washingtoniana; foreign embassies; and more. During the last two workshops, every student will present their proposed research plan and critique the plans of their classmates, to ensure that their research will focus on the most helpful institutions and the most valuable topics.

Evoking Reader Empathy

Even when a story is skillfully written, it may not be enough to make the reader care. The key lies in the emotional impact your story has on readers — inviting them to not only invest in your characters, but to embark on an emotional journey of their own. We’ll discuss how to avoid cliché and heavy-handed moralizing; determine the most effective balance of internal thought, scene, and underlying tension; and discover how to let an object or image (your father’s watch, a specific place, work of art, etc.) carry the emotional weight of your story. Reading examples and short exercises will give participants the opportunity to experiment with creating empathy on the page.

Creating Backstory & Flashbacks

Every character has a hidden history from before your story starts. Learn how to masterfully weave in details and experiences that enrich your characters and create believable motivation. Novelists, short story authors, and creative nonfiction writers will all benefit from these twin skills. You’ll see your writing grow in sophistication and depth.

American Identity Through a Literary Lens

The Writer’s Center presents an informative and inspiring symposium addressing the subject of American identity in literature and popular culture, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion. […]

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Rent a Space at TWC

Make The Writer’s Center the venue for your next meeting or event in Bethesda, Maryland! From off-site business meetings to theater productions, we have a space that’s right for you.

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How We Support Writers

Writing classes. Free events for writers. New friends and networking. Every year, The Writer’s Center delivers hundreds of ways to connect more deeply with the literary life. Our writers hone their writing craft, master editing and revision, share their work, and get published. Most importantly, we bring likeminded writers together into a fun and welcoming community.

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Curated Conversation(s): a Latinx Poetry Show

Curated Conversation(s) is a virtual discussion series. Season 1 features debut Latinx poets, and Season 2 pairs Latinx poets from the United Kingdom and United States.

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TWC presents an informative and inspiring symposium addressing the subject of American identity in literature and popular culture, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion. All events are FREE. Register at writer.org.

TWC presents an informative and inspiring symposium addressing the subject of American identity in literature and popular culture, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion. All events are FREE. Register at writer.org. ...

Can’t find the time/energy/inspiration to get your novel written? This popular course, developed by the author of the book by the same name, will help you complete a rough draft in just 8 weeks. Apply at writer.org under workshops today!

Can’t find the time/energy/inspiration to get your novel written? This popular course, developed by the author of the book by the same name, will help you complete a rough draft in just 8 weeks. Apply at writer.org under workshops today! ...

The Inner Loop and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry on Thursday May 30th at 7p.m! We’re joined by Amanda Shaw to discuss her debut collection, It Will Have Been So Beautiful. Amanda is in conversation with award-winning poet Majda Gama. Register at writer.org!

The Inner Loop and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry on Thursday May 30th at 7p.m! We’re joined by Amanda Shaw to discuss her debut collection, It Will Have Been So Beautiful. Amanda is in conversation with award-winning poet Majda Gama. Register at writer.org! ...

TWC presents an informative and inspiring symposium addressing the subject of American identity in literature and popular culture, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion. All events are FREE and open to the public. RSVP at https://ow.ly/n5MY50RPRC0.

TWC presents an informative and inspiring symposium addressing the subject of American identity in literature and popular culture, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion. All events are FREE and open to the public. RSVP at https://ow.ly/n5MY50RPRC0. ...

The Researched Memoir with Melissa Febos

In four weekly sessions, bestselling memoirist and essayist Melissa Febos will lead participants through the stages of writing a researched memoir from conception to publication.

July Write Club with Jennifer Coffeen

This month-long online class will concentrate on accountability and goal setting for writers of all levels with lower stakes and more focus on getting words on the page.

Magic as Emotional Translation with Hajrije Kolimja

What can magic offer in narratives that strict realism cannot? In this class, we’ll be looking at the utility of magic in fiction writing—particularly investigating how it helps us translate experiences of extreme emotion and the multiplicitous identities of which they are a part.

SINGLE SESSION

Thanks for the Memories: How to Write Flashbacks with Frances de Pontes Peebles

In this class, we will get curious about flashbacks. When should flashbacks be inserted and why? How much memory is necessary? How can we write flashbacks that propel a story rather than paralyze it?

Prompt-a-Palooza with Denise Santomauro

Start a new story or deepen your current project with a fun morning of prompts!

Writing Humor with Suzanne Roberts

We will discuss elements of humor, the benefits and the pitfalls of using humor in different situations, and the case for taking humor more seriously in our writing.

MASTER CLASSES

Master Class: Follow the Desire: Writing Gripping Fiction with R.O. Kwon

In this class, we'll look at others' desire-filled writing and dream up some of our own. How do we follow what our characters want, and, pulled along, find a world?

PJ Seminar: Too Hot to Cut: How to Write Sex Scenes with Purpose with Isle McElroy

In this class, we will deepen our understanding of how sex scenes work to develop character, heighten tension, and advance plot in fiction. Students will also complete short craft exercises.

Master Class: Even More True: Writing Dialogue with Emma Copley Eisenberg

In this class, we will look at both the truth-telling possibilities of dialogue and how, on the level of mechanics and craft, these possibilities can be achieved.

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Stories Matter. Tell Yours Today

Upcoming classes.

Writing with Pictures: a playful approach to generating new work with Laura Grothaus

Laura Grothaus will share her experiences as a writer and visual artist who witnesses some of the most exciting work bubbling up in the spaces between mediums.

Writers Room: 10-Pack

StoryStudio’s Writers Room service offers members use of our studio space for writing on Tuesdays and Fridays, by reservation. Our hope is that our space can provide concentration and inspiration away…

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Youth Creative Writing Summer Camps

Online & In-Person for Summer 2024 More 2024 Details and Dates coming soon. Please subscribe to our Youth Newsletter to get first updates on camp information. StoryStudio is proud to…

“I finished my MFA in 2022 and, though it was a phenomenal program, I had two major holes in my education: novel writing and the publishing process. I attended Pub Crawl last year and a novel course this year and have learned so much from you all. I truly can’t believe the quality of teaching StoryStudio is sharing with the world (and so affordably) and wanted to say THANK YOU!” – Adrienne G.

StoryStudio Chicago

We offer classes for writers to hone their craft, express their creativity, and communicate with confidence.

Stories Matter Foundation

StoryStudio is part of this 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit and community of storytellers. We aim to change worlds using the power of story.

Our Community

One of our main goals is building a community where writers and literary folks can come together to learn, share, and grow in the creative arts.

Read a bit from our blog…

20 stories: (#1) ericka carmona-vega.

Ultimately, StoryStudio Chicago’s teachings and empowering methods of inquiry led me to finish my first novel of the Rise series.

20 Stories: (#10) Rowan Beaird

The first time I went to StoryStudio was for a write-in. I loved that the space felt like an apartment—the creak of the wood floors, the ambient bubbling of a kettle, deep couches, warm lights. Though it attracts talented, accomplished writers, there’s nothing intimidating about the space, and that sense of warmth and community is…

20 Stories: (#11) Jasmine Sawers

While writing itself is a deeply solitary endeavor, I came to realize that the support of other writers during the writing process was invaluable and, indeed, exactly what I had been missing since finishing my MFA.

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Learn How to Write a Novel, Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class.

Learn How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months.

596 Best Creative Writing Classes in 2024

Showing 596 courses that match your search.

2024 Youth Summer Camp: Sci-Fi/Fantasy ONLINE

Story Studio Chicago

Over the course of one week, writers will generate their own science fiction and fantasy pieces and workshop them with the help of their peers. They will learn the differences between the genres and read the works of notable authors.

Website: https://www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/youth/2024-you...

Categories: Book, Fiction, Fantasy, and Science Fiction

Start date:

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

8-week Writing Sprints: A Generative Class

Sackett Street Writers

Writing Sprints is an exercise-intensive course designed to “unstick” writers struggling to start or continue new projects, boosting writing productivity. The course relies heavily on writing exercises (for both fiction & nonfiction writers). This class is for writers of all levels looking for inspiration and motivation.

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2024/03/05/8-week-wri...

Categories: Book, Fiction, and Nonfiction

September, 2024

Prerequisites: A writing sample is recommended for this class.

The Secret Life of Scenes Workshop with David Biespiel

Attic Institute

Do you feel your writing gets bogged down in announcing, recounting, and summarizing? What you need is some scene-making medicine. Work with Attic Institute founder and two-time Oregon Book Award winner David Biespiel to learn the keys to explain less and dramatize more.

Website: https://atticinstitute.com/node/2830

Categories: Book, Fiction, Nonfiction, Screenplay, and Short Story

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →

2024 I Love to Write Camp

Kansas City Writers

Explore the creative writing process without worrying about your grade! These workshops include experience with free writing of many types of writing and techniques to help your writing come alive.

Website: https://www.kansascitywriters.com/workshops-for-kids.html

Categories: Fiction and Kids

Open all year round

Healing a Heart: Writing Your Way to Hope

Rockvale Writer's Colony

In this four-part class we'll explore the art and magic of writing as a healing process in a collaborative and supportive environment. Together, we will share our stories, read a variety of essays and short fiction in order to identify how others have utilized the written word to heal themselves.

Website: https://rockvalewriterscolony.org/workshops/november-8-10...

Categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Book, and Essay

November, 2024

Fall Virtual Workshop

Futurescapes

Futurescapes is an intensive, exclusive workshop, offering writers an unparalleled chance to work with top authors and agents in speculative fiction (science fiction, horror, fantasy, paranormal).

Website: https://futurescapes.ink/fall-workshop

Categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Book, and Fiction

October, 2024

Prerequisites: You may submit any original written work for your application.

Teen Summer: Say It Like You Mean It

Whether characters are arguing, bantering, betraying secrets, or confessing their guilt, dialogue can be one of the most challenging parts of writing a scene. In this workshop, we’ll learn about the various ways you can use dialogue in your writing, such as to advance the plot or develop characters.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/teen-summer-say-it-like-y...

Categories: Screenplay, Short Story, Book, Kids, and Nonfiction

August, 2024

The Poetry of Play

Writers.com

In this class, we’ll enjoy a rollicking good time by responding to poetry’s call to do just that. Students will read a wide variety of playful poetry, then experiment with in-class writing prompts designed to awaken freedom and enjoyment.

Website: https://writers.com/course/the-poetry-of-play

Categories: Poetry, Book, and Short Story

January, 2025

The Art of Live Storytelling

Ever dreamt of captivating an audience with your storytelling, condensing your writing into a sharp pitch, or confidently speaking in public? This course is designed for you. Uncover the craft of powerful storytelling using the classic "pity, fear, catharsis" framework and contemporary engagement techniques.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/the-art-of-live-storytell...

Categories: Nonfiction, Essay, and Fiction

Prerequisites: For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY.

Writing Experimental Essays

The aim of this class is to open up your writing by embracing this experimentation with form and structure. You’ll learn about the lyric essay—braided, collage, and hermit crab and more.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/writing-experimental-essa...

Categories: Nonfiction and Essay

Teen Summer: DIY Comic Book Making

You love comics, and graphic novels, and you like to doodle, but perhaps you’ve never finished a multi-page comic story? Or, you are a veteran comics creator and want to draw a new one! Now’s your chance to create a mini-comic during one week this summer.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/teen-summer-diy-comic-boo...

Categories: Book, Short Story, and Nonfiction

Teen Summer: From Story to Screen: Intro to Screenwriting

In this screenwriting and film workshop, we will learn Aristotle’s poetics, character work, scene writing, and dialogue. Further, we will immerse ourselves in clips from movies and short films and discuss how they relate to our learning techniques.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/teen-summer-from-story-to...

Categories: Kids

What are the 5 best creative writing classes?

Congratulations! Deciding to learn how to creative write is often the hardest step of all. Now it's time for a choice that's almost just as difficult: picking which creative writing class you want to take in a market that's getting more crowded by the day.  

That’s why we built this directory of the best creative writing courses — so that you can more easily filter through all of the selections out there. But in case you don't have time to dive into them all, here are five of the best creative writing classes for you to take a look at. 

1. Reedsy Learning

💲 Cost: Free 👨‍🏫 Type: Email lessons

If you’re struggling to find time for creative writing classes, Reedsy Learning is for you. These bite-sized lessons are emailed to you once a day for ten days and can be read in five minutes or less. But don’t let their compact size fool you — each lesson is packed with practical tips, links to additional resources, and enough exercises to keep your skills sharp. There are also courses on editing, marketing, and publishing for when you’re ready to take your creative writing to the next level.

2. Gotham Writers’ Workshop

💲 Cost: $165 - $409 (plus registration fees) 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, live Zoom classes, assignments, critique

The largest adult-education writing school in the US, Gotham Writers has been helping budding authors hone their skills since the 1990s. Based in New York City, they offer in-person classes as well as a variety of online options for students all over the globe. With self-paced courses, live Zoom lectures, write-ins, and several free events per term, Gotham Writers emulates the university feel wherever possible.

💲 Cost: $0 - $109 👨‍🏫 Type: Lectures (videos, slides, and text)

Founded in 2010, Udemy is a massive online open course (MOOC) platform, created to provide an alternative to in-person, university learning. Their primary audience is made up of professionals and students — some of their courses even offer credit toward technical certifications. Their creative writing courses are broad and geared mainly toward beginners, through there are some intermediate courses that get into specific niches.

💲 Cost: $0 - $998 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, online assignments

Another MOOC, edX was started as a collaboration between Harvard and MIT, but these days boasts classes from a wide variety of respected universities. Like Udemy, some of their courses also offer college credits. edX’s courses are weekly, consisting of short videos, interactive learning exercises, and online discussion groups. Their writing courses cover everything from novels to stand-up comedy to digital content. There are also related courses in journalism, composition, and grammar, among other specializations.

5. Coursera

💲 Cost: Free (Creative Writing Specialization) 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, online assignments

One last MOOC for our list, this time founded by several Computer Science professors from Stanford University. But don’t let its history fool you — Coursera offers humanities classes as much as science and technology. In addition to general courses, Coursera also offers specializations, a series of courses that work together much like what you’d find in a university.

I have a long list of creative writing courses. Now what?

If you've narrowed down a list of writing classes in English you like, then it's time to commit to one of them. But how do you know which is the right fit for your needs and lifestyle?

Before committing to one of them, we recommend considering some of these questions.

• What skill levels does the writing course cover?
• What’s the price of the writing course? Does it match your budget?
• How long does the writing course run for?
• Who is the instructor of the course? Can you verify their credentials?
• Is the writing course remote or in-person?

More creative writing resources

Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on creative writing! 

Free online materials

• Creative Writing Prompts (resource)
• Book Title Generator (resource)
• Character Name Generator (resource)
• Plot Generator (resource)
• How to Write a Novel (blog post)
• How to Write a Book Proposal (blog post)
• How to Edit a Book (blog post)

Recommended books

• For writers in the UK:  Writers' & Artists' Yearbook  
• For writers in the US:  Writer’s Market 2020

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Upcoming Online Creative Writing Workshops

July courses, comics for people who can’t draw, with aubrey hirsch.

Comic strip artists rely much more on creativity than on artistic skill. In this workshop, you'll learn all the tools you need to make fun and engaging comic strips—even if your drawing level is "stick figures."

Lifestyle and Wellness , Live Workshop

August Courses

Poems of all sizes: haiku, tanka, and japanese poetic forms, with miho kinnas.

Explore the history and poetics of Japanese poetry forms, and write haiku, tanka, renga, haiga, and linked verse poetry.

Live Workshop , Poetry

September Courses

Writing with consistency and courage, with tamara dean.

What makes a successful writer? It's not talent, craft, or even the right connections—it's consistency and courage.

Creative Nonfiction , Fiction , Lifestyle and Wellness , Live Workshop , Memoir , Novel , Personal Essay , Poetry , Short Story

Unscheduled Courses

These online writing classes don’t currently have a next session on our calendar, but will soon. If you see a course you’re interested in, use the “I’m Interested” button to let us know, and we’ll follow up with you when the course is on our calendar next.

Want to reach us or our instructors with questions about our online writing courses? Contact us at [email protected] , or visit the contact form .

(Live Workshop) Dream Writing

With zining mok.

How can writers harness the power of dreams? Let your slumber supercharge your creativity in this three hour dream writing workshop.

Creative Nonfiction , Live Workshop , Memoir , Personal Essay

(Live Workshop) Haiku & Senryu: Rekindling A Sense of Wonder

With marc olmsted.

Haiku, Senryu, and other Japanese poetry forms encourage us to slow down and write mindfully. Learn how to write these forms in this meditative writing workshop.

(Live Workshop) Intro to Screenwriting

With susan pohlman.

In this workshop, you'll learn the ropes of screenwriting and create living pieces of collaborative storytelling.

Fiction , Live Workshop , Stage and Broadcast

(Live Workshop) Move Your Writing Forward: The Art of the Bullet Journal

With rudri patel.

Want to have a productive new year? Set up your bullet journal in this one day live workshop.

(Live Workshop) Revising the Novel: Take Your First Draft to the Next Level

With donna levin.

Ready to start revising your novel? Get rolling in this in-depth webinar.

Fiction , Live Workshop , Novel

(Live Workshop) The Art Friend’s Dilemma: Advice on Writing from Real Life

With briana una mcguckin.

Are you writing about people from real life? This one-day live workshop answers the question of how to be a good art friend.

(Live Workshop) The Art of Love Stories: A Flash Fiction Workshop

How do you distill love into 1,500 words or less? Zining Mok explains in this love stories flash fiction workshop.

Fiction , Live Workshop , Short Story

(Live Workshop) Writing Beginnings and Endings

With sarah aronson.

How do you write a story that's compelling to start and satisfying to finish? Sarah Aronson explains in this comprehensive one-day workshop.

Creative Nonfiction , Fiction , Live Workshop , Memoir , Novel , Personal Essay , Short Story

(Live Workshop) Writing from a Strong Sense of Place: A Generative Workshop

With jacquelyn stolos.

Develop powerful and realistic settings in this generative three-hour workshop, with Jacquelyn Stolos.

Fiction , Live Workshop , Novel , Short Story , Stage and Broadcast

Drawing Poems: the Art of Visual Poetry

By melding poetry with design, visual poets can create multidimensional works of art and literature. Explore the craft in this visual poetry workshop. 

Finding Wildness and Freedom in Poetry

With moriel rothman-zecher.

Find a greater sense of comfort, ease, lightheartedness, and freedom in reading and writing poetry.

Get Clear on Your Story and Voice

With nadia colburn.

What is your story about? What is your voice? Whether you write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, hone your writing in this 3 hour workshop.

Get It Done: Create the Scaffolding to Start (and Finish) a Writing Project

With eman quotah.

Get your butt in the chair, your mind roaming freely, and your creative juices flowing in this motivational, all-genres writing class.

Creative Nonfiction , Fiction , Lifestyle and Wellness , Live Workshop , Memoir , Novel , Personal Essay , Poetry , Short Story , Stage and Broadcast

Graphic Novel Writing Bootcamp

With cristian aluas.

Put pen to graphing paper in this workshop on crafting the graphic novel. By the end of the Zoom call, you'll have an 8 page graphic short story that's ready to illustrate.

How to Pitch

With rachel krantz.

Learn the ins and outs of pitching your work to print and online publications from Rachel Krantz, a full-time writer and formerly the Senior Feature Editor at Bustle.

Creative Nonfiction , Live Workshop , Personal Essay

How To Start A Blog, Grow An Audience & Make Money

With jessica festa.

When planned right, a blog allows you to share your passion and make money in the process. Learn how to start a blog in this one-day webinar.

Creative Nonfiction , Lifestyle and Wellness , Live Workshop , Personal Essay

Iconoclast: Reimagining the Line Break

With shankar narayan.

Poets can express so much in just a line break. Hone this tool of the poetic craft in this two part Zoom workshop.

Make Your Prose Sing

With leslie lawrence.

Enrich your prose with techniques from poetry. Bring paper and pens; leave with a better ear and lots of ideas about how to make your prose sing.

Poetry and Performance: Slam Poetry 101

With ollie schminkey.

In these workshops, master the elements of poetry and performance, and learn to take your poems from the page to the stage.

Techwashed!: Writing with AI, Data, and Surveillance

Raise a mirror against society's relationship to technology in this two part workshop series where we will learn how to write about tech.

Creative Nonfiction , Fiction , Live Workshop , Memoir , Novel , Personal Essay , Poetry , Short Story

Ten Steps to Creating Interesting, In-Depth Characters

How do you write about people convincingly? Empower your character development in this workshop filled with exercises and character discussion.

Fiction , Live Workshop , Novel , Short Story

The Only Submission Workshop You Will Ever Need

With meghan sterling.

How do you get your poems in literary journals? This two part webinar shows you the ropes for getting your work published, read, and celebrated.

The Surprising Sentence: Honing Your Prose Style

With jessie roy.

Great sentences stack up into great stories. Learn how to hone your style and voice at the most basic unit of writing, the sentence, in this workshop.

Twoness Poems

With e. ethelbert miller , miho kinnas.

Twoness poems are poems written collaboratively with another poet. Learn something new about yourself, your writing partner, and poetry in this collaborative Valentine's Day workshop.

Using Your Poetry Skills to Write Memoir

With freesia mckee.

How do poets tell their stories in prose? Take the leap from poetry to memoir in this hybrid writing workshop.

Creative Nonfiction , Live Workshop , Memoir , Poetry

Writing for Kids: Entering the World of Children’s Literature

With amanda hosch.

Learn the fundamentals of writing for children in this one day workshop, and write the kinds of stories that kids simply can't put down.

Writing Magical Fiction

With amy bonnaffons.

In this workshop series, you won't just write using magic in fiction—you'll harness the magic that only fiction can make.

Writing Spontaneously: How to Let Your Stories Surprise You

Some of the best stories don't follow a specific plot structure; they develop organically. Learn how to hone spontaneity in your fiction writing and come away surprised by your work.

You Yourself Are the Beloved: Writing with South Asian Ghazals

The ghazal poem has a rich history with a tricky form to master. Learn the ropes in this inspiring and electrifying workshop.

Welcome to Charlotte Lit

Charlotte’s Creative Writing & Literary Arts Center

Who Are We?

Charlotte Lit is a literary and writing nonprofit founded in 2015. Our mission is to celebrate the literary arts by educating and engaging writers and readers through classes , free events and conversations , and community .

No FOMO here! Sign up for our newsletter so you never miss a thing.

Charlotte lit is supported in part by….

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 18607 Charlotte, NC 28218

Physical Address: hygge coworking Belmont 933 Louise Ave Suite 101 Charlotte, NC 28204 (No mail to this address, please)

(704) 315-2131 (voicemail) [email protected]

Charlotte Lit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, EIN 47-4988291. Contributions and memberships  are tax deductible.

Social Media Handles: • Twitter/X: CLTLitArts • Facebook: CLTLit • Instagram: charlottelit

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Featured Classes

Hey, I Can Be Fun! Reapproaching the Nonfiction Book Proposal

June 07, 2024

Writing the Minoritized Experience (V)

June 08, 2024

Inside Out: Turning Life Into Compelling Nonfiction

View All Classes

Lit Fest Cheat Sheet

Featured events.

New Fiction Showcase: Our Yesterdays, Today (Livestream)

First Draft Live: Literary Friendship, Craft, and the Writing Life (Livestream)

June 13, 2024

Lighthouse Faculty Showcase (Livestream)

June 14, 2024

View All Events

Featured Posts

The Nonfiction Writer's Guide to Lit Fest '24

May 14, 2024

Below, you'll find a complete Nonfiction Writer's guide to  Lit Fest

The Fiction Writer's Guide to Lit Fest '24

A Mission Moment: Katerina Jeng, Writing in Color Fellow

May 08, 2024

Some people have always known they wanted to be a writer.

View All Posts

Find your voice. Find your people.

Words & Music: A Collaboration with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra

$5 • saturday, february 18 • 12:00 - 1:00 pm ct in person at porch house 2811 dogwood pl., nashville, tn 37204.

This session is only open to teen writers. We’re offering this course at a discounted rate as part of the Porch’s ongoing commitment to provide low-cost writing enrichment for young people. If you are over 18 years old, please search for the adult version of this class. The Porch is excited to partner with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO), a volunteer community orchestra that brings free performances to a wide variety of audiences throughout the year. In this special one-day workshop, students will listen to excerpts from a piece of classical music that will be performed by the NPO in an upcoming concert. The instructor, Yurina Yoshikawa, will guide the students as they write down their sensory and emotional responses to the music. At the end, students will have the option to share these responses to be printed and displayed at the NPO concert venues. Students may also consent to sharing their work through the orchestra's social media and concert brochures. This class is designed for listeners and writers of all levels. No prior knowledge of classical music required! The NPO concerts will take place on March 5 and 7, 2023. Special note: There is currently a film crew making a documentary about the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, and there is a chance that the student and/or their written response might make an appearance in the final film (tentatively to be released Fall 2023). The instructor will have release agreements ready for parents and/or guardians to sign prior to the class. REGISTER HERE

Writing Sports Fiction (For Teens)

$5 • saturday, february 25 • 12:00 - 1:00 pm ct in person at studio npl, nashville public library main branch 615 church st, nashville, tn 37219.

Sports go hand in hand with storytelling, drama, and the unexpected. Sure, it’s fun to see the exceptional athleticism of a perfect swish or a thrilling touchdown run. But it’s never just about the game. Our hearts are engaged by the stories happening just below the surface. Come out to this interactive class and explore how to capture the magic of your favorite sport and put it down on the page. J. F. Ewert is a creative writer and consultant. He’s the author of Blue Ice and Other Stories from the Rink , along with occasional essays and reviews. As a Canadian emigrant, he’s grateful for Nashville’s ice rinks. When he’s not writing or playing hockey, he’s supporting his sons as they delve into the worlds of baseball and soccer. REGISTER HERE

find a class

Slant creative writing summer camp 2024, 4-6 grade: july 15-19, 9:30am - 12:00pm 7-9 grade: july 22-26, 9:30am - 12:00pm 2811 dogwood place, nashville, tn 37204 • $220.

Community Partnerships

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The Home of Creative Writing

Festival of writing.

Arvon is a charity that runs creative writing courses, events and retreats both in-person and online. Our courses are tutored by leading authors and include a powerful mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Grants and concessions are available to help with course fees.

ARVON COURSES & RETREATS

Fiction , Starting to Write

How I Write: Isabel Waidner

Q&A and Reading

Masterclass: Poetic Metaphor

Nailing the mechanics of metaphor

Hebden Bridge Town Hall

Arvon Writing Festival: Lemn Sissay

Let the light pour in

Fiction , Poetry , Screenwriting , Other

Arvon Writing Festival: Henry Normal

Everything and more

Fiction , Poetry , Non-Fiction

Festival of Writing Day

• Totleigh Barton
• Non-Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Non-Fiction

Writing place as character

Masterclass: Playwriting

Five types of experience

Online Writing Day: Non-Fiction

Get unstuck in a day – from fear to joy

“Every time I’ve taught at Arvon - going back over fifteen years now - I’ve seen how much difference just a handful of days can make in the life of writers. There’s a perfect mix of tutorials, writing time, socializing, and discussion - all those elements come together to create an atmosphere in which writing projects move in that longed-for but often unattainable direction: forward.”

— Kamila Shamsie

ARVON AT HOME

Our online programme of courses, events and writing support

Virtual versions of our famous Writing Weeks, plus Masterclasses, free How I Write events, Online Writing Weekends, Writing Days and more . . . all accessible from the comfort of your sofa.

SUPPORT ARVON NORTH

Arvon North is an ambitious capital project to adapt Lumb Bank into a beacon of creativity for the North

Help us transform Lumb Bank into an engine-house for creative writing development in the North of England, connecting the rich literary collateral of the region with a community of writers locally, regionally, nationally and globally.

CLOCKHOUSE WRITERS' RETREAT

Give your writing the time and space it deserves with Arvon’s dedicated Writers Retreat at The Clockhouse

The Clockhouse is specifically designed for writers on retreat. It has four apartments for writers, each with bedroom, study-lounge and bathroom. All food is provided for you, so you can spend your time as you please.

DONATE TO ARVON

Do you believe that everyone should have the opportunity to unlock their creative potential?

Arvon is a charity that believes everyone deserves the freedom to imagine, write and explore ideas regardless of their age or financial background.

OUR SCHOOLS & GROUPS WORK

We offer residential weeks for schools, young people and adult groups.

Our weeks for schools and groups follow the same pattern as our adult course programme – led by two professional writers, with tutorials, group workshops, and time and space to write.

ARVON BLOGS

My Arvon Week: Jessica Eve Watkins

15 Apr 2024 / My Arvon Week

A preview of Jessica Eve Watkin’s experience on a week-long writing retreat at Arvon’s writing house, The Hurst. “ ‘The…

SI Leeds Literary Prize 2024

07 Mar 2024 / General

A writing prize that helps discover exciting new talent from underrepresented groups will be accepting entries again next month. The SI…

Arvon and Creative Minds Calderdale to Develop Writing for Change Project

28 Feb 2024 / News

Arvon and Creative Minds Charity, hosted by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, are embarking on an exciting project aimed…

My Arvon Journey: Gráinne O’Hare

27 Feb 2024 / My Arvon Journey

When I logged on to my first online Arvon workshop, it was autumn 2022 and already chilly at my writing desk;…

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Want to know what's coming up in the next week? Arvon’s newsletter is the best way to avoid missing out on anything - from new and upcoming courses, to Arvon giveaways and writing and self-development opportunities.

FIND A COURSE OR RETREAT

• Inua Ellams' Spring Season
• Residential Writing Week
• Online Writing Week
• Masterclass
• Masterclass Recording
• How I Write
• Online Five Week Course
• Residential Tutored Retreat
• Online Writing Day
• Residential Retreat
• Children and Young People's Events
• Starting to Write
• Children & YA
• Screenwriting
• Short Story

Privacy Overview

The Writers Circle

creative writing workshops & community

2024 Summer Creative Writing Intensives

For Teens Who LOVE to WRITE ~ Registration is open ~ Take advantage of our EARLY BIRD PRICING

Summer Adult Workshops

4, 5, and 6 week workshops - Summer is the perfect time to write!

WordSMASH Creative Writing Mini-Camps

for Rising Grades 3-5 and 6-7

Celebrating the Written Word

We’re all about summer, summer adult classes are here take advantage of those long, sunny days for inspiration and writing, offering 4, 5 and 6-week workshops., great summer choices:.

Where Do I Begin? | Summer Writing Book Club | Creating Kid Lit | Romancing the Novel | Humor | Writing Short Stories & Flash Fiction and much more!

See our full schedule and register !

Register now for our teen summer intensives and wordsmash mini-camps for 3rd to 7th graders., for teens who love to write, ~ now in our 12th season ~, week 1: july 15-19   |  week 2: july 22-26   |  week 3: july 29-august 2, ~ join us for one, two, or all three weeks ~.

The Writers Circle is a Scholastic Awards Summer Scholarship Program partner.

WordSMASH 2024 Is Live!

Registration is open for our creative writing mini-camp for grades 3-5 and 6-7 .

Our two-hour per afternoon, week-long program is chock-full of writing games, wacky prompts, and time to sink into a favorite book just to read! Seasoned writers will be challenged by story starters unlike anything they’ve seen in school. Reluctant writers will find TWC’s interactive games and prompts an irresistible invitation to start creating. Our collaborative, energetic environment will lay the foundation for kids to let loose and let the words flow.

We have programs in Morristown, Summit, and South Orange, NJ , plus virtual options for kids writing across town or around the country!

From The Writers Circle Blog

Writing When Life Gets In the Way

by Co-Director Michelle Cameron “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” – John Lennon Once upon a time, back when I worked for a digital agency, we were asked to explore a list of life events for a corporate client. No…

The Summer of Eras!

by Rebecca Kilroy, former Summer Intensive Program Coordinator, moving on to brand new things It’s the summer of Eras! I’ve lost count of the number of Eras tour t-shirts our students wore to the Intensive. Not a single Wednesday special event passed without at least…

On Journaling

by Christina Kapp, TWC Instructor & Outreach Coordinator I wish I could say that my journal was any less cluttered than my desk, my closet, my attic, but it’s not. I aspire to order in so many things and fail miserably. There are plenty of…

TWC New Jersey Locations & online classes, too!

Find out more:.

The Writers Circle reserves the right to shift any in-person or hybrid program to virtual instruction based on the health and safety recommendations of the CDC, WHO, the State of New Jersey, or other authorities or involved parties.

Connect With TWC

TWC on Instagram

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Events & Classes for Writers

Explore all our classes & events, summer classes virtual open house.

Join us for our virtual open house to learn about our upcoming summer quarter classes! You can drop by at any time during this hour.

Spring 2024 Write-In Season Pass

Take some time for your writing this spring with a series of virtual write-ins hosted by the Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.

Write-ins are held on a variety of days and times to give our students the opportunity to choose a write-in that works best for their schedule.

Cost: $25/session or $99 for a season pass! Sessions:

• Wednesday, April 3rd, at 1pm with Sabina Khan-Ibarra
• Monday, April 8th, at 1pm with Sabina Khan-Ibarra
• Wednesday, April 17th, at 6pm with Rowena Leong Singer
• Saturday, April 27th, at 10am with Doug Henderson
• Wednesday, May 1st, at 12:30pm with Xandra Castleton
• Wednesday, May 8th, at 12:30pm with Xandra Castleton
• Wednesday, May 15th, at 6pm with Rowena Leong Singer
• Saturday, May 25th, at 10am with Doug Henderson
• Friday, May 31st, at 12pm with Celeste Chan
• Friday, June 7th, at 12pm with Celeste Chan
• Thursday, June 13th, at 12pm with Lisa Lerner
• Thursday, June 20th, at 12pm with Lisa Lerner

First Page Feedback: Short Story with Rowena Leong Singer on May 22nd

Your first page makes all the difference; it grabs your reader's attention and can be the difference between a "yes" and a no" when it comes to agents and editors. More and more, with attention spans pulled in every direction, publishers are eager to see conflict and stakes from the beginning, yet so many writers fail to show this early enough in a story to hook readers.

In these one-hour sessions (with a max of four students), teachers will give feedback on up to 350 words. We ask that students submit their first page one week in advance of the session; each session's instructor contact details can be found in the confirmation email. Please note that your work will be shared with the other students in the session. We offer first page feedback sessions for novels, short stories, and personal essays. Space is limited, so we encourage you to sign up early to secure your spot.

• Thursday, April 4th, from 8-9am with Lisa Lerner
• Thursday, April 18th, from 8-9am with Lisa Lerner

Short Story:

• Tuesday, May 7th, from 6-7pm with Rowena Leong Singer
• Thursday, May 9th, from 11am-12pm with Sabina Khan-Ibarra
• Thursday, May 16th, from 11am-12pm with Sabina Khan-Ibarra
• Wednesday, May 22nd from 6-7pm with Rowena Leong Singer

Personal Essay:

• Saturday, June 1st, from 11am-12pm with Audrey Ferber
• Saturday, June 15th, from 11am-12pm with Audrey Ferber

Spring Write-In: Friday, May 31st with Celeste Chan

First page feedback: personal essay with audrey ferber june 1st, explore the poetry of science with jenny qi - june 4th.

June 4th, 11th, and 18th* |At the heart of poetry and science is a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. In this series of three 90-minute generative workshops, we will read and discuss poems about science, including medicine, ecology, and more. We will use this as inspiration for our own writing. Although our reading will consist of poems, prose writers are certainly welcome.

* Students are encouraged but not required to sign up for all three sessions. Students will have the option to purchase a discounted three-session bundle for $150 at checkout.

Spring Write-In: Friday, June 7th with Celeste Chan

Refresh and reset your writing with elizabeth forsyth.

SUNDAY, JUNE 9th | Check in on your 2024 writing goals and amp up your writing with this fun-filled rapid-fire writing prompt session.

In this class we’ll:

• Briefly discuss ways to combat your writer’s block
• Respond to 10-12 writing prompts
• Check-in and reset your 2024 writing goals

This class is for writers of all levels and all genres.

Explore the Poetry of Science with Jenny Qi - June 11th

Spring write-in: thursday, june 13th with lisa lerner, first page feedback: personal essay with audrey ferber june 15th, explore the poetry of science with jenny qi - june 18th, spring write-in: thursday, june 20th with lisa lerner, reading + meeting: june 21st, 2024.

Join us for an evening of readings by The Writers Grotto Members. All are welcome.

A Writer's Inventory: Build Your Own Memoir Prompts with Susan Ito

Saturday, June 22nd | So many of us feel called to write, but it’s hard to know how or where to start. This interactive class will generate a list of personal prompts and freewriting activities that can be used for memoir or fiction. This practice will encourage building upon for future inspiration. After developing our prompt list, we will practice using and combining our own prompts. This class will provide an infinite source of writing stimulation for any genre.

Build Your Narrative Engine with Rachel Howard

Why do some memoirs and novels take off from the first page, while others stall out before the end of chapter one? More importantly: How can you make sure the book you’re writing gets all the necessary gears lined up on those all-important first ten pages?

In this combination craft lecture and trouble-shooting workshop, you’ll learn the three Cs of narrative engine: Character, Conflict, and Clock. What’s clock, you say? It’s a simple but elusive element that’s crucial to your story’s drive—but many writers don’t realize their pages are missing it. Character and conflict are also more complex than they first appear. Drawing from the teachings of novelists Eileen Pollack and David Haynes along with Lisa Cron’s book Wired for Story , this class will demystify all three Cs, then lead you through exercises and instructor feedback to identify Character, Conflict, and Clock in your narrative. Does your character have a compelling inner issue? Is your conflict harnessed to a theme that makes it meaningful? You’ll leave this class with the major story elements of your own work clarified, and your narrative engine ready to rev.

Autofiction: Combining Memoir and Fiction with Jenny Bitner Summer 2024

MONDAYS, June 24th - July 29th |Is it true or is it fiction – and does it matter? Often the lines between memoir and fiction can be blurry. And most of great literature has at least some elements of truth in it, from books that are largely autobiographical like Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, and Chris Kraus’s Aliens and Anorexia to fictional worlds like Raymond Carver’s and Denis Johnson’s that are drawn from a world that could only be created through personal experience. Lately the term autofiction has been used to describe works like Ocean Vuong, Marguerite Duras, Teju Cole and Annie Ernaux. Since Ernaux won the Nobel Prize in literature in 2022, the genre has been getting even more buzz. in In this class we will talk about the debate over autofiction versus memoir. We will explore memories, experiences, and characters from our own lives and turn them into fictional stories, blending the richness of our emotional and felt experiences with elements from our imagination to create compelling writing.

We will have writing prompts, in-class exercises, and reading assignments of autofiction and semi-autobiographical fiction. This class is primarily a writing workshop, and your work will be discussed twice in the class. You will be expected to read and comment on classmates’ work.

Class dates: Monday, June 24th; July 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th

Asynchronous learning materials for this class will be available online (via the Wet Ink platform). Scheduled class sessions will take place via Zoom. Registered students, please contact the instructor directly for Zoom details. Instructor contact details can be found in the order confirmation email.

Summer Write-In Season Pass

Take some time for your writing this summer with a series of virtual write-ins hosted by the Grotto. Led by one the Grotto’s many talented and accomplished writers, each of the sessions below provides 60 minutes of space and guidance in which to get your creative energy flowing, generate new material, bring old material up to snuff, and just make contact with the community of writers that is the Grotto, our teachers, and our students.

• Wednesday, June 26th, at 7pm with Laurie Doyle
• Monday, July 1st, at 12:30pm with Laurie Doyle
• Wednesday, July 10th, at 7pm with Maw Shein Win
• Wednesday, July 17th, at  7pm with Maw Shein Win
• Monday, July 22nd, at 6:30pm with Britta Stromeyer
• Tuesday, July 30th, at 7pm with Shirley Huey
• Tuesday, August 6th, at 1pm with Sabina Khan-Ibarra
• Tuesday, August 20th, at 5pm with Jenny Qi
• Tuesday, August 27th, at 5pm with Jenny Qi

Summer Write-Ins: June 26th with Laurie Doyle

Who you are as a writer: claiming your true sensibility and your power with rachel howard.

"I have to talk myself into bravery with every sentence," confessed novelist and essayist Cynthia Ozick, "sometimes every syllable." It is terrifying to recognize and commit to our individual and unique ability to see truth. But it is only by committing to our unique sensibility that we can write the work that truly matters to us.

In this class, we will take the risk together. You will be both supported and challenged to investigate who you truly are as a writer--not who you fear the publishing world or your loved ones want you to be, but who you truly are. We will be supported in this work by looking to the writers who most inspire us, thinking critically about how our work is similar to these writers', and also different. A pre-class assignment will task you with identifying your writing heroes and influences. We will then explore your relationship to these heroes and influences in a guided live discussion. We will also identify anti-influences — what we feel it is important to resist or write against. We will investigate the logistical consequences of your unique sensibility as that relates to privacy practices, ethics, and the best supports for developing your work. You will leave this class with new clarity about your calling and the moral support to fulfill your unique gifts

Summer Write-Ins: July 1st with Laurie Doyle

Summer write-ins: july 10th with maw shein win, how to write for educational publishing with lisa lerner.

Saturdays, July 13th - August 17th | Did you ever wonder who writes the books your kids bring home from school? It could be you! If you want to write engaging stories for kids to help them learn, educational publishing offers work-for-hire assignments that have a faster turnaround than the commercial market. You don’t need an agent to create beautiful, important books.

In this workshop you will learn all about the world of educational publishing and how to pitch yourself as a writer for hire. We will cover typical assignments and writers guidelines, and you will receive feedback on one 500-1,000 word writing sample created in class along with a cover letter so you can start pitching yourself to publishers. You will see examples of my actual writing assignments, the feedback I was given, and how the final illustrated stories turned out. We will talk about how to understand state standards, and how to write for specific grades and reading levels. You will also learn how to locate educational publishers from their websites and other sources. There will be at least one guest speaker from the educational market who is open to receiving pitches. Recordings will be available for missed classes. In the words of a student who took this workshop: “One of the best things is coming out with all your writing samples and cover letter ready. It was super helpful to see the stages of your assignments and how you spec different kinds of things. Many of your cheat-sheet handouts were amazing. I also loved when you went through Evelyn's site and explained how you would find and interpret job listings.” This is a great class for people with classroom or library experience, but it’s also a great fit for anyone who has a strong desire to write for kids.

Connecting with Your Writer's Voice with Britta Stromeyer

Tuesday, July 16th | Your voice is the essence of your writing, the key to making words come alive, and the signature that sets you apart. Authentic voices connect us. This class is a haven for anyone seeking to unearth and refine their genuine writer's voice, take creative risks, and witness their writer’s soul flourish. This is not just a workshop; it’s discovery and growth.

Inspired by literary examples you will explore a variety of styles - from narrative to poetry, enter uncharted territories of your mind and heart, and bask in the supportive embrace of fellow writers. You will learn techniques to infuse your writing with depth and emotion. Discover the freedom to express your ideas and emotions in your unique way. Watch your writing evolve and make meaningful strides.

This class is suitable for writers of all levels and genres. It will equip you with the skills and confidence to express yourself authentically on the page.

Summer Write-Ins: July 17th with Maw Shein Win

Summer write-ins: july 22nd with britta stromeyer, summer write-ins: july 30th with shirley huey, summer write-ins: august 6th with sabina khan-ibarra, fund your writing project with lyzette wanzer.

This workshop is open to writers who are considering applications for—or wish to learn about—creative writing grants, fellowships, and residencies.This six-week workshop will cover:

• The best places to locate opportunities. You'll visit and conduct on several trustworthy websites offering the most lucrative funding.

• The dreaded Project Statement, Work Plan, or Goals and Objectives question. Finish the workshop with a revised draft.

• How to demonstrate a rising trajectory, remembering that most people who are awarded grants are on their way up, not already there.

• How to craft clear, concise personal or artist statements. Leave this class with a completed draft in hand!

• Why the marketing angle is so important.

• Creating an effective literary resume. You’ll have a new professionally formatted one at the end of class!

Open to writers of all genres. Students registering for this workshop should be seeking financial support for a period of two weeks to six months to focus on writing projects. This is a hands-on workshop: students must be computer savvy and bring their laptop or tablet to every class.

Reading + Meeting: August 16th, 2024

Plan your novel in 6 weeks with lisa lerner.

Saturdays, Sept. 14th - Oct. 26th (no class Oct. 5th) | How do you know if your novel premise is a good one? Are you querying your book but facing endless rejection? Every day, writers come to me with stories full of logic holes, or a lack of stakes, emotion, and suspense. I can relate. When I wrote my first novel, I relied on instinct, smart beta readers, and sheer will. What took five years could have been accomplished in two. If only I had taken a class like this!

Whether you have a first draft of a novel or just a few pages and the germ of an idea, you need to know if your premise is compelling before you start querying. In this workshop, we will focus on analyzing and planning to get the most juice out of your story, up the stakes, and add compelling surprises like plot twists and reveals.

To get there, we will be asking the hard, deep questions that will take your story from an interesting possibility to a well-reasoned, thoroughly plotted story readers won’t put down. Each week, we will work on filling out planners, beat sheets, and studying mentor texts to learn from the greats. By the end, you should have a completed plan that will enable you to take the amazing world in your head (or already written) into the real world of publishing deals and eager readers.

We will use the beat sheet plotting tool in Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, so please have a copy before the first class. You don't need to read the whole thing in advance, but it will save time if you use the book to identify your genre.

This workshop is probably best for single point-of-view fiction, but it could be any category from middle grade, young adult, to adult. Writers of fantasy, speculative fiction, or any story with detailed world-building should find this workshop especially helpful. It’s also the perfect prep for NaNoWriMo!

Students who register for this class will receive a special discount for the upcoming class Let's NaNoWriMo! with Lisa Lerner.

Please note that there is no class on Saturday, October 5th.

Reading + Meeting: September 20th, 2024

Let's nanowrimo with lisa lerner.

Saturdays and Wednesdays in November (2nd, 6th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, & 27th)* | It’s almost National Novel Writing Month again, so let’s get to it! The first step is to have a solid idea and then give yourself permission to write it—the wrong way. Perversely, writing “wrong” is an excellent way to figure out how to write right. Hey, it’s only 1,667 words a day!

In this supportive workshop, we will meet twice a week to keep ourselves on track for our monthlong challenge. Each class will focus on prompts to help you write important story beats such as your opening image, inciting incident, midpoint, and that utterly miserable dark night of your main character’s soul. We will focus on honing your premise and log line, getting the most juice out of your idea, raising the stakes, and inserting clever twists and eyebrow-raising reveals. Remember: it’s okay for a first draft to be a hot mess. As a wise neurologist once told me, “Everything is fixable if you are still above ground!”

Each session will begin with a mini-craft lecture about the prompt and then in-class writing. Live feedback will be given, if desired. As time allows, we will talk through story challenges and offer suggestions to help you move forward. By the end of the month, you’ll be shouting it from the rooftops: “It nearly killed me, but—I WROTE A NOVEL!

*Wednesday classes take place from 8-9am and Saturday classes take place from 10-11am

Reading + Meeting: November 15th, 2024

Writing coaching and editing with maw shein win - bespoke consultation.

Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Maw is a writing coach and editor for poets. Maw has many years of experience as an educator, author, and editor. She teaches in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco and is the inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito, CA. You can learn more about her at mawsheinwin.com .

Magazine Pitch Feedback with Katia Savchuk - Bespoke Consultation

Initial bespoke services consultation by email to determine the fee. Katia will draw on her expertise as an award-winning longform journalist to provide written feedback on magazine pitches. Katia has written for The New Yorker,  Forbes, Mother Jones, Marie Claire, The Atavist Magazine and many other publications.

Hypnotic Coaching with Jenny Bitner

Unleash your writing potential with Jenny Bitner. As a trained hypnotherapist, coach, and writing teacher, she'll help you overcome fear and tap into your creativity. Experience a transformative hypnotic session to release barriers and claim your full potential as a writer. Take the first step today.

Three-Session Creativity Boost with Jenny Bitner

In this three-session package of Creativity Hypnosis, experienced hypnotherapist and writing coach Jenny Bitner will help you delve into the depths of your subconscious mind to awaken your imagination and overcome creative blocks. This can be customized to deal with whatever issues around writing you are experiencing. Start this journey today!

How to Write a Children's Book with Lisa Lerner

Got an idea for a children’s book? As the brilliant Madeleine L'Engle said, "You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grownups, then you write it for children.” In this 30-minute private Zoom consult, Lisa will give feedback on your idea to help you realize your vision and elevate your story to reach multiple audiences in today’s market. And if you don’t know what “multiple audiences” means in the kid-lit genre, that’s okay; she will tell you! Lisa’s YA crossover novel JUST LIKE BEAUTY was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and is in pre-production as a movie. She has decades of experience writing children’s books for major publishers and regularly teaches workshops to kids and adults who want to write for kids. In her free time, she enjoys petting rabbits and eating cake. Curious cats can find out more at www.lisalerner.com

Chapbook Consultation with Preeti Vangani

Chapbooks consultation (16-40 pages in length).

Folio Consultation with Preeti Vangani

Folios consultation, up to 7 pages in length, with no more than 5 poems.

Individual Poem Consultation with Preeti Vangani

Individual Poems up to 2 pages in length.

Full-Length Poetry Collection Consultation with Preeti Vangani

Full-length poetry collections (45-80 pages in length).

Improve Your Writing with Laird Harrison - Bespoke Consultation

Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Laird Harrison will work with you one-on-one to improve your written communication. Laird has experience with both creative and business writing and can assist with all levels of writing.

Novel Feedback with Laird Harrison - Bespoke Consultation

Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Laird Harrison, author of the novel Fallen Lake, provides editing and consultation services on all aspects of novel writing.

Building Complete Novels and Short Stories with Thaisa Frank - Bespoke Consultation

We will build your fictional work in a collaborative process for as long as it takes to create a whole and satisfying story. Thaisa Frank, a Pushcart Fellow, has published a novel and three collection of short stories. Her original approach, developed through teaching, addresses fiction from all cultures.

FIlm Consultation with David Munro

Industry veteran writer-director-producer provides consulting for documentary and narrative film projects of any length and at any stage, from concept to pitch deck to rough cut to screenplay draft. Production services also available through Bay Area-based The Unscripted Company.

Expert Report Writing and Editing by Award-Winning Writer Christopher D. Cook - Bespoke Consultation

As an award-winning journalist, author, and consultant with decades of experience, I offer expert editorial consulting services at competitive rates. I write reports, policy briefs, articles, op-eds, blogs, and other materials for major national institutions and individual clients. As a veteran reporter, I also help writers develop and tell their stories for articles and book projects. First, we discuss your project and needs and how I can meet them, then I provide you with an estimate and we move forward with a simple straightforward contract. I look forward to talking with you, learning more about your project, and working together. Estimates are based on $100/hour fee. You can check out my work at www.christopherdcook.com.

Science Content Editing with Jenny Qi - Bespoke Consultation

Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee.

Are you struggling to finalize a piece of science writing, whether it's an academic manuscript, article, or marketing blog? Need editorial help to make sure your message is clear and concise without losing accuracy? Jenny can help you improve your scientific content, using her unique combination of scientific and creative expertise.

Jenny Qi has a PhD in Cancer Biology from UC San Francisco and over a decade of experience in science communication spanning a range of industries, including biopharma, tech, and journalism.

This listing is for a 20-minute consultation to determine the scope of the project.

Developmental Editing with Kate Busatto - Bespoke Consultation

Kate offers comprehensive developmental editing services tailored for both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. With a keen eye for storytelling and a deep understanding of narrative techniques, Kate collaborates closely with authors to elevate their work to its highest potential.

For fiction projects, Kate provide detailed feedback on plot structure, character development, pacing, dialogue, and overall narrative coherence. She helps authors refine their storytelling techniques, ensuring that their readers are fully engaged and immersed in the world they've created.

In the realm of nonfiction, Kate specializes in organizing ideas, clarifying arguments, and refining the overall structure of the manuscript. She offer guidance on crafting compelling introductions and conclusions, maintaining a consistent tone, and ensuring that the content is engaging and accessible to the intended audience.

As every manuscript is unique, she provide bespoke services tailored to the specific needs of each author and project. Fees are determined based on the complexity, length, and scope of the work. With a commitment to professionalism and a passion for bringing out the best in every manuscript, Kate strive to help authors achieve their writing goals and create works that resonate with readers.

Manuscript Editing with Julia Scheeres - Bespoke Consultation

Initial bespoke services consultation to determine the fee. Polish your prose with New York Times best-selling author Julia Scheeres.

Developmental Editing with Carly Stern - Bespoke Consultation

Polish your writing with Carly Stern, an award-winning independent journalist. Carly offers one-on-one consultations on all forms of narrative non-fiction, with an emphasis on writing about the self. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, the Guardian US and The Washington Post.

Summer Write-Ins: August 20th with Jenny Qi

Summer write-ins: august 27th with jenny qi.

Idaho Writers Guild

Educating writers about the business and craft of writing., thank you for making 2024 iwg conference amazing.

Online Groups

Did you know that Idaho Writers Guild has online groups you can join? You can connect with other members, have lively discussions, and ask questions from the comfort of your own home (no pants required)

Check out the Groups Page and join today!

Member Events, Book Signings, and Announcements

Every month we send out a newsletter to members and friends of IWG. One of the benefits of being a member is you can submit your writing events, book releases, book signings and awards to be featured in our newsletter. Just use the button below to submit your member news!*

*Events must be submitted by the 23rd of the month to be featured in the newsletter for the following month. While we will do our best, it is not possible to feature every submission. You must be a current, active, IWG member for your submission to be considered.

Critique Groups

If you are ready to take your writing to the next level, joining a critique group can be a key element of your success. We currently have two critique groups available for members of the Idaho Writers Guild, and both have openings.

Click the link below to learn more!

Master Classes and Workshops

Want to improve your craft or your approach to the business of writing? Check out the workshops we offer throughout the year.

Although open to anyone, members always get early tickets and discounts. Check out the schedule below to learn more!

Help Writers Realize their Dreams

We are a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping writers navigate today’s complex publishing world. Help make a difference in the lives of writers in your community.

Check out what we’re doing, and donate today. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

We Support Community Events

If you or your organization offers events, workshops, and classes for the writing community, we want to hear from you. Use the button below to submit your events to be featured on our calnedar and shared on or social media accounts, and our event coordinator will be in touch. We love to support any organization that supports writers like we do.

Want to be a part of a growing and thriving local writing community? We want you! Whether you are also a part of other groups, or IWG is your first writing group ever, we want to be a part of your writing journey. Join today!

We’re Looking for Volunteers!

Do you want to be a part of helping our writing community grow and thrive? Then we want to talk to you. Click the button below to learn about new and upcoming volunteer opportunities!

 The Idaho Writers Guild, a community-based literary arts organization, offers networking and educational opportunities as diverse as our members.

Vision Statement:

The vision of the Idaho Writers Guild is to support and nurture the craft and business of writing in the State of Idaho.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Idaho Writers Guild is to support writers through teaching craft, the business of publishing, the development of a community of peers, promoting resources for Idaho writers, and raising awareness of writing talent.

To fulfill our vision and mission, we host public programs and projects, including author readings, workshops, an annual writing contest, and a yearly conference.

Anyone is eligible for  membership  that entitles you to discounts on IWG workshops and events and other member-only benefits. The goal of the IWG is to provide a safe space for all writers of any ability level, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or for any other reason.

Because of the support of Guild members, board members, and partnerships in the community, we are able to provide a wide variety of discounted and free opportunities. Without you, there would be no Idaho Writers Guild.

Have Questions? Need more information about something you have seen here? Get in touch using the contact form below.

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Department of English

M.f.a. creative writing.

English Department

Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall

Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

Phone: 208-885-6156

Email: [email protected]

Web: English

M.F.A. Students

Raquel Gordon (First Year, Poetry) is a poet from Seattle and has a B.A. in creative writing and dance from the University of Washington. She has performed in music videos, dance films, and choreographed several stage performances including a solo performance in 12 Minutes Max in Seattle. She also loves to sing.

Jason Cahoon (First Year, Fiction) comes from Amherst, Massachusetts. Jason’s work concerns the simultaneous restrictions and empowerments of communal belongingness. He studied English at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Jason taught English at Eaglebrook School, an independent school in Massachusetts. In addition to teaching, Jason served as an editor for The Outlook, the school’s art and literature magazine.

Kathleen Walker (First Year, Nonfiction) grew up in the foothills of South Carolina. Her work explores her childhood spent in rural Appalachia, queerness, witchcraft, and animals both mythical and real. Kathleen was chosen by Nikki Giovanni as the recipient of the 2021 Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize. Her writing has been published in a variety of publications, including CutBank and Susurrus Magazine.

Annie Burky (First Year, Fiction) calls Colorado home and returns to the West by way of Brooklyn. While earning a M.A. at New York University, she was awarded the Gallatin Review’s prose prize. She writes on gender, religion, and inheritance. She has worked as managing editor at Ms. Mayhem magazine, literacy specialist in Uganda and instructor at China’s Southwest University.

Jennifer Yu (First Year, Fiction) is exploring.

Reid Brown (First Year, Poetry) writes on themes of femininity, mental illness, the human body, and the threads that connect people, place, and memory. She is the Associate Poetry Editor for Fugue. She lives with her husband, Shane, and their kitten BMO, and collects an unhealthy amount of yarn for knitting projects in various states of incompleteness.

Rya Sheppard (First Year, Fiction) is from Kellogg, Idaho. She is a graduate of the University of Idaho where she studied English and creative writing. Rya enjoys coffee shops, painting, and cats of all kinds.

Karissa Carmona (First Year, Poetry) hails from western Montana and writes about rural identity, violence, and surreality in the so-called American West. She is the winner of the 2022 Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry. Prior to University of Idaho, Karissa worked as a bookseller, community arts studio manager, and organizer for a coalition against gendered violence.

Trixie Zwolfer (Second Year, Fiction), is originally from Boise, Idaho. For her undergraduate degree, she attended Montana State University, where she studied writing and literature. She enjoys threading between the reality of our world and the speculative possibility of what it could be in her writing. In her free time, she can be found reading, hiking, and drinking copious amounts of tea.

Tymber Wolf (Second Year, Nonfiction), a Florida Gulf Coast University graduate, is passionate about writing about many things, including philosophy, the environment, personal essays, Judaism, and more. As a Florida native, Tymber is excited to see the environment her namesake inhabits. You can find some of Tymber’s award-winning work in The Mangrove Review. When Tymber isn’t writing, they’re probably doing one (or five) of an indefinite amount of hobbies.

Alicia Gladman (Second Year, Nonfiction), is from Western Canada by way of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has worked in harm reduction for fourteen years, interested in conversations about accountability and personal freedom. She has a dog, two cats, and a lot of plants.

Maggie Nipps (Second Year, Poetry) is a poet and playwright from Wisconsin. Her work appears in Figure 1, Pinwheel, Sporklet, No Contact, Sip Cup, petrichor, and elsewhere. She co-founded and co-edits Afternoon Visitor, a new quarterly journal of poetry, visual art, hybrid text, and visual art.

Spencer R. Young (Second Year, Poetry) is a queer, genderfluid poet obsessed with identity and its transient borders. Their work, published in Terrain.org, 13th Floor Magazine, and elsewhere, encounters these binaric borders of identity and attempts to envision the space beyond them. Twice nominated for Best New Poets, Spencer holds an MA in Literature and Creative Writing from Kansas State University.

Gianna Marie Starble (Second Year, Fiction) is originally from Colorado and received her undergraduate degree in Professional and Creative Writing from Central Washington University. Her work has appeared in Manastash Literary Journal and The Hunger. In 2020 she won second place for best creative nonfiction piece in the Write On The River competition. When she is not writing, she is probably running with her dog, Blue.

Miriam Akervall (Second Year, Poetry) was born in Lund, Sweden, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For the past six years they lived and worked in high country; most recently, the Idaho Boulder Mountains. Lately, they have been thinking about how memory lives in the body. Their work has appeared in Stone Journal, Ariadne Magazine, Voicemail Poems, and Apiary Magazine.

Emily Holmes (Second Year, Nonfiction) has spent most of her life living in wild places, looking for beauty and adventure. She seeks to connect people to place by telling stories about nature and exploring human relationships to wilderness. While studying rangeland ecology at Montana State University, Emily learned more about ski-bum life, trail running, and environmental advocacy about rangelands. These experiences strongly inform her creative projects.

Alex Connors (Second Year, Fiction) is originally from the north shore of Massachusetts. They attended UMass Amherst, where they studied poetry and social thought. They are working on a collection of short stories that explores the complexities of friendship, family, and queerness within working-class communities. Before coming to the University of Idaho, Alex spent many years as a farmer in western Massachusetts.

Natalie Kinkade  (Third Year, Nonfiction) was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. She writes about art, religion, depression, childhood, and her puppy, Pippin, among other things. Before attending the University of Idaho, she earned an M.A. in English from Ohio University. Her work has appeared in Gulf Coast and The Rumpus and is forthcoming in The Harvard Review.

Michael Harper (Third Year, Fiction; Hemingway Fellow) completed his M.A. in English at the University of Vienna. His work has appeared in The Manzano Mountain Review, Litro Magazine, Decomp Journal, and CafeLit. Prior to the University of Idaho, he taught English as a second language in Europe.

Emma Neal (Third Year, Fiction) was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She attended Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied creative writing and religion. Currently, she is working on a collection of short stories about young women trying to understand themselves and searching for their communities. Emma enjoys coffee shops, live music, and painting. She taught yoga for two years at Sarah Lawrence College.

Steff Sirois (Third Year, Fiction) is a writer from Connecticut who is currently writing about womanliness, the multiple versions of her Self, and ghosts. Some of her recent work has appeared in Prism Review, LandLocked, and The Washington Post.

Daniel Lurie (Third Year, Poetry) grew up in eastern Montana. He attended Montana State University, Billings, where he received his B.A. in Organizational Communications. Daniel is the Poetry Editor for Fugue. His work has appeared in NewVerseNews, The Palouse Review, and FeverDream. His poem “One Night Only” is stamped into a concrete street in Billings.

Isabel Marlens (Third Year, Nonfiction) grew up in California and Colorado, and studied literature and ecology & evolution at Bennington College. She went on to work in the nonprofit world, writing about local economies and initiatives for community and ecological renewal. She is working on essays that layer the personal with thoughts on literature, psychology, evolutionary theory, history, and politics. She spends most of her free time rock climbing and traversing the rural West.

Christian Perry (Third Year, Nonfiction) is a white, Queer, Midwesterner born and raised in Michigan. They attended Michigan State University, where they studied a myriad of subjects and obtained a B.A. in English/Creative Writing in 2019. In 2020, Christian self-published their undergraduate thesis, thanks. Their free time is often spent playing Nintendo games and going on long walks.

Sam Simmons (Third Year, Fiction) is a writer from California. He is the current web editor for Fugue and teaches first-year composition and introductory creative writing. He is currently at work on a novel.

Cameron Martin (Third Year, Poetry) is a fat and queer writer originally from Michigan. He attended Wayne State University and the University of Idaho, where he studied English. Their writing has appeared in Sonora Review, The Normal School, Palette Poetry, and Afternoon Visitor. He’s currently working on collections of poetry and personal essays. In Moscow, they are one of the co-coordinators of the ‘queer-minded, queer-hearted’ Pop-Up Prose reading series.

Crystal Cox's (Third Year, Poetry) work has appeared in The Shore, Nimrod, Kissing Dynamite, The Bookends Review, and on the Academy of American Poets website. Her poem “Self-Portrait with Dolly Parton” won the 2022 Academy of American Poets University Prize, selected by Andrew Grace. She calls Missouri home.

Katie Ludwig (First Year, Nonfiction) has lived on the Palouse for 18 years. She is a performing singer/songwriter, Mom of 2 teenagers, and Native Plant Landscaper. She does exploratory writing about the Environment, Spiritual Philosophy, Self, Native Practices, and Hard Topics.

Program for Class Day Celebration 2024

Class Day Recognizes Graduates and Awards Top Prizes in the Arts

On Monday, May 27, the Lewis Center for the Arts celebrates graduates of the Class of 2024 who earned certificates and degrees through the Programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Theater & Music Theater, and Visual Arts.

A Note from the Lewis Center for the Arts Chair Judith Hamera

Welcome to the Matthews Theatre in the McCarter Theatre Center, where we join family, friends, and members of the Lewis Center for the Arts community to celebrate the culmination of our students’ time with us. Our LCA Class of ’24 arrived amidst a global pandemic and departs amidst multiple global upheavals that, once again, challenge us all. Class of ’24, I hope your work in the LCA—your rigorous and generous collaborations, your pursuit of foundational questions around what it means to live a good and worthy life, your courage, and the care you extended to those with whom you shared this time—has given you multiple ways to see yourselves making positive differences in these complicated times, sustained by the conviction that you are part of a community of artist-scholars who can accompany you as you do so. Thank you for the work you did here, all good wishes for the important work ahead, and warm congratulations to you on behalf of the entire LCA.

Certificate Program Graduates

Creative writing.

Kenza Benazzouz, Juliette Carbonnier, Anna Chung, Arlette V. Cojab, Sydney Eck, Andi Grene, Ananya Grover, Sydney Hwang, Ashley Hyun, Sal Kang, Lara Katz, Sabrina Kim, Amanda Kural, Abbie Lambert, Kate Lee, Ellen Li, Ethan Luk, Hailey Mead, Zoe Montague, Tobias Nguyen, Anurag Pratap, Olivia Ragan, Claire Schultz, Mollika Jai Singh, Sierra Stern, Grady Trexler, Cathleen Weng, Emmett Willford, Henry Wright, Briony Zhao, Valeria Zuluaga-Sánchez

Haley Baird-Dibble, Olivia Buckhorn, Mei Cecilia Geller, Laura Maria Haubold, Ive Jumadeh Jones, Jewel Justice, Isabel Byers Kingston, Vivian Li, Zi Han Liu, Ethan Luk, Ayla-Rose Kapili’ulaokekaupoku Naehu-Ramos, Sanghyun “Chris” Park, Jasmine Minerva Rivers, Aniyah Storm Stokes, Kristen Umbriac, Julia Zhou

Theater & Music Theater

Theater Certificate Students:

Kenza Benazzouz, Juliette Carbonnier, Sandra Chen, Sarah Duntley, Nica Evans, Kerstin Fagerstrom, Kira Fitzgerald, Lana Gaige, Sydney Hwang, Sabina Jafri, Taneyah Jolly, Cooper Kofron, Charlotte Kunesh, Madeleine LeBeau, Jessica Lopez, Ethan Luk, Anaika Mehra, Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara, Raquel Ramirez, Chloe Satenberg, Aneekah Uddin, Aaron Ventresca, Bethany Villaruz, Jay White

Music Theater Certificate Students:

Casey Beidel, Juliette Carbonnier, Sarah Duntley, Sydney Hwang, Carrington Johnson, Cooper Kofron, Charlotte Kunesh, Madeleine LeBeau, Ethan Luk, Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara, Aaron Ventresca, Jay White

Visual Arts

Certificate Students:

David Akpokiere, Miriam Beams, Arianna Borromeo, Hazel Flaherty, Sreesha Ghosh, Lana Glisic, Max Jakobsen, Petr Karpov, Erin Macanze, Kirsten Pardo, Warren Quan, Collin Riggins, Luke Shannon, Julia Stahlman, Justin Zhang, Noori Zubieta

Practice of Art Students:

Daniel Drake, Evan Haley, Emma Mohrmann, Cary Moore, Ayla-Rose Kapili’ulaokekaupoku Naehu-Ramos, Lauren Olson, Magnolia Wilkinson

Student Awards

A number of seniors receive awards for outstanding achievement in each Program and top academic prizes are awarded by the Lewis Center Program Directors for overall achievement in the arts.

Top Academic Prizes

Presented by Judith Hamera, Chair of the Lewis Center for the Arts and Professor of Dance

The Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts , presented annually to one or more graduating seniors who have demonstrated excellence or the highest standard of proficiency, in performance or execution or in the field of composition in the following general areas: music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture or photography, is awarded to Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara   and Ethan Luk .

The Toni Morrison Prize that honors the late Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Laureate and Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities, Emeritus, will be given to one or more graduating seniors whose individual or collaborative artistic practice has pushed the boundaries and enlarged the scope of our understanding of issues of race. This prize honors work in any form that, in the spirit of Morrison’s, is “characterized by visionary force and poetic import.” Aniyah Storm Stokes and Ayla-Rose Kapili’ulaokekaupoku Naehu-Ramos are recipients of this year’s award.

The Lewis Center for the Arts Action Based Community Engagement Award is awarded to the student or students whose contributions to the Lewis Center embody a commitment to “interrogating that which is accepted or understood in an attempt to break into the territory of the unknown or under-explored.” Jasmine Minerva Rivers and Magnolia Wilkinson  are the recipients of this year’s award.

Creative Writing Prizes

Presented by Ilya Kaminksy, Professor of Creative Writing

Theodore H. Holmes ’51 and Bernice Holmes Poetry Prize — Ethan Luk Theodore Weiss Award — Tobias Nguyen Samuel Shellabarger Memorial Prize in Creative Writing — Anurag Pratap Joyce Carol Oates Award — Claire Schultz Outstanding Work by a Senior — Gloria Wang, Kenza Benazzouz, Henry Wright, Arlette V. Cojab, Madeleine Burns James Richardson Award — Ananya Grover Edmund Keeley Literary Translation Award — Ellen Li

Read a description of each creative writing award

Dance Prizes

Presented by Rebecca Lazier, Professor of the Practice and Acting Director of the Program in Dance

Francis LeMoyne Page Class of 1922 Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative Arts — Zi Han Liu, Mei Cecilia Geller, Isabel Byers Kingston, Vivian Li Ze’eva Cohen Senior Award — Sanghyun “Chris” Park Outstanding Senior Independent Project — Olivia Buckhorn, Haley Baird-Dibble Sustained Community Achievement Award — Laura Maria Haubold

Read a description of each dance award

Theater & Music Theater Prizes

Presented by Jane Cox, Professor of the Practice and Director of the Program in Theater & Music Theater

Francis LeMoyne Page Class of 1922 Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative Arts — Juliette Carbonnier Innovation in Theater Making Award — Taneyah Jolly, Nica Evans Outstanding Contribution to Theater — Sydney Hwang Creative and Community Leadership Award — Madeleine LeBeau Outstanding Work by a Senior in Theater (Senior Prize) — Aaron Ventresca, Anaika Mehra, Aneekah Uddin, Bethany Villaruz, Carrington Johnson, Casey Beidel, Charlotte Kunesh, Chloe Satenberg, Cooper Kofron, Ethan Luk, Jay White, Jessica Lopez, Juliette Carbonnier, Kenza Benazzouz, Kerstin Fagerstrom, Kira Fitzgerald, Lana Gaige, Madeleine LeBeau, Nica Evans, Raquel Ramirez, Sabina Jafri, Sandra Chen, Sarah Duntley, Sydney Hwang, Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara, Taneyah Jolly Outstanding Contribution to Music Theater — Aaron Ventresca, Carrington Johnson Tim Vasen Award for Talent and Citizenship — Sabina Jafri

Read a description of each theater & music theater award

Visual Arts Prizes

Presented by Jeff Whetstone, Professor and Director of the Program in Visual Arts

Jim Seawright Award in Visual Arts — Emma Mohrmann Lucas Award in Visual Arts — David Akpokiere, Miriam Beams, Arianna Borromeo, Daniel Drake, Hazel Flaherty, Sreesha Ghosh, Lana Glisic, Evan Haley, Petr Karpov, Erin Macanze, Emma Mohrmann, Cary Moore, Ayla-Rose Kapili’ulaokekaupoku Naehu-Ramos, Lauren Olson, Kirsten Pardo, Warren Quan, Luke Shannon, Julia Stahlman, Magnolia Wilkinson, Justin Zhang

Read a description of each visual arts award

Land Acknowledgement

The Lewis Center for the Arts is working to create a living land acknowledgement, one that is embodied in its consideration of—and engagement with—the past, present, and future. As we continue this work, we acknowledge that this building sits on land considered part of the ancient homelands of the Lenni-Lenape peoples and that this campus was built on this land with no recorded consultation with the Lenni-Lenape peoples. We acknowledge that learning about history and making this statement isn’t enough. Equally important is our ongoing work to understand past harms; build awareness in present relationships and actions; and bring imagination, creative problem-solving, and community-building to the future of our programs. We are taking actions towards these goals within our curriculum, pedagogy, and programming. We invite you to learn more about the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Princeton .

Lewis Center for the Arts

Chair : Judith Hamera Executive Director : Marion Friedman Young

Director of Princeton Atelier: Paul Muldoon Director of the Program in Creative Writing:   Yiyun Li Acting Director of the Program in Creative Writing:   A.M. Homes Acting Director of the Program in Dance:   Rebecca Lazier Acting Associate Director of Dance : Susan Marshall Director of the Program in Theater & Music Theater:   Jane Cox Director of Fellowships : Stacy Wolf Producing Artistic Director of Theater and Music Theater Season : Elena Araoz Director of the Program in Visual Arts : Jeff Whetstone Associate Director of Visual Arts : Pam Lins

View a list of Lewis Center for the Arts faculty

View a list of LCA staff members

The programs of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts are made possible through the generous support of many alumni and other donors.  View a list of LCA Supporters

Class Day Program Digital Book

Read or download the 2024 class day program (pdf), receive lewis center events & news updates.

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LINCS Community Events for the Weeks of 05/28/2024 and 06/03/2024

Please see below for the LINCS Community events for the week of 05/28/2024:

Live Session:  Reading, Writing, and Workforce Prep

Description:  Do you wonder which reading and writing skills are essential for the workplace? Find out in this LINCS webinar, Reading, Writing, and Workforce Prep on May 29 at 3 PM ET. Join moderators Chrissie Klinger and Steve Schmidt as they discuss workforce prep skills and model activities that prepare students for workplace success. Please register here.

Presenter:  Steve Schmidt, LINCS Career Reading and Writing Group Moderator and Chrissie Klinger, LINCS Career Pathways and Postsecondary Transition Group Moderator  

Date/Time: Thursday, May 30, 2024, 3:00 PM ET (live session)

LINCS Community Group:   Reading and Writing ;  Career Pathways and Postsecondary Transitions

Online registration is required to participate in the LINCS Event for   Reading, Writing, and Workforce Prep .

Please see below for the LINCS Community events for the week of 06/03/2024:

Live Session: Teaching Juneteenth  

Description: Join the Teaching and Learning and Program Management community groups as we bridge UDL and wraparound services. Program managers will learn what equitable access to services looks like, and educators will come away with ideas to better support students in need of additional services.  

Presenter: Erin Vobornik, LINCS Teaching and Learning Group Moderator and Kathy Tracey, LINCS Program Management Group Moderator  

Date/Time: Monday, June 3, 2024, 3:00 PM ET (live session)  

LINCS Community Group: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

Online registration is required to participate in the LINCS Event for Teaching Juneteenth .  

Live Session: From Enrollment to Completion:  Supporting Individuals with Learning Differences Achieve Success  

Date/Time: Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 3:00 PM ET (live session)  

LINCS Community Group: Teaching and Learning , Program Management  

Online registration is required to participate in the LINCS Event for From Enrollment to Completion: Supporting Individuals with Learning Differences Achieve Success .  

* Please note: LINCS moderator-led events are not recorded, so we encourage you to participate in them as they happen.  Certificates are provided for attending live LINCS events.

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8 Ways to Create AI-Proof Writing Prompts

C reating 100 percent AI-proof writing prompts can often be impossible but that doesn’t mean there aren’t strategies that can limit the efficacy of AI work. These techniques can also help ensure more of the writing submitted in your classroom is human-generated. 

I started seeing a big uptick in AI-generated work submitted in my classes over the last year and that has continued. As a result, I’ve gotten much better at recognizing AI work , but I’ve also gotten better at creating writing prompts that are less AI-friendly. 

Essentially, I like to use the public health Swiss cheese analogy when thinking about AI prevention: All these strategies on their own have holes but when you layer the cheese together, you create a barrier that’s hard to get through. 

The eight strategies here may not prevent students from submitting AI work, but I find these can incentivize human writing and make sure that any work submitted via AI will not really meet the requirements of the assignment. 

1. Writing AI-Proof Prompts: Put Your Prompt Into Popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Bard 

Putting your writing prompt into an AI tools will give you an immediate idea of how most AI tools will handle your prompt. If the various AI chatbots do a good, or at least adequate, job immediately, it might be wise to tweak the prompt. 

One of my classes asks students to write about a prized possession. When you put this prompt into an AI chatbot, it frequently returns an essay about a family member's finely crafted watch. Obviously, I now watch out for any essays about watches. 

2. Forbid Cliché Use

Probably the quickest and easiest way to cut back on some AI use is to come down hard on cliché use in writing assignments. AI tools are essentially cliché machines, so banning these can prevent a lot of AI use. 

Equally as important, this practice will help your students become better writers. As any good writer knows, clichés should be avoided like the plague. 

3. Incorporate Recent Events

The free version of ChatGPT only has access to events up to 2022. While there are plugins to allow it to search the internet and other internet-capable AI tools, some students won’t get further than ChatGPT. 

More importantly, in my experience, all AI tools struggle to incorporate recent events as effectively as historic ones. So connecting class material and assignments to events such as a recent State of Union speech or the Academy Awards will make any AI writing use less effective. 

4. Require Quotes

AI tools can incorporate direct quotations but most are not very good at doing so. The quotes used tend to be very short and not as well-placed within essays. 

Asking an AI tool for recent quotes also can be particularly problematic for today’s robot writers. For instance, I asked Microsoft's Copilot to summarize the recent Academy Awards using quotes, and specifically asked it to quote from Oppenheimer's director Christopher Nolan’s acceptance speech. It quoted something Nolan had previously said instead. Copilot also quoted from Wes Anderson’s acceptance speech, an obvious error since Anderson wasn’t at the awards .  

5. Make Assignments Personal

Having students reflect on material in their own lives can be a good way to prevent AI writing. In-person teachers can get to know their students well enough to know when these types of personal details are fabricated. 

I teach online but still find it easier to tell when a more personalized prompt was written by AI. For example, one student submitted a paper about how much she loved skateboarding that was so non-specific it screamed AI written. Another submitted a post about a pair of sneakers that was also clearly written by a "sole-less" AI (I could tell because of the clichés and other reasons). 

6. Make Primary or Scholarly Sources Mandatory

Requiring sources that are not easily accessible on the internet can stop AI writing in its tracks. I like to have students find historic newspapers for certain assignments. The AI tools I am familiar with can’t incorporate these. 

For instance, I asked Copilot to compare coverage of the first Academy Awards in the media to the most recent awards show and to include quotes from historic newspaper coverage. The comparison was not well done and there were no quotes from historical newspaper coverage. 

AI tools also struggle to incorporate journal articles. Encouraging your students to include these types of sources ensures the work they produce is deeper than something that can be revealed by a quick Google search, which not only makes it harder for AI to write but also can raise the overall quality.  

7. Require Interviews, Field Trips, Etc. 

Building on primary and scholarly sources, you can have your students conduct interviews or go on field trips to historic sites, museums, etc. 

AI is still, thankfully, incapable of engaging in these types of behavior. This requires too much work for every assignment but it is the most effective way to truly ensure your work is human- not computer-written. 

If you’re still worried about AI use, you can even go a step further by asking your students to include photos of them with their interview subjects or from the field trips. Yes, AI art generators are getting better as well, but remember the Swiss cheese analogy? Every layer of prevention can help. 

8. Have Students Write During Class

As I said to start, none of the methods discussed are foolproof. Many ways around these safeguards already exist and there will be more ways to bypass these in the future. So if you’re really, really worried about AI use you may want to choose what I call the “nuclear option.” If you teach in person you can require students to write essays in person. 

This approach definitely works for preventing AI and is okay for short pieces, but for longer pieces, it has a lot of downsides. I would have trouble writing a long piece in this setting and imagine many students will as well. Additionally, this requirement could create an accusatory class atmosphere that is more focused on preventing AI use than actually teaching. It’s also not practical for online teaching. 

That all being said, given how common AI writing has become in education, I understand why some teachers will turn to this method. Hopefully, suggestions 1-7 will work but if AI-generated papers are still out of hand in your classroom, this is a blunt-force method that can work temporarily. 

Good luck and may your assignments be free of AI writing! 

• 7 Ways To Detect AI Writing Without Technology
• Best Free AI Detection Sites
• My Student Was Submitting AI Papers. Here's What I Did

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Snow College Visual Arts presents Summer Snow 2024: A creative extravaganza

By staff | may 29, 2024.

Participants can choose from a variety of workshop offerings and may decide to attend one or both weeks.

Snow College Visual Arts is excited to unveil the lineup for Summer Snow 2024, a highly anticipated event that promises to bring together artists from across the nation for two weeks of intensive workshops and creative exploration. The event will take place during the weeks of June 3 and June 10 on the picturesque Snow College Ephraim campus.

Summer Snow, which began in 1974, was initially created to extend the teaching reach of Snow College professors beyond the regular academic year. The early workshops focused on the fundamentals of design and composition, particularly in watercolor. Over the years, the program has grown significantly, encompassing a wide range of artistic disciplines and attracting renowned visiting artists.

Participants in Summer Snow can choose from a diverse array of workshops, with the option to attend either one or both weeks. Each weeklong session offers in-depth, hands-on learning and ample studio time for participants to hone their skills. While several workshops have already sold out, there are still openings in classes such as Plein Air Sketching in Watercolor, Broad Stroke Graphite Drawing, Watercolor Painting, and Portrait Sculpture.

Adam Larsen, Snow College art professor and co-director of the Summer Snow workshops, shared his enthusiasm for the program: “Summer Snow is a great way to recharge your creative batteries by engaging with amazing instructors and intriguing subjects. Participants come from many parts of the country, walks of life, and visual art experience. The Summer Snow workshop series is designed to promote unique professional development opportunities for novice artists, Utah art educators, current Snow College students and alumni, and professional artists alike, set in the early summer beauty of Sanpete County. I welcome you to come and join the warmth of Summer Snow!”

For more information about Summer Snow and to register for a workshop, please visit snow.edu/summersnow .

About Snow College

Founded in 1888 by Utah pioneers, Snow College is a two-year college with campuses in Ephraim and Richfield, Utah, and a learning center in Nephi, Utah. Serving more than 5,000 students, the college is dedicated to helping students graduate debt-free, gain valuable experience, and develop future plans. Snow College’s affordable tuition and personalized environment offer students abundant opportunities to discover their passions and potential. Learn more about what Snow College has to offer at snow.edu .

For additional inquiries, please contact Chris A. Pack at [email protected].

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