CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS
READ ME:
- Writespace has in person and online workshops available. See individual workshop listings for details.
- Join as a member for just $60/year for discounts, free events, and other perks.
- Tickets must be purchased online via Eventbrite.
- Please read our workshop policies before registering.
- Can't attend without a scholarship? Apply here.
- Need tech support for your class? Check out our Tech Support page. If your question isn't answered, contact us.
March 2024 Workshops
Building Blocks of Fiction: Character Development
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Almeida
TIME: Four Thursdays, March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 6:00–9:00 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Friday, March 8. After Friday, March 8: $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 "On the subject of character development, William Trevor once said, “By the end, you should be inside your character, actually operating from within somebody else.” Is it possible to channel this idea of Trevor's? To strive to consider ourselves both the writer and the character, in terms of a kind of shared subjectivity? Can we be both writers, working at our desk, and simultaneously the character, embroiled in some drama on the page? In this four-week workshop, we will investigate the strange borderland between author and character in order to better understand ourselves as writers, the ways our characters develop on the page, and what new strategies we might incorporate into our writing practices to create more vivid, complex characters. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Strategies for Revising Your First Pages
INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Aydelott
TIME: Two Sundays, March 17, 24, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $85 for members, $100 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, March 11. After Monday, March 11: $100 for members, $115 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 12 “I hate first drafts, and it never gets easier. People always wonder what kind of superhero power they’d like to have. I want the ability for someone to just open up my brain and take out the entire first draft and lay it down in front of me so I can just focus on the second, third, and fourth drafts.” – Judy Blume Once your first draft is written, how and where do you start the revision process? How do you teach your readers to embrace your world and characters? This workshop, which is limited to 12 students, will tackle the project of revising your first pages in order to introduce and establish your story. In this class, you will practice different revision strategies, develop tactics to combat stumbling blocks of the editing process, and explore various craft elements to strengthen and tighten your work. Homework will include revising your pages based on specific exercises, reflecting on your revision process, and reading through instructor comments. Before the first meeting, you will need to submit your manuscript’s first 10 pages of fiction (prose only) to the instructor. Be prepared to share and discuss your work in class. While this course is suitable for all levels, it may be most effective for intermediate writers. Feedback from the instructor is dependent upon the submission of 10 pages of fiction (prose) before the first meeting on March 17. Instructions for submitting your pages are in your confirmation email. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Critique in the 21st Century: Learning How to Give and Receive Feedback
INSTRUCTOR: Sean Morrissey Carroll
TIME: Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, March 17. After Sunday, March 17: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Many authors will tell you how important a critique group is for both accountability, community, and the creation of good writing, but how do we give and receive feedback in a critique group? Are we still requiring the writer to sit in silence in the center of a circle of peers appraising each word of a first draft with the critical eye of an old professor? That can feel more like a firing squad than feedback. Those modes of critique feel outdated in a world that has moved beyond middle America into a global literary community. Relieve yourself of the anxiety and dread of the critique group firing squad, take back the interpretation of your own words, and learn to give and take critique better. Drawing from various texts that challenge those outdated models, including Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses, we will examine these alternative methods of critique in small groups and discuss why the old models are no longer effective. We will discuss why decolonization of critique groups is both urgently necessary and a much more effective means to foster writers and great writing. Be prepared to bring one page of your writing, to speak about your own work and others', and to critique a third party story. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Revising and Publishing Flash Fiction and Nonfiction
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Almeida
TIME: Two Saturdays, March 23, 30, 1:00–4:00 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $85 for members, $100 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, March 17. AfterSunday, March 17: $100 for members, $115 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 One misconception about revision lies in its perceived relationship to “perfection." To revise often feels like making efforts toward what we think of as "perfect," and yet, as artists, aren’t we frequently drawn to the imperfect, which is to say the human? “There is no such thing as perfect beauty,” Alberto Giacometti famously said, “only beauty in imperfection.” How then do we approach revision, in such a way to emphasize not a perceived lack of flaws, but a celebration of imperfection? This workshop will explore that question but focusing on strategies for revising flash fiction and nonfiction. We will explore particular ways revision can be undertaken without the burdens of “perfection,” and each writer will leave with a toolkit for finishing future works. We will also discuss the submission and publication process as it pertains specifically to flash-length work. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Gentle Generative: Writing and the Natural World
INSTRUCTOR: Kendra Preston Leonard
TIME: Saturday, March 30, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, March 24. After Sunday, March 24: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Do you love reading and writing about the natural world? Did you read Vesper Flights or Braiding Sweetgrass and think, I want to do writing like that? In this workshop we’ll explore writing about nature, from insects to supernovas and koalas to oak trees. We’ll discuss how nature writing works in a wide range of genres, from non-fiction to romance to mysteries and speculative fiction and poetry. Our writing exercises will focus on observation and detail, making connections between nature and personal experiences, what it means to be honest in writing about the natural world, and how to develop a unique voice in writing about nature. Open to writers of all genres and experience levels, this Gentle Generative workshop offers a welcoming and supportive space in which to practice writing and share writing thoughts. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Write Like A Fool: Unleash the Power of the Tarot to Ignite Your Creativity
INSTRUCTOR: Kathryn Peterson
TIME: Sunday, March 31, 3:00–6:00 p.m. CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, March 25. After Monday, March 25: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom. LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 In this generative writing workshop, we'll explore the potent imagery of the tarot as a gateway to unlock our imaginations and fuel our writing practice. We'll move beyond traditional card readings and dive into the realm of storytelling, character development, and thematic exploration. After a quick introduction to a few of the tarot's core archetypes, we will dive into some generative writing prompts designed to help you connect with your inner voice and move through creative blocks. Through an intuitive reading of the cards, we will explore themes of personal growth, transformation, and connection. As we deepen our understanding of storytelling and symbolism, we will learn how to connect with the tarot as a powerful writing tool. You will also receive guidance on incorporating tarot themes into various genres of writing, and you'll have the opportunity to share your work and receive constructive feedback if you choose to do so. No prior knowledge of tarot is required—just an open mind and a willingness to experiment. Join us on this transformative journey. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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April 2024 Workshops
South Asian Writers Workshop
IINSTRUCTOR: Kartika Budhwar
TIME: Six Tuesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 6:00–9:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $210 for members, $240 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Wednesday, March 27. After Wednesday, March 27: $240 for members, $270 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 The South Asian diaspora has a rich and varied literary heritage, one steeped in formal traditions, in experimentation that challenges traditions, in collaboration, in rigor, and in playfulness. This multigenre workshop will help South Asian writers reclaim their roots and stretch beyond them, developing authentic voices rather than feeding into an imaginary fetishized South Asian monolithic consciousness. We will do so through generative prompts, a diverse range of sample texts, group discussions, multimodal play, and collaborative exercises. Hopefully, in the process, we will build a community that encourages risks, makes space for vulnerability, and offers generous feedback. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Finding the Heart of Your Novel
INSTRUCTOR: Karleen Koen
TIME: Saturday, April 6, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, March 31. After Sunday, March 31: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 “One of the hardest things a writer has to learn is that ‘What’s going on?’ means precisely that….” –Dwight Swain, Techniques of the Selling Writer Stuck? Writing in circles? Can’t finish? Can’t begin? Written all you can but the story world isn’t real? Overthinking? Doubting? Afraid? Come spend some time with Dwight Swain’s story question concept. If you can articulate the basic ingredients that a novel must contain, you can begin to find your way to the heart of your characters and plot. You can harness your writing impulse in a way that will jumpstart your storytelling again. Class time includes writing, group discussion, and exploration of specific writing problems from class members. The care and feeding of one’s writer and one’s muse will also be explored. Individual writing will not be critiqued. This is not a critique class. Karleen Koen is a seasoned and award-winning writer/editor and novelist. Her first novel, Through A Glass Darkly, was a New York Times bestseller. She has written three other novels, Now Face to Face, Dark Angels, and Before Versailles. Former jobs include editor of Houston Home & Garden, managing editor of the University of Houston’s feature magazine, and director of editorial services for the University of Houston. She teaches about craft, creativity, and writing for the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University and has taught at the Writer’s League of Texas and Writespace. She is one of the founders of Women in the Visual and Literary Arts and currently serves the Community for Conscious Aging. Her website is www.karleenkoen.net. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Writing Texas Poetry
INSTRUCTOR: KB Brookins
TIME: Saturday, April 6, 1:00–4:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, March 31. After Sunday, March 31: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Are you a fan of HEB? Whataburger? Other places, people, and things only Texans would know? Do you want to have fun writing poems only Texans can write? In this workshop, we will read and analyze poems by Texans about Texas — including poems by Ariana Brown, ire’ne lara silva, and Naomi Shihab Nye — and explore prompts created by award-winning writer KB Brookins. Participants will celebrate the rich tradition of Texas poetics and walk away with at least two new pieces. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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The Writer’s Toolbox
INSTRUCTOR: Marlena “Zen Ase” Johns
TIME: Four Sundays, April 7, 14, 21, 28, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, April 1. After Monday, April 1. $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map). This is a hybrid workshop and can be attended in person or online via Zoom. LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 There are over 285 rhetorical devices. That’s a lot of tools for a writer’s toolkit! This workshop will take participants beyond simile, metaphor, and personification into dozens of devices and organizational tools, including why and when they're used.
This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Absurdist Poetry
INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Gajkowski-Hill
TIME: Sunday, April 7, 3:00–6:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, April 1. After Monday, April 1: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 O frabjous day! -- it's time to take a deeper look at surrealism and absurdism in literature! Absurdism explores the nonsensical and its relationship to the human condition. So buckle up for a fun ride as we read Bob Dylan's stream-of-consciousness micro-letters from his book of poetry, Tarantula! Be inspired by e. e. cummings’ unique use of syntax, grammar, and diction! From Lewis Carroll's 1871 "Jabberwocky" to modern day poems such as "At This Point My Confusion" by Michael Teig and "Spark Theory" by Dean Young (both written in 2022), the absurd can shine a light on the inner workings of our complicated and confused minds – and it’s just plain fun! In this course, you will learn the techniques of stream-of-consciousness writing and experiment with punctuation, grammar, and space as we playfully rediscover the sheer joy of language. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. s Alliance. |
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Friends, Frenemies, and Foes: Character-Building in Speculative Fiction
INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Aydelott
TIME: Saturday, April 13, 1:00-4:00 p.m. CST/CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, April 7. After Sunday, April 7: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Characters can make or break a story — especially in speculative fiction. This generative workshop will look at character construction as an essential function of storytelling. Because story roles can help to define (and refine!) characters, we will also consider the relationships between protagonists and their friends and foes. Using examples from published fiction, we’ll consider how successful characters complement, antagonize, intersect with, and/or support each other. Writing exercises will help you craft characters who come alive on the page. This workshop is suitable for all writing levels. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Journey of Poetry
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Cynthia Childress
TIME: Four Thursdays, April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9, 6:00–9:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Thursday, November 2. After Thursday, November 2: $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Poetry uses language in a way that is not available to us in everyday life. As with a song, a poem can elevate and capture a specific experience—an image, memory, or sensation—and connect people in a powerful way. Whether you are a practiced poet or a total “newbie” who has just wondered what poetry is “about,” this workshop will provide a jump-start to get you into a writing practice. Come join us in a supportive, inspiring workshop environment in which we will explore formal poetry, free verse, spoken word, and experimental poetry from a wide range of contemporary authors. We will also study a broad array of craft techniques, including how to use line breaks, stanzas, and sound to heighten meaning. Writers from marginalized communities (writers of color, writers with disabilities, writers from the queer and LGBT community) are encouraged to attend. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Writing Your Query and Synopsis
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Cole
TIME: Three Sundays, April 21, 28, May 5, 3:00–6:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $120 for members, $140 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, April 15. After Monday, April 15: $140 for members, $160 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 10 Join indie press founder and acquisitions editor Jessica Cole in a three-session workshop that will bring your query letter and synopsis to life. In the first session, we will study what makes a good query and synopsis and the ways in which great query letters break the rules. We will bring our own projects into the discussion to brainstorm ideas to incorporate into our drafts. In the second session, we will workshop each query letter so every attendee gets feedback and direction for revisions. In the third and final session, we will give each attendee’s letter another round of feedback for further polishing and share further resources for writers in the process of querying. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Sweet & Savory, Salty & Bitter: Memories & Experiences with Food
INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Spears
TIME: Saturday, April 27, 1:00–4:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, April 21. After Sunday, April 21: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Of all our senses, taste and smell can easily connect us to memories and experiences of eating, family, childhood, and emotional comfort or distress. Maybe the smell or taste of freshly baked bread takes you back to your home or the people there. Or perhaps a bite of cherry pie is a comfort to you because someone you loved baked it. Sharing food can create a sense of belonging to friends, family, and your roots. Likewise, food can connect us to unpleasant experiences of fear and upset. In this three-hour workshop, we will approach the personal essay through memories and experiences with food. In these essays, you can explore your relationship with particular people or with a gathering or event in your life. We will practice several techniques for connecting with food to craft a satisfying personal essay. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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May Workshops
The Sun and the Moon: Reflections on the Essential Person in Your Life
INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Spears
TIME: Saturday, May 4, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, April 28. After Sunday, April 28: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 In this memoir workshop, you will discover and explore a time when someone influenced your life in a notable way or even in a way that changed you or the path of your life. This person could be someone you know well--a parent, sibling, grandparent, child, teacher, or friend. Or the person might be someone that you knew only at that specific time in your life. Your experiences might have been positive, negative, or a mix of both. During our time together, you'll practice the techniques of characterization, scene writing, time transitions, structure, and reflection. All these add up to the makings of a memorable essay or an episode for a larger work. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. s Alliance. |
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What Writers Need to Know About Forming Critique Groups
INSTRUCTOR: Brenda Preuss
TIME: Saturday, May 11, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, May 5. After Sunday, May 5: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Critique groups should be safe, fun, inviting spaces that encourage you to bring your whole selves and bring it messy. “It” referring to your writing, your authenticity, your bravery, and your freedom to express your creativity. In this workshop you will explore the where, what, how, and why of critique groups. The instructor will share her own experiences with “good” and “bad” critique examples, what works and what doesn’t, and answer questions and concerns about critique groups. Experienced critiquers will get to problem-solve with the instructor and newbies will gain specific and usable tips on how to and how not to critique the work of others. Best practices will be shared, validated, and reiterated, including the purpose and function of critique groups, how to find the right group for you, what kind of writing to bring to a group, what to do with the comments given to you in critique groups, and how being a part of a critique group helps you with more than just the revision process. You will leave this workshop ready to try out one (or a few) critique groups or even start one of your own! The instructor, Brenda K. Preuss, M.Ed. is Director of Critique Groups for Houston Writer’s Guild, another non-profit that supports Houston writers. Workshop attendees will receive a $5 off coupon to join Houston Writers’ Guild and take advantage of already established and open critique groups or to start your own critique group with her help. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Quilting Together Your Scraps and Pieces of Writing
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Cole and Jamie Portwood
TIME: Sunday, May 19, 3:00–6:00 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, May 13. After Monday, May 13: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Hybrid. Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map). This workshop is also available via Zoom. LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Anyone else have scraps of writing just sitting in the Google drive or an overstuffed notebook? Short pieces consisting of a single, sharply drawn memory or some lovely lines from a poem that was never finished. Do you have paragraphs from memoir pieces or stories that you just couldn’t delete because they are so true and truly beautiful? What do you do with them all? They seem so random and disjointed? These pieces do all have something in common; you wrote them and you like them, so we are going to have an old fashioned quilting bee. Through collective wisdom, mentor texts, generative exercises, and group sharing, we will seek out the colors, themes, patterns, and images and patch together these seemingly disparate scraps into a quilt of surpassing beauty. Will it be a poem? An essay? A hybrid piece that defies genre but hits the heart just right? Who knows? Let’s find out together. Bring printed copies of your favorite scraps, blank 8X10 paper, tape, and a pair of scissors. This workshop can be taken in person at the studio or online via Zoom. This event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. This project is generously funded by the Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, and Mid-America Arts Alliance. |
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Pace Yourself (Independent Study Online)
READ ME:
- Please note that Pace Yourself workshops are entirely independent. The instructor will not be reviewing work or giving feedback.
- A Discord community will be available for those who have taken the workshop and wish to interact with other writers.
- Please contact us with any questions at write@writespacehouston.org
Haven't had the time or the right schedule to take a Writespace workshop but still want to delve into the craft of writing?
We've got you covered!
Writespace is building a library of independent study workshops through Wet Ink, an online learning platform designed for writers and writing classes. Whether you have a few hours on a weeknight or only an hour at lunch, these workshops are designed for those of us who just can't get to a three-hour class on Saturday or attend the six-week workshop on Tuesday nights but still want to hone their writing craft. Pace Yourself classes will give writers instruction while also providing an opportunity to interact with guided prompts in order to help build a solid body of work.
When you purchase a Pace Yourself workshop, you will receive an invitation to Wet Ink to access the workshop. You are free to complete the content and exercises entirely at your own pace. There's no class time and no deadlines. It's only you and the work of writing!
We've got you covered!
Writespace is building a library of independent study workshops through Wet Ink, an online learning platform designed for writers and writing classes. Whether you have a few hours on a weeknight or only an hour at lunch, these workshops are designed for those of us who just can't get to a three-hour class on Saturday or attend the six-week workshop on Tuesday nights but still want to hone their writing craft. Pace Yourself classes will give writers instruction while also providing an opportunity to interact with guided prompts in order to help build a solid body of work.
When you purchase a Pace Yourself workshop, you will receive an invitation to Wet Ink to access the workshop. You are free to complete the content and exercises entirely at your own pace. There's no class time and no deadlines. It's only you and the work of writing!
Introduction to Creative Writing
INSTRUCTOR: Cassandra Rose Clarke
PRICE: Members $115; Nonmembers $140 LOCATION: Online via Wet Ink LEVEL: Beginners This workshop will take writers through a crash course in the three main genres of creative writing. In Fiction, you'll cover the basics of fiction (setting, character, and plot) as well the process of actually writing a story. In Creative Nonfiction, you'll look at journaling as inspiration and discuss the ins and outs of telling (mostly) true stories. And finally, in Poetry, you'll look at poetry as play, as well as spend a bit of time talking about rhyme, meter, and other poetic devices. Each genre is divided into lessons which include fundamentals, readings, and exercises to give you a solid foundation of creative writing essentials. |
Fiction
INSTRUCTOR: Cassandra Rose Clarke
PRICE: Members $115; Nonmembers $140 LOCATION: Online via Wet Ink LEVEL: Beginners Ready to dive into fiction? This workshop will take you through the elements of writing fiction from character to setting to structure to the ins and outs of publishing your masterpiece. Each element of fiction is divided into lessons which include fundamentals, readings, and exercises to give you a solid foundation in writing fiction. |
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Write Practice Subscriptions
READ ME:
- Write Practice subscriptions are not a workshop and not a class!
- A Write Practice subscription is a commitment to show up for your writing.
- A Write Practice subscription is a weekly date with an instructor and your community to cultivate your creative practice
- Please contact us with any questions at write@writespacehouston.org
Want to make good habits and make progress? Want to find your writing community and find your guide? Look no further than a Write Practice subscription. These monthly subscriptions will keep you writing and help you troubleshoot your work in progress as you're writing!
Happy Hour with Angélique Jamail
INSTRUCTOR: Angélique Jamail
PRICE: $60 per month TIME: Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. beginning again January 8, 2024 LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels You’re already a writer. You’ve got a manuscript of some kind you’re trying to get down on paper, but finding the time to do it in this modern life is a challenge. Or maybe you know you want to write something, but you keep getting stuck. False starts, mushy middles, and fade-outs dominate your manuscript, preventing you from making the progress you want. Do these dilemmas sound familiar? Most of us go through them at some point or another, but maybe we don’t have to. Join master teacher Angélique Jamail for a Creative Writing Happy Hour once a week to trouble-shoot whatever you’re working on and get some writing in. This is not a workshop. It’s not a class. There’s no specific homework. You won’t be given prompts (unless you ask for one) and won’t have to produce anything for formal critique. Just show up with your writing, your questions, and whatever snack or beverage you want for a one-hour Zoom session to start your week off with a creative, nurturing vibe. Each session will adhere to a basic structure:
You’ll be amazed by how much writing you can accomplish in 20 focused minutes! |
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The Amherst Way with Jessica Cole
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Cole
TIME: Tuesdays, Beginning again January 9, 6:30–8:00 p.m. CST PRICE: $100 per month LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels Whether you’ve never taken a writing class before and want a safe and engaging space to begin, or you want to jumpstart a stalled project, troubleshoot with a trusted group working toward similar goals, be a part of a writing community, and/or co-create a writing practice with baked-in accountability, this class is for you. Too often, we try to make 180-degree changes. But even the smallest change in direction results in an entirely new destination. That is why this class—bedrocked by the Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) method—is so effective: it supports us showing up for ourselves in small, sustainable ways as habits that result in big payoffs. For those of you who have taken the class before, we’ve incorporated your feedback and upgraded it! Like a gym membership, we’ve expanded to a subscription designed to keep us accountable to our goals and consistently part of a supportive community. Inspired by a yearlong AWA course in which instructor Jessica Cole drafted a memoir, subscriptions can be used to begin chipping away at a book-length project by adding written pieces to it every week. We will share insights and troubleshoot issues that arise. You will get help sequencing and making connections in longer pieces from an instructor and group who are growing together. At any point in your writing journey, you’ll be privy to publishing advice and answers to questions about the literary ecosystem from your instructor, the co-founder of a local indie press. Once a week, we'll gather over Zoom. Short craft lessons will be woven in, but the bulk of the class revolves around timed writing prompts as kick-starts. We only offer feedback to each other about what's working in each piece. The point here is to get out of our own ways, sidestep our perfectionist tendencies, get a quick shot of positive feedback, and keep going. The doing is the thing, and the doing of things is easier together. |
Photo by Håkon Grimstad on Unsplash
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