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.
April Workshops
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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
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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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
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May Workshops
Building Blocks of Memoir: Writing About That Essential Person
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. 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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Sadman Sakib on Unsplash
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Writing as Alchemy
INSTRUCTOR: Marlena “Zen Ase” Johns
TIME: Saturday, May 4,1:00–4:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, April 28. After Sunday, April 28: $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 Pain and rage are a part of life. Many things cause them: divorce, the death of a loved one, moving, retirement, changing careers, entering school or the workforce again, or your kids leaving home. So many questions, feelings, doubts, limiting beliefs, and obstacles come up while dealing with these emotions. But writing gives us powerful tools to use these feelings as fuel. In this workshop we will learn 8 writing self-care and stress relief tools that lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves. Together, we will tap into the way writing can be used to reframe what are mostly considered negative emotions and circumstances. 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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash
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Finding Your Audience: Creating Quality Video Content
INSTRUCTOR: Kinza Muzahir
TIME: Three Sundays, May 5, 12, 19, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $120 for members, $140 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, April 29. After Monday, April 29: $140 for members, $160 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 Social media marketing is crucial for writers in the modern digital age, but how do you generate engaging videos, images, and other content for the various social media platforms? And which platforms are right for you? So many moving pieces can be overwhelming, but creating video content doesn’t have to be a chore! This class will arm you with practical digital marketing skills to enable your own creative exploration. It will cover the technical aspects of creating, editing, and publishing social media content, as well as the conceptual storytelling that makes your content compelling. This workshop, led by award-winning digital media designer Kinza Muzahir, will guide you through each phase of digital creation: from concept and editing to publishing and measuring your impact. Together we will develop the skills to create unique and compelling content to build our online platforms and connect with our readers. 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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Kushagra Kevat on Unsplash
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The Architecture of Fiction: Creating Systems of Revision
INSTRUCTOR: Patrick Stockwell
TIME: Six Wednesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 6:00–9:00 p.m CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $210 for members, $240 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Thursday, May 2. After Thursday, May 2: $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: 10 A story is built in much the same way as a building. From the foundation to the frame to the roof, each structural element is separate yet integral to the whole. In this six-week revision workshop, award-winning author Patrick Stockwell will lead students in close readings of both published fiction and students’ own work. Through our detailed readings, we will study stories like architects, element by element, to develop a deeper understanding of story design and strengthen each flaw as it is found. Using skills practiced in class, students will develop systems of revision that will result in consistently better, more cohesive drafts of their work. Attendees should come prepared with a fiction draft they would like to revise. 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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
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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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
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How to Pitch to an Editor
INSTRUCTOR: Doni Wilson
TIME: Saturday, May 11, 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, 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 This workshop focuses on brainstorming, composing, and launching successful pitches to editors for your work. You have a great idea and something to say, but how do you get your essay or article out into the world? Come with ideas and courage. No one can read your work if you don't get it out there for people to see! So give it a whirl and leave with five projects to pitch and develop for your intended audience. 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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Nayanika Mukherjee on Unsplash
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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. This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. |
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash
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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! |
Photo by Elise Coates on Unsplash
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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. |
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