CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS
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- 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.
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July Workshops
Talk To Me: A Generative Workshop on Dialogue
INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Aydelott
TIME: Saturday, July 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, July 21. After Sunday, July 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 What makes dialogue good? How can dialogue ramp up tension in a scene? How can an author play with subtext in conversations between characters? How do you juggle multiple voices in a single scene? How do characters talk to each other and how does this illuminate the nuances in their relationships? How can characters use conversation to deceive one another? The ways dialogue must work are innumerable. This workshop will consider ways that authors use dialogue to develop character, build worlds, and advance the plot. We will examine the ways authors use cadence and word choice to round out characters and move the story forward. We will analyze mentor texts from published stories and films and also practice writing our own dialogue that operates on these multiple 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. 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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Writing Poetry: Deepening the Image
INSTRUCTOR: Melissa McEver Huckabay
TIME: Sunday, July 28, 1:00–4:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Monday, July 22. After Monday, July 22: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Poet Edward Hirsch defines deep imagery as “welling up out of the unconscious … uniting the inner and outer worlds.” What is in your unconscious and how can you bring those images into your poetry? Images take us deeper into a poem, going beyond telling and inviting readers to feel and experience with the poet. This is a powerful tool and often brings surprise and uncommon beauty into a poem. In this generative poetry workshop, participants will study the work of poets skilled at creating deeply realized images. With award-winning poet Melissa McEver Huckabay you will explore the effects imagery has on readers and practice writing your own surprising and exciting poems through Melissa's helpful prompts and exercises. By workshop’s end, each participant will have two or more new poem drafts and many ideas on how to strengthen the imagery in their own writing. 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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August Workshop
Spiritual Memoir
INSTRUCTOR: Phuc Luu
TIME: Four Thursdays, August 1, 8, 15, 22, 6:00–9:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $150 for members, $180 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Friday, July 26. After Friday, July 26: $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 How does spiritual memoir differ from other forms of memoir? How does spiritual memoir differ from other forms of memoir? After all, all people are spiritual by nature, connected by experiences both inexplicable and beautiful. Love, relationships, the meaning of life – all are spiritual phenomena that reach beyond and dive into the world as we know it. This singular literary form plumbs the depths of what it means to grapple with the divine, the other, and the basis of all human existence. However, experiences with the divine and sublime require words to match such a profound impact. Writers often have difficulty conveying the richness and depth of their encounters to readers. In this course Phuc Luu, author of Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded (both memoir and theological treatise), will provide a way to craft language around the ineffable and share the meaning of your spiritual and religious experiences effectively. In this workshop, you will be guided through exercises and discussions designed to:
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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Substack 101
INSTRUCTOR: Icess Fernandez Rojas
TIME: Saturday, August 3, 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, July 28. After Sunday, July 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 You’ve heard of Substack and may even have subscribed to a few, but what exactly is this platform? Why do you need to know about it and how does it inform your writing practice? In this session, we’ll look at Substack, the services it offers, how it can be used, and some popular examples from other writers. We’ll also consider how it compares to other self-publishing platforms like Medium. By the end of the session, you’ll know whether or not this service is for you, and if it is, exactly how to leverage it for yourself! 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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Poetry and Personal Essays: Through the Darkness and into the Light
INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Gajkowski-Hill
TIME: Saturday, August 3, 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, July 28. After Sunday, July 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 "The writer who refuses to explore the darker regions of the heart will never be able to write convincingly about the wonder, the magic and the joy of love." –Nick Cave In a sometimes bleak and tragic post-pandemic world, it is more important than ever to write in order to heal ourselves—of anxieties, of illness, of pain. Only by confronting our darkest moments can we come out the other side. Sarah Gajkowski-Hill will lead a workshop that unabashedly confronts the darkness in our own lives and moves us through suffering, resulting in beautiful, honest poetry and prose. We will look at some of history’s most unflinching dark works of literature, by authors such as Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton, as well as explore darkly humorous pieces. Together we will read, write, share, and triumph over darkness. Sarah is the author of The Job Poems, based on the Biblical Job. She is also anthologized in Connoisseurs of Suffering: Poetry on the Journey to Meaning. 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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Become the Main Character of Your Own Life
INSTRUCTOR: Marlena “Zen Ase” Johns
TIME: Three August 4, 11, 18, 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, July 29. After Monday, July 29: $140 for members, $160 for nonmembers. ecome a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace, 1907 Sabine Street, #125, Houston, TX 77007 (map) LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 One theme of The Wizard of Oz is that Dorothy had the brains, courage, and heart that she needed all along. It just took a little journey and some challenges to find it. Often we take a supporting role in our own lives rather than embodying main character energy and accepting the call to adventure. This workshop will focus on self-reflection and finding your own voice, using writing exercises and other powerful techniques to strengthen your purpose, increase your resilience, and change your perspective. Let's write your hero's journey! Session 1. Laying the Foundation/Storyboarding. We will use goal-setting, vision boards, archetypes, and other self-reflection activities to explore the hero’s journey. Session 2. Drafting a Character Arc. We will use creative nonfiction to "script" our ideal selves, detailing how this improved self could handle the phases of the hero's journey and imaginatively exploring what it might take to transform. Session 3. Reflection. We will take time to reflect, revise, and share our journeys. 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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Restore Your Writing Joy
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Cindy Childress
TIME: Two Saturdays, August 10, 17, 1:00–4:00 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $85 for members, $100 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, August 4. After Sunday, August 4: $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 Hustle culture is all too pervasive today. Under the pressure of that go-go-go, produce-produce-produce mentality, our creativity wilts. While the publishing industry has long praised workaholism, the cost of that pressure is often the loss of the pleasure of writing. The truth is, this write-write-write mandate runs us into the ground. Passion for a writing project turns into perfectionism, and suddenly, writing isn’t a joy anymore. Writer's block becomes a chronic condition, and our writing habit swiftly turns into a habit of not writing. If your writing life feels dried out and dried up, this workshop is for you! We know you need more than just writer's block hacks and time management tips. We know you need to reconnect with your creative self, so we filled this in-person experience with activities, games, and group activities to restore your joy in writing. We’ll explore the stories around why we are burnt out and spend time noticing what we are doing and how it’s serving us. We’ll explore ways to fill the creative well and keep it full. At the end of this workshop, we’ll leave with our writing spirit reawakened and with fresh commitments to the joy of expressing our imagination and ideas through writing. 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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Read Your Way to Writing Well: The Only Good Indians
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Almeida
TIME: Four Wednesdays, August 14, 21, 28, September 4, 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, August 8. After Thursday, August 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 “When the whole world hurts, you bite it, don’t you?” –The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones This four-week course is for those who feel oddly thrilled by words like these, by their peculiar logic, the hum of their heartbeat, or the resonant, chilling images they produce at the edge of familiarity. Each week, we will explore different craft aspects of Jones’ magnificent and terrifying novel, The Only Good Indians. By reading sections of the novel and examining its techniques, we will discover how we ourselves can become better storytellers of the uncanny, sublime, horrific, and powerful. This course welcomes all levels of writing and literary analysis. Homework will include reading roughly 90 pages per class (please read to page 90 prior to our first meeting), as well as a commitment to creativity, curiosity, and community for the four weeks. 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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Creative Nonfiction: The Sweet, Savory, Salty, and Bitter Food of Life
INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Spears
TIME: Sunday, August 18, 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, August 12. After Monday, August 12: $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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Arranging Your Poem on the Page
INSTRUCTOR: Mathew Weitman
TIME: Saturday, August 24, 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, August 18. After Monday, August 18: $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 How does your poem look on the page? And does it really matter how you arrange the lines and spaces? Aren’t the words the most important part? The truth is the arrangement of a poem is a powerful and underrated element of poetic craft. Join prize-winning poet Mathew Weitman in a workshop that will categorically prove just how important it is to think about how your poem looks on the page. Using mentor texts and craft essays from such greats as Albert Ríos, Charles Simic, Lyn Hejinian, Charles Bernstein, Harryette Mullen, Charles Olson, Denise Levertov, and many others, we will turn our attention to the question of how to form poems on the page. Students can expect to workshop at least one poem. 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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Writing the Humorous Essay
INSTRUCTOR: Doni Wilson
TIME: Saturday, August 24, 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, August 18. After Sunday, August 18: $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 Do people ever tell you how funny or witty you are? The challenge is getting it down on paper! An essay is the perfect form to convey narratives that show how funny real life can be, as well as the unexpected humor that pops up whenever humans are involved. Using mentor texts, we will explore the role of humor in the personal essay and apply those lessons to our own essay drafts. We will look at outlets that publish humorous essays and consider the ways such writing can be transferred to multiple genres. 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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Renew Your Love of Writing: End of Summer Edition
INSTRUCTOR: Kendra Preston Leonard, PhD
TIME: Saturday, August 31, 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, August 25. After Sunday, August 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 Singer-songwriter Neko Case tells us, "Don't let this fading summer pass you by," so we're gonna grab onto it and write epic end-of-summer, back-to-school, hot-days-in-the-city poems! In this gentle generative workshop, we'll use visual, musical, and written prompts to capture whatever vibes you feel come August, whether it's nostalgia or relief or something else entirely. We'll experiment with wordplay and form, consider meter and rhyme, and try out different points of view. You'll leave this workshop with some finished poems, some new ideas, and some prompts to try out on your own to keep the momentum going. All genres and levels of writers are welcome! 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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Read Essays Like a Writer
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Dostert
TIME: Saturday, August 31, 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, August 25. After Sunday, August 25: $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 In order to write publishable essays (that is, essays that appeal to and connect with strangers), it is important to understand why exemplars of the form are so successful and effective. What is it that keeps readers connected to the narrator and the issues an essay raises, both individual and collective, concrete and abstract? What “raw materials” has the author used to construct this text? Which authorial choices allow us to “see” and “feel” the architecture of a successful essay? How can we then emulate these techniques in our own work? In this three-hour class, Mark Dostert will facilitate a focused examination and annotation of two flash essays by Rick Bragg and "Lessons from Mary" by Andre Dubus III. As our initial point of discussion, we will examine how each author uses the “Big Five” literary elements, focusing on what the author is doing and why the author is writing what they are writing. We will also explore why it is necessary to write vertically as well as horizontally. Students will receive a PDF copy of both essays and are urged to read the selection closely before class meets so that we can dive right into our analysis and make valuable use of our time together. 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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September Workshops
Place and Personality: Strengthening Fictional Characters Through Setting
INSTRUCTOR: Juan Fernando Villagomez
TIME: Two Saturdays, September 7, 14, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CDT PRICE: Early bird price: $85 for members, $100 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, September 1. After Sunday, September 1: $100 for members, $115 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 Do you ever find yourself at a loss with your characters? Your protagonists have a solid backstory, but where do you go from there? What motivates them to act? What are they acting toward? In this generative two-session workshop, we’ll look at examples from short stories, novels, and craft books to discuss strategies for mining character development ideas from our settings. These strategies will be reinforced through generative practice. 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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Gothic Story Elements
INSTRUCTOR: Angélique Jamail
TIME: Saturday, September 7, 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, September 1. After Sunday, September 1: $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 What do a darkly beautiful aesthetic, #WitchyGirlAutumn, and a tantalizing sense of foreboding all have in common? They can be part of the rich pageant of Gothic story elements that make so many “classic”—or “forbidden”—literary pleasures so deep. In this three-hour generative workshop, we will dip our feet into the chilling waters of Gothic literature to find out what that genre entails. Expect a multi-faceted exploration as we discuss a range of examples in visual art, film, music, and mentor texts. Our writing time will include the opportunity to use these Gothic elements to begin a story or enhance one you’ve already started. Students will have the option of sharing what they’ve written during the workshop. Come with your favorite writing utensils (a laptop, a legal pad and sharpened pencils, a leather-bound journal and a fancy feather quill—whatever works for you). Let’s kick off the Gothic season in writing style! All levels of writing experience are welcome. 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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Polishing Your Poetry for Publication - Available Soon!
AVAILABLE SOON!
INSTRUCTOR: Mathew Weitman TIME: Three Sundays, September 15, 22, 29, 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, September 9. After Monday, September 9: $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 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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Mapping Today’s Publishing Landscape
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Cole
TIME: Sunday, September 15, 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, September 9. After Monday, September 9: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Join us for a guided tour of today’s publishing landscape with Jessica Cole, co-founder of Bloomsday Literary, a Houston-based indie publishing nonprofit. Jessica’s career as a publisher requires her to educate herself about the publishing landscape as a whole and stay as current as possible to a constantly shifting industry known for its opacity. Day-to-day operations of acquiring manuscripts, editing, formatting, cover design, publicity, and fundraising wouldn’t go far without the knowledge of what the publishing industry is doing—and how it could do better. In this workshop, Jessica will share everything she has learned (and is still learning) from an indie publisher’s perspective, relevant tidbits from her academic background (such as university presses), as well as how to approach the publishing landscape as a writer aiming to be part of the literary ecosystem. 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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Editing Your Flash Fiction and Nonfiction
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Almeida
TIME: Four Wednesdays, September 18, 25, October 2, 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, September 12. After Thursday, September 12: $180 for members, $210 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 "A story usually grows organically–" Lydia Davis once said, " –driven by an inner necessity as well as a feeling of delight." This four-week workshop is designed for writers who are captivated by the variety of ways a single story can grow organically. Each week, we will embark on a journey of reimagining and revising a single piece of flash in multiple ways. Through a series of dynamic writing exercises, you will explore different narrative techniques, perspectives, and styles to transform your original piece into new, compelling versions. This iterative process will deepen your understanding of editing and add to your storytelling toolkit. In addition to our hands-on writing exercises, we will read and discuss both original and published flash in class. Analyzing a diverse range of works will provide insight into the craft and inspire your own revisions. The workshop will culminate in a salon-style reading, where you will have the opportunity to share your revised pieces with your peers in a supportive, celebratory environment. We will also hold a colloquium on publishing flash, offering valuable tips and resources for getting your work out into the world. 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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The Light and Dark in Poems and Personal Essays
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Doni Wilson
TIME: Saturday, September 21, 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, September 15. After Sunday, September 15: $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 When we look at both poetry and prose, how do we strike a balance between the light and the dark? The poems of Mary Oliver explore loss and exuberance. Essayists are able to confront deep issues while also engaging audiences with the poignancy of comforting memories or a philosophical view of hard things. Dave Sedaris even uses humor. In this workshop, we will look at poems and essays, including the instructor’s own about dealing with her only sibling’s untimely death, to explore how we deal with loss and challenges in narrative and poetic forms. Bring a notebook or laptop to write in class. Participants will leave with a draft of a new poem or prose piece. 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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Magical AF
INSTRUCTOR: Debbie Burns
TIME: Sunday, September 22, 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, September 16. After Monday, September 16: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 Magical AF is a transformative workshop to help you break free of the unhealthy beliefs impacting your confidence and creativity. You will learn to choose you, trust you, believe in you, and finally achieve the writing career of your dreams. While the rest of the writing world chases after mechanics and tactics, we’ll go on a journey that leads right to the center of your creative soul so you can see the next level of you, embrace the magic that resides there, and feel the freedom that comes from living by your own set of rules. In this workshop, you’ll find everything you need to:
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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Writing the Self: Facing the Shadow
INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Mayorca
TIME: Saturday, September 28, 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, September 22. After Sunday, September 22: $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 “The essence of the shadow is pure gold.” ~ Carl Jung In this class we will explore the thoughts and feelings that have been unexpressed and unlived, the parts of ourselves that have been hidden in the shadow. After studying excerpts from memoirs and writings about the shadow self, we will mirror these expressions in generative writing exercises, allowing a whole new vision of ourselves to come out on the page. 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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Writing Spiritual Poetry: The Possibilities of Transcendence
INSTRUCTOR: Rebecca Spears
TIME: Saturday, September 28,1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST PRICE: Early bird price: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The deadline for early bird pricing is Sunday, September 22. After Sunday, September 22: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 “Writing poetry has probably been the best teacher for me learning to pray. Poetry asks that I go beyond what I know on the surface into what I did not know I knew within me.” —Jericho Brown The language we encounter in poetry often opens up a wider world, allowing us to discover deeper and essential meanings for our lives, even in everyday moments. Both readers and writers of poetry have experienced these feelings of transcendence. Today a number of poets are finding themselves in the middle of a conversation with the divine, poets like Christian Wiman, Mary Szybist, Katie Ford, and Li-Young Lee. In this three-hour workshop, we will look at spiritual poems from contemporary poets and a few ancient ones. Then using these examples as starting points, we will create poems that address our relationships to the divine, faith and doubt, and the possibilities of transcendence. We will also discuss possible venues and publications for your creative work. Please join us, no matter what your beliefs. Bring your questions, your experiences, and ideas to create poetry from your heart and soul. 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 Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
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A Speculative Fiction Bag of Tricks
INSTRUCTOR: Tanya Aydelott
TIME: Sunday, September 29, 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, September 23. After Monday, September 23: $55 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Online via Zoom LEVEL: All levels CAP: 15 My job is to make you believe in something that is not true and did not happen to people who do not exist. If I do my job correctly, I send you back into your life feeling different, feeling like you've experienced something that you haven't experienced before, maybe even seeing the world a little bit differently…. [I’m] making these big roomy things with space that are not true and giving them to people in order to allow them to see we hope for greater truths. — Neil Gaiman Speculative fiction is an umbrella term for fictions of the unreal: fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, etc. It resonates with readers because it allows us to see our world and our circumstances through the lens of metaphor, gifting us “big roomy space” to wrangle big ideas and issues. But figuring out where to start writing a speculative fiction story — or, indeed, how to start — can be challenging. This generative workshop will offer you the chance to consider how a speculative world might fit the stories you want to tell, give you space to experiment with world-building and character-construction, and encourage you to incorporate speculative elements into your writing. We will experiment with a range of tools to get you started crafting your own speculative fiction worlds, characters, and plots. Come ready to play! 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 Joshua Newton 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 [email protected]
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. |
Photo by Stephen Phillips - Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash
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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 [email protected]
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, 6:30-7:30 p.m. 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, 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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