SPRING 2020 WRITING WORKSHOPS
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- Registration closes 24 hours before start time or when workshop fills. No walk-ins, please.
- Please read our workshop policies before registering.
- Can't attend without a scholarship? Apply here.
April Workshops
The Mythical Muse with KENDRA LEONARD
We will explore ways of writing with ancient and modern myth . . .
We will explore ways of writing with ancient and modern myth . . .
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TIME: Two Saturdays, April 4th and April 11th, 1-4 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, March 30th: $85 for members, $100 for non-members. After Monday, March 30th: $100 for members, $115 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Have you ever wanted to write about Loki, the trickster of the Norse gods? Are you enthralled with the story of Persephone and her experience of living in two worlds? Do you want to take a peek inside Baby Yaga’s chicken-leg house?
In this course, we will explore ways of writing with ancient and modern myths, creating and developing mythical characters, settings, and plots for our writing, and respectfully using myths from cultures that are not our own. Led by poet Kendra Leonard, whose work often draws on the myths of ancient Greece and other mythic materials, participants will learn how to research myths for inspiration, relocate mythic figures to different times and places, and develop frameworks for thinking about how myth resonates or is in opposition with our own outlooks and values.
We will have ample time for in-class writing, ranging from free-writing and brainstorming exercises, to writing about characters from myth, to incorporating myth into poetry, stories, and other genres.
Feel free to bring a work in progress or start a brand new piece of writing as part of this seminar.
In this course, we will explore ways of writing with ancient and modern myths, creating and developing mythical characters, settings, and plots for our writing, and respectfully using myths from cultures that are not our own. Led by poet Kendra Leonard, whose work often draws on the myths of ancient Greece and other mythic materials, participants will learn how to research myths for inspiration, relocate mythic figures to different times and places, and develop frameworks for thinking about how myth resonates or is in opposition with our own outlooks and values.
We will have ample time for in-class writing, ranging from free-writing and brainstorming exercises, to writing about characters from myth, to incorporating myth into poetry, stories, and other genres.
Feel free to bring a work in progress or start a brand new piece of writing as part of this seminar.
Be the Writer You (Secretly) Want to Be with DR. CYNTHIA CHILDRESS
In this workshop, we'll look at what's stopped you so far from writing like your keyboard's on fire.
In this workshop, we'll look at what's stopped you so far from writing like your keyboard's on fire.
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TIME: Two Sundays, April 5th and April 12th, 3-6 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Tuesday, March 31st: $85 for members, $100 for non-members. After Tuesday, March 31st: $100 for members, $115 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Feel like there's a great writer inside you that wants to burst forth with amazing words—then, when you sit down to your computer, you're overwhelmed? In your writing, are you torn between tackling an issue you care about, a hilarious idea, a deeply personal self-analysis, or something else altogether? You’re not alone: it's tough to know who you are as a writer when you're still experimenting with finding your big ideas.
In this workshop, we'll look at what's stopped you so far from writing like your keyboard's on fire. The instructor will share her tried-and-true methods for conquering the fear of the blinking cursor so you can form habits that will make you a more prolific writer. As you learn new tools and information about how you can access your creativity and write uncensored, you'll put them into practice with writing exercises. There will be opportunities to share your writing and talk about your process and writing goals. Get ready to be an unstoppable writer, no matter what genre or level of experience.
In this workshop, we'll look at what's stopped you so far from writing like your keyboard's on fire. The instructor will share her tried-and-true methods for conquering the fear of the blinking cursor so you can form habits that will make you a more prolific writer. As you learn new tools and information about how you can access your creativity and write uncensored, you'll put them into practice with writing exercises. There will be opportunities to share your writing and talk about your process and writing goals. Get ready to be an unstoppable writer, no matter what genre or level of experience.
Writers of Color with JULIA BROWN
Expect to come away with fierce new work, as well as a renewed sense of power found through community.
Expect to come away with fierce new work, as well as a renewed sense of power found through community.
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TIME: Six Tuesdays, April 7th, April 14th, April 21st, April 28th, SKIP May 5th for Writefest, May 12th, May 19th, 6-9 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Thursday, April 2nd: $210 members, $240 non-members. After Thursday, April 2nd: $240 members, $270 non-members. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 12 Writers |
We recognize that while no single feature can capture the experience and identity of a human being, writers of color—of all levels, genres, and backgrounds—have the opportunity to thrive in workshop experiences where their many, varied voices are welcomed and seen to enrich the workshop’s diverse worldview. This means that we will read the work of poets and fiction writers of color, including our own.
Over the last few decades, organizations designed to support and promote the work of writers of color have emerged across the country. Cave Canem, Kundiman, Canto Mundo, VONA, Kimbilio, and others recognize the need to provide writers of color with the kind of community and workshop space that encourages taking risks, resisting stereotypes (in ourselves, others, and in our writing), and creating poems, stories, novels, memoirs, and essays that speak to the range of our experience as human beings. This workshop shares these intentions and seeks to provide Houston writers of color with the freedom and support offered by these organizations.
This workshop is open to writers of all backgrounds typically underrepresented in American literature, including but not limited to writers who identify themselves as African American or Caribbean, Asian American, Middle Eastern, Chicano, Hispanic, and Latino. For those worried that this will be a group therapy session, know that it will not be this. Just as with any writing workshop, we will study the craft of prose and poetry, whether literary fiction or slam or sci-fi, consider the intention of the work, and explore what possibilities it can open up for our writing.
Expect to come away with fierce new work, as well as a renewed sense of power found through community.
Over the last few decades, organizations designed to support and promote the work of writers of color have emerged across the country. Cave Canem, Kundiman, Canto Mundo, VONA, Kimbilio, and others recognize the need to provide writers of color with the kind of community and workshop space that encourages taking risks, resisting stereotypes (in ourselves, others, and in our writing), and creating poems, stories, novels, memoirs, and essays that speak to the range of our experience as human beings. This workshop shares these intentions and seeks to provide Houston writers of color with the freedom and support offered by these organizations.
This workshop is open to writers of all backgrounds typically underrepresented in American literature, including but not limited to writers who identify themselves as African American or Caribbean, Asian American, Middle Eastern, Chicano, Hispanic, and Latino. For those worried that this will be a group therapy session, know that it will not be this. Just as with any writing workshop, we will study the craft of prose and poetry, whether literary fiction or slam or sci-fi, consider the intention of the work, and explore what possibilities it can open up for our writing.
Expect to come away with fierce new work, as well as a renewed sense of power found through community.
Pilgrims Unstuck in Time: Playing with Linear Time in Unexpected Ways with MATTHEW HEFTI
This workshop will analyze techniques for traveling through time on the page.
This workshop will analyze techniques for traveling through time on the page.
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TIME: Saturday, April 18th, 1-4 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, April 13th: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Monday, April 13th: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Are you trying to cover a hundred years of solitude in a hundred thousand words? Or maybe you’re the time traveler’s wife, waiting indefinitely to see your love again. Or are you Benjamin Buttoning your way to an early birth?
As writers and readers, we all have the gift—or curse—of coming unstuck in time. The rules of linearity just don’t apply to us. In writing, we can explore an entire family history in a paragraph or a significant moment in a hundred pages. Whether you’re including flashbacks, flash forwards, or just stretching a single moment into an eternity, this workshop will analyze techniques for traveling through time on the page.
As writers and readers, we all have the gift—or curse—of coming unstuck in time. The rules of linearity just don’t apply to us. In writing, we can explore an entire family history in a paragraph or a significant moment in a hundred pages. Whether you’re including flashbacks, flash forwards, or just stretching a single moment into an eternity, this workshop will analyze techniques for traveling through time on the page.
Including the Mysterious in Your Writing with JULIE HERMAN
Mystery stories have something to offer writers of multiple genres.
Mystery stories have something to offer writers of multiple genres.
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TIME: Sunday, April 19th, 3-6 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Tuesday, April 14th: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Tuesday, April 14th: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Mystery stories have something to offer writers of multiple genres. Mysteries are modern day morality tales, full of struggles between good and evil, with an inherent expectation that justice will be served in the end. And one of the most prevalent conventions of a good mystery is a strong opening hook, luring the reader to follow the plot down a dark alley.
In this workshop, taught by a Macavity- and Agatha-nominated mystery author, we will explore how to develop a strong opening scene. Then we’ll take a closer look at scene tension and explore how to keep the reader turning the pages until the very end—no matter the story you’re telling.
In this workshop, taught by a Macavity- and Agatha-nominated mystery author, we will explore how to develop a strong opening scene. Then we’ll take a closer look at scene tension and explore how to keep the reader turning the pages until the very end—no matter the story you’re telling.
Author Networking (Especially for Introverts) with DR. CYNTHIA CHILDRESS
It’s a reality of writing as a business—relationships with other authors are important for sharing opportunities and supporting each other.
It’s a reality of writing as a business—relationships with other authors are important for sharing opportunities and supporting each other.
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TIME: Sunday, April 26th, 3-6 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Tuesday, April 21st: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Tuesday, April 21st: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here.LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Picture it: A writers’ festival. 2007.
"What's your favorite book of mine?" asked Andre Codrescu. It was a reasonable question since I'd just told him I loved his work, but my mind went blank. I couldn't think of a single one of his poems, much less the titles of his books. Since then, I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve huddled by the cheese board or hidden in the bathroom to escape possibly making a mistake like that again.
Have you ever been there—or think you would if you tried to hang out with other writers?
I get it. But it’s a reality of writing as a business—relationships with other authors are important for sharing opportunities and supporting each other. I put this workshop together to share how I got over myself and started networking with other writers, and how you can, too. We'll talk about condensing your big project into a compelling pitch, managing business cards, being memorable in a Q and A, and following up with new friends and mentors. Next time you attend an event, whether it's a big conference like Writefest or a local open mic, make relationships with other writers with confidence.
"What's your favorite book of mine?" asked Andre Codrescu. It was a reasonable question since I'd just told him I loved his work, but my mind went blank. I couldn't think of a single one of his poems, much less the titles of his books. Since then, I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve huddled by the cheese board or hidden in the bathroom to escape possibly making a mistake like that again.
Have you ever been there—or think you would if you tried to hang out with other writers?
I get it. But it’s a reality of writing as a business—relationships with other authors are important for sharing opportunities and supporting each other. I put this workshop together to share how I got over myself and started networking with other writers, and how you can, too. We'll talk about condensing your big project into a compelling pitch, managing business cards, being memorable in a Q and A, and following up with new friends and mentors. Next time you attend an event, whether it's a big conference like Writefest or a local open mic, make relationships with other writers with confidence.
May Workshops
Queer Writers Workshop with JUSTIN JANNISE
With this workshop, we aim to foster a safe and welcoming rapport among LGBTQIA+ writers . . .
With this workshop, we aim to foster a safe and welcoming rapport among LGBTQIA+ writers . . .
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TIME: Six Wednesdays, May 20th, May 27th, June 3rd, June 10th, June 17th, June 24th, 6-9 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Friday, May 15th: $210 members, $240 non-members. After Friday, May 15th: $240 members, $270 non-members. Become a member here. Apply for a scholarship here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Queer literature has grown wildly in recent years, right alongside a public awakening to the increasingly various possibilities of gender identity and sexual preference. And yet communal creative spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can safely meet, interact, and share ideas seem more vulnerable than ever. With this workshop, we aim to foster a safe and welcoming rapport among LGBTQIA+ writers where they can discuss ideas critical to queer identity.
We’ll not only read the work of writers who identify as LGBTQIA+ (including our own), but we’ll also consider how queerness interacts with the wider literary community. In addition, we’ll set aside time for discussion and group feedback on our different projects—both new and ongoing! All literary genres are welcome. Expect to come away with new work, new understanding, and new friends.
This workshop is open to any writer who identifies as LGBTQIA+ regardless of the subject matter they intend to address. We recognize and celebrate that not every queer writer deals explicitly or exclusively with their queerness.
We’ll not only read the work of writers who identify as LGBTQIA+ (including our own), but we’ll also consider how queerness interacts with the wider literary community. In addition, we’ll set aside time for discussion and group feedback on our different projects—both new and ongoing! All literary genres are welcome. Expect to come away with new work, new understanding, and new friends.
This workshop is open to any writer who identifies as LGBTQIA+ regardless of the subject matter they intend to address. We recognize and celebrate that not every queer writer deals explicitly or exclusively with their queerness.
Through the Looking Glass: Writing Weird for All Genres with CHARLOTTE WYATT
Together we'll seek the world just beyond the mundane and examine how it can inform . . . your writing.
Together we'll seek the world just beyond the mundane and examine how it can inform . . . your writing.
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TIME: Saturday, May 30th, 1-4 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, May 25th: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Monday, May 25th: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Did you ever check the back of your bureau for a portal to another world? Have you ever longed to visit the Twilight Zone? Do you think Kafka might be fun to grab a beer with? Regardless of your genre background—writers of literary fiction, genre fiction, poetry, and/or memoir are all welcome—you’ll find something of use through the looking glass with this generative workshop. Together we'll seek the world just beyond the mundane and examine how it can inform structure, language, and character in your writing. We'll go over some useful tools for luring your ideas out of the shadows and for exploring those regions where the eerie and familiar resonate. No need to submit work ahead of time—just bring your imagination, your preferred writing tools, and an open mind.
How to Outline Your Novel with D.L. YOUNG
An outline lays out the path for your narrative, ensuring coherence and saving you tons of time in edits and rewrites.
An outline lays out the path for your narrative, ensuring coherence and saving you tons of time in edits and rewrites.
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TIME: Sunday, May 31st, 3-6 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Tuesday, May 26th: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Tuesday, May 26th: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
A well-prepared outline is a powerful tool that helps you create memorable characters, an engaging plot, and unforgettable settings. It takes your ideas and shapes them into a manuscript. An outline lays out the path for your narrative, ensuring coherence and saving you tons of time in edits and rewrites.
But how do you create an outline? Where do you start? What are the different methods that authors can use?
Join award-winning author D.L. Young and get the answers to all your questions about novel outlining. He’ll guide you through the process step-by-step, from start-to-finish. He will also demonstrate a variety of outlining techniques so that you can choose the strategy that works best for you. By the end of this workshop, you will be ready to start your novel, armed with the outlining tools and techniques you need to transform your ideas into a strong manuscript.
But how do you create an outline? Where do you start? What are the different methods that authors can use?
Join award-winning author D.L. Young and get the answers to all your questions about novel outlining. He’ll guide you through the process step-by-step, from start-to-finish. He will also demonstrate a variety of outlining techniques so that you can choose the strategy that works best for you. By the end of this workshop, you will be ready to start your novel, armed with the outlining tools and techniques you need to transform your ideas into a strong manuscript.
June Workshops
Writing the YA Novel (ONLINE) with HEATHER DEMETRIOS
Together, we’ll be doing a deep dive into the genre . . .
Together, we’ll be doing a deep dive into the genre . . .
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TIME: Starts Monday, June 1st, and ends Friday, June 26th. Specific workshop times to be determined solely by participants’ specific schedules and availability.
PRICE: Early-Bird until Wednesday, May 27th: $150 for members, $180 for non-members. After Wednesday, May 27th: $180 for members, $210 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: ONLINE ONLY LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 12 Writers |
You are so ready to write a young adult novel. Or maybe you’ve already written one, but you’re not quite sure you’ve figured out how to rock this genre. What makes a YA novel YA? How mature can a YA be? (How much cursing can you get away with? Can characters get hot and heavy on the page, or do you always need to fade to black? What about violence or intense subject matter like rape or drug use?) You might not be sure if you’ve written a YA or a middle grade—perhaps your book feels way less dark than a lot of the stuff you see on the shelves. Have no fear: by the end of this class, you’ll know your way around the YA writers’ world. Together, we’ll be doing a deep dive into the genre, talking about the “rules” and how and when you can break them, what agents and editors (and readers) are looking for when they pick up a YA novel, and what craft elements stand out the most. We’ll touch a bit on trends and we’ll be looking at all the sub-genres within the genre (contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi/speculative, horror, etc.). We’ll be reading and analyzing the first chapter of several different YAs, as well as using Jandy Nelson's The Sky Is Everywhere to get a good look into how to write, think, and feel teen. In addition to lectures and writing exercises, there will be craft reading selections so that you can put all that you’re learning into practice. You’ll walk away with loads of resources to continue your study of all aspects of the genre long after our class is over.
This course is designed for writers of any level who are eager to learn about the YA genre. Please be prepared to spend at least three hours a week on short reading assignments, your own writing, and online discussion. If you have a first chapter of a YA novel completed, be ready for the chance to share pages and receive constructive feedback from the instructor and your fellow writers. If you haven’t written a first chapter yet, don’t worry, you will have the opportunity to do so during workshop and also receive constructive feedback. You’ll be part of a supportive, fun, and inspiring community, so don’t be shy to share your work. This is how we figure out how to do this writing thing!
Note about Writespace’s online workshops: Participants should plan to commit three hours per week to reading, posting, and responding to assignments in the online classroom and one to two hours per week to writing outside the classroom. Online workshops offer built-in flexibility and are ideal for writers with busy schedules, as the times participants visit the classroom are determined solely by their own availability, whether they are available at 3 PM or at 3 AM or at any other times on any other days of the week. Participants will be invited to enter the online classroom and will receive instructions the day the workshop begins.
This course is designed for writers of any level who are eager to learn about the YA genre. Please be prepared to spend at least three hours a week on short reading assignments, your own writing, and online discussion. If you have a first chapter of a YA novel completed, be ready for the chance to share pages and receive constructive feedback from the instructor and your fellow writers. If you haven’t written a first chapter yet, don’t worry, you will have the opportunity to do so during workshop and also receive constructive feedback. You’ll be part of a supportive, fun, and inspiring community, so don’t be shy to share your work. This is how we figure out how to do this writing thing!
Note about Writespace’s online workshops: Participants should plan to commit three hours per week to reading, posting, and responding to assignments in the online classroom and one to two hours per week to writing outside the classroom. Online workshops offer built-in flexibility and are ideal for writers with busy schedules, as the times participants visit the classroom are determined solely by their own availability, whether they are available at 3 PM or at 3 AM or at any other times on any other days of the week. Participants will be invited to enter the online classroom and will receive instructions the day the workshop begins.
Revision Intensive: Polishing Your Essay for Publication with CAMERON DEZEN HAMMON
In this workshop we’ll learn valuable strategies for revising a personal essay for publication . . .
In this workshop we’ll learn valuable strategies for revising a personal essay for publication . . .
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TIME: Three Mondays, June 1st, June 8th, June 15th, 6-9 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Wednesday, May 27th: $120 for members, $140 for non-members. After Wednesday, May 27th: $150 for members, $170 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
In this workshop we’ll learn valuable strategies for revising a personal essay for publication, including shaping a reliable narrator, knowing when (and how) to cut your favorite paragraph, and determining when to ask for feedback (and when to ignore it.) We'll also look at published personal essays and their various stages of revision to give students the opportunity to see an essay go from first draft to publication. We'll conclude by looking at practical aspects of the submission process, like identifying where to send our work, managing word count and format, and navigating online submission managers like Submittable. Come prepared to our first class with two printed copies of the essay you would like to revise, a pair of scissors, tape—and an open mind.
Say It Like You Mean It: Writing Dialogue (ONLINE) with ZACH FEHST
Think of a character’s words as weapons in their fight to get what they want!
Think of a character’s words as weapons in their fight to get what they want!
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TIME: Starts Tuesday, June 2nd, and ends Saturday, June 27th. Specific workshop times to be determined solely by participants’ specific schedules and availability.
PRICE: Early-Bird until Thursday, May 28th: $150 for members, $180 for non-members. After Thursday, May 28th: $180 for members, $210 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: ONLINE ONLY LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
Stop putting words in characters’ mouths that are flat and lifeless, inauthentic, or too on-the-nose! Instead, think of a character’s words as weapons in their fight to get what they want.
Many writers struggle with dialogue. In fact, poor dialogue is one of the marks of a novice scribe. In this course, we’ll look at some common dialogue missteps and discuss how to avoid them. Good dialogue comes from deep knowledge of our characters’ scene objectives and overarching desires, so we’ll spend time identifying and clarifying the unique subtext that makes dialogue meaningful. We’ll also discuss special cases like writing dialects and accents, and how to identify times when a scene might work best with limited dialogue—or none at all.
Each week, we’ll discuss a different aspect of good (or bad!) dialogue, and look at examples in both writing and film clips. These excerpts will guide our thinking and our writing exercises, as we apply the lessons to our own writing samples.
University of Southern California film school graduate, former TV and movie actor, and author Zach Fehst leads this fun and informative workshop.
Note about Writespace’s online workshops: Participants should plan to commit three hours per week to reading, posting, and responding to assignments in the online classroom and one to two hours per week to writing outside the classroom. Online workshops offer built-in flexibility and are ideal for writers with busy schedules, as the times participants visit the classroom are determined solely by their own availability, whether they are available at 3 PM or at 3 AM or at any other times on any other days of the week. Participants will be invited to enter the online classroom and will receive instructions the day the workshop begins.
Many writers struggle with dialogue. In fact, poor dialogue is one of the marks of a novice scribe. In this course, we’ll look at some common dialogue missteps and discuss how to avoid them. Good dialogue comes from deep knowledge of our characters’ scene objectives and overarching desires, so we’ll spend time identifying and clarifying the unique subtext that makes dialogue meaningful. We’ll also discuss special cases like writing dialects and accents, and how to identify times when a scene might work best with limited dialogue—or none at all.
Each week, we’ll discuss a different aspect of good (or bad!) dialogue, and look at examples in both writing and film clips. These excerpts will guide our thinking and our writing exercises, as we apply the lessons to our own writing samples.
University of Southern California film school graduate, former TV and movie actor, and author Zach Fehst leads this fun and informative workshop.
Note about Writespace’s online workshops: Participants should plan to commit three hours per week to reading, posting, and responding to assignments in the online classroom and one to two hours per week to writing outside the classroom. Online workshops offer built-in flexibility and are ideal for writers with busy schedules, as the times participants visit the classroom are determined solely by their own availability, whether they are available at 3 PM or at 3 AM or at any other times on any other days of the week. Participants will be invited to enter the online classroom and will receive instructions the day the workshop begins.
Novella: A Four-Week Generative Intensive with THEODORA ZIOLKOWSKI
We will ask ourselves what kinds of stories are ripe for the concentration a novella affords . . .
We will ask ourselves what kinds of stories are ripe for the concentration a novella affords . . .
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TIME: Four Tuesdays, June 2nd, June 9th, June 16th, June 23rd, 6-9 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Thursday, May 28th: $150 for members, $180 for non-members. After Thursday, May 28th: $180 for members, $210 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 12 Writers |
From romance to mystery and suspense to literary thrillers and domestic dramas—and beyond!—novellas, or short novels typically between 17,500 and 40,000 words, come in a variety of genres. As writers, they offer us the opportunity to create stories that demand focused intensity while also asking that this intensity move beyond a short story’s constraints. In this generative four-week workshop, we will assess the values of the form and explore techniques drawn from excerpts of a variety of published novellas for inspiration. To investigate ways to enter our own novellas, we will ask ourselves what kinds of stories are ripe for the concentration a novella affords, and devote each week to examining in detail a specific craft aspect of the novella, generating and sharing excerpts from our own works-in-progress along the way. Novellas whose passages we will look at will include Joyce Carol Oates’s literary thriller Black Water, Nnedi Okorafor’s science fiction novella Binti, and Jennifer Weiner’s romance, Swim. Participants will leave the workshop having generated new material to help grow their novellas.
Crafting Literary Fiction with MARK HABER
In the workshop, we will examine elements of craft that are central to successful literary fiction . . .
In the workshop, we will examine elements of craft that are central to successful literary fiction . . .
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TIME: Four Thursdays, June 4th, June 11th, June 18th, June 25th, 6-9 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Saturday, May 30th: $150 for members, $180 for non-members. After Saturday, May 30th: $180 for members, $210 for non-members.Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
If you want to be a writer, you need to read like a writer. This fact—which might seem obvious—eludes people more often than you would think. In this workshop, we will hone our writing skills by learning how authors influence a reader through structure and style choices, to truly understand how fine pieces of literary fiction are crafted.
For our purposes, we will focus exclusively on literary short stories, studying the works of contemporary masters such as Charles D'Ambrosio, Mary Gaitskill, and Alice Munro. No genre fiction here—only authors who dig into the rich details of the real world, proving that a writer doesn't have to have wizards or aliens or serial killers to tell exciting stories.
In the workshop, we will examine elements of craft that are central to successful literary fiction, such as tone, voice, lyricism, and character emotion. By applying this expanded knowledge to our own writing during supportive and respectful group critique sessions, we will learn how to write literary fiction that’s as gripping as a good thriller—a story that makes your reader keep turning the pages, desperate to learn how it all ends.
For our purposes, we will focus exclusively on literary short stories, studying the works of contemporary masters such as Charles D'Ambrosio, Mary Gaitskill, and Alice Munro. No genre fiction here—only authors who dig into the rich details of the real world, proving that a writer doesn't have to have wizards or aliens or serial killers to tell exciting stories.
In the workshop, we will examine elements of craft that are central to successful literary fiction, such as tone, voice, lyricism, and character emotion. By applying this expanded knowledge to our own writing during supportive and respectful group critique sessions, we will learn how to write literary fiction that’s as gripping as a good thriller—a story that makes your reader keep turning the pages, desperate to learn how it all ends.
Exploring Life's Most Powerful Moments in Memoir with JOYCE BOATRIGHT
We will explore the important turning points in your life, so you can choose the one(s) that merit your attention.
We will explore the important turning points in your life, so you can choose the one(s) that merit your attention.
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TIME: Saturday, June 6th, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, June 1st: $85 for members, $100 for non-members. After Monday, June 1st: $100 for members, $115 for non-members.on-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
You have a memoir—a life story—that you know needs to be written. But how? There is so much to tackle in crafting a memoir, no matter the length. Where do you begin? How do you shape a memory into a story that engages readers? How do you sustain their interest?
In this workshop, we will explore the important turning points in your life, so you can choose the one(s) that merit your attention. We’ll also examine the popular themes in memoir so you know how to market your finished work for publication, if you so desire. We’ll discuss memoir and truth, answering questions about whose truth is found in the story. . . or is there any? Finally, everyone will discover the natural arc, the inner change, that comes from overcoming life’s challenges, which is so crucial in a credible memoir.
Participants will have prompts to practice skills in discovering these elements of memoir and can expect to have the opening of a long memoir or a completed first draft of a short memoir piece by the end of this workshop.
In this workshop, we will explore the important turning points in your life, so you can choose the one(s) that merit your attention. We’ll also examine the popular themes in memoir so you know how to market your finished work for publication, if you so desire. We’ll discuss memoir and truth, answering questions about whose truth is found in the story. . . or is there any? Finally, everyone will discover the natural arc, the inner change, that comes from overcoming life’s challenges, which is so crucial in a credible memoir.
Participants will have prompts to practice skills in discovering these elements of memoir and can expect to have the opening of a long memoir or a completed first draft of a short memoir piece by the end of this workshop.
The Journey of Poetry with DR. CYNTHIA CHILDRESS
Poetry uses language in a way that is not available to us in everyday life.
Poetry uses language in a way that is not available to us in everyday life.
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TIME: Four Sundays, June 7th, June 14th, June 21st, June 28th, 3-6 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Tuesday, June 2nd: $150 for members, $180 for non-members. After Tuesday, June 2nd: $180 for members, $210 for non-members.Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 15 Writers |
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 wonders 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 found poetry, song lyrics, spoken word, and literary 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.
Character: The Beating Heart of Your Story--And How to Find It! with K.C. SINCLAIR
We will learn to breathe life into our characters . . . with deep thinking about who they are, what they want, and how to best capture that on the page.
We will learn to breathe life into our characters . . . with deep thinking about who they are, what they want, and how to best capture that on the page.
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TIME: Saturday, June 13th, 1-4 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, June 8th: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Monday, June 8th: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 12 Writers |
Characters are the center of our stories. Their problems become our problems—and our readers’ problems. Their failures and redemptions give us our plot and themes. So how do we make them into full-bodied, complex leaders of our stories? How do we show our readers who our characters are, inside and out? How do we ensure that we don’t betray our characters by leading them in ways that are not true to the person we have created? In this workshop, we will learn to breathe life into our characters, not with adjectives and props, but with deep thinking about who they are, what they want, and how to best capture that on the page. Using excerpts from masterful examples of fictional characters, craft articles, and feedback from other members of the workshop, we will practice approaching our characters in innovative ways, so that they become stronger foundations for our writing. While we may discuss aspects of craft such as dialogue, gesture, character motivation, and “character description” in this workshop, the experience will be less about learning formulas than about spending time over coffee with a friend who you are starting to understand and maybe even starting to fall in love with.
The Freshman Fifteen: Create a Compelling First Chapter with TEX THOMPSON
Join us for a fun, fearless first-chapter free-for-all.
Join us for a fun, fearless first-chapter free-for-all.
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TIME: Saturday, June 20th, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, June 15th: $85 for members, $100 for non-members. After Monday, June 15th: $100 for members, $115 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 12 Writers |
Your first fifteen pages need to thrust the reader right into the action of the story. Oh, and also inspire an emotional connection to the character. While simultaneously providing just enough description to set the scene—without forgetting to plant some tantalizing questions to keep us turning the pages! Oh, and making the right promises about the story to come, too. And is there any way you could sneak some zesty dialogue in there while you’re at it?
If your head is spinning and the words are blurring—don’t worry. Set your poor anxiety-sodden manuscript aside (just for one day!) and join us for a fun, fearless first-chapter free-for-all. We’ll work together to dissect the opening scenes from contemporary bestsellers, comparing notes to discover what they have in common and where they diverge. Best of all, we'll explore how you, too, can launch your reader smoothly into your story-world. No stress, no shame, no surrender!
If your head is spinning and the words are blurring—don’t worry. Set your poor anxiety-sodden manuscript aside (just for one day!) and join us for a fun, fearless first-chapter free-for-all. We’ll work together to dissect the opening scenes from contemporary bestsellers, comparing notes to discover what they have in common and where they diverge. Best of all, we'll explore how you, too, can launch your reader smoothly into your story-world. No stress, no shame, no surrender!
From Idea to Opus: Getting Your Story on the Page with ICESS FERNANDEZ ROJAS
We’ll get to the heart of the story you want to tell . . .
We’ll get to the heart of the story you want to tell . . .
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TIME: Saturday, June 27th, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
PRICE: Early-Bird until Monday, June 22nd: $45 for members, $60 for non-members. After Monday, June 22nd: $55 for members, $70 for non-members. Become a member here. Scholarships available here. LOCATION: Writespace at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards #208, Houston, TX 77007 LEVEL: All Levels CAP: Limited to 12 Writers |
It’s a conundrum that has frustrated writers since humans first put chisel to stone: There’s a story inside of you. You know it. You feel it! You know that it’s good and that it can be amazing. But how do you take what you know is a good story and bring it alive on the page?
Using generative prompts, exercises, and examples, we’ll get to the heart of the story you want to tell and then build out from there, focusing on the themes, the important moments, and the why of your story. By the end of the workshop, your story will transform from an idea in your head to a draft on the page.
Using generative prompts, exercises, and examples, we’ll get to the heart of the story you want to tell and then build out from there, focusing on the themes, the important moments, and the why of your story. By the end of the workshop, your story will transform from an idea in your head to a draft on the page.
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- Registration closes 24 hours before start time or when workshop fills. No walk-ins, please.
- Please read our workshop policies before registering.
- Workshop tickets must be purchased online.
- Can't attend without a scholarship? Apply here.