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Get connected to Charlottesville’s writing community.
Here’s what some of our students are saying about WriterHouse:
“What I enjoy most about my experience with WriterHouse is the support of a writing tribe.”
“Sunny and comfortable. Glad there’s coffee!”
“I like the space and time dedicated to the effort of writing. I like the quiet.”
“I am just so glad WriterHouse exists. I am grateful to have a place to come and write and be around writers.”
“I am a huge WriterHouse fan. Thank you for fostering this unique community; it’s completely revolutionized what has otherwise been a relatively lonely hobby for me.”
“Great institution. Love the camaraderie, the exchange of knowledge, the feedback. No way I would have started writing in this way without WriterHouse.”
“WriterHouse is incredible–such an asset to this community.”
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FEATURED EVENTS
August 2019
Why Then? Why There? Setting Fiction in Time and Place
Instructor: Cliff Garstang $60 Members | $65 Nonmembers Saturday, 8/3/19 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm In this seminar we will examine the implications of making particular choices for the setting of a work of fiction. Does it matter when the story takes place? Does it matter if the narrative is current or retrospective? And how can the writer use the physical setting to deepen the reader’s engagement with the work. Through examination of well-known works, both stories and novels,…
Find out more »Gender Benders: Exploring the “Other”
Instructor: BettyJoyce Nash $60 Members | $65 Nonmembers Sunday, 8/4/19 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Suppose you identify as female but want to write a male’s point of view? Literature would suffer if writers failed to explore characters of the “other” gender, male or trans. Gender refers to individuals’ concept of themselves; sex refers to biological differences. Not every female is nurturing and emotionally expressive; all males aren’t silent and emotionally distant. Not only do socialization and embedded cultural…
Find out more »Crafting Successful Characters in Children’s Literature
Instructor: Kathy Erskine $60 Members | $65 Nonmembers Tuesday, 8/6/19 | 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Characters can make or break your story, whether you’re writing picture books, early readers, or middle grade and young adult novels. We’ll talk about how to make caustic characters engaging, bland characters attention-grabbing, and all characters feel like real people. This is a hands-on workshop so come prepared to do exercises in class—not sit-ups and pushups … unless, of course, that’s what your character…
Find out more »Navigating Self-Publishing Using Amazon KDP (This seminar is full!)
Instructor: John Nicolay $60 Members | $65 Nonmembers Saturday, 8/10/19 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm This seminar takes the student through the process of using Amazon’s “Kindle Direct Print” for publishing any project as a softcover book. We will discuss each element of the process, starting with formatting the “to-be” work so that KDP remains happy. John Nicolay is a professor in The Graduate School, University of Maryland. He is an officer with the Blue Ridge Writers, and a…
Find out more »Problem-Solving Mini-Retreat for Writers (This seminar is full!)
Instructor: Louise Mitchell NOTE: This seminar is free for members only. Sunday, 8/11/19 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Break through writer’s block, deepen your writer’s voice, connect with a new project, have insight on a work in progress. Enjoy a nature-based, closed-eye exercise that inspires you to write in your natural, creative flow. Wear casual, comfortable clothing. Bring writing paper and pens or pencils. No meditation experience is necessary, but a willingness to relax and invite the guidance of…
Find out more »Telling Your Story: Personal Essay and Memoir (This seminar is full!)
Instructor: Bill Glose $60 Members | $65 Nonmembers Sunday, 8/11/19 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm This seminar will focus on structure and storytelling elements of essays and memoirs. Practical exercises will incorporate brainstorming and organizational techniques to gather details and focus your story on a particular theme. The class will also discuss ethical dilemmas associated with true-life stories. Bill Glose is a former paratrooper and combat platoon leader. Now a civilian, he undertakes intriguing pursuits—such as walking across Virginia…
Find out more »September 2019
“Lingering in the Margins” Poetry Anthology, Reading and Q&A
The River City Poets Anthology Lingering in the Margins grew from three women’s love of poetry. Their humble idea was to offer an opportunity for fledgling poets in their community to be published. Two years and two hundred poetry submissions later, Lingering in the Margins represents the unique voice of over 50 poets, both new and experienced, woven into a tapestry of perspectives. Readings from eight contributors will be followed by a discussion of how our creative spark became published book. Co-editors Joanna Lee, Judy…
Find out more »October 2019
First Fridays Art Opening, “Who We Are” by Chris Butler
Join us for food, wine, and lively conversation as we celebrate the artwork of Chris Butler. The exhibition is free and open to the public. “Who we are” represents several aspects of my life and the progression of my artwork – and the progression of what it has taken for me to get to this point, and also includes the continued journey ahead. These works reflect the human experience from conception to death and whatever comes after.” – Chris Butler…
Find out more »Secrets to Writing Every Day – Tricks and Techniques
Instructor: Joan Mazza $60 Members | $65 Nonmembers Saturday, 10/12/19 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Whatever style of writing you do or hope to do, you can develop habits for writing every day and find the time to do so. In this seminar, we will discuss strategies to stay in your writing mind and make creative leaps. We'll talk about how to catch ideas and track them, and how as little as fifteen minutes a day can keep you…
Find out more »Putting Your Poor People in Peril! (Creating Realistic Characters Then Throwing Them to the Wolves)
Instructor: Elizabeth Massie $50 Members | $55 Nonmembers Saturday, 10/19/19 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Characters are the experiencers of a story. Without characters who act, speak, and think, there is no story. Without characters there is no problem to solve, difficulty to overcome, or adventure to have. This two-hour workshop will offer activities to get writers into the hearts, minds, and souls of their characters and then introduce characters into frightening situations to determine how they will react…or…
Find out more »WRITERHOUSE NEWS
Unity Days Poetry Event
Unity Days Poetry Event to Highlight the Power of Writing to Heal On August 9, 2019, from 12:00-1:30 PM, WriterHouse, in partnership with The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, will host a free poetry writing event open to...
WriterHouse teams with City Clay for multi-media summer camps!
Writerhouse is joining with City Clay to host three summer camps offering children from 9 - 11 years old the opportunity to sculpt, write, and paint during the course of one week. All camps run Monday - Friday, from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. Children will be dropped off...
Read the Winning Entries from the 2019 JMRL and WriterHouse Poetry Contest
We received an overwhelming response to this year's JMRL and WriterHouse Poetry Contest judged by Poet Laureate of Virginia, Henry Hart. We'd like to congratulate winner Ron Berube for his poem "A Differential Calculus of My Feelings" and runner-up Clay Moldenhauer...
