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Online classes are held via Zoom.

All class times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Classes

  • Map Your Novel Plot (Kristie Smeltzer) - New Section

    • February 28, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 3
    Register

    We are offering a second section of this seminar. This section will meet in person at WriterHouse for 2 sessions (note different time durations):

    • Saturday, 2/28/26 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Saturday, 3/14/26 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

    Description:

    Sometimes structural choices are all that separate a successful novel that gets published from one that doesn’t. This seminar series aims to demystify story structure and enable participants to feel confident incorporating one or more narrative frameworks into their writing process. 

    In the first seminar, we’ll discuss several story structures. These frameworks provide different ways to look at the key plot points that become our novel’s skeleton, and the structures vary in the level of detail and complexity. We’ll also look at the role of causality in fiction and how it drives effective plots. 

    In between the seminars, participants will pick one framework we discussed and apply it to their novel in progress. They’ll map out the entirety of their narrative arc and prepare to present their work to the group. 

    During our second seminar, each participant will share their story map. Classmates and the instructor will ask questions and make suggestions with the intention of helping the writer ensure their plot feels solid. 

    This seminar series will be helpful for fiction writers just starting on a novel who want to write to a plan, those who’ve hit a “what next” point in a draft, and those who’ve completed a draft and are wondering “what now”? 

    About the Instructor:

    Kristie Smeltzer's fiction has been published by Scribes*MICRO*Fiction, MonkeyBicycle, Atticus Review, and others. She is currently working on several novels. She earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Central Florida. Kristie has taught at WriterHouse since 2016, and her students have gone on to publish their work in literary magazines, with small presses, and through large publishing houses. She also helps others tell their stories as a developmental editor and writing coach. Learn more at www.kristiesmeltzer.com. 

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  • Map Your Novel Plot (Kristie Smeltzer)

    • February 28, 2026
    • March 14, 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • WriterHouse
    • 0

    This seminar will meet in person at WriterHouse for 2 sessions (note different time durations):

    • Saturday, 2/28/26 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • Saturday, 3/14/26 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 

    Description:

    Sometimes structural choices are all that separate a successful novel that gets published from one that doesn’t. This seminar series aims to demystify story structure and enable participants to feel confident incorporating one or more narrative frameworks into their writing process. 

    In the first seminar, we’ll discuss several story structures. These frameworks provide different ways to look at the key plot points that become our novel’s skeleton, and the structures vary in the level of detail and complexity. We’ll also look at the role of causality in fiction and how it drives effective plots. 

    In between the seminars, participants will pick one framework we discussed and apply it to their novel in progress. They’ll map out the entirety of their narrative arc and prepare to present their work to the group. 

    During our second seminar, each participant will share their story map. Classmates and the instructor will ask questions and make suggestions with the intention of helping the writer ensure their plot feels solid. 

    This seminar series will be helpful for fiction writers just starting on a novel who want to write to a plan, those who’ve hit a “what next” point in a draft, and those who’ve completed a draft and are wondering “what now”? 

    About the Instructor:

    Kristie Smeltzer's fiction has been published by Scribes*MICRO*Fiction, MonkeyBicycle, Atticus Review, and others. She is currently working on several novels. She earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Central Florida. Kristie has taught at WriterHouse since 2016, and her students have gone on to publish their work in literary magazines, with small presses, and through large publishing houses. She also helps others tell their stories as a developmental editor and writing coach. Learn more at www.kristiesmeltzer.com. 

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  • Introduction to Scrivener: Word Processing Software Meets Project Management (Kristie Smeltzer)

    • March 07, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 5
    Register

    This seminar will meet in person at WriterHouse for 1 session on Saturday, March 7, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. 

    Description:

    Scrivener software can be a book-altering tool for writers, but many find the learning curve to implement it into their practice intimidating. Join us for a high-level overview of Scrivener’s functionality followed by real-life examples of how it may be used to organize book-length writing projects, such as novels and memoirs.

    This hands-on seminar will provide participants the opportunity to apply concepts immediately in Scrivener. Explore features and practice setting up projects with the support of an experienced user on hand to answer your questions and make suggestions to help you get the most out of the tool’s functionality.

    This seminar is a good fit for those who have already started with Scrivener or are interested in trying it. The software is useful to anyone working on a book-length manuscript. Participants will be asked to download the Scrivener free-trial or buy the software prior to the seminar.

    About the Instructor:

    Kristie Smeltzer’s fiction has been published by Scribes*MICRO*Fiction, MonkeyBicycle, Atticus Review, and others. She is currently working on several novels. She earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Central Florida. Kristie has taught at WriterHouse since 2016, and her students have gone on to publish their work in literary magazines, with small presses, and through large publishing houses. She also helps others tell their stories as a developmental editor and writing coach. Learn more at www.kristiesmeltzer.com.

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  • Start Writing Now: A Fiction Workshop (Tina Tocco)

    • March 23, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    • Online via Zoom -- instructor will provide link
    • 12
    Register

    This class will meet online via Zoom for 8 sessions on Mondays from 1:00-3:30 PM, March 23 through May 11.

    Description:

    Have you always wanted to try your hand at fiction writing, but never took the leap? Maybe you’ve put down your pen for a while and need a jumpstart. Come experiment in this low-stress, generative class! If you’re thinking, “But I don’t have any ideas,” don’t worry! We’ll use fun prompts — music, sounds, images, objects, etc. — to kindle your imagination. Expect to write to at least one prompt in every class and to comment on your classmates’ pieces. Since this workshop is generative, we’ll stick to positive feedback and optional sharing to keep everyone’s experience relaxed and fun. You’ll walk away each week with at least one new piece of writing and the tools to continue on this path. In addition, you’ll receive (completely optional) take-home exercises to keep you writing during the week, PDFs of all in-class prompts, and other resources to help you with your writing. Who knows? You might even start some pieces you’d like to turn into something more!

    NOTE: Returning students are welcome, as there will be new material used in this class.

    About the Instructor: 

    Tina Tocco is a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her work has appeared in New Ohio Review, River Styx, Crab Creek Review, Roanoke Review, Hobart, Passages North, Potomac Review, Portland Review, Harpur Palate, and Italian Americana, among others. Tina’s writing has also been featured in various anthologies, including The Best Small Fictions 2019 (Sonder Press, 2019), Best Nonfiction Food (Woodhall Press, 2020), and The Haunted States of America (SCBWI-Henry Holt, 2024). A recipient of multiple awards, Tina was a finalist in CALYX’s Flash Fiction Contest and longlisted in The SmokeLong Quarterly Grand Micro Competition. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Manhattanville University, where she was editor-in-chief of Inkwell, the university’s national literary journal.
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  • Writing the Hardest Part: How Writers Bring Difficult Experience to the Page* (Erin James)

    • March 24, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 8 sessions on Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 AM, March 24 through May 12.

    Description:

    “Let’s face it. We’re undone by each other. And if we’re not, we’re missing something.” Judith Butler, Precarious Life

    Much has been written about the self-care that writers must practice if engaged in the art of transforming our most painful and difficult moments into story. This class will leave that up to our therapists, and focus instead on the justifications for doing so, and how to care for those on the receiving end of our stories. 

    Rooted in Maggie Nelson’s theory of art as “a place where all elements—even extremities—of what it feels like to be human can be heard and find place,” we will explore the techniques used by various nonfiction writers to handle difficult content, and build a craft archive of trauma. 

    We will explore the creative struggles of other writers and draw inspiration from what helped them put words to their experience. We will hold space for our own anxieties about writing the hardest part and engage in craft exercises meant to help us do so with care for and awareness of the self and the other. Writing will be generative, sharing will be optional, and a variety of prompts will be offered each week. Participants will leave with a framework for bringing their difficult experiences to the page.

    *Those who have taken this course before are welcome, as some readings and materials will be different. 

    About the Instructor:

    Erin has taught English and Creative Writing for over a decade and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University in 2024. 

    In addition to working with students at WriterHouse for the past ten years, she has been a judge for the Writer‘s Eye Creative Writing Contest hosted by the University of Virginia’s Fralin Museum of Art. She has also been a student and teacher-counselor at UVA’s Young Writers Workshop. She has attended two week-long workshops for Teachers as Writers at Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking in 2014 and 2016 and received an author fellowship to attend the Martha’s Vineyard Institute for Creative Writing in 2021. Before she began teaching, she studied Journalism and English at New York University and received her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Virginia. In addition to writing, Erin loves reading, hiking, practicing and teaching yoga, cooking, being outside, traveling, and spending time with her sons Noah and Jacob, and friends.
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  • Writing Memoir (Brendan Wolfe)

    • March 24, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 8 sessions on Tuesdays from 9:30 AM-12:00 PM, March 24 through May 12th.

    Description:

    Are you working on a memoir project? Whether you’re writing a single, book-length narrative or an essay or essays, this class will help make it sing. We’ll read published authors and talk about genre, voice, story construction, research, and truth and accuracy. We’ll discuss what it takes to be a good reader and why that matters. And, of course, we’ll workshop our own writing.

    About the Instructor:

    Brendan Wolfe is a professional genealogist and the author of three books, including Finding Bix: The Life and Afterlife of a Jazz Legend and Wolfe’s History. His personal essays and reviews have been published in Colorado Review, The Morning News, VQR, and Mud Season Review, among others. For twelve years Wolfe edited Encyclopedia Virginia, and has written numerous historical essays, including “The Train at Wood’s Crossing.” Honored as the best historical narrative of 2019 by Bunk magazine, it is included in Lynching in Virginia: Racial Terror and Its Legacy, edited by Gianluca De Fazio and published by the University of Virginia Press in August. Wolfe lives in Charlottesville with his daughter, Beatrix.
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  • Evening Poetry (John Most)

    • March 24, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    Description:

    This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 8 sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM-9:00 PM, March 24 through May 12.

    In this class, which is open to all poets, we will spend most of our time writing and workshopping new poems. In addition to writing new poems, we will look at what different poets do in addition to writing the poem, whether it is writing about poetry, taking notes, thinking, researching, or reading.

    About the Instructor:

    John Most earned his PhD in media philosophy from the European Graduate School. His work has appeared in Jacket, Lungfull!, The Continental Review, Coconut, and Big Bridge. He is the author of Persephone, Atelier, and Field.


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  • All in One: A creative writing class for moms* (Helen Chandler)

    • March 25, 2026
    • May 13, 2026
    • 8 sessions
    • Zoom — link to be shared by instructor
    • 11
    Register

    Description:

    This class will meet online for eight sessions on Wednesdays, from 12 PM to 1:30 PM, starting March 25.

    This class is aimed at writers across all genres and in all stages of motherhood. Whether you are in the thick of raising small children or yours have flown the nest, you have probably felt, at some point, a tension between your two identities: writer and mother. Maybe you’re feeling depleted by the demands of caregiving and can’t make time for creativity. Or perhaps you’re feeling inspired by the highs and lows of motherhood and would like to explore that through writing. 

    Each week for eight weeks, we will meet for 90 minutes – we’ll discuss a short piece of writing, sometimes touching on themes of motherhood and caregiving, and sometimes not, after which I'll offer generative writing prompts. In the second half of the course, writers will have an opportunity to workshop a story, essay, or other piece of their choice with the group. By the end of the course, you will have generated many new ideas and be on your way toward a finished draft of a longer piece. With luck, you'll also find that you feel part of a supportive and warm community of other mother artists.

    In order to make this class as accessible to parents as possible, it will take place online over Zoom. 

    *All who identify as mothers are welcome.

    About the Instructor:

    Helen Chandler is a writer from Ireland living in Charlottesville. She holds an MFA from the University of Virginia, where she taught fiction for two years and edited Meridian magazine. She is the author of the monthly newsletter Old Diaries, and her stories, essays, reviews and interviews have appeared in The Dublin Review, The Stinging Fly, LitHub, Tammy, Passages North, and Meridian. She is at work on a nonfiction book about aunts.


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  • Personal Essays (Sharon Harrigan)

    • March 26, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    Description:

    This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 8 sessions on Thursdays, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, from March 26 to May 14.

    In this class, you will learn about the wide variety of personal essays published in literary journals, arts and culture magazines, consumer magazines, and newspapers. We will look at examples of personal essays that read like mini memoirs, those that include a more journalistic or research-based approach, and those that feature a little of each. Every class will be divided into three parts: For the first hour, we will discuss a published essay; the second hour will be devoted to in-class writing; and the third hour will be reserved for workshopping. You don’t need to have written a personal essay before the first class. Those who would like feedback on longer essays can make special arrangements with the instructor.

    About the Instructor:

    Sharon Harrigan is the author of the debut novel Half, which was published in summer 2020, and the memoir Playing with Dynamite, published in 2017. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University and has published more than 50 personal essays, short stories, and reviews in such venues as Virginia Quarterly Review, New York Times (Modern Love), and Narrative. A starred Booklist review called Half “suspenseful, lyrical, and consuming,” and Publishers’ Weekly called the novel “riveting and inventive.”

    Sharon’s current and former students have published their work in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, The Rumpus, NPR, Gravel, The Guardian, Gettysburg Review, Bay Journal, The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, Living Lutheran Magazine, Mothers Always Write, Fluvanna Review, Charlottesville Family, The Ethos Collection, and , among others.

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  • Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 1 - The Foundation (Andi Cumbo)

    • April 08, 2026
    • April 29, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 4 sessions (April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

    This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

    Description:

    You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

    Module 1: The Foundation (4 Weeks)
    Focus: Before you publish, you must decide how to publish and how to protect your rights.

    Weeks 1–2: Industry Pathways

    • A deep dive into the pros and cons of Traditional vs. Independent publishing. We will analyze contracts, agents, and self-publishing platforms.
    • Guest Spotlight: Nashae Jones (Traditional Publishing) & Connie Dowell(Self-Publishing).

    Weeks 3–4: Business Infrastructure

    • Treating your writing as a business. Topics include LLC formation, copyright registration, separating finances, and setting up the legal framework for your author career.

    About the Instructor:

    Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.
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  • Chemistry on the Page: Crafting Connection and Banter (Andi Cumbo)

    • April 11, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This seminar will meet in person at WriterHouse for one session on Saturday, April 11 from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM. 

    Description:

    Great chemistry isn’t just for romance—it’s the heartbeat of every memorable story. Whether crafting lovers or best friends, learn the mechanics of attraction and the rhythm of banter. Discover how to write dialogue that crackles and relationships that feel undeniably real.

    About the Instructor:

    Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.
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  • Writing the Unseen: Metaphor, States of Mind, and Emotion (Andi Cumbo)

    • May 09, 2026
    • 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This seminar will meet in person at WriterHouse for one session on Saturday, May 9 from 9:30 AM-12:30 PM. 

    Description:

    How do you show anxiety without saying "she was anxious"? Move beyond the cliché of the racing heart. This seminar explores how to translate abstract internal states—like shame, fear, or joy—into tangible imagery. Learn to use metaphor and sensory detail to make the unseen unforgettably visible.

    About the Instructor:

    Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.
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  • "To Get the News From Poems": Poetry in Response to Current Events (Margaret Mackinnon)

    • May 09, 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This seminar will meet in person at WriterHouse for one session on Saturday, May 9 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

    Description:

    In “Asphodel, That Greeny Flower,” William Carlos Williams wrote, “It is difficult/ to get the news from poems/ yet men die miserably every/ day/ for lack/ of what is found there.”  Though poetry might not be where one looks for the news, many contemporary poets use what is happening around us as inspiration and impetus for their writing. In this one-day seminar, we will look at how poems can address the issues and events of our time. Though the focus of the class will be on work shared by seminar members, we will also discuss poems by other writers. We’ll use the term “current events” rather broadly, including poems that address national and international events from recent decades.

    About the Instructor:

    Margaret Mackinnon is the author of two collections of poetry, The Invented Child (Silverfish Review Press 2013), winner of the 2014 Literary Award in Poetry from the Library of Virginia, and Afternoon in Cartago (Ashland Poetry Press 2022), winner of the Richard Snyder Memorial Publication Prize. Her work has appeared in The Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, Image, Poetry, Blackbird, and other journals. She attended Vassar College and the University of North Carolina, and she received her MFA in poetry from the University of Florida. She lives with her family in Richmond.

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  • Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 2 - Production and Platform (Andi Cumbo)

    • May 20, 2026
    • June 24, 2026
    • 6 sessions
    • WriterHouse
    • 11
    Register

    This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for six sessions (May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 27) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

    This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

    Description:

    You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

    Module 2: Production & Platform (6 Weeks)
    Focus: Turning a draft into a product and building the stage for its arrival.

    Weeks 1–3: Project Management

      • The mechanics of producing a book. How to hire and vet editors, working with cover designers, understanding ISBNs and metadata, and managing production timelines.

    Weeks 4–6: Platform Building

      • Establishing your digital footprint before the release. We will cover author websites, setting up newsletter landing pages, and the "tech stack" required to capture readers.

      About the Instructor:

      Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.

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    • Write On! Summer Camp for Middle Grade Writers 2026

      • June 29, 2026
      • 11:00 AM
      • July 03, 2026
      • 3:00 PM
      • WriterHouse
      • 8
      Register

      Who: Rising 6th to Rising 8th Grade Students
      When:       June 29 — July 3, 2026
      Time: 11 AM to 3 PM
      Where: WriterHouse classroom and community field trips

      Early Registration ends March 31!

      Unleash your creativity in this week-long writing workshop! You will have the freedom to write what you want (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songs!) while also learning specific tools and techniques that are crucial to all types of writing. We will explore and discuss a variety of writing across genres, and use prompts and exercises to help you dive into your writing. We will also engage in activities around town to spark inspiration and creativity. Throughout the week you will have the opportunity to share ideas, work on something new or a work-in-progress, get feedback, and refine your work. Join us on this writing adventure! Note: returning campers are welcome!

      Register online or send a check to WriterHouse, PO Box 222, Charlottesville, VA. Please complete and return the permission slip as campers will not be able to participate without it.

      About the Instructor:

      Erin has taught English and Creative Writing for over a decade and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University in 2024. 

      In addition to working with students at WriterHouse for the past ten years, she has been a judge for the Writer‘s Eye Creative Writing Contest hosted by the University of Virginia’s Fralin Museum of Art. She has also been a student and teacher-counselor at UVA’s Young Writers Workshop. She has attended two week-long workshops for Teachers as Writers at Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking in 2014 and 2016 and received an author fellowship to attend the Martha’s Vineyard Institute for Creative Writing in 2021. Before she began teaching, she studied Journalism and English at New York University and received her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Virginia. In addition to writing, Erin loves reading, hiking, practicing and teaching yoga, cooking, being outside, traveling, and spending time with her sons Noah and Jacob, and friends.

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    • Write On! Summer Camp for High School Writers 2026

      • July 13, 2026
      • 11:00 AM
      • July 17, 2026
      • 3:00 PM
      • WriterHouse
      • 21
      Register

      Who: Rising 9th to Rising 12th Grade Students
      When:       July 13 — July 17, 2026
      Time: 11 AM to 3 PM
      Where: WriterHouse classroom and community field trips

      Early registration closes March 31!

      Unleash your creativity in this week-long writing workshop! You will have the freedom to write what you want (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songs!) while also learning specific tools and techniques that are crucial to all types of writing. We will explore and discuss a variety of writing across genres, and use prompts and exercises to help you dive into your writing. We will also engage in activities around town to spark inspiration and creativity. Throughout the week you will have the opportunity to share ideas, work on something new or a work-in-progress, get feedback, and refine your work. Join us on this writing adventure! Note: returning campers are welcome!

      Register online or send a check to WriterHouse, PO Box 222, Charlottesville, VA. Please complete and return the permission slip as campers will not be able to participate without it.

      About the Instructor:

      Erin has taught English and Creative Writing for over a decade and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University in 2024. 

      In addition to working with students at WriterHouse for the past ten years, she has been a judge for the Writer‘s Eye Creative Writing Contest hosted by the University of Virginia’s Fralin Museum of Art. She has also been a student and teacher-counselor at UVA’s Young Writers Workshop. She has attended two week-long workshops for Teachers as Writers at Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking in 2014 and 2016 and received an author fellowship to attend the Martha’s Vineyard Institute for Creative Writing in 2021. Before she began teaching, she studied Journalism and English at New York University and received her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Virginia. In addition to writing, Erin loves reading, hiking, practicing and teaching yoga, cooking, being outside, traveling, and spending time with her sons Noah and Jacob, and friends.

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    • Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 3 - Launch & Promotion (Andi Cumbo)

      • September 09, 2026
      • October 14, 2026
      • 6 sessions
      • WriterHouse
      • 11
      Register

      This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 6 sessions (Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

      This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

      Description:

      You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

      Module 3: Launch & Promotion (6 Weeks)
      Focus: Getting the book into readers' hands.

      Weeks 1–2: The Launch Strategy

        • Planning the launch window, organizing launch teams (street teams), ARC distribution, and working with retailers.

        • Guest Spotlight: Flannery Buchanan (Working with Bookstores) & Dave Hirschman (Live Events).

      Weeks 3–6: Ongoing Marketing

        • Moving beyond the launch. Strategies for social media engagement, an introduction to advertising, and public appearances.

        • Guest Spotlight: Marijean Oldham (Marketing) & Jeffrey Lofton (Public Speaking).

        About the Instructor:

        Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.

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      • Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 4 - Sustainability & The Long Game (Andi Cumbo)

        • September 09, 2026
        • 10:00 AM
        • October 14, 2026
        • 12:30 PM
        • WriterHouse
        • 11
        Register

        This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 4 sessions (Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

        This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

        Description:

        You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

        Module 4: Sustainability & The Long Game (4 Weeks)
        Focus: Keeping the business—and the author—healthy.

        Weeks 1–2: Financial Maintenance

          • Understanding royalties, tracking expenses, profit & loss (P&L) statements, and tax basics for authors.

          • Guest Spotlight: Jen Poteet (Multiple Lines of Income).

        Weeks 3–4: Career Longevity

          • Preventing creative burnout, managing time, and planning the "next book" while marketing the current one.

          • Guest Spotlight: Anne Carley (Creative Balance).

            About the Instructor:

            Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.

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          WriterHouse, Inc. is a non-profit organization, exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, and registered as a charitable organization with the Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs. A financial statement is available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services upon request. 

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