Upcoming Classes

Switch to Calendar View

• Leaving the Ordinary World and Returning with the Elixir (Ran Henry)

  • When
    August 08, 2026
  •  
    9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    2

  Register

  This seminar will be held at WriterHouse on August 8 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

  Description:

  Leaving the Ordinary World and Returning with the Elixir is a writing seminar for Novelists, Memoirists, Narrative Nonfiction writers and authors of screen plans and stage plays, based on the universal concept of the Hero’s Journey.  Consider your hero’s initial state of woundedness, incompleteness and unfulfilled potential, “kicking around on a piece of ground in (her) hometown.”  Setting your heroic and authorial sights on the opening of your story and stages of the journey Joseph Campbell pioneered, found in most every tale ever told, can inspire an opening dovetailing with your ending -- thematic and plot points to ponder over three hours on an August Saturday morning, maybe taking you and your hero where you have longed to be. 

  About the Instructor:

  Ran Henry is a writing professor at the University of Virginia and author of the definitive biography Spurrier: How the Ball Coach Taught the South to Play Football and the forthcoming spiritual true crime book The Preacher: Mother Emanuel Pastor Clementa Pinckney and the Confederate Storm. He lives atop Afton Mountain with wife Linda, co-owners of Blue Mountain Weddings in Charlottesville.

  
  

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

  • Start
    September 09, 2026
  •  
  • End
    October 14, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    6 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    8

  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.

  Show details
• Writing the Hardest Part: How Writers Bring Difficult Experience to the Page - Part III Continued (Erin James)

  • Start
    September 14, 2026
  •  
    9:30 AM
  • End
    November 30, 2026
  •  
    11:45 AM
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  This class* will meet in person at WriterHouse for 12 sessions on Mondays from 9:30-11:45 AM, Sept. 14 through Nov. 30.

  * Prerequisite for this class: completion of Writing the Hardest Part - Parts I, II, and III. Email programs@writerhouse.org if you would like to pay in two installments.

  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, expand upon the craft archive of trauma we began to build in Part I of this course, and workshop our works-in-progress.

  In addition to exploring the creative struggles of other writers and drawing inspiration from what helped them put words to their experience, we will hold space for our own anxieties about writing difficult experience and engage in craft exercises meant to help us do so with care for and awareness of the self and the other.

  Participants will also receive feedback on their works-in-progress and provide feedback to others. In-class writing will be generative, and a variety of prompts will be offered each week. Participants will leave with a framework for bringing their difficult experiences to the page and feedback on their current work. 

  In this 12-week offering, we will continue to give and receive feedback on our work, explore personal essays and longer memoir excerpts, and take time for in-class writing and discussion.   
  

  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.

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

  • Start
    September 14, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 02, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom -- instructor will provide link
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  This class will meet online for 8 sessions on Mondays from 1:00-3:30 PM, Sept. 14 through Nov. 2.
  

  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.

  Show details
• Fall in Love with Romance Writing (Meg Geiger and Kristie Smeltzer)

  • Start
    September 15, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 03, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    8

  Register

  This class will meet online for 8 sessions on Tuesdays (Sept. 15 to Nov. 3) from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM. 

  Description

  Romance and romantasy novels are the bestselling fiction genres, and romantic subplots are the most common type of subplot across genres. Join this class to develop your skills writing about characters falling in love (and lust) and to gain confidence writing romantic tension and authentically intimate scenes with pride.

  First, we’ll cover the basics: happily-ever-after endings, beloved romantic tropes, different steam levels with sexual content, and character development of romantic leads. Next, we’ll cover things to avoid when writing romance, including norm-breaking choices that make it hard to successfully publish in the genre and other common pitfalls. Taking everything they’ve learned, participants will write or revise a romance scene/chapter of their own to share with classmates. We’ll workshop submissions, providing gentle feedback about what’s working well and a few opportunities for revision. 

  This class is a good fit for those new to writing romance as well as those who’ve been going it solo as they’ve developed their romance-writing skills. The class vibe will be welcoming, positive, and judgement-free as participants explore the genre. We’ll discuss erotic romance but will not focus on erotica, so take that into consideration when deciding if this course is a fit for your needs.

  About the Instructors

  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. 

  Meg Geiger is an indie romance author who loves to write challenging characters brought to their knees by the people they love. She's a fan of using tropes, tropes, and more tropes, especially if it's only-one-bed. The promise of love conquering all energizes her, even when readers don't know how the story's gonna get there. Meg recently published her debut novel Showstopper, an enemies-to-lovers rock star romance that’s the first book in a planned series.

  Delighting in romance in all its forms, Meg is an avid reader as well as writer. She loves to celebrate that each and every author brings a unique story to life
  

  Show details
• Evening Poetry (John Most)

  • Start
    September 15, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 03, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  Description:

  This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 8 sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM-9:00 PM, Sept. 15 through Nov. 3.
  

  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.

  
  

  Show details
• Poetry from Collage (Ariel Basom)

  • Start
    September 16, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 04, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom - instructor will provide link
  • Spaces left
    12

  Register

  This class will meet online for 8 weekly sessions starting Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 1 PM to 3:30 PM.

  Description

  In this eight-week course, students will practice ekphrastic poetry. By selecting a prompt, theme, or issue around which to center their poetic work, students will utilize the art of collage and follow a process that develops a poetic vision, which will ultimately be transitioned into poetic form. Employing simple, easily-at-hand materials, each student will be guided to craft a collage from found images, words, phrases and other visual elements such as settings and characters. The collage will serve as an ekphrastic springboard as students construct a poem that encapsulates and addresses the elements incorporated therein. Though the final product of this class will be a poem, the class is open to writers of all genres seeking to expand their approach to writing.

  About the Instructor

  Ariel Basom (he/him) writes stories and poems with a focus on difference—the feelings and experiences that move us to be more human and those eccentricities that put us squarely in the greater whole of humanity as well as mark us as individuals. His work can be found in en*gendered, Chunk, New Note Poetry, King County Library, Quarterly Vue, Lavender Lime Literary, and more. He holds an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College and a Masters in Teaching from Antioch University. He is a 4Culture King County Artist Award Recipient. Ariel lives, writes, reads, and teaches in Seattle.

  Show details
• Short Stories: From Brainstorm to Submission (Kristie Smeltzer and Stephanie Malia Morris)

  • Start
    September 16, 2026
  •  
  • End
    October 21, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    6 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    8

  Register

  This class will meet in person for 6 sessions on Wednesdays starting Sept. 16 from 2:00 – 4:30 PM. Additional sessions will be held on Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 21, and Oct. 28 (no class Sept. 30). The class is limited to 8 students.

  Description

  It’s a long, hard road between that first unwritten plot bunny and finally seeing your name in print—luckily, you don’t have to travel it alone. This intensive, generative six-week workshop supports writers through the process of brainstorming, drafting, workshopping, revising, and submitting a short story for publication. By the end of this class, you will have a complete and revised short story ready for submission.

  This class is a good fit for fiction writers interested in writing for publication, from beginners dipping their toes into the submission process for the first time to intermediate writers crafting a story for a specific deadline. Writers will develop a list of publishing opportunities and a submission strategy that will guide their practice at every stage of their career. Wherever you are in your writing journey, this class encourages you to explore your vision and boldly try new things. Writing can be lonely and submitting can be intimidating—but neither has to be.

  About the Instructors

  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. 

  Stephanie Malia Morris holds an MFA in Fiction from the Michener Center for Writers. She has received fellowships from Kimbilio, Periplus, and the Horror Writers Association, and was a recipient of the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Award and graduate of the 2017 Clarion West Writers Workshop. Her short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in Uncanny, Nightmare, Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, and elsewhere. Her short story, “Bride Before You,” was adapted as an episode of the anthology Horror Noire on Shudder.

  Show details
• Advanced Fiction (Jay Kauffmann)

  • When
    September 16, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 6 sessions on Wednesdays from 6:00 PM-8:30 PM, Sept. 16 through Nov. 4.

  Sample pages for instructor review required by Sept. 9, 2026.

  Description:

  This advanced workshop will explore the essential elements of fiction writing, such as sensory imagery, metaphoric language, distinctive voice, sophisticated prose, and dramatic arc. Participants will discuss stories and novel excerpts submitted to the group. In addition, there will be readings and in-class exercises that address pertinent craft issues. But perhaps the most crucial element of the workshop will be the emphasis on confronting some poignant, central theme in your life as an artist and how that impacts your writing. The point of this course is not simply to be proficient but to produce something genuine and important. Students interested in this class are asked to submit 2-3 pages of their work to the instructor for review prior to admission. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and are due no later than Sept. 9, 2026. Email submissions to programs@writerhouse.org.

  About the Instructor:

  

  Jay Kauffmann is a former international model, travel writer, and award-winning poet. He attended Brandeis, U.C./Berkeley, and Oxford, and holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. He has taught at Randolph College and the University of Virginia, and is currently English Chair at the Miller School of Albemarle. Author of The Mexican Messiah: A Novella and Stories (Cornerstone Press), he was runner-up for the Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize and nominated for The Story Prize, a Pushcart Prize, and named among the Best New American Voices. His work has appeared in CutBank, Hunger Mountain Review, Prime Number, The Writer’s Chronicle, upstreet, Mid-American Review, and other journals and anthologies.

  Show details
• Sharpen Your Skills: Fiction/Nonfiction (Sharon Harrigan)

  • Start
    September 17, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • End
    November 05, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  This class will meet in person for eight sessions at WriterHouse starting Thurs., Sept. 17 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

  Description:

  Looking for some new tools in your writer toolbox? Or maybe you have all the tools, but need to sharpen them (as we all do). Whether you write short stories, novels, personal essays, or memoir, this class will give you practical information you can use right away to improve your skills as a writer and enrich your experience as a reader. 

  Each week we will focus on one element of craft: character, point of view, plot/narrative, dialogue, voice, setting, or sensory detail. We will discuss a short craft essay on that element as well as short examples (both fiction and creative nonfiction) supplied by the instructor. Students will be invited to do writing exercises at home, based on each particular craft element, and share them the following week. This will be a low-homework-load class. The excerpts will represent a variety of styles, and some of them will be funny! Readings supplied by 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, and The Ethos Collection, among others.

  Show details
• Novel Essentials (Kristie Smeltzer)

  • Start
    September 17, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 05, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    8

  Register

  This class will meet in person for 8 sessions on Thursdays (Sept. 17 to Nov. 5) from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Additional one-on-one sessions will be scheduled with Kristie. This class is limited to 8 students.

  Description

  Writing a novel is like an author’s brain running a marathon. To be successful, the writer must complete a hearty amount of training and planning. This class will provide structure to your novel-writing preparation, enabling you to feel confident when it’s go-time for your book. 

  Participants will meet with Kristie one-on-one early on to talk about their novel and set personal goals for what they intend to accomplish during the class. The course will include sessions on novel structure, character development, scene/chapter structure, point of view, and more. Near the class’s conclusion, writers will meet with Kristie again to revisit their goals and plan to sustain momentum going forward.  

  Class sessions will blend lecture, discussion, and hands-on individual activities for participants to apply what they’ve learned to their novel-in-progress. Writers will leave the class with the following: 

  • A plot outline of their novel
  • Core character development done for main characters
  • Clarity on the best POV to use
  • Confidence in knowing the anatomy of scenes and chapters
  • And stronger creative writing skills to get their novel across the finish line

   This class is a good fit for novelists in the planning stages as well as those with a partial draft or a rougher full draft. If you’ve found yourself stuck in the novel-writing process, this course can help you get unstuck.

  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. 

  Show details
• Tea, Sympathy, and Cyanide: Writing the Cozy Mystery (Andi Cumbo)

  • Start
    October 10, 2026
  •  
  • End
    October 17, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    11

  Register

  This is a two-part seminar that will meet at WriterHouse on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17, 2026 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM.

  Description

  The literary landscape has experienced a profound shift over the past decade. In an era marked by complex global anxieties, readers are increasingly retreating into the embrace of cozy mysteries. Far from being mere escapist fluff, this genre has proven itself a resilient and highly lucrative cornerstone of the modern publishing market. In fact, between 10-12 cozy mysteries are published each day. 

  The contemporary cozy offers a unique alchemy: the intellectual satisfaction of a classic puzzle seamlessly paired with the emotional comfort of justice restored. Today’s cozies boast robust sales, fiercely loyal readerships, and a canvas expansive enough to welcome an array of quirky hobbies, tight-knit communities, and idyllic—yet surprisingly lethal—settings.

  Tea, Sympathy, and Cyanide: Writing the Cozy Mystery is an intensive, two-part course (2.5 hours per session) designed to explore and demystify this booming genre. Whether you are an established author looking to pivot or a novice drawn to the charm of the amateur sleuth, this workshop will equip you with the structural tools and market insights needed to craft your own compelling whodunit.

  Session One: The Anatomy of a Cozy

  Our first session focuses on the what and the why. What exactly separates a cozy mystery from a thriller or a police procedural? We will examine the non-negotiable tropes of the genre: the intrepid amateur sleuth, the closed-circle setting, the strict rule of off-page violence, and the vibrant, often eccentric cast of suspects.

  Beyond the definitions, we will discuss the strategic and creative reasons for writing them. We will delve into current market trends, the financial appeal of series longevity, and the profound joy of building a fictional community that readers will want to return to, book after book.

  Session Two: Constructing the Puzzle

  In our second meeting, we roll up our sleeves and tackle the how. A successful cozy requires a delicate, almost architectural balancing act. We will break down the mechanics of plotting a murder, planting fair-play clues, and weaving effective red herrings.

  Crucially, we will explore how to integrate the essential subplots—such as perfecting a culinary recipe, restoring vintage needlework, or wrangling a neighborhood cat—that give the story its warmth and heart. Through guided discussions and exercises, we will map out narrative arcs that keep the pacing taut while nurturing the genre's signature charm.

  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.

  Show details
• First Impressions: Query Letters and Opening Page (Bridgid Dean)

  • When
    October 17, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    5

  Register

  This is a one-session seminar that will be held in person at WriterHouse on Sat., Oct. 17, 2026 from 1 PM to 4 PM. There are six spots available.

  Description

  Writers spend years writing their novels, but when it comes time to seek literary representation, they have only minutes to capture an agent’s attention. A brief query letter must sell the concept and make the agent open the pages, and those pages need to deliver on the promise of the query letter. In this seminar, we will workshop participants’ query letters to identify ways they can more clearly and compellingly present each manuscript. We will also workshop those crucial first pages, examining how they fulfill the expectations set by the query letter. This seminar is designed for fiction writers preparing to query literary agents. Participants  should submit a query letter and the first five pages of their manuscript by October 7 to programs@writerhouse.org. Students will be asked to read manuscript pages and query letters of fellow seminar students in advance of the class.

  About the Instructor

  Bridgid Dean studied Literature and Creative Writing at The College of New Jersey and interned at Byron Preiss Visual Publications in New York City. She is the author of the YA fantasy novella The Girl in the Forest. As a freelance editor, she has worked on projects selected for The Best American Mystery Stories and honored with the Ellery Queen Reader's Award and the Derringer Award. Bridgid has completed and queried multiple novels, receiving agent requests on each project, and has spent years participating in critique groups and writing workshops through WriterHouse.

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

  • Start
    October 21, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 11, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    9

  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.

  Show details
• Poetry and Place: Writing about Landscape, Home, and Travel

  • When
    October 24, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  This seminar will meet in person at WriterHouse for one session on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

  Description

  Poets have long explored what it means to inhabit particular places and spaces. Wordsworth famously celebrates daffodils “dancing in the breeze” in the Lake District in England, while Elizabeth Bishop, who spent much of her life in a foreign country, plaintively asks, “Should we have stayed at home,/ wherever that may be?” Poets like Frost continually discover something new in landscapes they know well. Other poets write about meanings they uncover in settings they only know through travel. In this one-day seminar, we will look at a range of poems exploring landscape, home, and travel. Our primary focus will be on work by members of the group that reflects this general theme. 

  Poets at every stage of their craft are welcome.

  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.

  Show details