FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are located on the second floor of 508 Dale Avenue, directly behind Preston Avenue Bodos. Our entrance is on the Harris Street facing side of the building. After entering, we’re upstairs, through the door on the landing, and to the left. A stairlift is available for those needing assistance. If you have accessibility questions, please contact us at programs@writerhouse.org. Street parking is available. 

WriterHouse is a community for all writers, of all ages and experience levels, including those who are just getting started, those who are beginning to be published, and those who are accustomed to seeing their work in print. Many have day jobs outside the home, some are stay-at-home parents. The only requirement is the desire to write.

Become a member, sign up for writing classes, donate, or volunteer—there are many many ways you can be part of our community.

You do not need to be a member to take our classes, but members get a discount on classes, so why wouldn’t you join? And there are some very cool member perks—check out the section on memberships.

We offer Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter sessions, along with some one- and two-day seminars. If you are a member, you will get early notification of the classes. Or sign up for our email list, and we’ll send you notification as soon as our classes for each session are posted on the website under the top “Classes” tab. Keep your eye on the WriterHouse calendar—you never know when something might be coming up.

We offer beginning and advanced fiction writing classes, poetry, nonfiction, memoir writing, screenwriting, mystery writing, songwriting, and just about any other kind of writing you can think of. So whatever your interest, there will be something for you. And if you don’t see it, then suggest it. If there’s enough interest, if we can find a qualified instructor, and if it’s legal, we’ll probably offer it.

If the weather is iffy, we will make a determination on cancelling classes and open hours a few hours beforehand. We do not base our decision on the local schools, as they have to make their decisions early in the morning and often the situation has changed dramatically by the time our classes are ready to start.

We try to avoid cancelling classes whenever possible, as it is difficult to coordinate everybody’s schedule to set up a make-up class. Below are the times when we will make a determination. After that time, we will send an email to your class email list, the WriterHouse website main page (writerhouse.org), Facebook and Twitter. If you can’t get to a computer, phone to check the voicemail outgoing message 434-282-6643.

Evening classes that start at 6:30 and evening open hours—decision will be posted by 3:00 p.m.
Morning classes that start at 9:00 or 9:30 and morning open hours—decision will be posted by 7:00 a.m.
Afternoon classes that start at 1:00pm and afternoon open hours—decision will be posted by 10:00 a.m.

WriterHouse offers need-based scholarships on a sliding scale. If you wish to apply for financial assistance, please download and fill out the Scholarship Application. This is a fillable PDF. Please save the form, complete it, and email to programs@writerhouse.org. Or you may mail the completed form to WriterHouse, PO Box 222, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

While we used to offer space for groups, we are unable to in our new location. During the pandemic, WriterHouse, like many nonprofits, endured significant financial challenges. To reduce costs and move toward greater sustainability, we moved and downsized our facility from three classrooms to one classroom. Because our new space is extremely limited compared to our old space, we are seeking partnerships with other like-minded nonprofits that can accommodate some of our writing groups and writers seeking quiet writing space. Please check back with us periodically on the status of our search for additional writing and group meeting space.

If you need to cancel your enrollment for any reason, please email us at programs@writerhouse.org. Our refund policy for cancellations is as follows:

3 weeks before the class or seminar start date: Eligible for a full refund.

1-3 weeks before the class or seminar start date: Eligible for a full credit towards a future class or seminar.

Less than 1 week before the class or seminar start date: Not eligible for credit or a refund.

In the event that we have to cancel a class or seminar for lack of enrollment or another reason, you are eligible for a full refund or credit towards a future class. If your payment was made via PayPal, you will be eligible for a full refund, minus the nonrefundable PayPal fee.