Supporting Writers and Everyone Who Wants to Write
The Writer’s Center offers hundreds of writing workshops, hosts dozens of free events, and fosters a community of writers, virtually and in-person.
Workshops & Free Events Calendar
Calendar of Events
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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5 events,
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 21 Sessions 
Write your novel with bestselling author Julia Phillips! This 10-month intensive class is open to writers working on a book-length work of fiction. It focuses on creating a propulsive story […]
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 21 Sessions
Write your memoir with award-winning author Edgar Gomez! In this intensive, you will learn about the art of creative nonfiction and be given the tools to ready your memoir or […]
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Write your memoir in 9 months! If you're finally ready to write the memoir of your heart, we invite you to join longtime writing teacher and author Diane Zinna for […]
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Write your novel in a year with bestselling author Kristen Arnett! Are you looking for an exciting, fun, collaborative way to get your writing brain into gear? Are you ready […]
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Join us for five months of craft lessons, workshops, editor visits, and personal editorial feedback! This small and inclusive class meets bi-weekly on Zoom, with the goal of creating an intimate, writer-based community of essayists who learn and grow together. You’ll read, brainstorm, and write drafts. You’ll explore different essay forms and practice a variety of narrative techniques. You’ll learn tangible self-editing tools, then revise, workshop, and revise some more! You’ll discover the publications you love, whether literary or freelance in nature (or both!), and you’ll create a plan to get those bylines! You’ll receive supportive, thoughtful peer workshop feedback on six drafts. You’ll have three personal one-on-one meetings (with detailed line edits) from your instructor. You’ll meet editors, attend panels, and participate in a final online reading event to celebrate your hard work! You’ll discuss next steps in publication, including how to pitch editors and begin forming a full collection. This workshop is for writers who already have some experience publishing personal essays in either literary or freelance publications. The workshop model will be carefully scaffolded and writer-centric, evolving as the class evolves. Writers will finish the class with ten complete drafts and a path forward for publication.
Register
$2,600.00
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6 events,
Virtual Craft Chat w/ Novelist Marisa Kashino
Venue :
Zoom
The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of fiction! We’re joined by author Marisa Kashino for a discussion of her new novel, Best Offer Wins. Marisa […]
Register
Free
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7 events,
Intro to the Novel
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions 
This workshop will help you understand the process of writing a novel so you can get started putting...
Register
$395.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 8 Sessions
This workshop will help you understand the process of writing a novel so you can get started putting...
Register
$395.00
Creating Novel Characters
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions 
When writing a novel, we must know our primary characters inside and out. We need to understand thei...
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Wet Ink
Sessions: 4 Sessions
When writing a novel, we must know our primary characters inside and out. We need to understand thei...
Register
$215.00
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10 events,
How to Plot Like a Pro
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
You have a great idea for a story. Do you dive in and just begin writing, or start by drafting an ou...
Register
$60.00
How to Get Your Work Accepted at Literary Conferences
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Being invited to read your creative work at a conference is a huge feather in your literary cap. Thi...
Register
$60.00
On Duende and Surrealism
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session 
Participants will be prompted to create literary works inspired by Federico García Lorca’s concept o...
Register
$60.00
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9 events,
End of Season Celebration Reading!
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Ever wonder who else is taking classes at The Writer’s Center? Want the chance to hear the work being made in other classes? Meet with Instructors of the coming season’s […]
Register
Free
Writing about Family
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
In this workshop, participants will receive guidance on writing about family relationships, dynamics...
Register
$60.00
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9 events,
Fast Drafting: The Art of Speed and Imperfection
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions
John Boyne wrote The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in less than three days. Kazuo Ishigurodrafted The R...
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions
John Boyne wrote The Boy in the Striped Pajamas in less than three days. Kazuo Ishigurodrafted The R...
Register
$215.00
Writing from Deep Emotion
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions 
When asked about her creative process, the writer Can Xue said: "Emotions are completely unleashed. ...
Register
$215.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 4 Sessions
When asked about her creative process, the writer Can Xue said: "Emotions are completely unleashed. ...
Register
$215.00
|
11 events,
Writing Poetry Like a Movie
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions 
Imagine your poem as though you held a camera and planned a sequence, choosing what to include “in t...
Register
$295.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 6 Sessions
Imagine your poem as though you held a camera and planned a sequence, choosing what to include “in t...
Register
$295.00
$40 POP UP: QueryTracker 101
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session QueryTracker is a powerful tool for finding literary agents, sending them queries, and tracking their responses. In this course we’ll cover the basics: search tools, the who-represents-whom tool, and data […]
Register
$40.00
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11 events,
Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and […]
Register
Free
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12 events,
Let’s Write! A Generative Workshop
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 5 Sessions 
What is this next story, and how shall I tell it? Using various writing prompts will invite ourselves into new stories, and explore new ways to tell familiar ones. Each […]
Register
$250.00
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 5 Sessions
What is this next story, and how shall I tell it? Using various writing prompts will invite ourselves into new stories, and explore new ways to tell familiar ones. Each […]
Register
$250.00
Virtual Craft Chat w/ Poet Ally Ang
Venue :
Zoom
Poet Lore and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry! We’re joined by Ally Ang to discuss their debut collection, Let the Moon Wobble. […]
Register
Free
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11 events,
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14 events,
How to Discover Your Voice
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Agents say it all the time. What sells a manuscript? A standout voice. Acquire the tools you need fo...
Register
$60.00
Memoir? Maybe?
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
This class is for writers who are exploring the idea of writing a memoir. Maybe you have an idea, or...
Register
$60.00
Novelist Nancy Garruba in Conversation w/ Katherine Gekker
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes novelist Nancy Garruba for a reading and discussion of her debut novel, The Vanishing of Rose B. Nancy is in conversation with Katherine Gekker. FREE & […]
Register
Free
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12 events,
Poetry Vs. Trauma
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions 
Trauma can shut us down; writing poems can help free us to open up again. This workshop will present...
Register
$150.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 3 Sessions
Trauma can shut us down; writing poems can help free us to open up again. This workshop will present...
Register
$150.00
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12 events,
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14 events,
The Novel Year w/ Susan Coll
Venue :
Zoom
Bring your novel to life with best-selling author Susan Coll! Whether you have been thinking about writing a novel for years but are not sure how to get started, or […]
Register
$5,400.00
Venue :
Zoom
Bring your novel to life with best-selling author Susan Coll! Whether you have been thinking about writing a novel for years but are not sure how to get started, or […]
Register
$5,400.00
Eric Lichtblau Book Launch
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes author Eric Lichtblau for a reading from his new novel, American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate. FREE & […]
Register
Free
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15 events,
Researching for Creativity: Practical tips of DC-Area writers, from the1930s and Now
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes Kim Roberts, David Nicholson, and David Taylor for a conversation and practical creative exercises on how to research in your writing. This event will also include […]
Register
Free
Virtual Info Session for Novel Club w/ Lisa Ko
Venue :
Zoom
Meet Lisa Ko, instructor for our Novel Club workshop, and have all your questions about the program answered! The Writer’s Center staff will be on hand, too, to address any logistical questions. Register below! About the Program Application Deadline: February 16, 2026 Workshop Dates: Begins March 4, meeting biweekly for ~10 months Cost: $5,400 | Members […]
Register
Free
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16 events,
Writing for Laughs: Crafting Great Sketch Comedy!
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions 
Now’s your chance to find out! In this fun, hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics and comedy ti...
Register
$250.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions
Now’s your chance to find out! In this fun, hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics and comedy ti...
Register
$250.00
Virtual Craft Chat w/ Memoirist Mai Serhan
Venue :
Zoom
The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of nonfiction! We’re joined by author Mai Serhan for a discussion of her new memoir, I Can Imagine It […]
Register
Free
Let the Soft Animals Speak: Writing the Wild with Craft and Care
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session 
When Mary Oliver tells us to let the soft animal of love what love, we know exac...
Register
$60.00
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14 events,
|
16 events,
Creating Conflict & Tension
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Strengthening the conflict in any type of fiction will bump up the tension and turn limp, ordinary f...
Register
$60.00
Lyrical Memoir Writing
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
How do we turn the fragments of memory into writing that resonates? In this workshop guided by award...
Register
$60.00
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15 events,
Susan Scheid and Burgi Zenhaeusern Book Launch
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes Susan Scheid and Burgi Zenhausern for a launch of their respective new books, True Blue and White Door. FREE & open to the public. RSVP below. Susan […]
Register
Free
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15 events,
Defeat the Blank Page! Generative Fiction Workshop
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 8 Sessions 
In this generative fiction writing workshop, we'll confront the blank page head-on. Our emphasis wil...
Register
$395.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 8 Sessions
In this generative fiction writing workshop, we'll confront the blank page head-on. Our emphasis wil...
Register
$395.00
|
17 events,
UnClogging Your Brain
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Sessions: 1 Session 
Prompts will spark memories, characters, and places, turning them into poems, scenes, dialogues, and...
Register
$60.00
Revising Your Poems
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Revising can be very intimidating territory for all of us, but in this workshop we will take a diffe...
Register
$60.00
|
16 events,
Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and […]
Register
Free
|
17 events,
Virtual Craft Chat w/ Author Tayyba Kanwal
Venue :
Zoom
The Writer’s Center presents a FREE virtual chat about the craft of fiction! We’re joined by author Tayyba Kanwal for a discussion of her new story collection, Talking with Boys. […]
Register
Free
Opening Art Reception for Deborah Tomlin’s SUTRA
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center is pleased to present SUTRA, an exhibition of drawings and paintings by artist Deborah Tomlin, on display in the Center’s Joram Piatigorsky Gallery, January 29–March 23, 2026. […]
Register
Free
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15 events,
|
18 events,
The Survival Power of the Lyric Poem
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions 
Think now of poetry as a school for emotions, and the lyric has had a revelatory power evoked throug...
Register
$250.00
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 5 Sessions
Think now of poetry as a school for emotions, and the lyric has had a revelatory power evoked throug...
Register
$250.00
Focus on Scene Building
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Scenes are the building blocks of fiction. They convey the vision of the story in the author’s head ...
Register
$60.00
Writing About Mental Health Topics in Fiction
Venue :
Zoom
Sessions: 1 Session 
Write about mental health with intention. Along with general guidelines, examples from popular media...
Register
$60.00
Audiobook Creation: Tips on Publishing Accessible Audiobook Stories
Venue :
The Writer’s Center
The Writer’s Center welcomes Sarah Keisler who will introduce authors to the process of publishing an audiobook-version of their story using audiobook creation platforms like ACX, Author's Republic, and more. Why […]
Register
Free
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How Can We Support You?
Discover more about what we offer in the categories below.
Rent a Space at TWC
Make The Writer’s Center the venue for your next meeting or event in Bethesda, Maryland! From off-site business meetings to theater productions, we have a space that’s right for you.
Our Impact
How We Support Writers
Writing classes. Free events for writers. New friends and networking. Every year, The Writer’s Center delivers hundreds of ways to connect more deeply with the literary life. Our writers hone their writing craft, master editing and revision, share their work, and get published. Most importantly, we bring likeminded writers together into a fun and welcoming community.
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workshop registrations annually
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free event attendees
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programs for writers every year
Curated Conversation(s):
a Latinx Poetry Show
Curated Conversation(s) is a virtual discussion series. Season 1 features debut Latinx poets, and Season 2 pairs Latinx poets from the United Kingdom and United States.
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QueryTracker is a powerful tool for finding literary agents, sending them queries, and tracking their responses. In this course we’ll cover the basics: search tools, the who-represents-whom tool, and data view options. We’ll also look at cool features that are a little harder to find: pasting in agency/agent notes, flagging agents by priority, and setting alerts for when closed agents become open.
Register at writer.org
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The Writer’s Center hosts a series of FREE affinity mixers for writers of the DMV.
Whether you`re new to the area, new to writing, or just looking for more ways to expand your writing network, a Writer`s Center Mixer is the place to find your community! Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center to hang out, talk, and maybe even do some writing! Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six. You’re welcome to bring a friend, too.
Mixers are limited to those who identify with the affinity noted in the title. RSVPs are highly encouraged at writer.org
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#bipoc #BIPOCArtists #bipocwriters #LiteraryEvent #literarylife #literary #womensmixer #womenwriterscommunity #womenwriter #womenmeetup #queerbooks #lgbtq🌈 #lgbtqcommunity #queermeetup #lgbtq #writerscenter #disabledwriter #disabledwriters #disabledartist #disability #disabilityinclusion #dcwriters #dcliterary #dccreatives #dcartists #DCArts
The Writer’s Center welcomes novelist Nancy Garruba for a reading and discussion of her debut novel, The Vanishing of Rose B. Nancy is in conversation with Katherine Gekker. FREE & open to the public. RSVP at writer.org
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#LiteraryEvent #literarylife #literaryfiction #literary #novels #writinganovel #fictionbooks #fictionwriter #creativewriting #dcwriters #dcliterary #dccreatives #dcartists #DCArts
Ever wonder who else is taking classes at The Writer’s Center? Want the chance to hear the work being made in other classes? Meet with Instructors of the coming season’s courses?
We invite you to attend our first ever End of Season Celebration, a time to meet and hear work from the participants from the numerous workshops we’ve hosted for the past four months.
Register today at writer.org
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#LiteraryEvent #literarylife #literary #poetryreadings #poetryreading #poetrydc #poetrycommunity #personalessayist #personalessays #personalessay #poetry #bookinstagran #bookinstagram #bookinsta #novels #dcliteraryevents #literaryevents #writerscenter #creativewriting #dcwriters #dcliterary #dccreatives #dcartists #DCArts
