
Creative Writing Classes & Seminars
Looking for a place to express your inner writer? In each of our three yearly sessions (winter/spring, summer, and fall), we offer creative writing classes on weekday evenings, weekday mornings, and the daytime on weekends. Classes range from those geared for novice writers or those with some writing experience who are looking for a structured environment in which to bloom to those geared for intermediate, advanced, or professional writers.
We offer classes for adults as well as pre-teen and teen writers. Genres and topics offered include a variety of creative writing classes in poetry, fiction, flash fiction, memoir and creative nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, storytelling, comic books and graphic novels, songwriting, food writing, science fiction, fantasy, children’s book writing, journaling, and multi-genre writing, as well as seminars in writers craft, research, and professional development.
Class size is usually capped at 8 or 9 students—classes with different maximum sizes are indicated in the class listing. We teach short seminars that meet once all the way to longer workshops that meet up to eight times.

Search our classes by genre, level, and time of day below.
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June 2023
The Shadow Self: Exploring Your Character’s Dark Side Through Writing and Art
The Shadow Self is a place within all of us that dwells within the unconscious mind and is composed of repressed ideas, instincts, impulses, weaknesses, desires, and fears.  This part is often described as the darker side of the psyche, representing wildness, chaos, and the unknown. Psychologist Carl Jung believed that this latent energy is present in all of us, in many instances forming a strong source of creative energy. In this course, we will explore our Shadow selves through writing prompts, discussion, and low-skill art…
Thursdays, June 8 - July 20 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:30 pm EDT
Advanced Workshop for High School Seniors
In depth workshop for advanced teen writers. Class meets bi-weekly, students submit up to five pages of writing one week before the class and are expected to be prepared to discuss each piece during class. Only open to muse students who have completed the Teen Writers Fellowship and have not yet graduated from high school, or high school seniors with previous workshop experience. If you would like to apply, please contact our Youth Program Manager Jessica Grace Kelley at jessica@the-muse.org.…
Thursdays, June 8 - July 20 @ 6:00 pm EDT - 8:30 pm EDT
Nonfiction in a Flash
In this workshop, creative nonfiction and memoir writers will explore the genre of flash creative nonfiction (between 500 and 1,000 words). We will discuss and discover the many craft elements that make flash nonfiction an engaging, experimental and exciting genre! Every session we will generate and critique our small memoir and nonfiction stories and essays and focus on the unique opportunities that flash gives every creative nonfiction writer. Working in a shorter form allows you to take a fresh look…
Mondays, June 12 - August 21 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
The Poetry Workshop
The Poetry Workshop continues with returning members and new members having poetry writing experience. Fresh, intriguing poetry prompts offer group members the opportunity to experiment with various styles, forms, subjects and themes, and in doing so, will clarify their own voices as they actively write and revise original poems. Each workshop will include consideration of an aspect of craft based on assigned readings, as well as close reading of select poems by outstanding poets past and present to open up…
Mondays, June 12 - August 21 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
The Memoir Studio
This advanced workshop is for writers actively drafting or revising a full-length memoir manuscript. Each class will include craft discussions on issues pertinent to each student’s work, such as structure, scene vs exposition, voice, and finding the story beneath the story. We will explore various narrative forms and craft techniques through the analysis of assigned weekly reading, as well as consider the real-world consequences and ethics of writing and publishing true-to-life stories. The majority of each class will be dedicated…
Mondays, June 12 - August 7 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
Fiction 2: Deeper into Character & Story (Tuesday Mornings)
The fiction writing journey continues where Fiction 1 left off. Returning students and writers new to The Muse (who have fiction writing experience) will be encouraged to produce and submit original work for discussion by the group in the workshop format. In addition, participants will take a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing, with a focus on building rounded, dynamic characters and an engaging narrative with a living world/setting. All genres of fiction are accepted and…
Tuesdays, June 13 - August 22 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:30 pm EDT
Screenwriting 1: The Fundamentals of Script & Story
This course is designed as both an introduction for students who are new to screenwriting, and as continuity for those who have already started writing a screenplay and wish to further develop their scripts. No matter your level of experience, everyone will benefit from the groups’ members sharing their experiences they encounter. Class activities will include: discussing and developing story ideas, and sharing comments and suggesting solutions; an introduction to the three-act structure and the critical importance of the first…
Tuesdays, June 13 - August 22 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
The Fiction Studio (Wednesday Mornings)
The Fiction Studio continues with returning members and new members with professional fiction workshop experience. We will actively write and revise original short stories and chapters of novels as well as consider various aspects of the creative and professional life of the fiction writer. All members of the group will have the opportunity to submit material for the workshop, with at least two to three opportunities to be critiqued during the session. New members must receive pre-approval to register from…
Wednesdays, June 14 - August 23 @ 9:00 am EDT - 11:30 am EDT
Fiction 2: Deeper into Character & Story (Wednesday Evenings)
The fiction writing journey continues where Fiction 1 left off. Returning students and writers new to The Muse (who have fiction writing experience) will be encouraged to produce and submit original work for discussion by the group in the workshop format. In addition, participants will take a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing, with a focus on building rounded, dynamic characters and an engaging narrative with a living world/setting. All genres of fiction are accepted and…
Wednesdays, June 14 - August 23 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
Nonfiction 1: The Art of Writing True Stories
The truth doesn’t have to be written like a textbook. The truth can be exciting and gut wrenching and exotic. “True Stories Told Well,” is the definition given by Lee Gutkind, the founder and publisher of Creative Nonfiction Magazine of the 4th genre known in some circles as “Creative Nonfiction.” In this class we will discover that the difference between Nonfiction and “Creative Nonfiction” isn’t the truth; the difference is the flavor in which the story is written. Whether it…
Wednesdays, June 14 - August 23 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
2023 Teen Writers Fellowship Class (Summer)
Spring class for accepted members of the 2023 Teen Writers Fellowship. You must be an accepted fellow in the 2023 class to register.
Thursdays, June 15 - August 10 @ 6:00 pm EDT - 8:30 pm EDT
The Fiction Workshop (Thursday Evenings)
The Fiction Workshop continues with returning members and new members who have fiction writing workshop experience. Members of the group will workshop original work while taking a deeper look at the essential craft elements of fiction writing. Topics such as POV, scene writing, dialogue and more may be explored through short lectures or study of published stories. Students will continue to develop critiquing skills and master writing active prose. All members of the group will have the opportunity to submit…
Thursdays, June 15 - August 24 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT
Accessibility for Those with Disabilities
The Muse Writers Center strives to be a fully accessible facility. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns or would like to request an accommodation.