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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Calendar Color Guide
March 2023
Thought Radio at Slover Library
Join Muse teacher and local musician Skye Zentz for this free online program at Slover Library! Register online here In a busy world of technological connectivity, we are constantly being bombarded with the suggestions and opinions of other people. All the noise of these outside influences can make it hard to navigate our own personal realities. In ThoughtRadio, we'll explore our emotional selves while taking the time to play with different perspectives outside of our own. We'll discuss and celebrate…
Wednesdays, March 22 - May 17 @ 5:00 pm EDT - 7:00 pm EDT
April 2023
Writers Coffee Break
Join us for our monthly 1st Friday Writers Coffee Breaks at Cafe Stella in Ghent. At these informal get-togethers, area writers and Muse teachers, students, and friends enjoy conversation and camaraderie over a (perhaps much needed) coffee break. Each month will be hosted by different Muse teachers, who will be available to answer questions from current and prospective students about their classes, The Muse, and writing in general in addition to just hanging out over a cup of coffee or…
April 7 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:00 pm EDT
Empire Records at The Naro Expanded Cinema
Rex Manning Day is upon us once again! Come ring in this charming fictitious holiday with us as Empire Records comes to the Naro big screen on Friday, April 7. We’ll have plenty of boozy beverages available, with proceeds benefiting The Muse Writers Center. As always, all alcohol sales are CASH only--please hit the ATM beforehand. We’ll also have plenty of THC goodies, theater snacks, and trivia prizes! Our buddy Greg Steele is cooking up a sweet poster for the…
April 7 @ 8:30 pm EDT - 11:30 pm EDT
Writers Happy Hour
Join us for our Third Thursday Writers Happy Hour, an in-person, informal get-together where area writers and Muse teachers, students, and friends enjoy conversation, camaraderie, and drinks. This month's Happy Hour will be hosted by Michael Khandelwal and Tim Seibles. Feel free to let us know you’re coming on Facebook. We look forward to seeing your faces again!
April 20 @ 5:00 pm EDT - 6:30 pm EDT
Spring Fling Teen Open Mic Night
CALLING ALL YOUNG WRITERS, PERFORMERS, AND MUSICIANS! Join us on Thursday, April 27, 6-8 PM at The Muse Writers Center for an evening of poetry, prose, music, and fun! Open to any teen to perform; all are welcome to attend. Any form of writing is welcome, but please keep your performances teen appropriate. Light snacks will be provided, including spring cookies, of course! Questions? Email Jessica Grace Kelley at jessica@the-muse.org
April 27 @ 6:00 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT
Patti McCracken Book Launch and Q&A
Join The Muse Writers Center for a reading by Patti McCracken from her new book, The Angel Makers. After the reading, there will be a Q&A and book signing. This event will be held in person at The Muse and copies of the book will be available for purchase. See the Muse's current Covid-19 policies. For those who are not able to attend in person, there will be a live stream of the event on the Muse Facebook page. "...a…
April 28 @ 6:00 pm EDT - 7:00 pm EDT
May 2023
Writers Coffee Break
Join us for our monthly 1st Friday Writers Coffee Breaks at Cafe Stella in Ghent. At these informal get-togethers, area writers and Muse teachers, students, and friends enjoy conversation and camaraderie over a (perhaps much needed) coffee break. Each month will be hosted by different Muse teachers, who will be available to answer questions from current and prospective students about their classes, The Muse, and writing in general in addition to just hanging out over a cup of coffee or…
May 5 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:00 pm EDT
CNU Writers Conference 2023
Virginia is for Writers: Come to the CNU Writers Conference Join The Muse at Christopher Newport University's 41st Annual Writers Conference, Saturday, May 6 at CNU's Freeman Center. Enjoy a keynote address, 11 breakout sessions, a writing contest, pitch sessions, an open mic, and an opportunity to network with fellow writers, publishers, and agents. Featured speakers include Pulitzer Nominee, Bill Glose and a dozen professional writers, poets, publishers, and agents. Discounts available for Muse Students, members of military, seniors, and…
May 6 @ 8:00 am EDT - 7:00 pm EDT
Show & Grow Your Prose
Join us for Show and Grow Your Prose... in-person at Gus and George's in Virginia Beach. Don't miss the chance to get free, professional feedback on your written work. Presenters will read up to ten minutes of their material, which will be followed by another ten minutes of feedback from our guest critiquers Lauran Strait and Michael Khandelwal. If you desire, your material can be read anonymously by one of our staff. We accept fiction and nonfiction, but in all…
May 13 @ 11:30 am EDT - 1:30 pm EDT
Writers Happy Hour
Join us for our Third Thursday Writers Happy Hour, an in-person, informal get-together where area writers and Muse teachers, students, and friends enjoy conversation, camaraderie, and drinks. This month's Happy Hour will be hosted by Michael Khandelwal and Diane Fine. Feel free to let us know you’re coming on Facebook. We look forward to seeing your faces again!
May 18 @ 5:00 pm EDT - 6:30 pm EDT
Melissa Page Book Launch and Q&A
Join The Muse Writers Center for a reading by longtime Muse member and friend Melissa Page Deutsch from her latest book, This SLP Life, published by ASHA Press. Following the reading there will be a Q&A; attendees will also be invited to participate in a sample coaching exercise from the book. This event will be held in person at The Muse and copies of the book will be available for purchase. See the Muse's current Covid-19 policies. For those who…
May 21 @ 4:00 pm EDT - 5:30 pm EDT
September 2023
Show & Grow Your Prose
Join us for Show and Grow Your Prose... in-person at The Muse. Don't miss the chance to get free, professional feedback on your written work. Presenters will read up to ten minutes of their material, which will be followed by another ten minutes of feedback from our guest critiquers Lauran Strait and Michael Khandelwal. If you desire, your material can be read anonymously by one of our staff. We accept fiction and nonfiction, but in all cases reading time will…
September 9 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:00 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.