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
November 2022
NaNoWriMo 2022 Final Push Pajama Party
This is it, the final push! As NaNoWriMo 2022 comes to a close, join us in person or on Zoom to finish up that 50k. We will be open right until the final second of November, so put on your favorite PJs, grab your trusty writing utensils of choice, and burn the midnight oil with The Muse! Register to join us on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuc-Gupz4tHdfkRVPyVzfu2YH1e37kO4Ic After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. ​​Other…
November 30 @ 7:00 pm EST - 12:30 am EST
December 2022
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…
December 2 @ 10:00 am EST - 12:00 pm EST
Pamela Brothers Denyes Book Launch and Q&A
Join The Muse Writers Center for a triple-threat book launch, with a reading by Pamela Brothers Denyes from her three latest poetry collections: The Right Mistakes, The Widow's Lovers, and As I Lay Dreaming. After the reading, there will be a Q&A and book signing. This event will be held in person at The Muse. See the Muse's current Covid-19 policies. About the Author: Pamela’s poems are published in various Virginia journals, Wingless Dreamer, Vallum, Barstow & Grand V, MindFull…
December 4 @ 4:00 pm EST - 5:00 pm EST
Sensitivity Reading Q&A with Nathaniel Glanzman
Sensitivity reading is a little known essential for publishing stories with marginalized characters. In this Live Q&A with a professional in the field, we will explore what sensitivity reading is, why traditional publishers value it, why it differs from censorship and why accuracy matters when writing about all groups of people. Debates welcome! Join us on Zoom for this free virtual Q&A! Register in advance here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tNufJ0FpT3aEKp1O7dE_3w Nathaniel Glanzman is a teacher at The Muse and freelance sensitivity reader…
December 7 @ 7:00 pm EST - 8:00 pm EST
Muse Holiday Party with the Ghent Market Shoppes
Join us for our first in-person holiday party since before the pandemic! Come to The Muse from 5-9pm for refreshments, live music, a raffle, and more, and be sure to check out the rest of the block for Happy Hour specials and discounts on services and products! Happy hour at Plaza del Sol 10% discount on services at the Foot Treatment Spa Telescope viewings with the Back Bay Astronomers (weather-dependent) Pizza from Ynot Pizza and more! The party will continue…
December 9 @ 5:00 pm EST - 9:00 pm EST
Authors in Conversation: Mike Krentz and Kelly Sokol
Join colleagues, authors, and friends, Mike Krentz and Kelly Sokol, as they sit down together and chat about novel writing from a writer and teacher's point of view. Watch live on Facebook or join the web seminar. Follow this LINK to register. Questions and comments from the virtual audience will be explored. Brought to you in part by Prince Books! Support Local Books Stores and Local Authors: Buy Mike's new book HERE! Buy Kell's new book HERE! Kelly Sokol is…
December 14 @ 8:00 pm EST - 9:00 pm EST
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 Desiree Cooper. Feel free to let us know you’re coming on Facebook. We look forward to seeing your faces again!
December 15 @ 5:00 pm EST - 6:30 pm EST
January 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…
January 6, 2023 @ 10:00 am EST - 12:00 pm EST
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 Kent Wascom. Feel free to let us know you’re coming on Facebook. We look forward to seeing your faces again!
January 19, 2023 @ 5:00 pm EST - 6:30 pm EST
The Word: An Open Mic for Poets, Storytellers and Fabulists
The Word is in collaboration with Zeiders American Dream Theater, The Muse Writers Center, Hampton Roads Writers, and Tidewater Writers. The Word welcomes diverse voices and fans of poetry, spoken word, and all forms of creative writing. We encourage all ages and backgrounds to come together and share in the mutual adoration of words. The Z provides a platform for writers to share their work while fostering a comfortable, laid-back, and encouraging atmosphere. This is your chance to take the…
January 24, 2023 @ 7:30 pm EST - 9:00 pm EST
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.