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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.

Class at The Muse

Search our classes by genre, level, and time of day below.

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June 2023

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

6 sessions
Teacher:

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

6 sessions
Teacher:

2023 Teen Writers Fellowship Class (Summer)

Teen Writing Class

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

5 sessions
Level:

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

6 sessions
Teacher:

The Advanced Poetry Workshop

The Advanced Poetry Workshop is open to students who have completed previous workshop-level classes at The Muse or those who have extensive workshop or graduate-level experience. This class focuses on writing, criticism, and the exploration of contemporary poetic discourse. Students at this level are writing poetry with an increased focus on creating an individual voice and emotional richness. Students will be expected to submit regularly and provide thoughtful feedback to classmates.

Thursdays, June 15 - August 24 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT

6 sessions
Teacher:

The Comic Book & Graphic Novel Workshop

For comic writers and artists looking to hone their works in progress, this workshop will emphasize critique and accountability. While retaining an element of lecture from How to Write Comics & Graphic Novels, we will delve deeper into each student's comic project of choice, with the goal of polishing and revising our work. Please Note: The 5th meeting of this class will be in Classroom #1. A separate Zoom link for class #5 will be sent to you by your…

Thursdays, June 15 - August 24 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT

6 sessions
Teacher:

The Norfolk Word Art Show: An Open Mic @ The Muse

Welcome to the Norfolk Word Art Show! This monthly open mic takes place at The Muse Writers Center every third Friday, with a different featured performer each month to kick things off. Sign up to share any original written words - material from Poets, Songwriters, Comedians, Playwrights.  If you can write it, we’d like to hear it. Every month we will also have a featured performer to kick things off. Hosted by Teech! Open to all; sign up in person…

Fridays, June 16 - September 15 @ 7:30 pm EDT - 9:30 pm EDT

4 sessions

Charity Book Sale at the Book Exchange Norfolk

Swing by the Book Exchange Norfolk on June 17th and 18th to find a new-to-you read and support The Muse! Learn more on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/754057542978332/ https://www.facebook.com/events/785029232971767/

June 17 - 11:59 pm EDT

Passport to Ghent Pride!

It's back! Welcome to the second annual Passport to Ghent Pride scavenger hunt, organized by The Muse Writers Center and Eleanor's Norfolk. Stop by The Muse or Eleanor's during their respective open hours beginning June 17th to pick up your passport, then visit participating businesses around Ghent anytime between June 17th-24th to collect stickers from each and learn about LGBTQIA+ history in Hampton Roads and beyond. Bring your completed passport to either Eleanor's or The Muse by June 24th to…

June 17 - 11:59 pm EDT

Twenty Ways to Immediately Improve Your Writing

In this seminar we’ll explore twenty (or more) proven methods to improve your writing. Many authors struggle with the same issues, often without knowing why they struggle. We all want to produce tighter, meaningful, more exciting prose, but how do we do it? Learning these twenty guidelines is a great step toward creating material that captivates your readers. Writers of any level will appreciate these concepts I have (painfully) learned after much study, practice, and critique. Why not skip the…

June 17 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:30 pm EDT

Teacher:

Spark Your Creativity

Everyone is creative. There are tools that can help us be more creative, find our projects and knock down our inner walls. In this seminar, we’ll explore the creativity gene, how creativity works, why we get blocks, and discover some methods of breaking through the blocks. We’ll move quickly through five or six exercises in creativity, followed by discussion. Experiment in a place where success and failure are both part of the learning process. Bring with you a willingness to…

June 17 @ 1:00 pm EDT - 3:30 pm EDT

Teacher:

The Fiction Studio (Tuesday Evenings)

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…

Tuesdays, June 20 - August 1 @ 6:00 pm EDT - 8:30 pm EDT

6 sessions
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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.