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, childrenās 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 studentsāclasses 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.
Events Search and Views Navigation
Calendar Color Guide
May 2023
CANCELLED: Student Reading at Plaza del Sol
Due to various circumstances, we have had to cancel this reading. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please join us for our other two readings at Waters Edge Winery on 5/22 and on Zoom on 5/26.
May 8 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 7:30 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
Synnika Lofton Book Launch and Q&A
Join The Muse Writers Center for a reading by Synnika Lofton from his new poetry collection, American Reverie. 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.Ā See the Muse's current Covid-19 policies. "Like musician trading solos, McGee and Loftonās voices vibrate with energy, building, jamming, pulsing across urban landscapes, imploring the spirit to stand up, wake up,…
May 13 @ 4:00 pm EDT - 5:00 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 youāre coming on Facebook. We look forward to seeing your faces again!
May 18 @ 5:00 pm EDT - 6:30 pm EDT
The Warriors at The Naro Expanded Cinema
The Warriors comes to the Naro big screen on Friday, May 19. Weāll 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. Weāll also have plenty of THC goodies, theater snacks, and trivia prizes! Our buddy Greg Steele is cooking up a sweet poster for the flick and will have them for sale as well. Presale tickets available! Please visit narocinema.com to reserve or…
May 19 @ 8:30 pm EDT - 11:30 pm EDT
“Views of Virginia” Gallery Reception & Poetry Reading
VIEWS OF VIRGINIA, a reverse-ekphrastic* art and poetry exhibit curated by the Poetry Society of Virginia, is currently on display at The Muse Writers Center through July 31st, 2023. Join us at The Muse for a free reading and gallery reception with the poets and artists featured in the exhibit! Light refreshments will be provided. *What does 'ekphrastic' mean? From the Greek į¼ĪŗĻĻĪ±ĻĪ¹ĻĀ or ekphrasis, meaning 'description.' An ekphrastic poem is written based on or in response to another work of…
May 20 @ 1:00 pm EDT - 5:00 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
Student Reading at Waters Edge Winery
Join The Muse Writers Center as we celebrate the work of our Winter/Spring 2023 students as they share their writing from the past session! This event will be held in person at Waters Edge Winery. Tables are first-come first-served, so plan to arrive early, order some food and drinks, and enjoy an evening of writing. Register to PARTICIPATE as a reader (only open to students who have taken a Muse class, workshop, or seminar during 2023) This is the first…
May 22 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT
Virtual Student Reading
Join The Muse Writers Center online and help us celebrate the work of our Winter/Spring students as they share their writing from the past session! This event will be held via Zoom webinar. Register to WATCH the reading live Register to PARTICIPATE as a reader (only open to students who have taken a Muse class, workshop, or seminar during our Winter/Spring 2023 session) This is the second of two student readings; see also the 5/22 reading at Waters Edge Winery.
May 25 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT
VOICES: An Open Mic Dedicated to Mental Health Awareness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Join us at The Muse for an open mic centered on all things mental health; share your poetry, your personal essays, your short stories, your original music ā anything that touches on the subject. This will be a moving, vulnerable, caring evening of sharing words and space. Please note: by nature, the work shared at this open mic may contain difficult or sensitive subject matter; we will ask all participants to give content warnings…
May 26 @ 7:00 pm EDT - 9:00 pm EDT
June 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…
Fridays, June 2 - December 1 @ 10:00 am EDT - 12:00 pm EDT
1-Day Creative Writing “Camp” for Adults (Sat. June 3)
Note: Completely different July & August Sessions are also available! Each hour in this fun, day-long, creative writing ācampā for adults, weāll explore different aspects of writing and the writing life. We'll write together, and we'll enjoy 2 camp-wide/keynote sessions and 12 breakout sessions/workshops led by noted teachers and authors to explore craft, professional development, and writerly fun. The day will conclude with a 5 p.m. Writers Happy Hour, where you can mingle with fellow writers as well as Muse…
June 3 @ 9:00 am EDT - 5:00 pm EDT
Accessibility for Those with Disabilities
The Muse Writers Center strives to be a fully accessible facility. PleaseĀ contact usĀ if you have any questions or concerns or would like to request an accommodation.