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Register Now for Fall Classes, Workshops, & Seminars
In-Person, Online, & Hybrid Classes
- In In-person classes, everyone will meet at our physical center.
- Hybrid classes are where it's your choice whether to attend In-Person or through Zoom each class meeting. We have installed an excellent hybrid system to ensure both In-Person and Zoom students have the same great experience. The instructor will host the class in a physical Muse classroom.
- Online classes meet over Zoom; you can take them from anywhere.
Fall Classes Starting Now...
General & Multi-Genre
- Start Writing, Keep Writing... Write Now: 6-meeting online class that begins Wednesday, November 1, 7-9:30 p.m. Instructor: Alison Schoew. More information
- Write Anything: 6-meeting online class that begins Tuesday, November 7, 7-9:30 p.m. Instructor: Sarah Pringle. More information
Writers Craft
- Building a World Around Your Characters & Plot: An online class that meets Sunday, November 5, 1-3:30 p.m. Instructor: Leslye Penelope. More information
- Creating a Sense of Place and Worldbuilding: An online class that meets Sunday, November 12, 1-3:30 p.m. Instructor: Susan Isaak Lolis. More information
Fiction
- Fiction 1: Learning to Write Fiction (Tuesday Mornings): 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Tuesday, November 7, 7-9:30 p.m. Instructor: Abi Putnam. More information
- Science Fiction & Fantasy Workshop: 6-meeting online class that begins Monday, November 13, 7-9:30 p.m. Instructor: Cassandra Clarke. More information
Writers Life & Creativity
- Writing About Caregiving: An online class that meets Saturday, November 11, 1-3:30 p.m. Instructor: Deborah J. Cohan. More information
Art for Writers
- Visual Journaling: Exploring the Imagination: An in-person class that meets Saturday, November 11, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Instructor: Christine Rucker. More information
- Community Book Binding: An in-person class that meets Sunday, November 12, 1-3 p.m. Instructor: Regin Igloria. More information
Nonfiction & Memoir
- Writing About Caregiving: An online class that meets Saturday, November 11, 1-3:30 p.m. Instructor: Deborah J. Cohan. More information
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Free In-Person, Online, & Hybrid Events
NaNoWriMo 2023 Kickoff at The Muse
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Wednesday, November 1, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., In-Person at The Muse & Hybrid, More information
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Join us online or in person at The Muse as we kick off National Novel Writing Month 2023! Come anytime, stay as long as you'd like. For those attending in person, we will have coffee, tea, soda and water available, but feel free to BYO snacks! There will be several dedicated quiet writing spaces, a more social/chatty area in the library, and the auditorium (where the hybrid event is held) will be a mix of quiet writing/optional group word sprints. There will also be a dedicated low light, low noise sensory-friendly room for anyone needing a bit more calm.
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Wednesday Wordsmiths!
Join us every Wednesday for an inspiring and collaborative writing experience. Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or just starting your literary journey, this group welcomes all. Bring your latest writing to share with fellow enthusiasts, or dive into our engaging exercises and prompts designed to spark your imagination. On Wednesdays that "Shut Up & Write" events are held, the Wednesday Wordsmiths will simply attend the Shut Up & Write session. Hosted by Jeffrey Morse.
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Sam's Birthday Write-Along! (NANO)
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Thursday, November 2, 5-7 p.m., In-Person at The Muse & Hybrid, More information
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For her birthday, our Center & Volunteer Manager will be hosting a kick-off write-along! Bring your laptops, notebooks, snacks, and comfy pillows and work on your NaNoWriMo project. Rumor has it, there may even be cupcakes... This event will be Hybrid, so come virtually if you are not local!
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Writers Coffee Break
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Friday, November 3, 10 a.m.-Noon, In-Person at Cafe Stella Ghent, More information
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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. This month's hosts: Michael Khandelwal and Bridget Dolan. We look forward to seeing your faces!
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Queer Writers Meet-up at Eleanor's NFK
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Saturday, November 4, 10-11 a.m., In-Person at Eleanor's Books Norfolk, More information
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Calling all queer writers! Join us every first Saturday in person at Eleanor's Norfolk from 10-11 a.m. This is a space to meet up with other local creatives, meet new friends, and talk all things writing.
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757 Comic and Cartoon Creators
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Saturday, November 4, 4-7 p.m., In-Person at The Muse and Hybrid, More information
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757 Comic and Cartoon Creators is a community group for local artists, specifically those interested in creating comics and animation. Writers are welcome as well. Come in-person or join us via Zoom.
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Early Bird Gets the Words @ Yorgo's (NANO)
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Monday, November 6, 6-10 a.m., In-Person at Yorgo's Bageldashery, More information
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Meet us bright and early over at Yorgo's Bageldashery to start the day on the write foot! We will be upstairs on the second floor.
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Writers Zoom Meet-Up
Join The Muse on the first Tuesday of each month for our monthly Writers Zoom Meet-Up, an informal get-together where writers from anywhere in the world enjoy conversation, camaraderie, and discussion about what we're working on.
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Wednesday Wordsmiths!
Join us every Wednesday for an inspiring and collaborative writing experience. Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or just starting your literary journey, this group welcomes all. Bring your latest writing to share with fellow enthusiasts, or dive into our engaging exercises and prompts designed to spark your imagination. On Wednesdays that "Shut Up & Write" events are held, the Wednesday Wordsmiths will simply attend the Shut Up & Write session. Hosted by Jeffrey Morse.
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Shut Up & Write Drop-in Session
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Wednesday, November 8, 5:30-7 p.m., In-Person at The Muse and Hybrid, More information
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Need a little mid-week motivation to pick up your pen? Join us online or in-person at The Muse for this hybrid, drop-in writing session. If you decide to join via Zoom, you must register in advance to receive the Zoom link. Hosted by Art Klepchukov.
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2023 Hampton Roads Writers Conference
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Thursday, November 9-Saturday, November 11, In-Person at the Holiday Inn Norfolk-Va. Beach, More information
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See below for more information. We'll all be there. We hope you will, too! Plus, they have scholarships available.
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The Muse Neighborhood Jam
Join us on the 2nd Friday of each month for an evening where everyone is welcome to make music, sing, read, laugh, or just hang out and listen. This is not an open mic with a sign-up list. We'll alternate between individual-led and collaborative performance and pure unplugged jams. Anyone is welcome... from beginners to professionals, whether you like to play an instrument or just listen, sing or be sung to, read your work or hear great stories and poems. Hosted by Dan Duke.
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Projects, Passions, and Possibilities Writing Group
A roundtable discussion open to all writers and generated by the interests of the participants to exchange and spread information. Free registration required. Hosted by author, Fran Ward
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757 Comic and Cartoon Creators
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Sunday, November 12, 4-7 p.m., In-Person at The Muse and Hybrid, More information
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757 Comic and Cartoon Creators is a community group for local artists, specifically those interested in creating comics and animation. Writers are welcome as well. Come in-person or join us via Zoom.
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Malcom Massey Book Launch and Q&A
Join The Muse for a reading by Malcom Massey as he returns from Florida to celebrate his latest novel, The Secret of Scorpion Key. 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. For those who are not able to attend in person, there will be a live stream of the event on The Muse's Facebook page or you can register to join on Zoom.
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Teen Writers Club
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Monday, November 13, 6-8 p.m., In-Person at The Muse and Hybrid, More information
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Are you a teen? Do you like writing? Then join us at The Muse for the Teen Writers Club! This casual meet-up is part social hangout and part writing. The club is open to all teens with an interest in any creative writing form, including songwriting, comics, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and anything else word related. You don't need to be a Muse student to participate.
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Write Now! with The Muse & Slover Library for Kids & Teens
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Are you looking for a little inspiration? Come on down (virtually), join us and Write Now! A talented and qualified Muse teacher will lead you through an easy, fun, and creative workshop full of writing prompts and creative sharing. Free registration required.
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Register Now for the Hampton Roads Writers Conference: Nov. 9-11, 2023
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Voted Best Writers Conference in the State!
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Scholarships Available from HRW
The Hampton Roads Writers Conference is live and in-person this year, November 9-11 in Virginia Beach. Now in its 15th year, the conference features 1 evening plus 2 full days of workshops, 2 best-selling keynoters (Dani Pettrey & Amy Collins), 2 first-ten-lines critique sessions, 50+ workshops during 10 breakout sessions, ten-minute agent pitches, cash prize contests for short fiction, short nonfiction, and poetry, complimentary 90-minute cocktail social, 2-hour open mic. Registration includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, refreshments throughout the day, a meet and greet with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, a cocktail social (cash bar) with complimentary heavy hors d'oeuvres, the opportunity to enter all the writing contests, the opportunity to present at an open mic, entrance to all the sessions, and the opportunity to pitch to 2 literary agents.
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The Muse is a proud sponsor of the conference, and we will be there! Please register today... If you are a Muse student, you are eligible for the HRW Member rate (just write "Muse student" in the comments box on the registration page and they will refund you the difference, or just become an HRW member and support another great local literary organization). They also have scholarships if you need a little help affording the conference. Learn More.
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Congratulations Scholarship Winners
The Muse Writers Center is excited to announce the winners of the Joan Rorke-McClure Futures Scholarships, made possible through generous donations from William McClure and others. Joan Rorke-McClure was a leading physician, lover of education, and friend to The Muse who always encouraged and helped foster a passion for learning. We awarded three scholarships for the coming academic year, each with a value of $1,000. The winners are Yunseo Chung, Jerome Newsome, and Freddie Tavakoli. Learn more about the awardees.
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You Can Make an Impact, Too
Join William and other donors and support The Muse today. In the past 2-3 years, our outreach to underserved communities has tripled in reach... and we are using the power of creative writing and the literary arts as an expressive arts therapy to aid in the healing of thousands: wounded veterans, teens in juvenile detention, seniors in Alzheimer's care, and persons dealing with cancer, terminal illness, and loss. In addition, our tuition help program for our classes has also grown and seen more requests for help. Now 40% of our students receive some financial aid.
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Come to The Muse and Write
The Muse Writers Center's physical space is open for people to write, meet others, and learn more about The Muse four days a week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See our Locations, Hours, & Directions page for more information..
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The Muse has installed is installing an iWave-R air purification system that uses needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) cold plasma technology to sanitize the air, killing viruses, bacteria, and mold.
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The Muse Writers Center’s projects, classes, and events are made possible in part through sponsorship by the City of Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Business Consortium for Arts Support, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the WeTransfer Creative Hubs Grant. Additional funding has been provided by Virginia Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan of 2020 as well as The Literary Arts Emergency Fund, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and the Norfolk Department of Economic Development.
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