The Muse Writers Center
2023_01_31_classes

Spring Classes are Starting Now, Register Today!

We have an amazing Winter/Spring 2023 In-Person, Online, & Hybrid class, workshop, and seminar schedule that starts in late January and runs through April. You can find the right class for you by genre or in a searchable calendar and register now. Tuition assistance and flexibility is always available if you need it. Just check that box on the payment form.

You'll find our introductory classes and workshops in Poetry, Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Screenwriting, Comics/Graphic Novels, Songwriting, as well as many great classes for Young Writers and Teens . Plus we have a great series of all-new craft, creativity, knowledge, and professional development 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.

What Should You Take Next?

In most of our genre areas, we have created a "#3" and "#2" class that comes in between the "#1" class-level and the workshop-level. If you don't see a higher-level class in your genre, then it's fine to move to the workshop-level. If you are already in the workshop-level, it's fine to stay with your teacher or explore other teachers or genres.

Winter/Spring Classes Starting Now...

Nonfiction & Memoir

  • Memoir, Magical Art, and Mental Well-being: 6-meeting online class that begins Thursday, February 2, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Lisa Cooper. More information
  • Nonfiction 2: Diving into Style and Forms: 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Wednesday, February 8, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Shawn Girvan. More information
  • The Memoir Workshop: 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Wednesday, February 8, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). More information
  • Memoir Exploration: 6-meeting online class that begins Thursday, February 9, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Lisa Cooper. More information
  • Nonfiction 1: The Art of Writing True Stories: 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Thursday, February 9, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Shawn Girvan. More information

Poetry

  • Begin, See, See Again: A Poetry Workshop on Revision: 4-meeting hybrid class that begins Saturday, February 4, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Instructor: Tim Seibles. More information
  • The Advanced Poetry Workshop: 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Thursday, February 9, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Noah Renn. More information

Screenwriting

  • The Advanced Screenwriting Workshop: 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Tuesday, February 7, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Diane Fine. More information

Comics & Graphic Novels

  • The Comic Book & Graphic Novel Workshop: 6-meeting hybrid class that begins Wednesday, February 8, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Rebecca Tigner. More information

Fiction

  • The Fiction Workshop (Thursday Mornings): 6-meeting online class that begins Thursday, February 9, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Erin Beaty. More information
  • Start Your Novel Workshop: 6-meeting online class that begins Thursday, February 9, 7-9:30 p.m. (bi-weekly). Instructor: Cassandra Clarke. More information

Writers Craft

  • Write Great Sentences: A hybrid class that meets Saturday, February 11, 1-3:30 p.m. Instructor: Jean Klein. More information>
2023_01_31_events

In-Person, Online, & Hybrid Events

Writers Coffee Break

Friday, February 3, 10 a.m.-Noon, In-Person at Cafe Stella Ghent, More information
Join us as we come back together and meet in-person 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 Alison Schoew. We look forward to seeing your faces!

Writers Zoom Meet-Up

Tuesday, February 7, 5-6 p.m., Online, More information
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.

The Muse Neighborhood Jam

Friday, February 10, 7-10 p.m., In-Person at The Muse, More information
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.

Projects, Passions, and Possibilities Writing Group

Saturday, February 11, 1-3 p.m., Online, More information
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

Gathering Magic: A Fantasy Writers Group

Saturday, February 11, 1-3 p.m., In-Person at The Muse, More information
Come join us for our monthly fantasy writers gathering. Some writing, come critique, some craft talk, some camaraderie with other fantasy writers--those of us who revel in wardrobe doors and rabbit holes, who would rather work on inventing a language than learning French, who long for something this world doesn't offer.

757 Comic and Cartoon Creators

Saturday, February 11, 4-7 p.m., In-Person at The Muse and Hybrid, More information
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.

Teen Writers Club

Monday, February 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., In-Person at The Muse (Hybrid), More information
Are you a teen? Do you like writing? Then join us at The Muse every 2nd and 4th Monday 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.
2022_publishing_v2_email

Please Fill Out Our Publishing Survey

We are compiling a list celebrating the publishing success of everyone who has ever been involved with The Muse Writers Center--students, teachers, volunteers, event attendees, etc.

Please fill out our survey. It will only take a few minutes.

Past or forthcoming, self-published and traditionally published, short or book... any genre!

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..

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.

Stay Connected! Join The Writers Reservoir on Facebook

Visit facebook.com/groups/WritersReservoir and connect with other writers and share articles, essays and personal experiences about being a writer in the world today as well as information about places to submit, contests, conferences, and more. The Writers Reservoir is more than a writers’ resource, it is a writers’ community! It is a place where writers can share, learn, connect and find that often elusive creative spark. The Writers Reservoir is a Facebook group. All writers are welcome to join and send invitations to join.
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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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