Supporting Writers and Everyone Who Wants to Write
The Writer’s Center offers hundreds of writing workshops, hosts dozens of free events, and fosters a community of writers, virtually and in-person.
Workshops & Free Events Calendar
Calendar of Events
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8 events,
Application deadline extended to August 31! Finish your novel in just one year! Do you have a book-length work of fiction that can't seem to find the time to finish? […]
Inspiration, accountability, and the tools you need to get your essays out into the world! Join us for five months of craft lessons, workshops, editor visits, and personal editorial feedback! […]
Tune up the engines that drive your fiction! There are many different engines that power our stories. Plot, character, voice, form, and place are all tools we can use to […]
A bird's eye view of the novel-writing process Deconstructs and demystifies the novel-writing process for struggling and/or aspiring writers. We'll go all the way from getting the nub of an […]
Begin, or deepen, your exploration of poetry with a focus on craft. Each session is devoted to one aspect of craft—imagery, line, form, voice, etc.—and begins with a chance to […]
Learn essential tools for powerful non-fiction writing in different formats. The workshop is designed for beginning writers looking to gain a footing in non-fiction writing of different length and format, […]
Write short, memorable poems! Short poems can reverberate in the mind and memory like a pebble dropped in a lake. Let’s look at some powerful short poems together to come […]
Edit your novel without an editor. Do you have a finished draft of a novel but don’t know what to do next? This workshop will take you through the revision […]
10 events,
Poetics of a Queer Body
Learn about the Poetics of a Queer Body that are within you. Poetry allows us to express our most authentic voice. Whether it be imagining other lives we could be […]
Learn about the Poetics of a Queer Body that are within you. Poetry allows us to express our most authentic voice. Whether it be imagining other lives we could be […]
Speed Scrabble for Scholarships
Play Scrabble, win prizes, and support scholarships for writers! The Writer's Center presents the return of Speed Scrabble for Scholarships, a fundraiser for the Ann McLaughlin Scholarship Fund, providing financial […]
11 events,
How to Write a Lot!
Build an invincible writing routine! You may think you don't have the time, energy, or inspiration to write because of your hectic lifestyle. Wrong! Learn what Kathryn Johnson's Extreme Novelists […]
Show and Tell Intensive
Learning to dramatize, to write in a way that shows what happened rather than tells what happened, is one of the most critical skills a successful writer can possess. A […]
Using the Tools of Fiction in Nonfiction
Enrich your nonfiction with the powerful tools of fiction. Whether you are crafting an essay or writing a memoir, the tools of fiction can bring depth and suspense to your […]
9 events,
Reading Your Work Out Loud
Practice sharing yourself and your story. Spend an evening practicing and learning about the art of public speaking. This in-person coaching session will give you the opportunity to bring your […]
9 events,
Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center
Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and […]
9 events,
Disabled Writers Mixer
Are you a writer who identifies as disabled? Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center to hang out and talk writing! Please bring a drink or an […]
8 events,
The Writer’s Center LIVE! A Variety Show for Literature Lovers
Readings! Live music! Antics! Beer! The Writer’s Center LIVE! is a celebration of literature that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Attendees are treated to 5 exceptional readings, plus a generous […]
8 events,
How to Tell Your Story
Join us for an hour as we discuss and learn different effective methods towards building and developing your story. This workshop is intended to help with all creative projects and […]
8 events,
Novel Year with Diane Zinna
Complete your novel and prepare for publication! Novel Year is an intensive, advanced workshop geared toward writers with either a draft of a novel ready for revision or a novel […]
Complete your novel and prepare for publication! Novel Year is an intensive, advanced workshop geared toward writers with either a draft of a novel ready for revision or a novel […]
Novelist Brooke Shaffner in Conversation with Héctor Vaca Cruz
The Writer’s Center welcomes novelist Brooke Shaffner for a reading and discussion of her award-winning novel, Country of Under. Brooke is in conversation with Héctor Vaca Cruz, documentary photographer and […]
8 events,
Sonnet Crash Course
What is special about the sonnet? Guided by an award-winning and internationally published author of sonnets, villanelles, and other metrical poems, you’ll first read time-honored sonnets to see how and […]
Novelist Fazle Chowdhury Reading and Discussion
The Writer’s Center welcomes Fazle Chowdhury for a reading and discussion of his new novel, The Secrets We Live In. Free and open to the public, register below. Fazle Chowdhury […]
7 events,
How Poems Begin
“Let us go then, you and I, where the evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table...” Poets and poems are often remembered for […]
7 events,
Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center
Prose, poetry, and spoken word Open Mic @ The Writer’s Center! All writers are welcome to come and share 4-5 minutes of their latest work. Sign-up starts at 6:45pm, and […]
Write Like the News
Become concise as news, precise as law. Lead with the future — not background — for lead-ership, especially in a crisis. That’s the most important of eight journalism skills that […]
7 events,
Writing Picture Books II
Learn how to polish your picture book manuscript before submitting to an agent or editor. You’ve drafted your picture book, what’s the next step? Learn to revise and polish your […]
Virtual Craft Chat with Poet Sydney Lea
Poet Lore and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry! We’re joined by Sydney Lea to discuss his latest collection, What Shines. Sydney is […]
6 events,
Intermediate Novel: The 8 Cs of Novel Writing
Are you serious about writing a novel but struggling? This intermediate course will examine the eight fundamental elements of the novel to help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your work-in-progress. From Concept to Conclusion, we will study the key components of a novel, with generative and evaluative exercises along the way. Written lessons, curated online resources, and targeted exercises (along with instructor and peer feedback) will help guide you as you continue to draft your novel. (Note: This course is a good follow-up to Tammy Greenwood’s Intro to the Novel workshop.)
Are you serious about writing a novel but struggling? This intermediate course will examine the eight fundamental elements of the novel to help you find the strengths and weaknesses of your work-in-progress. From Concept to Conclusion, we will study the key components of a novel, with generative and evaluative exercises along the way. Written lessons, curated online resources, and targeted exercises (along with instructor and peer feedback) will help guide you as you continue to draft your novel. (Note: This course is a good follow-up to Tammy Greenwood’s Intro to the Novel workshop.)
Creating Novel Characters
When writing a novel, we must know our primary characters inside and out. We need to understand their desires, motivations, and frustrations, their histories and their futures. This workshop will focus on the development of authentic characters. Participants will examine character as both autonomous and residing within the context of the other novelistic elements, and we will examine the challenge of creating and integrating these various elements into a cohesive and credible whole. Participants will explore the main character(s) in their novels-in-progress.
When writing a novel, we must know our primary characters inside and out. We need to understand their desires, motivations, and frustrations, their histories and their futures. This workshop will focus on the development of authentic characters. Participants will examine character as both autonomous and residing within the context of the other novelistic elements, and we will examine the challenge of creating and integrating these various elements into a cohesive and credible whole. Participants will explore the main character(s) in their novels-in-progress.
Amanda Shaw Book Launch with Sebastian Merrill and a Tribute to Sandra Beasley
The Writer's Center welcomes poet Amanda Shaw for a book launch celebration of her debut collection, It Will Have Been So Beautiful (Lily Poetry Review Books), with Sebastian Merrill, followed […]
7 events,
Getting Your Poetry Published
Expand the audience for your poetry! This intensive one-day workshop will offer all poets—whether they have yet to submit their first poem to a literary journal or are ready to […]
Creative Courage and Self-Care for Writers
Learn how to navigate all phases of the creative process without burning out. As writers, it’s vital that we nurture our creativity through self-care so we can work with our […]
7 events,
Story Plus Style
This participation and feedback heavy workshop will tackle all elements of your storytelling from top to bottom. Participants will develop two original pieces of writing. Each piece will be workshopped twice: once with a focus on story structure, and then a second time with a focus on prose mechanics. Participants will learn the fundamentals of story structure and prose mechanics, and will also gain a better sense for how story and prose interact to create compelling writing.
This participation and feedback heavy workshop will tackle all elements of your storytelling from top to bottom. Participants will develop two original pieces of writing. Each piece will be workshopped twice: once with a focus on story structure, and then a second time with a focus on prose mechanics. Participants will learn the fundamentals of story structure and prose mechanics, and will also gain a better sense for how story and prose interact to create compelling writing.
From Idea to Script: A Beginner’s Guide to Screenwriting
Discover how to translate your passion for screenwriting into actionable skills. Every week students will build on the foundations of story, structure, character arcs, the do's and don'ts, industry standards, and the technical side of writing a script until they have a completed short screenplay that will be workshopped during the last weeks of class. We'll start with one page scripts, build to a three-page script, and finally five to ten page scripts for the final workshop. Please come to class with a few ideas you'd like to use to create a final script.
Discover how to translate your passion for screenwriting into actionable skills. Every week students will build on the foundations of story, structure, character arcs, the do's and don'ts, industry standards, and the technical side of writing a script until they have a completed short screenplay that will be workshopped during the last weeks of class. We'll start with one page scripts, build to a three-page script, and finally five to ten page scripts for the final workshop. Please come to class with a few ideas you'd like to use to create a final script.
How Can We Support You?
Discover more about what we offer in the categories below.
Rent a Space at TWC
Make The Writer’s Center the venue for your next meeting or event in Bethesda, Maryland! From off-site business meetings to theater productions, we have a space that’s right for you.
Our Impact
How We Support Writers
Writing classes. Free events for writers. New friends and networking. Every year, The Writer’s Center delivers hundreds of ways to connect more deeply with the literary life. Our writers hone their writing craft, master editing and revision, share their work, and get published. Most importantly, we bring likeminded writers together into a fun and welcoming community.
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free event attendees
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programs for writers every year
Curated Conversation(s):
a Latinx Poetry Show
Curated Conversation(s) is a virtual discussion series. Season 1 features debut Latinx poets, and Season 2 pairs Latinx poets from the United Kingdom and United States.
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Are you a writer who identifies as disabled? Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center to hang out and talk writing! Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six. You’re welcome to bring a friend, too.
FREE & open to all DMV writers who identify as disabled. RSVP at writer.org!
Are you a writer who identifies as disabled? Join us for an informal gathering at The Writer’s Center to hang out and talk writing! Please bring a drink or an appetizer that serves six. You’re welcome to bring a friend, too.
FREE & open to all DMV writers who identify as disabled. RSVP at writer.org!
We`re hiring! The Writer`s Center is looking for an outgoing, friendly, and organized writer to join our team as a part-time Customer Service Associate & Social Media Coordinator.
This position staffs the front desk on weekends and weekday evenings (as required), as well as some special events. Social media duties can be performed remotely.
Please go to writer.org/employment for more information and email claude.olson@writer.org with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
We`re hiring! The Writer`s Center is looking for an outgoing, friendly, and organized writer to join our team as a part-time Customer Service Associate & Social Media Coordinator.
This position staffs the front desk on weekends and weekday evenings (as required), as well as some special events. Social media duties can be performed remotely.
Please go to writer.org/employment for more information and email claude.olson@writer.org with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you to our Compass Fellows past and present for joining us at The Writer’s Center tonight! And congratulations again to @latesummerstar for being selected as our 2024 Compass Fellow!
Learn more about our fellowship and how to apply at the link in our bio.
Thank you to our Compass Fellows past and present for joining us at The Writer’s Center tonight! And congratulations again to @latesummerstar for being selected as our 2024 Compass Fellow!
Learn more about our fellowship and how to apply at the link in our bio.
Announcing our 2024 Compass Fellowship winner, Malik Thompson! Malik is a Black queer man from Washington, DC. His work is featured, or forthcoming, in Cobra Milk, Sundog Lit, Diode, MQR Mixtape, Oroboro, Poet Lore, and other places. He has received support from Lambda Literary, Obsidian Foundation, Brooklyn Poets, Cave Canem, and other organizations. He can be found on Instagram via the handle @latesummerstar.
If you’re a writer or an aspiring writer looking for where to go next, The Writer’s Center Compass Fellowship is a great place to start! Our renewed fellowship program will introduce a new writer each year to our writing family, to help guide them along the next steps on their path, with $1000 in credits toward any TWC workshops within a two-year period, a $300 cash stipend, and opportunities to be published in The Writer’s Center Magazine and featured in TWC events. Learn more on our website!
Announcing our 2024 Compass Fellowship winner, Malik Thompson! Malik is a Black queer man from Washington, DC. His work is featured, or forthcoming, in Cobra Milk, Sundog Lit, Diode, MQR Mixtape, Oroboro, Poet Lore, and other places. He has received support from Lambda Literary, Obsidian Foundation, Brooklyn Poets, Cave Canem, and other organizations. He can be found on Instagram via the handle @latesummerstar.
If you’re a writer or an aspiring writer looking for where to go next, The Writer’s Center Compass Fellowship is a great place to start! Our renewed fellowship program will introduce a new writer each year to our writing family, to help guide them along the next steps on their path, with $1000 in credits toward any TWC workshops within a two-year period, a $300 cash stipend, and opportunities to be published in The Writer’s Center Magazine and featured in TWC events. Learn more on our website!