Miss an event at The Writer’s Center? Watch it here!
We record our readings and panel discussions so you can view them any time you like.
Race Through a Literary Lens – Panel Discussion
October 17, 2020
The Writer’s Center presents a symposium addressing the subject of race in literature and popular culture, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion. Featured writers include Mariah Barber, Edward Farmer, Vanessa Hua, Shanon Lee, and Ivelisse Rodriguez, moderated by Patrick Corvington, writer and TWC Board Member.
Virtual Craft Happy Hours
The Writer’s Center hosts a series of Virtual Craft Happy Hours, conversations with esteemed authors from around the world, sharing their thoughts on the craft of writing.
October 22, 2020
K-Ming Chang, author of Bestiary
October 9, 2020
Anissa M. Bouziane, author of Dune Song
September 25, 2020
Francisco X. Stork, author of Illegal
September 18, 2020
Jose Hernandez Diaz, author of The Fire Eater
September 10, 2020
Alexandra Petri, satirist and author of Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why
September 8, 2020
Ryan North, writer of the graphic novel adaptation of Slaughterhouse-Five
September 3, 2020
Amber Sparks, author of And I Do Not Forgive You: Stories and Other Revenges
August 28, 2020
Tara Campbell, author of Political AF
August 20, 2020
Donna Hemans, author of Tea by the Sea
August 12, 2020
Tope Folarin, author of A Particular Kind of Black Man
August 6, 2020
Mathangi Subramanian, author of A People’s History of Heaven
July 31, 2020
Jessica Q. Stark, author of Savage Pageant
July 24, 2020
Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn, author of A Fish Growing Lungs
July 17, 2020
Kevin Latimer, author of ZOETROPE
July 10, 2020
Lauren Francis-Sharma, author of Book Of The Little Axe
June 27, 2020
Chelsea Bieker, author of Godshot
June 19, 2020
Gale Marie Thompson, author of Helen or My Hunger
May 28, 2020
Jennifer Steil, author of Exile Music
May 14, 2020
Edward A. Farmer, author of Pale
April 29, 2020
Elizabeth Lindsey Rogers, author of The Tilt Torn Away from the Seasons
April 22, 2020
Lilly Dancyger, editor of Burn it Down
April 17, 2020
Jeni McFarland, author of The House of Deep Water
April 2, 2020
Rion Amilcar Scott, author of The World Doesn’t Require You
Unbound: Eric Weiner in Conversation With Peter Copeland
October 14, 2020
DC Writers Room member Eric Weiner talks with Peter Copeland about his latest book, The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers, what a writer or artist can gain from studying philosophy, and how philosophy can help artists find room to create even in the midst of national or personal turmoil.
An Afternoon of Poetry with Nancy Naomi Carlson, Lola Haskins, Susan Sonde & Pamela Murray Winters
October 4, 2020
A virtual reading of exceptional poetry, featuring acclaimed poets Nancy Naomi Carlson, Lola Haskins, Susan Sonde, and Pamela Murray Winters.
David Goodrich in conversation with Andrea Hansell
September 22, 2020
The Writer’s Center celebrates the release of David Goodrich’s new book, A Voyage Across an Ancient Ocean: A Bicycle Journey Through the Northern Dominion of Oil. David is in conversation with Andrea Hansell.
Unbound: Lauren Francis-Sharma and Judith Warner in Conversation with Carolyn Parkhurst
August 26, 2020
DC Writers Room members Lauren Francis-Sharma (Book of the Little Axe and Till the Well Runs Dry) and Judith Warner (And Then They Stopped Talking to Me: Making Sense of Middle School and Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety) talk about their new books, which both cover the fraught teenage years. In a conversation moderated by Carolyn Parkhurst, author of Dogs of Babel and Harmony, Sharma and Warner discuss the fictional and real-life stages when teens begin to grow into themselves, and what writers draw from to write about those years.
Furious Gravity anthology release and reading
May 3, 2020
A virtual reading by contributors to the new anthology of DC women writers, Furious Gravity! Featuring Stephanie Dulli, Amy Freeman, Wendy Goodman, Monique Hayes, Donna Hemans, Beth Kanter, Maggie Nye, Alice Stephens, and Kathleen Wheaton. Moderated by contributor Vonetta Young.
The Writer’s Center LIVE! A Variety Show for Literature Lovers
February 29, 2020
A variety show for literature lovers, featuring nationally renowned authors Rachel Coonce, Dave Housley, Ofelia Montelongo, Rayceen Pendarvis, and Mahreen Sohail. Hosted by Amy Freeman, Brandon Blue, and Emily Holland, with music by Zach Powers.
Mental Illness Through a Literary Lens panel discussion
January 25, 2020
Moderator Patrick Corvington facilitates a discussion with authors Melanie Figg, Abdul Ali, Rocky Callen, Jenny Chen, and GG Renee Hill on the way the literary community addresses mental illness, how we get it right, and where we need to do better. Introduction by The Writer’s Center’s Board Member Vonetta Young.
*Please note that only the first ~25 minutes of the discussion were recorded due to a technical difficulty.
Strong Female Protagonists Panel
December 8, 2019
TWC presents authors Solveig Eggerz, Melanie Hatter, Leslie M. Rollins, and Alice Stephens as they share their thoughts and inspiration for writing strong female protagonists. Moderated by Bethanne Patrick, also known as @TheBookMaven.
Women Writing Crime Fiction: Motherhood, sisterhood and the pursuit of justice
November 17, 2019
Authors Cheryl Head (Judge Me When I’m Wrong), Tara Laskowski (One Night Gone) and Vanessa Lillie (Little Voices) discuss their newly released crime fiction with moderator Angie Kim.
The Writer’s Center LIVE!
November 7, 2019
Featuring nationally renowned authors Jose Padua, Monica Prince, Rion Amilcar Scott, Courtney Sexton, and Kate Wagner.
Kayla Rae Whitaker receives TWC’s First Novel Prize
June 27, 2019
The Writer’s Center is proud to present the McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize to Kayla Rae Whitaker for THE ANIMATORS. Presentation by prize founder Neal Gillen and judge Barbara Esstman.
LGBTQ Authors Panel
June 13, 2019
The Writer’s Center presented a panel discussion with LGBTQ authors from the DC area and beyond, including Aaron Hamburger, Cheryl Head, Emily Holland, Derrick Jefferson, and Angelique Palmer. Our panelists discussed LGBTQ literature, where it’s been, where it is, and where it might be going next in terms of craft, content, and impact on the LGBTQ community.
Autism Through a Literary Lens
June 8, 2019
The Writer’s Center presented a groundbreaking symposium addressing the subject of autism in literature and popular culture. This was the first event of its kind, offering free creative writing workshops followed by a panel discussion, featuring autistic and neurotypical writers. Featured writers included Eric Garcia, Hannah Grieco, Jen Malia, Shanon Lee, and New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Parkhurst.
