by Writing Workshops Staff
2 months ago
Listen Here
Welcome back to the Craft & Community Roundup! I'm Hope, and I'm absolutely thrilled to share what's coming up the week of June 2nd at WritingWorkshops.com. We have six incredible classes starting, each offering a unique pathway into the heart of storytelling craft.
Let's dive right in, starting Monday, June 2nd, with not one but two powerful memoir classes.
First, we have Lauren Brazeal Garza leading Writing Life: Exploring Memoir and Personal Essay. Lauren, author of the acclaimed memoir-in-verse Gutter, will guide you through four weeks of generative writing, exploring how memory connects and shapes our stories. This class meets Mondays from 5:30 to 7 PM Central, and you'll leave with up to four new drafts and the confidence to share your story.
Also starting Monday evenings is Mira Ptacin's deeply moving class, Paper, Memory, and Light: Writing Through Grief in Flash Nonfiction. Mira, whose memoir Poor Your Soul was named a best book by Kirkus, creates a compassionate space for writers carrying grief of any kind. Meeting Mondays from 6 to 8 PM Eastern, this four-week workshop uses flash nonfiction to navigate loss, memory, and healing.
Tuesday, June 3rd brings us two fantastic options. Robert Anthony Siegel—novelist, memoirist, and Iowa Writers Workshop graduate—launches The Storytelling Lab." Over five weeks, you'll dissect five masterful short stories, from Haruki Mirakami's "Spaghetti" to Mavis Gallant's "The Ice Wagon." Each session combines close reading with craft talks and generative exercises. It's perfect for writers who love understanding how great stories work.
Also on Tuesdays, Lynne Golodner offers Finding Your Voice, a four-week intensive designed to help you discover your unique writing voice and write with purpose. Lynne, author of ten books, creates an incredibly supportive environment where writers at all levels thrive. This one meets from 4 to 5 PM Eastern.
Wednesday, June 4th, novelist Derek Milman starts his six-week workshop, From the Inside Out: Crafting Characters Who Drive Plot. Derek's novels have earned starred reviews and Hollywood attention, and he'll teach you how to create characters who don't just react to plot—they generate it. The first three weeks focus on character development, while the final three are dedicated to workshopping your novel outline.
Finally, Saturday, June 7th, Emmy Award-winning writer Dan Robert from "The Baby-sitters Club" and "Nine Perfect Strangers" presents The Art of Adapting Source Material for Film and TV. Whether you want to adapt your own novel, a fairy tale, or historical material, Dan will guide you through the process of moving from page to screen. You'll finish with a compelling pitch, broken story, and opening scene.
What strikes me most about this lineup is the incredible range—from intimate memoir work to character-driven fiction, from close reading to screenwriting adaptation. Each instructor brings not just expertise, but genuine passion for nurturing writers at every stage.
These classes fill up quickly, so if any of these sparked your interest, head over to WritingWorkshops.com to secure your spot. Remember, these aren't just classes—they're communities. You'll leave with new work, new skills, and new connections with fellow writers who share your passion.
That's our roundup for the week of June 2nd. I'm Hope, and I'll see you next time on the Craft & Community Roundup. Until then, keep writing!
