Notes from Workshop Writers

Presented by our current artist-in-residence, Writer and Teaching Artist Christine Koubek Flynn, join us for a reading from her novel-in-progress, "A Baby from the Back Row," followed by a writing craft discussion. Bring a notebook to respond to two writing prompts that will help you generate a story idea from your own life. 

Christine's novel-in-progress was inspired by her birth mother and the more than two-million American girls who were sent away to homes for unwed mothers in the 1950s and 60s. 

Westerly Library, Westerly, Rhode Island

June 12 | 6–7:30 pm 

FREE

Life challenges, relationships, identity, loss—these are just a few of the subjects personal essays explore. In this 90-minute workshop we’ll examine short published essays, and 'college essays that worked' to illuminate the ways imagery, dialogue, scene and structure transform a personal experience into a compelling story. In session writing prompts will help you generate ideas and essay beginnings.

Westerly Library Terrace Room, Westerly, Rhode Island

June 25 | 6–7:30 pm

FREE. Registration required

Personal essays are perhaps the genre that has the largest array of publication possibilities—literary journals, newspapers, magazines, alumni publications and more all publish this form. That’s the good news! The challenge: finding the right publications for your story, along with submission guidelines, pay rates and style preferences. 

In this workshop, you’ll learn where to find writer’s guidelines for popular newspaper and magazine essay columns (many with tips from the editor), how to create a submission plan to increase your success, and the pros and cons of submitting essays to newspapers and magazines vs. literary journals. By the end, you’ll have a list of resources and actionable tips to move your submissions forward and increase your chances of publication. 

The Write Haven | Via Zoom | COST: $50

Wednesday, July 23, 2025; 7-9:30 p.m.

This workshop is tailored to writers who have an essay draft they want to shape, polish and begin pitching . We’ll focus on developing your essay-in-progress through close reading of published essays and what they teach us about imagery, dialogue, scene, and how the writer’s experience was shaped into a compelling story.

In the process, we’ll follow the #1 piece of advice editors give writers who want to appear in their pages: “read the magazine,” and study essays from Brevity, The New York Times, The Sun and more. 

The group is capped at eight. Over the course of the workshop, you’ll receive written feedback from your fellow writers as well as detailed notes on your piece from me, polish your essay, and gain insights on places to submit your work!

Five Tuesdays, August 19 –  September 23; 7 – 9:30 pm (eastern time)
No Class on September 2

The Write Haven | Via Zoom | COST: $350

Journeys, relationships, hardships, love, and loss—these are just a few of the subjects personal essays explore. In this introduction to the form, we’ll examine essays from magazines and newspapers to:

• Discuss the difference between retelling an experience and 'the situation and the story'

• How to employ tools from fiction such as scene, imagery and dialogue

• Elements of structure

• Writing compelling first paragraphs that hook a reader

• Crafting an “I” narrator to help transform a personal experience into a compelling story. 

You’ll generate new material each week through in-class exercises and have an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about your essay draft. 

The Writer’s Center | Class Full
May, 20 - June 10, 2025

Identity, belonging, loss and love—these are just a few themes essays written by adoptees explore. In this five-session workshop, we’ll discuss elements of craft using essays that illuminate it from national and regional magazines, newspapers and spoken word essays. Together, we’ll draft potential opening paragraphs and develop our essays using in-class exercises with optional opportunities to share and receive feedback. In the final class, we’ll discuss ways to continue using writing as a tool for awareness and the concept of a personal litmus test for knowing if and when to send a story out into the world. 

5 Wednesdays  March 6 – April 10, 2024; 7-9:30 p.m.

Optional in-person gathering at the workshop’s end.

Note: No meeting March 27.

The Writer’s Center | Via Zoom

COST: $235 Members / $250 Nonmembers

For beginners interested in learning the basics of travel-writing and writers looking to sharpen their skills, this workshop will help participants experiment with various forms of travel writing, from news items to round-ups, reviews, and personal essays. 

We’ll begin by examining work in major newspaper and magazine travel sections, as well as travel publications and websites—all with an eye on each outlet’s specialized formats. Workshop participants will then research an outlet that fits his or her particular geographic niche or interest (Italy, Africa, family travel, cruises, spa, food, adventure travel, etc.) and craft a piece that adheres to that publications’ format and style. We’ll workshop the assignment and discuss the basics of seeking publication.

The Writer’s Center | Zoom 3 nights, Winter, 2024