NOTE: During the coronavius crisis, many of our events and classes are online. Join us!

The Muse Writers Center is the inclusive heart of the creative writing community in Southeastern Virginia.

We are a sanctuary for writers. We provide a sacred space for learning the craft of creative writing, sharing creative work, and fostering a nurturing environment for personal expression and development where writers come together, share ideas, and experience the power that words can hold.

We are professional and compassionate teachers. Our talented and dedicated teachers are working literary artists who meet writers where they are and help them reach their fullest potential.

We are committed to diversity. We strive to create, welcome, and celebrate a diverse community of writers, highlight underrepresented voices, and embrace the power of words to offer thoughtful and provocative commentary on diversity in our society.

We are community builders. We offer events that foster engagement, intellectual and creative stimulation, and a stronger sense of belonging.

We are committed to accessibility and equity for all. We are committed to ensuring that no barriers, financial or otherwise, stand in the way of access to the literary arts. We employ innovative programming, outreach, and technology to serve communities in Hampton Roads and beyond, while constantly striving to adapt to and thrive in the rapidly changing world.

EDUCATION

This year, we are on pace to host nearly 1,500 students in nearly 300 low-cost creative writing classes, workshops, and seminars for persons of all ages, backgrounds, and experience, from beginners to advanced students and professionals.

Genres include poetry, fiction (including science fiction, children’s book, and young adult), memoir, creative nonfiction, magazine features, travel, screenplays, songwriting, plays, comic book/graphic novels, and cook books & food writing. Seminars in writers craft, research, and professional development are also offered each session as well as fun classes in journaling, creativity, calligraphy, zentangle, visual journaling.

Our youth program includes many classes and seminars designed specifically for young, pre-teen, and teen writers.

Our instructors are all working writers, published authors, and experienced professionals who have taught courses at colleges, universities, and other community organizations. Recent MFA graduates who live locally are encouraged to visit us and learn about teaching.

EVENTS & READINGS

This year, we will host more than 300 events and readings, which will attract more than 13,000 people. Events include student readings; teacher readings; readings by local, regional, and national authors and poets; book launch readings; social and networking events; special interest events; musical events; writers group meetings; and other literary events.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH & SCHOLARSHIP HELP

The Muse Writers Center makes every effort to provide tuition assistance and scholarships to those who cannot afford one of our classes. About 26% of our students are on tuition assistance. We also award three $1,000 college scholarships each year and provide writers other professional support.

Our program for youth is growing every year, with classes, camps, readings, and special events for writers ages 6-17. The Teen Writers Fellowship matchES eight aspiring writers with mentors. We also bring the literary arts to underserved schools and community groups with special programs and classes.

It is important to us to make sure the literary arts are accessible to everyone, and we have expanding programs in senior and assisted living centers as well as classes for veterans, service members, and their families, both at The Muse and in military libraries.

Faculty

Featured Writers Include:

John Aguiar, Nishat Ahmed, Sheila Arnold, Robert P. Arthur, Marilyn Barton, Erin Beaty, Remica L. Bingham-Risher, Steven Blythe, Hannah Capin, Jason Carney, Robbie Ciara, Linda Carol Cobb, Deborah J. Cohan, Lisa Cooper, Desiree Cooper, Rebekah Coxwell, Shannon Curtin, Patrick Dacey, Cynthia Davis, Christopher De Matteo, John DeDakis, Alicia Dekker, Susan Deutsch, Dan Duke, Rick Eley, Belinda Elliott, Leslie Entsminger, Patrick Evans-Hylton, Diane Fine, Anna Fitzgerald, Caitie Flum, Rocko Foltz, Cristina Foss, Melissa Frani?, Matt Friedman, Rekaya Gibson, Shawn Girvan, Nathaniel Glanzman, Amanda Gomez, Jacob Gregory, Elizabeth Heaney, Jeffrey Hecker, Lauren Hope, Amanda Huynh, Luisa A. Igloria, Susan Isaak Lolis, Joe Jackson, Ines Johnson, Howard Andrew Jones, Jessica Grace Kelley, Michael Khandelwal, Marcieanna Klaustermeyer, Jean Klein, Christine Koubek, Jayne Ann Krentz, Michael Krentz, Libby Kurz, Megan Kuyatt, Sylvia Liu, Synnika Lofton, Karrie Loomis, Mike Lovely, Rachel Maher, Jennifer Malia, Cathy Malley, John McCarthy, Patti McCracken, Kindra McDonald, Kristin Mehaffey, Adam Meuse, Dinty W. Moore, Lydia Netzer, Lili Nizankiewicz, Renée Olander, Brad Parks, Gavin Pate, Susie Pedigo, Olivia Pelham, L. Penelope, Princess Perry, Zachary Piggott, Peter Porosky, Joy Priest, Sarah Pringle, Abi C. Putnam, Lisa Ray, Noah Renn, Suzanne Rhodes, Nathan M. Richardson, Gabriel Robinson, Tom Robotham, Michelle Ross, Christine Rucker, Steven Salpeter, Colin Sargent, Morgan Sawyer, Jesse Scaccia, Alison Schoew, Lizz Schumer, Tim Seibles, Sheila Sheppard, Remy Smidt, Kelly Sokol, Dana Staves, Joanna Tebbs Young, Jeffrey Walker, Fran Ward, David Weber, Wendi White, Preslaysa Williams

Location

2200 Colonial Ave. #3
Norfolk
Virginia, United States
23517-1915

The Muse Writers Center

The Muse Writers Center fosters and celebrates the literary arts throughout the community and beyond through high-quality education, networking, and support for aspiring and experienced writers of all ages, backgrounds, and means; engaging and creative outreach; and diverse and culturally relevant literary events.