Playwright LaurA! Force Scruggs will share her process of writing “Punk Grandpa,” a mostly autobiographical play about her late grandfather. “Punk Grandpa” is like a modern-day Auntie Mame, with genders reversed. The show is all about the importance of the grandparent/grandchild relationship. The play has been published twice and performed across Chicagoland, twice in New York…

It has sometimes been said that Character = Plot, that interesting characters on their own will drive the narrative of a story. We know that the best books make us feel deeply invested in the characters. That dull books leave you wondering, why should I care? So, how do you do it? How can you describe…

Write On is pleased to present a reading by three Kimbilio Fellows, currently in residence at Write On: Tara Betts, Angie Chatman, and Camille Forbes. The reading is free and open to all but registration is required as seating is limited. A light reception follows the reading. Kimbilio® means “safe haven” in Swahili. We are…

The popular adage “write what you know” is solid advice, but it overlooks the richness that fiction writers can bring to their work by exploring the world beyond their own experience. How much should you write from your own life, and how much should you bring in from the outside world? In this workshop, we…

Both forms — prose poetry and short short fiction — require close attention to language, imagery, and sound. There are certainly similarities. This workshop will explore the thin line between the two forms with examples and short exercises. Let’s raid the borders of poetry and prose. In flash fiction there are visual immersions, or abstract…

In this workshop, we will explore the relationship between people and houses. How does a house reveal the hopes and disappointments of a human life? How can a house become a source of personal pride, the symbol of a relationship, the focus of a dream, or a memory of the past? What is contained, or…

Explore using non-human point of view as a way to comment on humanity in this generative session. We’ll look at a variety of examples of this technique across formats and genres, then try our hand at some fun, bizarre prompts. Suitable for writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or anyone who enjoys playing with words. 

While the market for nonfiction often gives the impression that memoirists and personal essayists must possess extraordinary life experiences, there’s a robust tradition of essayists who find wisdom and unexpected insights in the mundane (sometimes without even leaving the house). This genre, sometimes called the “familiar essay,” stretches back to the origins of the form…

Author Nadine Kenney Johnstone signs copies of her latest book, Come Home to Your Heart: A Guided Journal for Harnessing Your Inner Wisdom and Falling Back in Love with Yourself. Copies of the book will be available for sale by the author.

We think our lives are interesting, but do readers? How do you make your true story resonate with an audience in 1,000 words or less? In this four-week workshop led by memoirist and personal essayist Nadine Kenney Johnstone, you will learn why it’s crucial for writers to write their truth and make readers care right…