Upcoming Workshops

  • Workshop: The Power of Place: Turning Setting into a Storytelling Tool

    • October 25, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 16
    Register

    The Power of Place: Turning Setting into a Storytelling Tool

    Hosted by Misha Lazzara

    In this engaging two-hour workshop, author and educator Misha Lazzara explores how setting can be a powerful tool to heighten conflict, build tension, and sustain momentum in your writing. Whether you write fiction, memoir, or essays, the world you build matters—on the macro level (place, time, history, culture) and the micro level (sensory detail, weather, objects, mood).

    We’ll look at examples from a variety of authors and discuss how setting can work as a character, mirror, or obstacle. You’ll walk away with strategies to make your settings more meaningful and effective in shaping your narrative and deepening your story.

    To learn more about Misha, see https://www.mishalazzarawrites.com/


    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
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  • Student Creative Writing Workshop, Grades 5- 12 (No Adults)

    • November 08, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte
    • 24

    Back By Popular Demand - Student Creative Writing Workshop!

    Join Charlotte Writers Club’s FREE creative writing workshop. 

    The Salons are FREE for students (grades 5-12) across the Carolinas.

    Sorry - no adults, please. This is just for kids!

    Each Salon will focus on the craft and elements of writing (character development, development, dialogue, conflict, world-building, genres, etc.).

    Of course, writing, lots of writing! Writers gathering to do what we love and encourage each other to discover and nourish our creatives selves

    Register today! Only 24 seats available.

    Instructors:

    Morgan Jackson is a historical fiction, young adult, and fantasy writer. Her stories center around Black women and girls doing extraordinary things for the people they love. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education, with concentrations in English Language Arts and Social Studies. She lives in Charlotte, NC where she works as a teacher and freelance editor.

    Axel Dahlberg holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (University of Minnesota) and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing (Arizona State University). He taught writing (creative, rhetoric, argumentation, technical, and business) for seven years at Arizona State University. He is a published author and a professional ghostwriter and editor. He is currently completing a novel.


    If you have questions or thoughts,

    please contact membership@charlottewritersclub.org

    We look forward to seeing you!

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  • Workshop: Writing for Young Readers

    • November 15, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 18
    Register

    Writing for Young Readers

    Hosted by Carol Baldwin

    Join writer, teacher, and mentor Carol Baldwin for a dynamic workshop designed to help you shape your story for young audiences—whether you're writing picture books, middle grade, or young adult fiction. Carol’s passion for nurturing writers shines through her engaging instruction and years of experience guiding others from idea to polished manuscript.

    This workshop will be tailored to the interests of registered participants, offering practical tools, feedback, and encouragement. With Carol’s support, you’ll better understand your target age group and leave energized to take the next steps in your writing journey. Perfect for new and experienced writers alike.

    Learn more about Carol at https://carolbaldwinbooks.com/


    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details

  • Student Creative Writing Workshop for Grades 5- 12

    • January 10, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte
    • 24

    Back By Popular Demand - Student Creative Writing Workshop!

    Join Charlotte Writers Club’s FREE creative writing workshop. Students will learn the elements and craft of narrative across all genres and formats. We’ll begin with a reading and a discussion around creative narratives, exploring character, plot, setting, and theme. You will then craft your own story and workshop your piece with peers and the instructors. Finally, since writing is all about rewriting and polishing your work, you’ll have the opportunity to recraft your piece after the peer review for further evaluation.

    Best of all, the workshop is FREE. Yes, FREE.

    Register today! Only 24 seats available.

    Instructors:

    Morgan Jackson is a historical fiction, young adult, and fantasy writer. Her stories center around Black women and girls doing extraordinary things for the people they love. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education, with concentrations in English Language Arts and Social Studies. She lives in Charlotte, NC where she works as a teacher and freelance editor.

    Axel Dahlberg holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (University of Minnesota) and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing (Arizona State University). He taught writing (creative, rhetoric, argumentation, technical, and business) for seven years at Arizona State University. He is a published author and a professional ghostwriter and editor. He is currently completing a novel.


    If you have questions or thoughts,

    please contact membership@charlottewritersclub.org

    We look forward to seeing you!

    Show details

  • Workshop: Plotting vs. Pantsing

    • January 24, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 20

    Plotting vs. Pantsing 

    Hosted by Sarah Archer

    Plotting vs. Pantsing: In this class, we'll tackle the age-old writers' debate: do you plot your stories in advance or discover them as you write? We'll cover tips and approaches to take you seamlessly from idea to first draft, including the difference between brainstorming and outlining, ways to employ act structures in an outline, how to enrich characters at the planning stage, digital and analogue tools for writers, and the benefits of leaving room for the spark of inspiration. This class is appropriate for writers of all levels and genres. 

    Sarah Archer is an acclaimed author, teacher, and writing coach known for her insightful guidance and deep knowledge of the publishing world. Her debut novel, The Plus One, was published in multiple countries and was optioned for film. She has also developed screenplays with studios and production companies. Sarah has been published in literary journals and national magazines and has taught writing workshops for CWC and across the country.


    https://saraharcherwrites.com/


    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details

  • Workshop: Structure, the Narrative Arc, and the Trusty Footbridge: A Study in the Shape of Memoir

    • January 31, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 20

    Structure, the Narrative Arc, and the Trusty Footbridge: A Study in the Shape of Memoir

    Hosted by Barbara Presnell

    While the narrative arc--that old inverted checkmark--offers solid possibilities for shaping your story, not all memoirs fit so neatly into that structure. Your goals of maintaining flexible degrees of tension and keeping your readers engaged can be achieved in other ways. Maybe your life story is more like a board game--a sort of Indiana Jones experience where our hero encounters obstacle after obstacle in search of the treasure. Maybe your story takes a circle shape. Maybe an hourglass, maybe a staircase. Here we will take a look at several possible ways of shaping your story in order to find the way that seems most natural for you, all the while building tension and engaging the reader. 

    Barbara Presnell is a writer and teacher of writing who lives in Lexington, NC. Her five books of poetry include Piece Work, which documents the textile industry in North Carolina through the eyes of its workers, and Blue Star, the story of 100 years of war and its effect on one family. In addition, her essays and columns appear in many journals and online sites. She has taught writing to students in community colleges, private schools, and public universities in Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina, and is Senior Lecturer Emeritus at UNC-Charlotte. Read more of her poetry and prose at www.barbarapresnell.com.


    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details

  • Workshop: Prompt & Spark: Craft Your Own Book of Writing Inspiration

    • March 14, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 20

    Prompt & Spark:

    Craft Your Own Book of Writing Inspiration

    Hosted by Lisa Otter Rose

    Join author and educator Lisa Otter Rose for an inspiring, hands-on workshop where you’ll begin creating your own book of writing prompts using photos, words, art, and other sources of inspiration. Whether you write fiction, memoir, or poetry, this workshop will help you generate ideas and capture creative sparks that lead to powerful stories. Leave with a personalized collection of prompts designed to keep your creativity flowing long after the session ends. Perfect for writers at any stage looking to overcome writer’s block, ignite new ideas, or simply play on the page. Come ready to explore and create!  PS. Please bring scissors, glue stick, magazines and any other interesting ephemera.

    Lisa Otter Rose is the former treasurer of the Charlotte Writers Club. She is just as comfortable using the right side of her brain as her left. She is the author of You’ve Got Verve, Jamie Ireland! an award-winning children’s novel set in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. Lisa enjoys writing children’s stories, personal essays, flash-fiction, and autobiofictional tales. She creates things with her hands and heart through her hand-made books, mixed-media art, and watercolor paintings. Her ABC prompt book serves as inspiration in her writing and art. 

    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details

  • Workshop: The Method (and Madness) of Getting Published: Contests, Literary Journals & Beyond

    • March 21, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 20

    The Method (and Madness) of Getting Published: Literary Journals, Contests & Beyond 

    Hosted by Maureen Sherbondy

    In this dynamic two-hour workshop, award-winning poet and fiction writer Maureen Sherbondy shares her tried-and-true process for submitting poetry and fiction to contests and literary journals. Drawing from her extensive publication record in journals like Calyx, The Oakland Review, and Prelude, Maureen will offer practical strategies for identifying the right opportunities, polishing your work, and navigating rejections.

    Participants will gain insight into what editors and judges look for—and how to stay motivated through the highs and lows of the submission journey. Whether you’re new to submitting or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session will inspire and equip you to share your work with the world.

    Learn about Maureen at https://www.maureensherbondy.com/


    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details

  • Workshop: Writing with Loss: Finding Light in Elegy

    • April 25, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Room 106, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 20

    Writing with Loss: Finding Light in Elegy

    Hosted by Irene Honeycutt

    Join acclaimed poet and teacher Irene Blair Honeycutt for a two-hour workshop exploring elegy as a gift that can help us transcend, not “get over” grief.  This session will focus on how the elegiac poem offers a place for us to not only mourn our losses— be they humans, pets, trees, relationships—but to also pay tribute to what has enriched our lives.  With compassion and insight, Irene will draw from her own elegiac poems and those of others, classical and contemporary, as ways of encouraging participants to write an elegy about one of their own deep losses.

    Writers will leave with insights into how the elegiac poem fosters healing, provides resilience, and shines some light on the path of grief. All levels welcome.  Bring paper, pen and a small object that reminds you of a particular loss. 

    Learn more about Irene's latest book at https://charlottelit.org/press/mountains-of-the-moon/                          

    Workshop Requirement: To fully participate in the discussion, all attendees are asked to have a copy of Mountains of the Moon by Irene Blair Honeycutt. We'll explore the elegiac thread throughout the collection and examine selected poems in depth, including the drafting process behind them.


    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details

  • Workshop: The 3 Authors: The Path to Publication, a Candid Conversation

    • May 02, 2026
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Providence United Methodist Church, Second floor Youth Room, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211
    • 75


    The Path to Publication: A Candid Conversation with Three Authors

    Hosted by Ann Campanella, Lisa Williams Kline, & Gilda Morina Syverson

    In today’s evolving publishing world, writers have more options than ever—but which path is right for you and your particular project? In this dynamic and honest panel discussion and Q&A, three successful authors share their real-world experiences navigating the publishing landscape—from self-publishing to working with small presses to finding an agent and signing with the Big 5. You'll learn about the benefits and challenges of each path, how to evaluate your goals for each project, and what steps to take next. This workshop offers valuable insights and candid advice to help you make informed decisions about your publishing journey. Come with questions, leave with clarity.

    Ann Campanella, a former magazine/newspaper editor, is an award-winning memoirist and poet. Her first memoir, Motherhood: Lost and Found, was named “One of the best Alzheimer’s books of all time” by BookAuthority. Her second memoir, Celiac Mom, was a 2024 silver medalist in the Readers' Favorite Awards. Her recent memoir is The Shoulder Season: A Memoir of Fracture and Grace. She has experience with independent presses and self-publishing. An advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, celiac disease and other health issues, she serves as a director for AlzAuthors.

    Lisa Williams Kline has published 14 books with publishers both large and small, for adults as well as children. Between the Sky and the Sea (Dragonblade) and Ladies’ Day (CamCat Books) are her most recent award-winning novels for adults. Her latest novel, The Bristlecone Writers’ Group, is just out from Harpeth Road Press. She lives in Davidson with her veterinarian husband, a cat who can open doors, and a sweet chihuahua who has played Bruiser Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical.

    Gilda Morina Syverson, an award-winning author, poet, artist and teacher, has taught memoir-writing classes for over twenty-five years, including 15 years at Queens University of Charlotte. Her expertise has earned her recognition as one of LinkedIn’s top memoir instructors. She is also a Healing Touch Practitioner. Her first memoir, My Father’s Daughter, From Rome to Sicily, won numerous awards, and her second memoir, A Healing Journey, from 9/11 Beyond the Pandemic was recognized as a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She has had success working with independent publishers.

    Workshop Refund Policy:

    If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.
    Show details