Workshops

What do we gain from transcending notions of genre and form? How can we experiment with structure and style to develop our voices as writers? In this workshop we will take creative inspiration from literary works that blend genres and forms to express each writer’s uniquely authentic voice. We will explore a variety of hybrid styles including prose poetry, zuihitsu, and haibun, and we will read excerpts from Bluets by Maggie Nelson and Bright Felon by Kazim Ali.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso

Poetry begins with the art of attention. This workshop is for adults who feel drawn to poetry but unsure how to begin. Together, we’ll explore how everyday moments become expressive, contemporary poetry through observation, imagery, and voice. Participants will also be introduced to opportunities for publishing their poetry in literary magazines or a poetry chapbook. We will explore a variety of poetic styles and study poems from contemporary poets around the globe to expand ideas for poetic form and style.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso

This workshop is for writers who want to deepen their understanding of the essential elements that shape compelling literary fiction. Through close attention to character, scene, voice, point of view, dialogue, and narrative structure, we'll explore how writers transform lived experience and imagination into resonant stories. Participants will examine examples from contemporary literary fiction and engage in guided exercises designed to strengthen both creative intuition and technical skill. Whether you're beginning a new project or refining your practice, this workshop offers a thoughtful foundation for writing fiction with greater clarity, depth, and intention.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso

Get started writing your book with techniques and guidance to help you craft and revise opening pages that captivate readers from the very first paragraph. You'll learn how to begin in motion, establish mood and atmosphere, introduce compelling questions, and reveal the desires and fears that drive your characters. We'll explore how to create intrigue without overwhelming readers with exposition, holding back backstory until it deepens rather than delays engagement. Whether you're writing literary fiction, memoir, or narrative nonfiction, you'll leave with practical strategies for transforming your first twenty-five pages into an irresistible invitation to keep reading.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso

If you think of your life as a journey, what experiences and insights can you share along the way? What context would you provide? What themes emerge? How can you shape your narrative into a tale that blends adventure and discovery? In this workshop we will write fiction, poetry, and nonfiction inspired by journeys in literary works such as The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, My Great, Wide, Beautiful World by Juanita Harrison, and Life in Three Dimensions by Shigehiro Oishi.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso

What does health and healing look like in each of our lives? What should we reasonably expect from a modern healthcare system? How can our literary practice help us process our experiences with healthcare and healing? In this workshop we will generate our own writing inspired by literary techniques in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction from several authors including William Carlos Williams, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Fady Joudah, Dave Newman, Kay Ulanday Barrett, and Atul Gawande.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso

What is it about the setting, people, and culture that make each city unique? In what ways do our cities serve as a source of inspiration for our own literary and artistic work? And how might we explore the joys and challenges of urban living in order to improve our cities in the future? We will examine these questions and more, studying literary works that feature cities and urban living, and creating our own literary works inspired by cities that have impacted our lives.

Instructor: Abena Ntoso