Writing Workshops

We offer a range of writing workshops here at the Community Writing Center where you can explore a variety of writing topics in theme-based classes. Past workshops include Journaling for Mental Health, Poetry, Novel Writing, Songwriting, Food Memoirs, and Creative Writing. Workshops are created in response to community requests and are taught by our talented Writing Assistants. If there's a workshop you'd like us to offer in the future, please let us know by emailing us at cwc@slcc.edu.

Most workshops take place at the Community Writing Center. We try to keep the cost of workshops as low as possible, and are able to offer some for free through partnerships and grant funding. Fees can be waived for financial hardship. Otherwise, donations are always welcome. Due to limited space, it is necessary to register in advance if you plan to attend a workshop. Registration will close twenty-four hours prior to the scheduled event. Registrants who choose not to attend may call to cancel up to one week prior to the workshop; after this time payments are non-refundable.

Note: If you have any issues or problems registering online for one of our workshops, please contact us at 801-957-2192 or cwc@slcc.edu for assistance.

Spring & SUmmer 2024 Workshops

Writing for Mental Health: Fiction Skills Fueled by Emotional Intelligence

3-part workshop
Thursdays, April 18, 25, & May 2, 6-8 pm

Elevate your storytelling game with emotional intelligence concepts that evoke powerful connections between your characters and your readers. Perfect for writers of all levels, this workshop explores the complexity and nuance of human emotional patterns and cycles through the art of immersive storytelling. Space is limited, so register now!
Workshop 1: The Emotional Arc of a Character
Delve deep into the intricate tapestry of human emotions and unravel the secrets of crafting compelling character arcs. When stuck emotions are processed into their purified form your characters become wonderfully dynamic and vibrant beings dancing across the pages of your story.
Workshop 2: The Secret to Engaging Scenes
Explore the power of emotional storytelling and learn to evoke feelings that resonate with your audience through imagery, word selection and symbolism. Discover the secrets of engaging scene writing that not only describes but immerses, allowing your readers (and yourself!) to feel the heartbeat of your narrative.
Workshop 3: Playing with Point of View
If you change the way you look at things, the way everything looks changes. This workshop is focused on harnessing the cathartic potential of experimenting with narrative point of view in fiction writing. Explore creative writing exercises that encourage you to experiment with various perspectives, unlocking the freedom to express and understand complex emotions.

Cost: $45. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8

Register for Fiction Skills Fueled by Emotional Intelligence

Dystopian World Building

1-part workshop
Tuesday, April 23, 6-8 pm

A dystopia, also called a cacotopia or anti-utopia, relates to an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice. Popular dystopian stories such as Parable of the Sower, The Handmaiden’s Tale, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and The Hunger Games novels mirror aspects of our society and show us a world that is similar, but more frightening that our own. How do you imagine your dystopian reality? Join us to go over the basic building blocks to create your ultimate dystopian world.

Cost: 15$. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

Tengo algo que contar-I have something to say

1-part workshop
Saturday, April 27, 11-1 pm

¨We can all write, on paper our feelings are immortal¨
This workshop is open to the entire Utah community interested in displaying their writing talents and organizing them on paper. Our main purpose is to motivate everyone to participate in the Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz contest for Artes de Utah México. Workshop will be in: Spanish/English.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

Creative Writing for Young Writers

1-part workshop
Saturday, April 27, 2-4 pm

Hey Writers ages 11-14! Join us for an interactive workshop where you share your creative ideas on things you want to write about when you sign up for this workshop, so we can create a workshop built for you! Topics such as world building, character creation, nature writing, and travel writing and more! Sign up and let us know what creative writing topics you are interested in learning more about!

Cost: Free. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

HORROR AND ROMANCE: A PERFECT MARRIAGE? WITH GUEST AUTHOR ELIZABETH SUGGS

1-part workshop
Saturday May 11, 1-3 pm

Delve into the thrilling world where love meets terror as we dissect the intricate blend of heart-pounding suspense and heart-wrenching passion. From eerie encounters to forbidden desires, join us on a journey through the shadows where love stories take a chilling turn. Unravel the secrets behind crafting narratives that simultaneously send shivers down your spine and ignite flames of longing in your heart. Prepare to be captivated, frightened, and ultimately seduced by the mesmerizing fusion of horror and romance.

Cost: $15. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

GREAT SALT LAKE SPECULATIVE FLASH ECO-FICTION

4-part workshop
Tuesdays May 9, 16, 23, and June 30, 6-8 pm

First Session
Can you write a story in 50 words or less? This flash-writing session gives participants a chance to write nano-length hint fictions and stamp stories, kicking off a four-part workshop series experimenting with speculative eco-fiction addressing Great Salt Lake. With plenty of whimsy in these übershort forms, participants will address issues concerning the lake from within their own imaginative spaces.
Second Session
How can fiction affect an issue as immense and imminent as Great Salt Lake? The second installment of the GSL speculative flash eco-fiction workshop series sees participants hijack a core human survival mechanism: story. Through the means of horror and sci fi, writers will explore how to subvert our collective anxieties about the lake by externalizing, breaking down, and facing that which scares or mystifies us.
Third Session
Salt Lake City as we know it can’t exist without Great Salt Lake—and stories may well not exist without a sense of place. In a third speculative flash eco-fiction workshop in a four-part series about GSL, participants will plumb the workings of how place shapes meaning in writing. As we deconstruct place, we’ll reassemble what we know of GSL while bending reality, shattering calcified understandings of the lake with speculative writing.
Fourth Session
Attuning ourselves to our ecology can set the scene for where we can locate ourselves in revision. With these faculties open and flowing, new movement within this environment may then inspirit new ways to look at what we’ve written as we strive for music within the language of our flash creations.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

FEEL GOOD REVOLUTION: A WRITING & JOURNALING WORKSHOP ON PLEASURE, JOY, & CRITICAL COMPASSION ACTIVISM

1-part workshop
Saturday, June 1, 11:30-1:30 pm

Discover the nuances between pleasure and joy activism, unravel the depths of critical compassion, and learn practical ways to infuse sustainable joy into your life through transformative writing and journaling practices.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8

QUEER(ING) WOMXNHOOD IN UTAH

1-part workshop
Saturday, June 8, 12-2 pm

When womxnhood in Utah is discussed, queer womxn's experiences and identities are often tangential if they're discussed at all. In this workshop, we'll explore the diversity of queer womxnhood in Utah by exploring what makes queer femininity, embodiment, experiences, identities, representations, and writing unique and different from that of our non-queer counterparts. Join us in this workshop where we will examine and dissect the historical and cultural impacts of the frequent erasure of queer womxn's voices and experiences in broader discussions about womxn's liberation. We’ll also explore how damaging storytelling tropes about queer womxn have been used and how we can reclaim and subvert them in our own storytelling. No previous writing experience or preparation required!

Cost: Free. Ages: 16+ Registration is recommended because space is limited
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8

MADLY IN LOVE: LOVE LETTERS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

1-part workshop
Saturday, June 15, 11:30-1:30 pm

Join us for an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and connection in our "Madly In Love" workshop. Delve into the transformative power of love through the art of mad love letter writing. This unique experience invites you to express your feelings, celebrate the highs and lows of your mental health journey, and embrace the magic and intensity of life. Discover the profound beauty in your experiences and connect with others in a supportive and inclusive space. Together, we'll explore the interplay between madness, love, and empathy, fostering a community that values and understands the unique stories of every individual.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8

PENNING PROFIT: THE BUSINESS OF WRITING WITH GUEST AUTHOR ELIZABETH SUGGS

1-part workshop
Saturday, June 22, 1-3 pm

Step into the boardroom of literature as we dissect the essential strategies and savvy tactics required to turn words into wealth. From navigating the ever-evolving landscape of publishing to mastering the art of self-promotion, this presentation is your roadmap to success in the competitive world of writing. Learn how to craft compelling pitches, negotiate lucrative contracts, and build a sustainable career as a wordsmith. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting your journey, discover the insider secrets to monetizing your passion and transforming your literary dreams into a thriving business.

Cost: $15. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER: SALT LAKE TEENS WRITE SUMMER CAMP

4-part workshop
Daily, beginning Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 11, 10 am-1 pm

Calling all middle schoolers! Come write and create with us at our second annual Salt Lake Teens Write Summer Camp at the Community Writing Center. There will be a new workshop each day, anything from Horror fiction to Pet Memoirs! You will also work to submit writing, artwork, and/or photography for inclusion in our Teens Write Anthology in the fall and become a published author or artist. Free continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Cost: Free. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

JORDAN RIVER JOURNALING & STORYTELLING: A NATURE MEMOIR WRITING JOURNEY

3-part workshop
Saturdays, July 13, August 10, and September 14, 1-2:30

Join the Community Writing Center in this three-part workshop series in partnership with the Tracy Aviary Jordan River Nature Center and the Publication Center, where we will explore the natural world around the Jordon River and learn about the wildlife that it supports! This workshop series will guide you through creating a handmade journal and learning the basics of nature writing, and will culminate in a nature walk by the Jordan River.

Cost: Free. Registration is recommended because space is limited.
Location: Tracy Aviary Jordan River Nature Center

DECOLONIAL STORYTELLING

1-part workshop
Saturday July 20, 11-1 pm

Decolonial storytelling is a genre of writing that emphasizes resistance, reclamation, and social change. This workshop will explore historical and modern examples, along with writing techniques that can be incorporated and used to challenge and deconstruct the dominant colonial constructs. We will have discussions, writing activities, and discuss how to amplify marginalized voices and themes.

Cost: $15. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

HORROR FLASH FICTION WITH GUEST AUTHOR JONATHAN REDDOCH

1-part workshop
Saturday, July 27, 2-4 pm

Are you dying to delve into the eerie world of horror flash fiction? Don’t be scared! This spine-chilling workshop will explore the art of crafting chilling yet concise tales in just a few hundred words. This hands-on experience will focus on mastering tension, terror, and twists!

Cost: $15. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8

HOW TO WRITE AN ARTIST STATEMENT, BIO, AND PROPOSAL

1-part workshop
Saturday August 3, 12-2 pm

You spent hours pouring your heart and soul into making something beautiful and you are finally done! Right? Not exactly. Now you've realized that in order for anyone to see it, you are being asked to write a statement about your art and yourself, and you aren't sure what to say. Trying to explain your artwork can be tough for visual people, and often becomes the main barrier that keeps us from applying to exhibitions, markets, and grants. In this workshop, we will go over how to get started writing your artist statement, personal bio, and project proposals. Overcome the overwhelm and stop missing opportunities to show your work!

Cost: $15. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

CREATIVE NON-FICTION

1-part workshop
Saturday August 10, 12-2 pm

Creative nonfiction (memoirs, profiles, lyric essays, and more) has been used throughout history to shape cultural identities, open minds, encourage social action, and offer insider views into injustice and activism. Memoirs and other forms of creative nonfiction have the power to take readers inside your experiences to learn about and empathize with the histories, triumphs, struggles, and desires that shape the collective human experience via a personal, intimate lens. We'll learn about and try out a few forms of creative nonfiction to discover how the personal is political.

Cost: $15. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8.

IT’S IN THE DETAILS: GRAMMAR AND REVISION

1-part workshop
Tuesday August 13, 6-8 pm

Join us for this workshop all about the basics of grammar and revision. Whether it’s your first or fifth draft, we’ll cover everything you need to know about making your next piece of writing perfect.

Cost: $10. Registration is required.
Location: CWC, 210 East 400 South #8