Join The Detroit Writing Room for book talks, workshops and more!
The Detroit Writing Room hosts virtual and in-person events throughout the year, including book talks, writing workshops, retreats and more. We also partner with local and national writers interested in leading workshops. Check below to see what’s coming up next.
Upcoming Events
NOVEMBER
The Writer’s Sprint
Nov. 8, 2026
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. EST
Michigan Central Station’s Literary Lounge
Are you having a hard time focusing on your writing project and need an extra push to make progress? The Writer’s Sprint is designed to help you meet your goal with minimal distractions. Hosted by Detroit Writing Room workshop leader Jen Williams, the event features two focused 1-hour writing sessions, a break for food with Q&A, and time to connect with others.
Whether you are working on fiction, a memoir or a business plan, all writers are welcome. Think of it as protected writing time in community with others. DWR coaches will be available to provide guidance or answer questions as needed. We’ll bring views of the city, coffee, brunch and a celebratory beverage. You are welcome to bring whatever you need: a laptop for typing and research or a notebook for plotting and planning. And if you listen to music while writing, please bring personal headphones to help reduce noise in the space. Come solo or invite a friend to partake in our writing community! Single admission is $35.
Ask Me Anything with Coach Anna Medaris
For Writing Room Members Only
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026
Noon - 1 p.m. EST
Virtual
Writing Room members are invited to join New York Writing Room Coach Anna Medaris to ask her anything! Come with questions about a personal project or seek writing advice from Anna, an award-winning journalist. This is an open hour to ask questions in a group setting. Or come just to listen and learn! Ask Me Anythings are free and for Writing Room members only. RSVP to get the Zoom link. Members who RSVP will also receive a video recap.
Pitch Perfect for Writers: How to Sell Your Story to National Media
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Are you a freelance journalist who keeps getting ghosted by editors? Or a writer intimidated by the idea of pitching big-name outlets? Or someone with a compelling story but without a roadmap for where and how to tell it? Get the nitty-gritty details from New York Writing Room coach Anna Medaris, a health and lifestyle journalist with more than 15 years of experience landing successful pitches in publications including The Washington Post, Women's Health magazine and Vox. As a former editor at outlets including U.S. News & World Report and Business Insider, Anna also knows what catches staff editors’ eyes — and the increasing insanity of their inboxes.
Join this virtual workshop to dissect Anna’s real pitches that yielded “yeses,” learn strategies for finding what editors are looking for, demystify how “full-time” freelance journalists make ends meet and get feedback on your own story ideas in real time. This workshop also includes an opportunity to have your pitch reviewed by Anna! Early bird tickets are $50 until Oct. 11.
The Shape of a Draft: The Art of Developmental Editing
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026
6 - 7 p.m. EST
Virtual
The important first step to writing is to get your thoughts on the page. But when your draft is complete, a critical eye for big-picture components is crucial in the revision process, when your story begins to take shape. In this workshop led by New York Writing Room editing coach Johanie Martinez Coolz, we'll draw on the core principles of developmental editing — genre, pacing, worldbuilding, character development and theme — to finalize the story structure of your manuscript before it goes to the line editing and copy editing phases. This workshop is for fiction writers but can also apply to creative nonfiction writers. Early bird tickets are $45 until Oct. 18.
Perspectives Magazine 2026 Launch Party & Photography Exhibition
Friday, Nov. 20, 2026
6 - 8 p.m. EST
Playground Detroit
Celebrate the stories and photos captured by local high school students part of The Detroit Writing Room Journalism Camp and Coaching Detroit Forward’s Photography Camps! The 2026 edition of Perspectives Magazine will be released at this event. The magazine features the students' stories focused on community news, health, social justice and education as well as students' photos of downtown Detroit, nature, people, events and more. Photos by the students will be on display and auctioned; proceeds will be split between the student and Coaching Detroit Forward to support future programs. Enjoy appetizers and drinks while admiring the students' work.
Remarks by coaches will be made at 6:30 p.m., and the 2026 Geraldine Madison Trailblazer Fund for Women in Journalism scholarship recipients will be announced. We hope you join us for this celebratory evening!
Tickets:
This event is free to attend for students, parents, coaches, Coaching Detroit Forward partners and Detroit Writing Room members. General admission is $10 for all other guests. All ticket proceeds support Coaching Detroit Forward.
Fiction & Non-Fiction Writing Groups
For Writing Room Members Only
Monday, Nov. 30, 2026
7 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Writing Room members are invited to participate in a monthly Writing Group. The non-fiction group is led by Detroit Writing Room Coach Laura Berman, and the fiction group is led by New York Writing Room coach Johanie Martinez Cools! Participants are allowed to share up to two pages to get constructive feedback on a written work from the coach and fellow writers. This is an opportunity for Writing Room members to connect and collaborate. Members do not have to share work to participate. Members can email events@detroitwritingroom.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.
DECEMBER
Pen & Persistence
Dec. 8, 2026
7 - 8 p.m. EST
Michigan Central Station
Pen & Persistence is a space for writers who understand that the hardest part of the writing journey isn’t the craft but everything that comes with it. Writers will come together not to workshop or critique, but to support one another through the doubts, anxieties, rejections and to celebrate the small victories. Whether you’re stuck, waiting for that acceptance email, or trying to make time for the page amid a busy life, this is a place to commiserate, listen and remember that you don’t have to carry the writing journey alone. Led by writer Della Cassia, the group will meet quarterly in-person, with additional Zoom meetings in-between. Free for DWR members. General admission is $20 per event.
Registration closes at 7 p.m. the day before each in-person event. Anyone who attends at least one in-person session will be invited to attend the Zoom sessions at no additional cost!
JANUARY
Series: Write Your Book in 4 Weeks
Thursdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2027
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
You've been dreaming about writing your book for years — but every time you sit down to actually write it, you freeze. Where do you even start? What if you write for months and it goes nowhere? Unfortunately, the overwhelm of turning a vague idea into an actual manuscript has kept you stuck in the planning stage, rewriting the same opening page, watching the deadline you never set for yourself quietly disappear. You don't need more inspiration. You need a clear, proven strategy and a trusted expert who can lead you from struggling to write…to experiencing the thrilling moment when you’re holding your completed manuscript in your hands.
That's exactly what bestselling author and book coach Elizabeth Ann Atkins brings to this four-week intensive. She’s a trusted expert who has helped hundreds of authors across America turn scattered ideas into finished manuscripts again and again, by providing the structure, accountability, and confidence to finally start writing a book that will make you proud — and maybe even become a bestseller. Retail
Join us for all 4 dates or drop-in for single sessions. Single sessions are $75, or attend the full series for $267 (a $33 savings!). Register for the package by Dec. 15, 2026 and receive a free copy of Elizabeth’s book "Write Your Book in a Day: The Blueprint for Turning Your Book Dreams into Published Reality."
Story Structure: Not Always Three Acts
Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Struggling with the three-act structure? Do your story beats just not line up with the craft advice you've been given? It's not you — it might be a structural mismatch. Join author and editor Mia Tsai for an exploration of story structures beyond three acts that may fit your work, with an emphasis on two-act works such as operas and musicals, poetry forms, and objects and concepts in real life as inspiration for story scaffolds. We'll use plot and tension graphs to reveal where the real climaxes of our stories are, then shift beats around in our outlines to better fit a new structure. Mia will use her own experimental four-act structure, the Texas Hold ’Em Structure, as an example. Come prepared with a completed work of novelette length or longer, an outline and plenty of writing utensils. Early bird tickets are $40 until Dec. 14, 2026
Income Streams for Writers & Authors — and the Readers Who Love Them
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2027
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Writers and authors don’t have to rely on book sales alone — and readers can play a powerful role in supporting the literary ecosystem while building their own platforms. This workshop led by author Sylvia Hubbard explores practical, sustainable income streams available to both creators and the book-loving community that champions them. Participants will learn how to launch and grow a book-focused blog, from choosing a niche to crafting engaging posts that attract loyal readers. We’ll cover where and how to request free review copies (ARCs), how to build relationships with publishers and authors, and how to leverage social media to expand reach and credibility. The session also breaks down the essentials of affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates, Bookshop.org and other revenue-generating opportunities that reward your love of reading.
Whether you’re an author looking to diversify your income or a reader hoping to turn your passion into influence, this workshop offers actionable strategies, insider tips and a roadmap for transforming book enthusiasm into meaningful revenue. Early bird tickets are $40 until Dec. 27, 2026.
FEBRUARY
How to Self-Publish Your Book Worldwide on IngramSpark
Monday, Feb. 8, 2027
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
You finished your manuscript, or you’re about to, and now you’re wondering: How do I actually publish this? If self-publishing sounds confusing, or you assumed Amazon was your only option, this course will open your eyes to a bigger, better path. It’s called IngramSpark, part of Ingram Content Group, the world’s largest wholesale book distributor. Many writers have never heard of it, yet it puts the power of publishing in your hands on a truly global platform. IngramSpark prints and ships your book on demand and distributes your hardcover, paperback and ebook to 40,000 retailers and libraries around the world, including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Target, Walmart, and yes, Amazon.
Please note: this course is about self-publishing on IngramSpark. It is NOT about self-publishing on Amazon. You don’t need to publish on Amazon separately, because IngramSpark distributes your book to Amazon automatically, along with thousands of other outlets. One platform, worldwide reach.
As your own publisher, you keep total control over your book’s design, production,and marketing, and you retain all royalties. Learn from a seasoned expert who has published more than 70 books on IngramSpark for herself, her family and authors across America through her Metro Detroit-based company, Two Sisters Writing & Publishing®. Early bird tickets are $65 until Jan. 8.
MARCH
The Stories We Keep: Using Objects to Unlock Memory and Meaning
March 1, 2027
6 - 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Santé Wine Tasting Room in Farmington
What can a coffee cup, a scarf, a photograph or a piece of jewelry reveal about a moment in time, an experience or a special person in your life? Join essayist and journalist Della Cassia for an interactive workshop exploring the literary technique known as the Objective Correlative — the use of objects to evoke emotion, reveal meaning and deepen storytelling. Through guided writing exercises and discussion, participants will learn how everyday objects or keepsakes can serve as powerful entry points into memoir, personal essays and short stories. Whether you're struggling to access a memory, develop a scene or add emotional depth to your writing, this workshop will provide practical tools you can use immediately.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a meaningful object. Everyone will leave with new writing, fresh insights and a deeper understanding of how the things we keep can help us tell the stories that matter most. Please bring your favorite notebook or writing materials. We'll supply the purple pens! The workshop includes your choice of a glass of wine or a wine flight with three 2.5-ounce pours. Tickets range $65-$75. Members can use their code for 20% off!
Beyond the Book Launch: Helping Readers Find Your Books in the Age of AI
Wednesday, March 24, 2027
6 - 8 p.m. EST
Virtual
What if the secret to marketing your book isn't promoting it more often, but understanding what your readers are already searching for? Readers don't always begin their searches with a book title or an author's name. Often, they're looking for answers, exploring personal interests, solving problems or seeking stories that reflect their experiences. These everyday searches create valuable opportunities for authors to connect their work with the people who are most likely to appreciate it.
In this approachable, practical workshop, children's author, educator and digital marketing strategist Debbie Gonzales explores the relationship between reader search behavior and book discoverability. Drawing from her years of experience studying search patterns and evergreen content, Debbie introduces the fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), explaining what these evolving technologies mean for authors.
Participants will learn to recognize the searchable themes within their books, identify the questions and interests that motivate readers, and consider practical ways to make their work more discoverable across today's changing digital landscape. Whether you're preparing for your first book launch or hoping to introduce new readers to your backlist, you'll leave with a fresh perspective on author visibility — and a clearer understanding of how your stories can continue finding readers for years to come. General admission is $65.
Locations Where We Hold Workshops!
Want to host a Detroit Writing Room workshop at your business, organization or venue? Email events@detroitwritingroom.com