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

AUGUST

Writing Group Coffee Meetup

For Writing Room Members + Friends

Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025

11 a.m. to noon EST

The Congregation Detroit

DWR members part of our monthly Writing Group are invited to a summertime coffee meetup! Grab a drink or treat, and meet us outside at The Congregation Detroit to enjoy a Saturday morning with our writing community! This is an opportunity to chat, get to know each other and swap verbal stories. (We'll resume with structured feedback in September.) If you’re a DWR member interested in joining the Writing Group, we’d love for you to sip coffee with us too! Attendees are welcome to bring a friend. Please RSVP so we know who to expect. 

SEPTEMBER

How to Write a Rockstar Resume

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025

6 - 8 p.m. EST

@ Bamboo Royal Oak

In this market, it's more important now than ever to stick out among the stack of applicants. Writing your resume can be a HUGE homework assignment, leaving you feeling lost. With conflicting information online, self-proclaimed career experts and the everyday stress of life, it can be overwhelming, but look no further! The Detroit Writing Room is partnering with The Resume Rescue to offer a resume writing workshop just for you.

This intimate workshop led by Angela Buccellato will teach you the do's and don'ts of resumes to stay current with job searching trends. She will guide you through each section of the resume to ensure you understand what recruiters want to see. You will also have the ability to curate your resume! You'll walk away from this workshop with an application-ready resume. Early bird tickets are $75 until Aug. 10.

How to Protect Your Intellect

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025

6 - 8 p.m. EST

Virtual

Join us for an engaging and informative Intellectual Property Workshop focused on the essentials of trademarks and copyrights! Whether you're a creative, entrepreneur or small business owner, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to protect your brand, your content and your vision. The virtual workshop is led by attorney April McKie. April is currently the managing attorney at ALM Legacy Legal, PLLC, and she works Of Counsel to Great Lakes Legal Group, PLLC, where she helps small businesses and startups with customized legal business solutions. She has successfully negotiated the rights of her clients to use their registered U.S. Trademark against multibillion dollar companies. Come learn how to legally safeguard what you’ve built – before someone else tries to claim it. Early bird tickets are $75 until Aug. 17.

Book Talk & Signing with Author Ann Berman

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025

6-7:30 p.m. EST

@ The Guardian Building

Supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council

Join The Detroit Writing Room for a book talk and signing with award-winning author Ann Berman! Come celebrate the Wayne State University Press release of Ann Berman's new biography about Louis Graveraet Kaufman — the fabulous Michigan Gatsby who conquered Wall Street, took over General Motors and built the Empire State Building. The event will take place at the historic Guardian Building, one of Detroit's most iconic buildings. Join us on the 32nd floor for wine and beer, appetizers and breathtaking views of Detroit's skyline. During the event, you'll learn about the extraordinary rise of the glamorous, competitive and clever American banking titan born in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Gatsbyesque figure was known for throwing lavish Prohibition-era parties in Marquette, Michigan, where he built the world's largest log lodge.

The conversation will be moderated by Detroit Writing Room coach Laura Berman, an award-winning columnist and journalist. Guests will have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A. They’ll also be entered in a raffle for a copy of the new book, Perspectives Magazine and other prizes! Single tickets are $35. Includes appetizers, wine and beer. Proceeds benefit Coaching Detroit Forward scholarships for Detroit teens to attend our Journalism Camp!

Writing Group

For Writing Room Members Only

Monday. Sept. 29, 2025

7 - 8:30 p.m. EST

Virtual

Writing Room members are invited to participate in a monthly Writing Group led by Coach Laura Berman! Participants are allowed to share up to two pages to get constructive feedback on a written work from Coach Laura and the group. This is an opportunity for Writing Room members to connect and collaborate. Members do not have to share work to participate. Members can email hello@detroitwritingroom.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

OCTOBER

How to Write a Book in a Day

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025

10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST

@ Baldwin Public Library

Your book is calling louder than ever. Answer the call, finally, with a day-long experience that will inspire and instruct you with everything you need to know to write, publish and promote a great book. Author, publisher and Detroit Writing Room coach Elizabeth Ann Atkins will teach you how to write your book in a day. As the bestselling author of nearly 60 books and CEO of Two sisters Writing & Publishing®, this book coach who has taught college-level writing will share her experience and expertise to help you finally write your book. She will inspire with the mindset required to achieve this dream, and she will provide the mechanics required to write an impactful, engaging book that captivates your target audience.

So bring your pens, notepads and laptops, and get ready to write, revise and learn. If you've been confused and overwhelmed, not knowing where to start your book, you'll leave this day-long experience feeling confident and equipped with the structure and knowledge required to finally compose until you type THE END. The day-long workshop includes morning coffee and bagels as well as lunch from Breadless, a local healthy eatery. Early bird tickets are $199 until Sept. 11.

The Art of Revision

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025

10 a.m. to noon

@ Baker College - Royal Oak

The only thing lonelier than a blank page is a rough draft that needs to be edited, trimmed, restructured or polished. Or, worse yet: A manuscript that needs something, but you’re not quite sure what. At its most productive and transformative, revision — itself as much an art as the act of writing — calls for the author to play the role of both sage and pupil, able to identify weaknesses in a piece of writing, brainstorm methods for improvement and solve challenging issues on the page. At once, an author must evaluate style, character, setting, plot — all while fighting the itch to rewrite every sentence in the never-ending search for the best possible turn of phrase!

DWR coach Justin Brouckaert has served as a literary agent, editor and coach to hundreds of authors over the past decade, helping writers shepherd their work from the blank page to bookstore shelves — and, along the way, giving them the tools to become sharper, more thoughtful and more incisive editors.

Attendees of this fun, collaborative and intensive two-hour workshop will walk away with some of those tools. In this session, you’ll learn to implement helpful tips and refine common mistakes, participate in small group workshops and complete exercises meant to refine your vision as a writer and editor. Whether you’re working on a specific project or are just looking to become a more capable editor for yourself or others, you’ll walk away with a new set of strategies, mantras and hands-on experiences that will make the art of revision a little less daunting. The workshop includes coffee and bagels. Early bird tickets are $85 until Sept. 18.

Pitch Perfect for PR Professionals: How to Get Your Client Noticed by National Media

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

noon to 1:30 p.m. EST

Virtual

Are you a publicist sick of hearing crickets from editors? Do you want to learn what makes one prolific journalist tick? Are you eager to find out what PR pitches have actually yielded stories — and what mistakes have landed their teams’ emails on the do-not-open list? Learn it all from New York Writing Room coach Anna Medaris, a health and lifestyle journalist with more than 15 years of experience writing and editing for publications including The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, Business Insider, U.S. News & World Report, AARP, Vox and others. She's appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America and Hulu’s “Age of Influence.”

During this virtual workshop, you’ll get a look behind the scenes of what writers and editors' daily lives (and inboxes) actually looks like, candid advice on how to sell your brand, expert or idea, insight into what Anna’s working on right now and feedback of your own pitches in real time. Early bird tickets are $80 until Sept. 22. Sign up with a colleague for $10 off! This workshop is recorded, and anyone who purchases a ticket will receive the recording.

Writing Group

For Writing Room Members Only

Monday. Oct. 27, 2025

7 - 8:30 p.m. EST

Virtual

Writing Room members are invited to participate in a monthly Writing Group led by Coach Laura Berman! Participants are allowed to share up to two pages to get constructive feedback on a written work from Coach Laura and the group. This is an opportunity for Writing Room members to connect and collaborate. Members do not have to share work to participate. Members can email hello@detroitwritingroom.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

Pitch Perfect for Writers: How to Sell Your Story to National Media

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2025

6 to 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.  Early in her career — with no mainstream bylines or journalism degree — Anna convinced an editor of The Washington Post Magazine to assign her a story about competitive pole dancing. She later caught the attention of Cosmopolitan editors, who paid her to write about the perils of Facebook “memories” for print. Since going full-time freelance in 2023, Anna has built a robust portfolio from her pitches, ranging from a consequential investigation into a fraudulent postnatal “retreat” for New York Magazine to a colorful feature on sauna culture for the New York Post. 

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 on 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. Early bird tickets are $50. Sign up with a friend for $10 off! Writing Room members get 20% off with their member code.

NOVEMBER

The Power of Memoir: How to Write Your Life Story

Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

6 - 7:30 p.m. EST

Oakland Community College - Royal Oak

You want to write your life story. But where should you start? What should you include? And how can you make your memoir pop, dazzle, inspire, motivate, entertain and even influence readers to improve their lives? Get answers during this high-energy, interactive workshop that teaches everything you need to know to master the art of writing your memoir.

Detroit Writing Room coach Elizabeth Ann Atkins, CEO of Two Sisters Writing & Publishing, will draw upon her experience of writing dozens of books, including many memoirs for highly accomplished individuals, such as former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. You'll learn the nuts and bolts of memoir writing, as well as techniques for capturing your readers attention by focusing your content and expressing it with pizzazz. In addition, Elizabeth will teach you how to: express your authentic self; craft suspenseful scenes and cliffhangers that keep your readers turning pages; write realistic dialogue; describe settings; select themes; pick a title for your book; utilize your fiction-writing skills to recreate historic scenes based on your research; bring every scene to life; and so much more. She'll also explain your options for publishing your memoir. 

Looking back on your life is a powerful exercise that has many unexpected benefits. It enables you to celebrate how far you've come and assess where you want to go. Your memoir also educates, inspires, and entertains people by showcasing your unique triumphs, expertise and knowledge. General admission is $69. Writing Room members get 20% off with their member code.

Ask Me Anything with Writing Coach Natalia Aponte

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Noon - 1 p.m. EST

Virtual

Writing Room members are invited to join New York Writing Room Coach Natalia Aponte to ask her anything! Come with questions about a personal project or seek advice from Natalia — a veteran fiction editor — about fiction writing, editing and publishing. This is an open hour to ask questions in a group setting. Or come just to listen and learn! Ask Me Anythings are for Writing Room members only. RSVP to get the Zoom link. Members who RSVP will also receive a video recap.

Photography Exhibition & Perspectives Magazine 2025 Launch Party

Friday, Nov. 14, 2025

5 - 7 p.m. EST

@ Playground Detroit

The Detroit Writing Room and our nonprofit arm Coaching Detroit Forward are excited to invite you to a Photography Exhibition and Perspectives Magazine 2025 Launch Party!

The event celebrates the photos captured by Detroit high school students in Coaching Detroit Forward's Beginner and Advanced Photography Camps as well as articles written by teens who attended our Journalism Camp. Attendees will have an opportunity to view photos on exhibit at Playground Detroit, a Detroit gallery space. The annual award-winning Perspectives Magazine will also be released at the event. The magazine features the students' stories focused on health, the environment, social justice and community news as well as students' photos of downtown Detroit, nature, people, events and more.

Photos on display will be auctioned, with live bidding ending at 6:40 p.m. Proceeds from photos will be split between the student photographer and CDF. There will be appetizers and drinks to enjoy while admiring the students' work. Remarks by coaches will be made at 5:30 p.m., followed by a celebratory toast.

This event is free to attend for students, parents, coaches, Coaching Detroit Forward partners and Detroit Writing Room members. We kindly request that the public and guests make a minimum $10 donation to CDF when registering for a ticket on Eventbrite. Space is limited! Tickets are first come, first serve! Registration closes at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2025.

Copy Editing: What Is It and Why You Should Do It

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

5 - 6 p.m. EST

Virtual

Copy editing is an essential step for any author, but many may not know what exactly it is, and most importantly, the consequences of not copy editing their manuscripts. Pulling from her experience as a book editor, New York Writing Room coach Johanie Martinez-Cools will lead you through the basics of copy editing and how to avoid some crucial mistakes that could impact your writing careers. This interactive virtual workshop is geared toward nonfiction writers and fiction writers whose stories are set in the real world. Attendees will leave with a tip sheet for copy editing their manuscripts. We also encourage you to come with your copy editing questions! Early bird rate is $35 until Oct. 18.

Johanie is available for fiction and nonfiction manuscript editing, development editing, copy editing/line editing, sensitivity reads and proof reading. Inquire about editing your project here.

Writing Group

For Writing Room Members Only

Monday. Nov. 24, 2025

7 - 8:30 p.m. EST

Virtual

Writing Room members are invited to participate in a monthly Writing Group led by Coach Laura Berman! Participants are allowed to share up to two pages to get constructive feedback on a written work from Coach Laura and the group. This is an opportunity for Writing Room members to connect and collaborate. Members do not have to share work to participate. Members can email hello@detroitwritingroom.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

DECEMBER

2025 Detroit Writing Room Awards

Monday, Dec. 8, 2025

Time TBA

@ Detroit Public Theatre

Save the date! Details will be announced soon for our 2025 DWR Awards ceremony! Writers and photographers from Detroit and Metro Detroit are welcome to submit their work by Sept. 3, 2025. All proceeds from the event benefit our nonprofit arm Coaching Detroit Forward.