Fall 2025 Classes & Events Catalog
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the heart and passion of this writing community. We kept this top of mind as we put together this calendar of classes and events. It’s possibly our biggest yet—full of opportunities to create new work, to sharpen your craft, to experiment with your creativity, and to better learn the business side of writing.
We’ve got brand new offerings, like our Narrative Nonfiction Class Package and forays into genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense, and Science Fiction/Fantasy, oh my! We’ve also got returning favorites, like our November Write-ins and a Novel Writing Class Package, so you can capture that alchemic fall energy and end the year chock-full of new words on the page. And yet, that barely scratches the surface of what’s in store.
Check out the full catalog below, and we hope to see you around, with inked fingers and big ideas brewing, this fall.
Key:
👋 In-person
🤖 Online class
⭐️ Free event
✏️ Member event
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If you’d like to learn more about applying for available scholarship seats for our Fall 2025 classes, visit the page for the class you’re interested in and scroll down to “Scholarship Information.”
August
Wednesday, August 13
✏️ WLT Intensive: “Composing a Standout Query Letter” with Becka Oliver
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
Are you struggling to write a query letter to send to potential agents? Thinking about approaching an independent publisher and need a query letter to go with your submission? In this workshop, you will learn the necessary components of a query letter and receive feedback on your own letter from the instructor and fellow students.
Thursday, August 21
⭐️ August Third Thursday: “Take Two: Writing, Publishing, and Promoting Sophomore Books”
Live on Zoom / 7:00-8:30 PM CDT
For our August Third Thursday, we’ll be joined by three authors—Mac Crane, David Wright Faladé, and Ursula Villarreal-Moura—who’ve all succeeded in getting their work out there not once, but twice. We’ll hear all about the specific joys and challenges that go along with a second experience in book publishing. Join us to learn from these brilliant authors how to continue carving out space for your work.
Wednesday, August 27
✏️ WLT Intensive: “Composing a Standout Query Letter” with Becka Oliver
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
Are you struggling to write a query letter to send to potential agents? Thinking about approaching an independent publisher and need a query letter to go with your submission? In this workshop, you will learn the necessary components of a query letter and receive feedback on your own letter from the instructor and fellow students.
Saturday, August 30
🤖 2025 Agents Symposium: “Understanding Publishing Contracts” with Jennifer Chen Tran
Live on Zoom / 10:00-11:30 AM CDT
Publishing contracts contain many terms and details that can be confusing to authors. In this presentation, we will review common publishing contract terms and provisions, such as rights granted, royalties, accounting clauses, etc., and discuss whether such terms are drafted in a manner that is beneficial and fair to authors.
September
Tuesday, September 2
👋 ⭐️ One Page Salon
In-person (Austin, TX) / 7:30-9:30 PM CDT
On Tuesday, September 2, join us for our next edition of the one-of-a-kind One Page Salon! It will be a night of revelry and literary fun.
Saturday, September 6
🤖 “Write Before You Write: Outlining, Planning, and Plotting” with Jennifer Ziegler
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Before getting too far into a project, make sure you have a plan — a plan that’s right for the way YOU write.
Tuesday, September 9
✏️ Ask Us Anything: “Hiring a Publicist”
Live on Zoom / 12:00-1:00 PM CDT
Join us for a conversation with professional publicists Stephen Lee of PR by the Book and Cassie Mannes Murray of Pine State Publicity to answer any questions you have about what hiring a publicist entails and what happens after you take that step.
Wednesday, September 10
🤖 “The End of the Line: Exploring Hybrid Poetry” with Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
This class explores the way poetry blends and transcends into hybrid forms. From haibuns to prose poems and so much in between, we will create new works that push your next poem beyond your traditional line break.
Saturday, September 13
🤖 “The Truth Told Slant: Personal Experience Turned into Fiction” with Nan Cuba
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Do you have personal stories you want to fictionalize? This class will introduce techniques for identifying appropriate material and then adapting it for fiction.
👋 ⭐️ Texas Writes in Comanche, TX
In-person (Comanche, TX) / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Texas Writes is a statewide program that brings accomplished authors to rural libraries for a half day of presentations and panel discussions focused on the craft of writing.
Wednesday, September 17
🤖 “How to Blend Personal Narrative and Reportage in Essays and Books” with Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
This class will give writers of all kinds the opportunity to learn how to seamlessly blend personal narrative and reportage in stories and books, with the goal of enhancing the storytelling process and attracting wider audiences.
This class is a part of the Narrative Nonfiction class package.
Thursday, September 18
⭐️ September Third Thursday: “Writing Ensemble Casts”
Live on Zoom / 7:00-8:30 PM CDT
Saturday, September 20
🤖 “Let’s Lighten the Mood: Why and How to Add Humor to Your Stories” with Rachel (R.L.) Toalson
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Humor isn’t just for comedies; the most memorable stories often use humor at opportune moments in the narrative. Discover tips and techniques for incorporating humor into your stories in ways that will deepen. their emotional impact.
Wednesday, September 24
🤖 “Secrets and Shortcuts for Transforming Your Self-Publishing Career” with Cyndi Hughes
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
Stop spinning your wheels—learn the insider hacks that help indie authors work smarter, publish better, and build real careers.
Saturday, September 27
🤖 2025 Agents Symposium: “From Acquisition to Publication” with Stephanie Delman
Live on Zoom / 10:00-11:30 AM CDT
In this webinar, Stephanie Delman of Trellis Literary Management will demystify the period between a book deal and publication as your manuscript goes through edits, copyedits, and proofreads, as well as the in-house, trade-facing, and consumer-facing preparation that goes into launching your book’s big debut.
👋 ⭐️ Pflugerville LIBRARYCON
In-person (Pflugerville, TX) / 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM CDT
October
Wednesday, October 1
🤖 “Anatomy of a Romance” with Sherry Thomas
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
Even though it’s not discussed as much, story structure is just as important in a romance as it is in a mystery or a work of speculative fiction.
Saturday, October 4
🤖 “Narrative Nonfiction Craft Essentials” with Michael Copperman
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
What is the difference between telling what happened, and making an experience felt? What is the difference between a piece that is good, and one that changes our understanding of ourselves, of others, or of the world?
This class is a part of the Narrative Nonfiction class package.
👋 ⭐️ Boerne Book Festival
In-person (Boerne, TX) / 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM CDT
Tuesday, October 7
👋 ⭐️ One Page Salon
In-person (Austin, TX) / 7:30-9:30 PM CDT
On Tuesday, October 7, join us for our next edition of the one-of-a-kind One Page Salon! It will be a night of revelry and literary fun.
Saturday, October 11
🤖 “Pitch Perfect: Pitching Your Story Idea and Landing a Byline” with Julie Poole
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Pitching to online magazines and news outlets is a great way to get your name out there. In this class, you’ll learn how to pitch story ideas that editors will want to assign.
This class is a part of the Narrative Nonfiction class package.
Wednesday, October 15
🤖 “Playing with Form: Exploring New Shapes & Structures in Storytelling” with Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
When it comes to storytelling, form and narrative are inextricably linked. In this class, we’ll investigate the different shapes and structures that stories can take and experiment with new forms in our own work.
Thursday, October 16
👋 ⭐️ October Third Thursday: “Thrills, Chills, & Twists: Writing a Page-Turner”
In-person at BookPeople (Austin, TX) / 7:00-8:30 PM CDT
Saturday, October 18
🤖 “Short Fiction Craft Essentials” with Chaitali Sen
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Short fiction is an extremely versatile art form that allows for a lot of experimentation, but there are still basic craft elements that go into effective short stories.
👋 ⭐️ Texas Writes in Hillsboro, TX
In-person (Hillsboro, TX) / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
Texas Writes is a statewide program that brings accomplished authors to rural libraries for a half day of presentations and panel discussions focused on the craft of writing.
Monday, October 20
👋 ⭐️ Writers Happy Hour
In-person at Radio Rosewood(Austin, TX) / 6:00-10:00 PM CDT
Tuesday, October 21
✏️ Off the Beaten Craft: “Writing for Tabletop Roleplaying Games” with Erin Roberts
Live on Zoom / 12:00-1:00 PM CDT
Join Tabletop Roleplaying Games, or TTRPGs, expert Erin Roberts to learn more about this fun and versatile form.
Wednesday, October 22
🤖 “Applying for Writer Resources: A Guide to Grants, Residencies, and Workshops” with Amanda Wenger
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
Have you ever imagined getting a grant to support your writing time? Attending a residency that offers tranquil space to do your creative work? Receiving feedback from seasoned authors at a workshop to help you hone your craft?
Saturday, October 25
🤖 2025 Agents Symposium: “Publication Day and Beyond” with Tamara Kawar
Live on Zoom / 10:00-11:30 AM CDT
In this webinar, literary agent Tamara Kawar will talk about publication day and what comes next, from day-of expectations to the weeks and months after, including what authors can do for continued publicity and marketing, what sales data to be looking at and when, what the conversation about your next book with your agent can look like, and more.
Wednesday, October 29
🤖 “Creating the Thriller Antagonist(s)” with Richard Z. Santos
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CDT
A good plot relies not only on a compelling protagonist and an interesting setting but a series of antagonists who drive the story forward by putting multiple roadblocks in front of your hero.
November
November 1-29
⭐️ Write-ins
Live on Zoom / November 1, 3, 6, 10, 13, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29
Every November, we bring our writing time and our writing community together for dedicated writing meet-ups throughout the month. Join us for ten virtual sessions, three hours each, thirty hours total.
Saturday, November 1
🤖 “Start Your Novel & Unlock Your Story” with John Pipkin
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT
A good opening is the key to unlocking the rest of the story. This class is intended to give writers useful strategies and techniques for starting a novel.
This class is a part of the Novel Writing class package.
Tuesday, November 4
👋 ⭐️ One Page Salon
In-person (Austin, TX) / 7:30-9:30 PM CST
On Tuesday, November 4, join us for our next edition of the one-of-a-kind One Page Salon! It will be a night of revelry and literary fun.
Wednesday, November 5
🤖 “Writing the Natural World: A 21st Century Reboot” with Christopher Brown
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CST
For any writer in any genre, nature is a presence in the narrative, whether as the central focus or ambient background. In this class, students will learn fresh perspectives on how to approach the presence of nature in their work.
November 8-9
👋 ⭐️ Texas Book Festival
In-person (Austin, TX) / 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST
Tuesday, November 11
✏️ Members Present: “Secrets to a Long, Unshakable Career in Publishing” with Cate Berry
Live on Zoom / 12:00-1:00 PM CST
Join Cate Berry to learn how to navigate the highs and lows of the creative industry including the long waits, rejections, low sales, and how to elegantly level up your career when it flourishes without losing momentum or your creative soul.
Saturday, November 15
🤖 “Researching Your Novel: How to Do It and When to Stop” with James Wade
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:o0 PM CST
Learn how to successfully conduct research for your novel.
This class is a part of the Novel Writing class package.
Monday, November 17
Writers Happy Hour
In-person at Radio Rosewood(Austin, TX) / 6:00-10:00 PM CDT
Wednesday, November 19
🤖 “Show and Tell: The Power of Exposition and Interiority” with Stacey Swann
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CST
When it comes to writing fiction, the phrase “show don’t tell” is so common, most writers have internalized it; however, there can be great power in vivid exposition and in delving into a character’s interiority. In this class, we will explore the ways those techniques can heighten the impact of our scenes and allow deeper access to voice.
This class is a part of the Novel Writing class package.
Thursday, November 20
⭐️ November Third Thursday: “First, Second, and Third: Points of View”
Live on Zoom / 7:00-8:30 PM CST
In this discussion, we’ll be joined by Jasminne Mendez (Aniana Del Mar Jumps In and The Story of My Anger), Jennifer duBois (The Last Language), and Lucas Schaeffer (The Slip) as they share their experiences writing in first, second, and third person, and the challenges and opportunities that resulted from their choice.
Saturday, November 22
🤖 2025 Agents Symposium: “Building a Writing Career” with Ann Leslie Tuttle
Live on Zoom / 10:00-11:30 AM CST
This webinar will strategically explore what to consider during the various stages of the traditional publishing process in order to build a career as a writer.
Texas Writes in Jourdanton, TX
In-person (Jourdanton, TX) / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST
Texas Writes is a statewide program that brings accomplished authors to rural libraries for a half day of presentations and panel discussions focused on the craft of writing.
Saturday, November 29
🤖 “The Art of Revision: Small Lines, Big Moves” with Kimberly Garza
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST
Ready to rewrite? We’ll discuss the many stages of revision, from the big plot moves to the tiny line edits.
December
Tuesday, December 2
👋 ⭐️ One Page Salon
In-person (Austin, TX) / 7:30-9:30 PM CST
On Tuesday, December 2, join us for our next edition of the one-of-a-kind One Page Salon! It will be a night of revelry and literary fun.
Wednesday, December 3
🤖 “Your World as Character: Creating Worlds That Feel Expansive, Unique, and Lived In” with Ehigbor Okosun
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CST
Learn how to define your story’s ecosystems and create or further develop unique worlds, be they fantastical, contemporary, or otherwise.
Saturday, December 6
🤖 “Write the Perfect Ending: How to Leave Readers Satisfied and Wanting More” with Samantha M Clark
Live on Zoom / 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST
Your story’s ending is more than a wrap-up. It’s the lasting impression your readers will take away. Learn how to write endings that readers will love.
👋 ⭐️ Texas Writes in Burkburnett, TX
In-person (Burkburnett, TX) / 1:00 – 4:00 PM CDT
Texas Writes is a statewide program that brings accomplished authors to rural libraries for a half day of presentations and panel discussions focused on the craft of writing.
Tuesday, December 9
✏️ New Member Orientation
Live on Zoom / 12:00-1:00 PM CST
Whether you’ve just signed-up or have been a Member for years, the New Member Orientation is a great opportunity to hear about the ins and outs of membership, including the many member benefits you can take advantage of, special opportunities for members, and the answer to any questions you have.
Wednesday, December 10
🤖 “Writing Towards the Unsayable in Poetry” with Saúl Hernández
Live on Zoom / 6:30-9:30 PM CST
There are moments we wish a mirror told the whole truth of what lies under our skin. In this class, students will learn to write towards the unsayable by exploring theory, analyzing elements of poetry, and looking at poems which risk.