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Writing Workshops
LitArts RI writing workshops are open to all levels of writers across various genres and mediums. You must be 18+ to attend.
This year, we're kicking off our workshops with a Writers' Block Party, a day of 4 one-hour micro-workshops on Sat, Feb 8 from 10am-5pm. Get your tickets here.
Please contact Staff if you wish to pay in person by cash or check to avoid Eventbrite fees.​​
CRAFT INTENSIVES | Spring 2025
Diverse Worldbuilding for Novelists
Sat, March 8 + 15, 1-3pm
with Melissa Michal Slocum
Fiction
A character’s world shapes who they become. But building complex worlds that can hold diverse characters and perspectives presents challenges. This workshop will discuss worldbuilding techniques for any project with large and layered worlds, whether they exist in science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, intergenerational novels, or a mystery novel. Considering writers such as Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and Margaret Atwood, we will be inspired to write stories that immerse readers in worlds that illuminate today’s conversations. We will spend the first session defining your world’s details and rules, and the second session incorporating diverse characters into these world settings. Start a novel, strengthen one already begun, or even finish a short story during our exploration of worldbuilding techniques.
Open to fiction writers of all levels and genres. This is a 2-week workshop, with a 2-hour session each week. Please prepare for approximately 1-2 hours of work between sessions.
Melissa Michal Slocum’s (she/her) work focuses on her community’s experiences. She is of Seneca, Welsh, and English descent and is a fiction writer, essayist, and a DEI Consultant. She resides on Narragansett territory. Melissa has work appearing in The Florida Review, Yellow Medicine Review, and other spaces. Her short story collection, Living Along the Borderlines (2019), out with Feminist Press, was a finalist for the Louise Meriwether first book prize. She also writes Indigenous futurism novels.
Unlocking Your Memoir
Sat, April 5, 12, 19 + 26, 12-2pm
with Carlene Fonseca
Nonfiction
Unlock the power of your personal story in this transformative workshop, designed for writers ready to dive into memoir creation. Explore techniques for discovering your unique voice, crafting authentic characters, and embracing vulnerability in storytelling, and find inspiration in the work of Bassel van der Kolk, Michelle Obama, Cheryl Strayed, and Stephen King. Guided exercises and supportive group discussions will provide a safe space to reflect, write, and share, making meaningful progress on your memoir. Whether beginning your writing journey or refining an existing project, this workshop offers the tools, inspiration, and community needed to turn powerful life experiences into compelling, impactful stories.
Open to writers of all levels and genres. This is a 4-week workshop, with a 2-hour session each
week. Optional journal prompts and readings will be provided between sessions.
REGISTER
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Carlene Fonseca (she/her) is the founder of The Greatest You Consulting, a trauma-informed wellness organization, and Core Faculty member at College Unbound. She has a BA in Government from Georgetown University, and an MA in Criminology from George Washington University. Certified in social-emotional learning, yoga, mental health first aid, and racial equity facilitation, Carlene is a dedicated advocate for community empowerment and wellness. Carlene enjoys spending time with her 5 year old, loves hitting the gym, & reading.
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Writing for the Screen
Thurs, May 1 & 8, 6-8pm
with Brianna Cox
Screenwriting
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As filmmaking becomes more accessible, many writers are turning to the screen to develop new creative projects. Yet screenwriting requires knowing robust formatting rules as well as conceptualizing the story in a visual and technical way in addition to the verbal. This workshop presents an opportunity for writers of other mediums (poets, essayists, journalists, novelists) to explore another form of storytelling, as well as for screenwriters who are still discovering their style to hone their craft.
Open to writers of all levels and genres interested in writing for the screen. This is a 2-week workshop, with a 2-hour session each week. Please bring a laptop or tablet (with keyboard) to the workshop if you have one and prepare for approximately 2 hours of work between sessions.
REGISTER
Brianna J. Cox (she/her) is an award-winning writer-director, actor, and filmmaker who works across the industries of film, video, theatre, and television. She uses narrative storytelling to artistically examine themes including gender roles, coming-of-age, mental health, memory, identity, and experiences linked to Blackness and race. In addition to work experience at major news and television networks, Brianna has made several movies which have been featured in film festivals around the country. She received her Master of Fine Arts from Emerson College, her Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, and currently works as an Assistant Professor of Communication and Media at Community College of Rhode Island
Accessibility
All workshops will meet in person at LitArts RI’s wheelchair-accessible literary arts center at 400 Harris Ave, Unit E in Providence, unless otherwise noted. LitArts RI is actively committed to cultivating a community that values and reflects diversity, equity and inclusivity and to providing programming that is accessible to all attendees. Please let us know about any accommodations we can make to allow you to participate fully in these workshops.
