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The Writers Grotto Turns 30!
9/30/24
Donate today to help us reach our goal of raising $30,000 for thirty years of literary excellence.
Writing Children’s Books with Lisa Lerner, Britta Stromeyer, and Stephanie Wildman, moderated by Matthew Felix
9/23/24
Lisa, Britta, and Stephanie will each explain their paths to publishing books in the children’s literature field, including their most surprising and most challenging discoveries. They will describe the children’s publishing landscape, how the field has changed, books that have inspired their own work, and each will read from one of their books. Finally, they will offer tips for aspiring kid lit authors and conclude with time for audience questions.
Join us for our Sept. 20th Reading + Meeting on Climate Writing!
9/5/24
Join us for an evening of readings on climate writing by The Writers Grotto Members Nina Schuyler, Julia Scheeres, Lindsey J. Smith, and TK Rex, hosted by Heather June Gibbons. All are welcome.
Applications Now Open for 2024 Rooted & Written Conference
8/21/24
Rooted & Written is the first fully funded, tuition-free premiere professional writing conference offered for writers of color in the country, if not the world. Forty Rooted & Written Fellows will be selected for seven days of classes/workshops, and mentoring, plus the opportunity to participate in “Conversations” with featured literary luminaries. Apply now!
Grotto Nights is a monthly series at the Library featuring The Writers Grotto members who will showcase and discuss their writing around a theme of their choice. This month features Eleanor Vincent, Audrey Ferber, Sabina Khan-Ibarra, and moderator Sophia Raday writing about marriage. The authors will discuss their work and take questions from the audience.
Rin Kelly Scholarship Now Accepting Applications - Deadline Extended to Sept. 15th!
7/30/24
Deadline extended to Sept. 15th! The Rin Kelly Scholarship for Fiction is now accepting applications. Founded in honor of The Writers Grotto student and author of "Into the Laughing Gas World" Rin Kelly, the Rin Kelly Scholarship for Fiction offers three $350 scholarships to emerging fiction writers with a focus on speculative, imaginative and critical/satirical works. Please click the link for submission guidelines and to learn more.
August 16th Reading + Meeting: Navigating the Literary Landscape with Agent and Author
7/25/24
Join us for our next Reading + Meeting and special new member welcome on August 16th. This month will feature Danielle Svetcov in conversation with Bonnie Tsui as they discuss navigating the literary landscape as agent and author. All are welcome!
Join us for our next Reading + Meeting on July 19th!
7/3//2024
Please join us for a special Reading + Meeting on Friday July 19 from 5 - 7PM with award-winning journalists Laura McClure, Carly Stern, and Christopher D. Cook who will read from their latest work and discuss journalism during a critical election season, ongoing culture wars, and disinformation, moderated by Terry Tierney.
Pen Your Path to Success: Summer Writing Classes at The Writers Grotto
5/20/24
The poetry of science, funding your writing project, connecting with your writer's voice, and more this summer! Check out our latest newsletter to see all of our upcoming summer classes.
May 17th Reading + Meeting: Crafting Children's Books
5/6/24
Are you interested in learning more about writing children's books? Come and join us for this special event. Our experts Maxine Rose Schur , Stephanie Wildman , Lisa Lerner and Rachel Levin will first read short excerpts from their wide-ranging body of work. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the craft and business of writing children’s books, moderated by Doug Henderson. They will talk about how the industry has changed over the years, how to get started and the intricacies of writing stories and nonfiction for kids. Our authors will also have some books to sell - they make great gifts!
We have nineteen new accomplished members who have joined! We will be celebrating with a special Reading and Meeting on April 19 from 5PM - 7PM. We will be featuring four authors - Doug Henderson, Shikha Malaviya, Lenore Weiss and Moazzam Sheikh for Reading and Meeting.
Our spring classes are here! From Plotting Your Novel to the Business of Freelancing to screenwriting classes to our next Write-In series, we have it all! Check out our full lineup today.
Join four Grotto members releasing books in March - Caroline Paul (Tough Broad), Grace Prasad (The Translator's Daughter), Karla Brundage (Blood Lies: Race Trait(or)) and Katie Flynn (Island Rule). Please come out and support them as they read and discuss their work. Emceed by Maury Zeff.
Join us for TJPA's Salesforce Park Words & Stories Feb. 29th *Postponed*
2/19/24
Join us this Thursday for ‘Words & Stories’ - A reading series showcasing the newest literary creations penned by award-winning authors from The Writers Grotto. This month-long series of live readings will be held at Barebottle, in TJPA’s Salesforce Park, located in the Main Plaza at 425 Mission St., San Francisco. The readings will take place on Thursdays throughout February from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.
Join us for TJPA's Salesforce Park Words & Stories Feb. 22nd
2/19/24
This month-long series of live readings will be held at Barebottle, in TJPA’s Salesforce Park, located in the Main Plaza at 425 Mission St., San Francisco. The readings will take place on Thursdays throughout February from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Readers this week are Samz R. Nesh, Christopher Cook, T.K. Rex, and Giovanna Lomanto, curated by Sabina Khan-Ibarra.
Join us for TJPA's Salesforce Park Words & Stories
2/14/24
Join The Writers Grotto every Thursday in February for our Words & Stories series. This date features readers Pia Chatterjee, Leigh Lucas, and Terry Tierney, curated by Sabina Khan-Ibarra.
Reading + Meeting: Carol Edgarian in Conversation with Bridget Quinn
2/14/24
Carol was an internationally-bestselling novelist and Bridget an adjunct prof in art history and freelancer when she found Carol’s phone number (landline) listed in a 1998 issue of Poets & Writers and gave her a (cold) call. Bridget was looking for help with a novel manuscript; Carol supplied much more: essential craft instruction, generous mentorship, and twenty-five years of friendship. They’ll discuss the myriad ways they’ve navigated their work and the rest of life: the perils and payoffs, the stresses and rewards, what it means to each of them to be a literary citizen, and, finally, coming to terms with your own unique path. Join us on Friday, Feb. 16th, for a conversation with Carol Edgarian with Bridget Quinn.
The Writers Grotto is a community of working writers and narrative artists who connect in physical and virtual space, pooling our talents to support each other, mentor and teach others, and engage the wider world. The Grotto fosters a literary culture that is generous in spirit and deeply inclusive, elevating writers of all backgrounds. Please consider supporting The Writers Grotto in its mission this Giving Tuesday.
Join us on Friday 11/17 for our last Reading and Meeting of 2023! We will have Rebecca Black, who will read excerpts from her memoir, Heather June Gibbons, Kate Bussato and last year's Rooted and Written fellow Roopa Ramamoorthi. Emceed by Saila Kariat. Followed by happy hour with our amazing spread (with a few surprises).
Our 2023 Rooted & Written Conference is underway! Rooted & Written is the first fully funded, tuition-free premiere professional writing conference offered for Writers of Color in the country, if not the world. Please visit the Rooted & Written website linked below to learn more and view our keynote speeches and student readings.
Applications are now open for Rooted & Written 2023, the Bay Area's free conference for writers of color from November 4th - 12th. Application deadline is midnight October 21st.
Join us for our next Reading + Meeting on Friday, Sept. 22nds, from 5-7pm at The Writers Grotto. It will be emceed by Susan Ito and features Beth Winegarner, Lee Ann Prescott, Tara Dorabji and T.K. Rex. Followed by our customary happy hour. Please mark your calendars!
Check out our latest classes and write-ins, including the new yearlong class and Craft & Career: The Writers Grotto Lecture Series. Click below to see our full line-up of classes and events!
You're Invited: Fall Classes Virtual Open House Wednesday, Aug. 23rd, from 7-8pm
8/21/23
Join us for our virtual open house this Wednesday, August 23rd, from 7-8pm to learn about our upcoming fall quarter classes! You can join our Zoom call at any time during this hour.
Join us at our next Reading + Meeting on August 18th!
8/4/23
Do you yearn to hear great work, have a nice glass of wine and some hors d'oeuvres on a Friday evening? Join us for Reading and Meeting! Our fabulous readers are Sarita Sarvate, Pia Chatterjee, Elizabeth Svoboda and Doug Henderson. Emceed by our beautiful poet Heather Bourbeau. Event to take place on the Mezzanine level.
Announcing the 2023 Rin Kelly Scholarship for Fiction
8/1/23
The family of Rin Kelly is offering three $350 scholarships to emerging fiction writers with a focus on speculative, imaginative and critical/satirical works. Scholarships are awarded through The Writers Grotto, and are eligible for use toward enrollment in The Writers Grotto fiction classes during the period of November 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. Please check out the link to learn more about eligibility and the application process. Applications are due September 1, 2023. Works produced during scholarship-funded classes at The Writers Grotto are also eligible for expedited editorial review, feedback, and consideration for publication by the editors of The Fabulist Magazine.
Grotto Nights at San Francisco Public Library: Why We Love Mysteries
7/31/12
On August 8, San Francisco Public Library will once again host Grotto Nights, when Writers Grotto members will showcase and discuss their writing (via zoom) around a theme of their choice. This month features Terry Tierney, Pia Chatterjee, and Sophia Raday on Why We Love Mysteries: The Genre and Motif of Discovery.
Join us for our next Reading + Meeting on June 23rd!
5/29/2023
Reading and Meeting with fabulous authors Shanthi Sekaran, Jenny Bitner, Rachel Chalmers and Terry Tierney. Emceed by Sabina Khan-Ibarra. Please come out, hear their latest work, gain insight through an informal discussion and enjoy happy hour afterwards!
Announcing the launch of Writing Services at The Writers Grotto!
5/23/2023
The Writers Grotto is pleased to announce the launch of our Writing Services. With a mix of bespoke and flat fee services, clients can find the perfect fit for their writing needs. Visit our classes and event page to see the full list of writing services currently offered. More writing services will be added throughout the year, so check back often, or contact us at classes(at)writersgrotto.org to request a writing service to fit your needs.
Autofiction: Combining Memoir and Fiction with Jenny Bitner is named one of Reedsy's best of 2023!
5/22/2023
The Writers Grotto is pleased to announce that Jenny Bitner's class "Autofiction: Combining Memoir and Fiction" has been named one of Reedsy's best of 2023! Congratulations to Jenny Bitner - we're thrilled to have you teach with The Writers Grotto!
Join us for our next Reading + Meeting on May 19th!
5/10/23
We have an exciting Reading and Meeting lined up for May 19th with Rita Chang-Eppig, Maxine Rose Schur, Karla Brundage, and Audrey Ferber, emcee'd by Terry Tierney. Stay for happy hour and meet up with fellow Grotto members and other creatives. We hope to see you there!
Our mezzanine space is available for sublease. This space is perfect for organizations that are looking for convenient conference or event space. Click the link below to learn more, or contact us at classes(at)writersgrotto(dot)org.
Announcing our next Reading + Meeting - plus a welcome to new members!
3/28/23
We have an exciting Reading and Meeting lined up for April 21st with Rowen Leong Singer, Laird Harrison, Saila Kariat, and Heather Bourbeau, emcee'd by Laurie Ann Doyle. Stay for happy hour and meet up with fellow Grotto members and other creatives. Register today to secure your spot!
Check out our latest newsletter to see our new spring classes and write-ins! Plus join us for a virtual open house on Monday, March 20th, to learn more about our classes program.
Join Us March 12th For A Panel Discussion On The Secrets of Publishing!
2/8/2023
This event will focus on the burning question lodged in the back of every writer’s mind: how do I get published? This robust panel — comprised of a literary agent, an acquisitions editor and two authors — will help you crack the code. We’ll discuss the latest developments in the publishing industry and share success stories and tips for making your submission stand out. The panel will be followed by a Q & A and a mixer.
Join Rita Chang-Eppig, Susan Ito, and Grace Loh Prasad for Grotto Nights at the Library!
2/5/2023
Grotto Nights is a monthly virtual series with the San Francisco Public Library featuring The Writers Grotto members who will showcase and discuss their writing around a theme of their choice. This month features Rita Chang-Eppig, Susan Ito and Grace Loh Prasad, all writing about regional and family histories in fiction and nonfiction. The authors will discuss their work and invite the audience to participate in an activity related to the theme.
Join us on Thursdays throughout February at Salesforce Park for an evening of poetry! This event is free and open to the public. Our next event is on March 2nd at 5pm.
We have an exciting Reading and Meeting lined up for Feb 17, with Louise Nayer, Doug Henderson, Jenny Qi and Rooted and Written fellow Christl Rikka Perkins. Please mark your calendars! Please RSVP using the link below, and spread the word! We will be putting flyers in bookstores, libraries and coffee shops. Stay for happy hour and meet up with fellow Grotts and other creatives. We hope to see you there!
Artist Reception by Leah Korican - Jan. 29th, 2023
1/15/2023
On January 29th there will be an artist's reception from 2-5pm with an artist's talk and reading at 3:30. Leah is also a writer and memoirist. We have a new artist-in-residence at the Grotto, Leah Korican, and her work is now displayed throughout the 6th floor as well as the Mezzanine. Please come to the Grotto to check it out, and especially to our artists’ reception on Sunday, January 29th! The title of her exhibit at the Grotto is “Normalize the Incredible.” In addition to the art opening, Leah will be collaborating with Write-Ins and other forms of ekphrastic (art inspired) writing, and hands-on art carving workshop.
Grotto Nights with San Francisco Public Library Jan. 3rd, 2023
12/30/2023
Grotto Nights is a new monthly series at the Library featuring The Writers Grotto members who will showcase and discuss their writing around a theme of their choice. This month features Lee Kravetz author of The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. and Jenny Bitner author of Here Is A Game We Could Play in conversation about mental health in fiction. The authors will discuss their work and invite the audience to participate in an activity related to the theme.
The Writers Grotto winter class catalog is now launched! Check out our newsletter to see upcoming classes and write-ins, including our new season pass for write-ins!
Join the Writers Grotto for a special Reading and Meeting on Friday, November 18th, from 5-7pm at 1663 Mission St. Writers Grotto members featured include Kathy Seligman, Sabina Khan-Ibarra, Christopher Cook, Louise Nayer, and Dominic Lim, with Ethel Rohan MCing the event. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided.
Art by Leah Korican and Simo Neri now featured in our mezzanine!
8/26/2022
The Writers Grotto is pleased to feature work by artists Leah Korican and Simo Neri in our mezzanine space. To learn more about their art, please visit www.leahkorican.com and simoneri.com