Classes and Workshops
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For 35 years, I've taught a wide variety of creative writing, composition, and literature classes to adults, children, college students, and incarcerated adults and teens.
I am an encouraging, practical, and inspiring teacher. I love watching students get that "aha moment" as they discover something gorgeous in a poem we are studying, or as they see a way to revise their work and more fully realize their vision for the reader. I have received awards for Excellence in Teaching from The Loft Literary Center, the University of Utah, and the Jerome Foundation. I currently teach at a variety of literary arts centers across the country - as well as at regional book festivals and conferences and in private homes in the Washington, DC area. |
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Upcoming Classes
Starting a Novel or Memoir
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday, June 20, 2026; 10am-1pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
Ready to write that novel or memoir? Or have you started a large writing project and need some sound advice and a clear path forward? With a bit of planning, reasonable goals, well-timed support, and a wider lens you can see your large writing project over the finish line. This class is for writers who are ready to turn their Idea into Action and for those who have started writing but are feeling a bit overwhelmed and could use some guidance and inspiration. This class will provide you with a lot of information and tips to get on and stay on the right track.
Poetry Potluck: 5 Forms in 3 Weeks
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
3 Wednesdays: Aug. 5, 12 & 19, 2026; 7-9pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
Build your literary muscles by practicing a mix of five contemporary and traditional forms: sonnets, golden shovels, abecedarians, villanelles, and sestinas. Classes are a mix of instruction, reading sample poems, lots of tips, Q&A, and sharing what we write (optional, but encouraged). Struggling to find time to write? Each class will include 20-30 minutes of writing time to begin drafting your own poem.
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday, June 20, 2026; 10am-1pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
Ready to write that novel or memoir? Or have you started a large writing project and need some sound advice and a clear path forward? With a bit of planning, reasonable goals, well-timed support, and a wider lens you can see your large writing project over the finish line. This class is for writers who are ready to turn their Idea into Action and for those who have started writing but are feeling a bit overwhelmed and could use some guidance and inspiration. This class will provide you with a lot of information and tips to get on and stay on the right track.
Poetry Potluck: 5 Forms in 3 Weeks
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
3 Wednesdays: Aug. 5, 12 & 19, 2026; 7-9pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
Build your literary muscles by practicing a mix of five contemporary and traditional forms: sonnets, golden shovels, abecedarians, villanelles, and sestinas. Classes are a mix of instruction, reading sample poems, lots of tips, Q&A, and sharing what we write (optional, but encouraged). Struggling to find time to write? Each class will include 20-30 minutes of writing time to begin drafting your own poem.
Feedback from Recent Participants
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Voice & Tone in Persona Poems
"I am loving your class so much. Just soaking up as much as I can. Your teaching style is a really good fit for me and the selection of poems you chose for this class - i want to eat them!! Building a Poetry Chapbook
"Your class has been tremendously insightful to me and helped me think of my work differently already." "Thank you for the well structured and insightful course." Traditional & Contemporary
Poetic Forms "Thank you for the reminder to be OK with being messy and imperfect. What kind and generous words you gave us this morning. I'll take them to heart." Create a Writing Routine That Works
"The handouts were very helpful as takeaways from the class, and Melanie was super awesome." "Practical information that I can implement." "The pacing of class was perfect." |
Line Breaks: Tools of Musical Notation
"This class is fabulous! You are blowing my mind. I should have taken it long ago." Starting a Memoir
"Thank you so much-yesterday was invaluable and far exceeded already high expectations." Revision as Discovery
"I'm looking at revision in a whole new way. The exercises you shared are a game-changer for me!" Writing for Procrastinators
"You are a fantastic instructor! You are very creative in pulling the class together with small discussions and what not. And, I love the reading assignments." "I appreciate your judgment-free class." "Your course has helped me to get started with my writing again, every day, and revitalized my passion for my book. I'm very grateful for what you've given us." Exploring Memoir
"Thank you for this class! Very motivating!" "Many thanks -- very helpful!" " Great class!" Submit Your Stuff to Literary Magazines
"Your class on submitting work was really, really great. I've taken a class in submitting work a few years ago and I have to say, yours was much more thorough." Sestinas!
"Thanks for class today. I just wanted to say, this was by far the best Loft class I've taken. I'll hope to take more from you in the future." |
Reviving Stuck Poems
"Your workshop yesterday was fantastic. It has really opened up my thinking about the poems I revised during the session. A new direction in one and a connection I hadn't totally grasped in the other. I plan to use the activities in the future. Thank you for giving me these most helpful tools. I feel liberated." Write Stronger Poetry Titles
"Thank you for this workshop. You’ve given me great ideas for revision and I appreciate your worksheets; very useful and helpful!" "I really enjoyed your class this morning. I appreciate your organization and excellent teaching style. I learned so much and feel like I have new tools at my disposal to not only create better titles but to improve my poems! Thank you so much." Poetry II: Re-imagining Critique
"Thank you for leading a great workshop. It has helped me be a better reader for others and a better judge of what feedback I would like for my work." Starting a Large Writing Project
"So useful and encouraging! The principles you covered are going to stay with me!" |
Praise
- "Thank you for your class on Submitting Your Poems. I followed your excellent advice and voila! I had 3 poems accepted. This is my first publication in over 10 years. Now I'm ready to keep trying to get my work out into the world - all thanks to you."
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- "Melanie is a treasure—a quirky, committed, talented treasure. She was/is as good or better than anyone I had at my Ivy League university. Most notable, she cares.”
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