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
Memoir? Maybe?
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026; 10am-1pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
This class is for writers who are exploring the idea of writing a memoir. Maybe you have an idea, or half of an idea, or a strong pull to tell your story, but you’re not sure what this dream looks like on the ground. Let’s talk about it. We’ll look at the logistics (size, time commitment, final product) and also talk about strong mindsets, good planning, and ways to keep the momentum. We'll do some in-class exercises to help you get focused, get organized, and plan for potholes. Create a realistic plan so you can succeed! Join me and let’s get a strong roadmap in place.
Titles as Portals to Revision
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026; 10am-1pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
What makes a good title? How can a title expand a poem’s meaning and impact? How can a weak one hold back important revisions or steer a draft in the wrong direction? In this class, we’ll review the six main kinds of titles and study strong examples (from short to long, from specific to abstract). With some informative in-class exercises, we’ll use our current titles as portals: seeing the draft newly and deepen our revision efforts to find the heart of the poem and expand its reach. Bring 2-3 poems (not first drafts) that still need a good title and some more revision—you’ll work on them in class.
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026; 10am-1pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
This class is for writers who are exploring the idea of writing a memoir. Maybe you have an idea, or half of an idea, or a strong pull to tell your story, but you’re not sure what this dream looks like on the ground. Let’s talk about it. We’ll look at the logistics (size, time commitment, final product) and also talk about strong mindsets, good planning, and ways to keep the momentum. We'll do some in-class exercises to help you get focused, get organized, and plan for potholes. Create a realistic plan so you can succeed! Join me and let’s get a strong roadmap in place.
Titles as Portals to Revision
Sponsored by The Writer's Center
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026; 10am-1pm ET on Zoom
Register now!
What makes a good title? How can a title expand a poem’s meaning and impact? How can a weak one hold back important revisions or steer a draft in the wrong direction? In this class, we’ll review the six main kinds of titles and study strong examples (from short to long, from specific to abstract). With some informative in-class exercises, we’ll use our current titles as portals: seeing the draft newly and deepen our revision efforts to find the heart of the poem and expand its reach. Bring 2-3 poems (not first drafts) that still need a good title and some more revision—you’ll work on them in class.
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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