The Writers' Workshop of Asheville, NC

02/19/2026

Check out our upcoming events!

02/19/2026

Check out ur upcoming events!

03/04/2025

MARCH 8: EDITING YOUR OWN WORK with Karen Ackerson
Writers of fiction and non-fiction books and stories will learn how to edit and revise their works before submitting to an agent or publisher. Techniques will be taught on how to grab the reader's interest by eliminating unnecessary details, building tension, creating strong characters, and fine-tuning dialogue and descriptions. Participants may bring five pages (double-spaced) to the class for discussion. Karen Ackerson, founder of The Writers' Workshop, is Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency (renbourne.com), and has edited hundreds of novels, memoirs and creative non-fiction stories.
Meets in person Saturday, 10-4. $90/$80 Workshop members.

MARCH 22: SCREENPLAY WRITING WORKSHOP
with Nathan Ross Freeman

​ Participants will learn all aspects of writing the screenplay, including formatting, characterization, sequence structures, and how to adapt any genre to a screenplay. whether you're a beginner or not. Need a trailer to promote your book? Want to adapt your poems into Short Films, or adapt that novel into a feature -length screenplay? These days our books, poems, essays, stories require some sort of script adaptation to maximize the potential for publishing and distribution. Nathan Ross Freeman, award winning script writer, filmmaker, creative writing educator will share the rudiments of screenwriting and by days’ end you will have all the tools to script your work. He has taught Screenwriting and Playwriting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Salem College’s Visiting Writer Series. He wrote the Independent Feature Film, Mr. Bones, and the Feature Documentary Authoring Action, awarded Best Documentary at the 2010 Swansea Bay Film Festival and the International Youth Film Festival. His credits include the feature films Gem and Mr. Bones, the official selection of major film festivals; Hannah Elias; and Authoring Action, awarded 2010 Best Documentary in the U.K. He has taught workshops all over the Southeast,
including UNC-Charlotte and Salem College.
Meets online Saturday, 10-4. $90/$80 Workshop members.

APRIL 12: WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS with Karen Ackerson
Participants will learn how to turn personal and family experiences into a compelling memoir for family and friends, or for publication. In-class writing exercises will help to identify life-changing events, to be used as the backbone of a memoir. Discussion will include creating a sense of place, dialogue, and enhancing one's writing style. Karen Ackerson, a biographer and Senior Editor at The Renbourne Editorial Agency, has taught workshops throughout the Southeast for over twenty years.
She is writing her own memoirs about her world-wide adventures; and interviews with award-winning writers such as Vonnegut, ​le Carre, Welty, Matthiessen et al.
Meets in person Saturday, 10-4. $90/$80 Workshop members.

10/11/2024

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10/22/2021

Have you signed up for any of our fall workshops yet? Don't miss out - head to our website for more details and to register!

10/15/2021

FALL WRITING WORKSHOPS! We have lots of exciting opportunities for writers coming up. Don't miss out - go to our website for details on each workshop and register!

10/10/2021

EXTENDED DISCOUNT DATE FOR THE WRITERS BEACH RETREAT!!! Sign up by Oct 12 and get a 10% discount!

10/06/2021

Updated dates for our WRITERS BEACH RETREAT! Sign up by Oct 8 to get a 10% discount!

09/29/2021

Literary Fiction Contest Deadline September 30th!!!

09/15/2021

WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!!

With all the donations we’ve received so far, we’ve been able to raise $4,500!! We thank those that have already contributed generously and ask for your continued assistance.

The Writers' Workshop was established in 1985 to promote writers and readers through a diverse program of literary events. As the only non-profit literary center in the Tri-State region of Western North Carolina, we work to serve readers and writers of all backgrounds. Since our inception, over 21,000 adults, teens and children have participated in our workshops, seminars, readings, contests and retreats. The Writers' Workshop has played a vital role in sponsoring and promoting local and regional events that showcase the literary community.

Due to a culmination of unfortunate unforeseen circumstances during this unprecedented time, The Writers’ Workshop is in urgent need of YOUR help!

Along with all the hardships the Covid 19- Pandemic has brought, our Founder and Director, Karen Ackerson, has personally suffered from a serious car accident, resulting in the total loss of her vehicle in early July. At no fault of her own, she has sustained injuries including a concussion​, and intense chest and ​back pain. All of this, on top of the loss of her vehicle, has incurred tremendous expenses for home health care assistance, transportation, and daily function.

Additionally, our facility has sustained numerous damages during a recent severe storm that included flooding of the basement and the gutters being torn away completely. The outrageous cost of much-needed repairs and maintenance combined with the hardships of the past year are more than anyone should have to endure.

As we are working on our Fall season with a schedule including workshops, literary contests, and retreats, any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated and helpful to Karen and the perseverance of The Writers’ Workshop.​​

We hope to raise $45,000 and are a 501C3 non-profit organization. You can make a tax-deductible donation by clicking on the photo below.

We thank you immensely for your generosity and look forward to many more years of continued community enrichment!

With gratitude,

Charlotte Hovey, Admin. Assistant
for Karen Ackerson, Exec. Director
The Writers' Workshop
387 Beaucatcher Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
828-254-8111
https://www.twwoa.org

https://gofund.me/1d95f9b4

WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!!!​ The Writers' Workshop was establish… Charlotte Hovey needs your support for Fundraiser for The Writers’ Workshop

09/11/2021

BEST EDITORS EVER!!

09/11/2021

We’ve spent the last quarter-century helping writers just like you! Visit renbourne.com for more information