Come to The Muse for Writing Workshops in Norfolk, Virginia (VA)
WELCOME WORKSHOPS+STUDIOS READINGS+EVENTS PORT FOLIO POETRY TEACHERS CHAT+FORUM LINKS CONTACT

Take a Creative or Creative Writing Class. Improv Comedy Night/Virgin Sketch Show.
The Muse Jam: Every 2nd & 4th Friday. Writers' Happy Hour/Writers' Coffee Break.
Please Donate to the Muse Writers Center. Join The Muse's Email List.

The Muse

The Muse Writers Center in Norfolk, Virginia (VA) is an organization for Hampton Roads writers, new and experienced, to come together in creative writing classes, readings, and special events.

Muse Creative Writing Classes are designed by our teachers for writers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience. Beginning classes welcome novice writers as well as those with some writing experience who are looking for a structured environment in which to bloom. Advanced classes, or studios, offer a community and guidance while working on a literary project and follow the graduate level workshop model, where current work is distributed to all members of the studio for helpful criticism and advice. Offerings include those in poetry, fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, screenwriting, playwriting, comic book writing, children's book writing, and grammar.

The Muse's instructors are all working writers and published authors who have taught courses at colleges, universities, and other community organizations.

At the end of each workshop or studio session, The Muse hosts free, public readings in the Norfolk, Virginia (VA) area, which give all of our workshop and studio participants the opportunity to present their work to a supportive audience. Always well attended, our readings bring together the literary community here in Hampton Roads to celebrate our writers accomplishments.

The Muse is dedicated to broadening community awareness and support of the literary arts. In addition to offering writing classes, The Muse is a resource center and a place for all writers in the Norfolk, Virginia (Hampton Roads, VA) area to come together, share ideas, and figure out what language can hold. Come to one of our events and learn more about us.

Muse Tuition Assistance & Scholarships
Application & Donation Information


Tuition Assistance for Muse Classes

The Muse Writers Center is honored and grateful to announce the establishment of the Margaret Bean Tuition Assistance Fund through a generous donation from Barbara Hartz. Named for her dear friend and great supporter of the arts, The Margaret Bean Tuition Assistance Fund will allow The Muse to offer our community writing classes to students regardless of their ability to pay tuition. To date, the fund has provided tuition assistance to more than 150 students and has received donations from hundreds of additional generous persons. Please contact the office for more information or to apply. Donations to the fund are very welcome, and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Scholarships for Muse Students for College and Graduate School

The Muse Writers Center is excited to announce the establishment of the Joan Rorke-McClure Futures Scholarships through a generous donation from William McClure. Joan Rorke-McClure was a leading physician, lover of education, and friend to The Muse who always encouraged and helped foster a passion for learning. These scholarships are available to current and past students at the Muse Writers Center to help pay a portion of their tuition/expenses for beginning or continuing undergraduate or graduate study in the field of creative writing. You can help make a difference by donating to the scholarship fund. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Congratulations to our 2011–2012 Winners!
each recipient received a $500 scholarship
  • Lauren Hurston: graduate student, pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at Old Dominion University. "When I first started classes at The Muse, I had only a vague idea that I wanted to become a writer and what the writing life would entail... I felt the need for an artistic community with similar interests to my own, and The Muse has provided that for me. I am consistently inspired by the teachers and my fellow students, and I consider many of them my mentors and my dearest friends. The workshops helped me become a better writer in that they were thorough, yet enjoyable, the teachers were diverse and knowledgeable, and the quality of creative guidance was excellent. I feel fully prepared and confident to pursue a creative writing program because of the support from The Muse writing community, and for that, I am truly grateful."
     
  • Tori Kerr: undergraduate, majoring in English & Creative Writing at The George Washington University. "Prior to the Muse I thought my career as an English major would slant in the direction of struggling artist/writer or teacher. This is what I had come to expect due to societal stigma against scholars of the arts... I was not aware of the number of opportunities an education in literature could provide, such as book, magazine and newspaper editing and publishing—not to mention nonprofit work as well..."
     
  • Rachel Thompson: graduate student, pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing (fiction) at Vermont College of Fine Arts. "If it were not for the Muse, and more specifically Lisa Hartz, I would not be pursuing an MFA, and I would probably still be miserable and not sure why. The Muse has given me the confidence to go after something wholly impractical that I am obsessed with—I am so grateful for all you guys have already given me. I love teaching (that’s my non-writing job) and hope one day to teach writing instead of (or in addition to) Spanish."
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America's Got Stories/Young America's Got Stories

The first volume of America's Got Stories, featuring many members of The Muse Writers Center community, has been released. Buy a copy and a portion of the sale will help support our scholarship funds.

Young America's Got Stories is now open to submission! The Muse will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the book. Top of page.

other literary events around hampton roads

A good resouce for all Norfolk/Hampton Roads area Literary events, including readings and open-mics is Pete Freas and The Chesapeake Bay Poets. Top of page.

submit your work to The Quotable

The Quotable, a new literary magazine founded by Muse students is now accepting submissions. Visit their website for submission guidelines. Top of page.

submit your work to AltDaily

AltDaily, Hampton Roads' news, arts, and culture alternative, is now accepting poetry, short story, and creative nonfiction submissions. Preference is given to content about, and of, the Hampton Roads region. Please only send one email with no more than three attachments to literary@altdaily.com. Top of page.

the muse finds a home in west ghent

The Muse is excited to be renting our own space in West Ghent. Our new Muse Writers Center is situated diagonally from Orapax (Greek) Restaurant on the corner of Redgate Ave. and Orapax St. All of our Creative Writing Classes will be held at this location. Directions and maps to our new location are available. Top of page.

the muse granted non-profit status

We are excited to announce that The Muse Writers Center is now a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. We are now beginning the process of applying for grants so we can have a permanent home for classroom space, readings space, meeting space, and a writers' resource center. Also, we will soon announce a Muse Membership program, members being eligible to receive discounts on classes and use of future space and resources. We will update this website soon with more information. Top of page.