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Miami Writers Institute Online!
The Miami Writers Institute is an annual creative writing conference produced by the Miami Book Fair.
The conference, which has moved fully online this year, features intensive writing workshops with bestselling authors, craft talks, a publishing seminar, and individual manuscript consultations with a literary agent. Writing workshops are all limited to 15 students each, to allow for individualized attention.
How to Register:
Online registrations are now open! Space in each workshop is limited. Register as soon as possible to secure your spot. Please note registration deadlines for each course. Scroll down to click on the workshop title of your choice. Once you click “Add to Cart,” you should automatically be redirected to the checkout page. If you are having trouble registering, please call 305.237.3258. Registration is required to receive link for virtual workshop(s).
Congratulations to our 2020 Scholarship Recipients!
Kimberly Reyes, Triniti Wade, Michael Chang, Catalina Perez de Armiñan, and Giovannai Rosa
Click here for more information.
*Miami Writers Institute Refund Policy
Payment must be received at time of registration and must have cleared at least five business days prior to the first day of class. Full refunds will be given to participants who notify Miami Book Fair by e-mail or fax at least FIVE BUSINESS DAYS before the first day of the class that they wish to cancel. No refunds will be given once a class begins. Allow at least two weeks for refunds to be processed. If a course must be canceled for any reason, you will receive a complete refund.
Upcoming Events
May 2021
Transforming Memory into Story: A Memoir and Personal Essay Workshop with Jaquira Díaz
Tuesdays, May 4 – 25 (4 weeks) 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. EST | Online via Google Meet | Register to receive link In this workshop, we’ll start by reading pieces that use memory and personal narrative to tell a story. We will examine how memories can be crafted as memoir or personal essay and speak to something larger, more expansive, and how personal stories are connected to the larger world. Each day we will discuss your crafted pieces of memoir or personal essay: workshop will be a conversation that encourages and prioritizes the centering of underrepresented voices,…
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Past Events
April 2021
Combining Magic and Intention in Poetry with Victoria Chang
Tuesdays, April 6 – 27 (4 weeks) 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. EST | Online via Google Meet | Register to receive link Some people believe that a poem comes from some magical place, the unconscious, the muse, the ether. Other people believe that a poem comes from the writer’s intention. Still other people fall somewhere in between. In this workshop, we’ll explore both the mysterious magical place where poetry might come from and learn about craft—the writer’s intention.…
August 2020
Publishing Seminar with Literary Agent Dana Murphy
August 1, 2 – 3:30 p.m. EST A refrain you’ll often hear when asking a question about the publishing process is “it depends.” Every book, every author, every agent, every publisher is wonderfully (and, yes, also frustratingly) unique. There is not a single right path to publishing a book, no traveling salesmen “six tricks to get an agent” to game the system, and no simple calculations to become a bestseller. This is a business of chaos and a business of luck.…
July 2020
Reading & Craft Talk: R.O. Kwon: Failing Better: On Revising
Friday, July 31, 6 – 7 p.m. EST This talk will delve into revision strategies, possibilities, options, and leaps of faith. What does it mean to revise, and how can you figure out what works best for you? I tend to avoid generalizations, but it’s pretty safe to say that every writer revises, and often heavily: Kerouac bragged that he’d written On the Road in one go, but after he died, they discovered the drafts. R.O. Kwon‘s nationally bestselling first novel,…
Reading & Craft Talk: Lilliam Rivera: Worldbuilding in Writing for Young People
Thursday, July 30, 6 – 7 p.m. EST This craft talk will focus on techniques in worldbuilding in young adult fiction, whether writing a contemporary story set in a small town or an intergalactic story set in Mars. How do you create a world that rings true without falling in to the common missteps of info-dumping and adding confusion to readers? The craft talk will explore the use of world bibles, generating focused content, and utilizing all senses in descriptions.…
Reading & Craft Talk: Bryan Washington: Writing in Place
Wednesday, July 29, 6 – 7 p.m. EST We’ll talk about the role of setting as a character, source of conflict, voice, and foundation within short and extended works of fiction. Attendees will also participate with their own examples and experience as we discuss the myriad opportunities that rooting fiction in place can present. Bryan Washington is a writer from Houston. His fiction and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine,…
Reading & Craft Talk: Boris Fishman: 10 Things that Make Great Memoirs Great
Tuesday, July 28, 6 – 7 p.m. EST The great secret of the best memoirs is that they read like novels. Well, how do you do that? Novelist and memoirist Boris Fishman will discuss 10 moves that will get you started, ranging from the technical to the philosophical. This is your chance to find out, among other things: How to lie more skillfully (only on the page and never in memoir, of course!) The two biggest blind spots of writing about yourself Why the chocolate-sauce test is among the most important things you can do for your writing Why you might need to “ignore”…
Taller: “La brevedad, técnica y misterio” con Ana María Shua
SOLD OUT! Lamentablemente, ya no hay cupo para el taller. Para apuntarse a la lista de espera, por favor registre sus datos en esta página: https://forms.gle/1ne66rfC22bLHKUY8. Le informaremos si surge una oportunidad de que participe. Gracias por su interés. Lunes 27 – viernes 31 de julio, 7 a 8:30 p.m. ¿Qué es un microrrelato? ¿Es una mariposa, un perfume, una brisa, un texto narrativo? Las fronteras de la nación del microrrelato y sus países limítrofes. El microrrelato ¿nace o se hace?…
Reading & Craft Talk: Richard Blanco: Poetry’s Public & Private Realms
Monday, July 27, 6 – 7 p.m. EST The task of writing an occasional poem, as Richard Blanco did for President Obama’s inauguration, is often deemed the “kiss of death.” But why? Drawing on his experiences as presidential inaugural poet, Blanco will discuss not only the great challenges such poems present, but also the great opportunities they offer to enhance our perspectives on matters of craft such as audience, tension, boundaries, inspiration, and voice. Through the lens of his inaugural poem,…
After, Before, and Outside an MFA with R.O. Kwon
5-Day Virtual Workshop Monday – Friday, July 27 – 31 | 3:30 – 5 p.m. EST This is a crash course on how to find time, money, and space to write after, before, and outside an MFA. How will you find fellowships, grants, and residencies, and what are best practices for applying? How helpful are writing conferences? Where can you participate in literary communities? What’s a key part of a magazine pitch? How might you think about revising?…
Teenage Rebels: How To Write Young Adult Fiction with Lilliam Rivera
5-Day Virtual Workshop Monday – Friday, July 27 – 31 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. EST The Outsiders. Harry Potter. The Hate You Give. Walk in to any bookstore and you will find an exciting array of young adult fiction that covers every genre—from contemporary stories tackling social justice themes to science fiction bringing other worlds to life. If you’ve ever wanted to write a novel through the perspective of a young person, this is the workshop for you.…
The Art and Craft of Memoir with Boris Fishman
5-Day Virtual Workshop Monday – Friday, July 27 – 31 | 12:30 – 2 p.m. EST During our time together, we will read excerpts of exemplary memoirs (and peek at a couple of craft manuals); take them apart to figure out how they became so exemplary (and to remind ourselves that their authors were once staring at a blank page, too); do some craft exercises to practice those concepts; and then deploy them in short pieces of memoiristic writing that we will workshop as a group.…
Fiction: Subverting Timelines with Bryan Washington
5-Day Virtual Workshop Monday – Friday, July 27 – 31 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST We’ll work through intersecting structures, parallel timelines, elliptical narratives, and stories that forego chronology altogether as we parse the limits of structure, and the ways our forms dictate the content we turn to. Bryan Washington has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the BBC, …
Poetry: The Conscious/Subconscious with Richard Blanco
5-Day Virtual Workshop Monday – Friday, July 27 – 31 | 9:30 – 11 a.m. EST A poem is a conscious expression born out of the subconscious mind. Through interactive lectures and exercises, we will explore those techniques that we consciously employ in poetry, namely: the using specific, concrete imagery; the dynamics of line breaks; how to harness to power of figurative language; and the linguistics underlying musicality. Likewise, we will explore the equally important subconscious territory of memory,…
Manuscript Consultations with Dana Murphy
Various times, as appointed (Mon. – Fri., July 27 – 31,). All appointment times in EST. Consultations are limited to 30 people. Once you have registered online, please email your 1-page synopsis and 10-page manuscript to Marci Cancio-Bello at mcanciob@mdc.edu by midnight on Sunday, June 29, 2020. Genres Accepted: Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, and Adult Narrative Non-Fiction (No prescriptive, art, cookbooks etc.) Manuscripts must be a max of 10 double-spaced pages plus query letter,…
May 2019
Friday Reader Bundle (lunch + publishing seminar with Melissa Danaczko)
1-Day Publishing Seminar (lunch included) Friday, May 10 | 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. How do you find an agent—and do you even need one? What is the editorial process like? What role does a publisher play in terms of production, sales, marketing, publicity, etc? Do authors need to participate in social media? As an emerging writer, it can be incredibly difficult to navigate this space. With over a decade of publishing experience, Melissa Danaczko will walk you through the process of preparing your manuscripts and query letters;…
A Night With the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35
6:30 p.m. | First Draft: Miami Writers Institute Edition 8 p.m. | A Night with the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Honorees The National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 program honors young fiction writers at the beginning of their careers. Every year, five National Book Award Finalists select one promising writer each to recognize at the beginning of National Book Awards week in November; each Honoree is under 35 and has published one novel or short story collection.…
Trabajar entre líneas. Un taller de lecto-escritura literaria con Andrés Neuman
Si ya no hay cupo para el taller, por favor escriba a iflores2@mdc.edu para apuntarse a la lista de espera. Le informaremos si surge una oportunidad. Gracias por su interés. Curso de tres clases: 9, 10 y 11 de mayo Jueves 9 y viernes 10: 6:00 p.m. a 9:00 p.m. Sábado 11: de 10:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. Un curso intensivo con un enfoque dinámico, no académico y que pondrá énfasis en los aspectos prácticos a lo largo de tres sesiones: 1- Principios y finales,…
FIRST DRAFT: A Literary Social (2019 Writers Institute Edition)
Have a drink. Write a story. Have another drink. Write a better story. Writers Institute Edition Instructor: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (followed by A Night With the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 featuring Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Hanah Lillith Assadi, Akwaeke Emezi, Lydia Kiesling, and Moriel Rothman-Zecher) Miami Book Fair presents First Draft, a series of informal writing events that turn happy hours into great stories. You’re inspired. But you’re also thirsty. Swing by a First Draft event for a drink (the first one’s on the house) and a guided writing prompt.…
Thursday Reader Bundle (lunch + craft talks)
12:30 p.m.: Literary luncheon with a reading by Porochista Khakpour (lunch included) 2:30 p.m.: Craft talk series with Angela Flournoy & Ilya Kaminsky Continue your immersive experience by hearing nationally renowned authors explore various elements of the craft of creative writing. On Writing the Group with Angela Flournoy This craft talk will examine the benefits and challenges of working with a large cast of characters in fiction, with a focus on techniques to ensure adequate characterization and depth.…
Film Screening & Discussion with Writer / Director Julia Solomonoff
Nadie nos mira / Nobody’s Watching is a film about the struggle of self-imposed exile; how the pleasures of anonymity and freedom contrast with the pain of loneliness and loss that shapes immigrant experience. Nico, mid 30s, is a young Argentine actor fighting to build a career in the US, without assistance, or connections, never too far from heart-breaking failure, but often blinded by the mirage of immediate success. Followed by a discussion from writer and director Julia Solomonoff in coversation with Margaret Cardillo. …
Wednesday Reader Bundle (lunch + craft talks)
12:30 p.m.: Literary luncheon with readings by Angela Flournoy & Ilya Kaminsky (lunch included) 2:30 p.m.: Craft talk series with Porochista Khakpour & Moriel Rothman-Zecher Continue your immersive experience by hearing nationally renowned authors explore various elements of the craft of creative writing. The Business of Writing: A Craft Talk with Porochista Khakpour In this craft talk, Porochista Khakpour discusses literary citizenship and how to survive your first “serious”…
Manuscript Consultations with Melissa Danaczko
Various times, as appointed (Wed., May 8 – Sat., May 11) | Consultations are limited to 30 people. Genre preferences: All Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fiction and Adult Non-Fiction (aside from prescriptive non-fiction, cookbooks, and art/design books). Manuscripts must be a max of 10 double-spaced pages, formatted as follows: Must include a single-spaced, one-page synopsis of your manuscript-in-progress. Formatting: Please submit your sample material double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-pt font, and include page numbers. Include your name and email in the header of each page.…
Screenwriting Inside Out with Julia Solomonoff
4-Day Workshop Wednesday – Saturday, May 8 – 11 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This workshop focuses on character-driven storytelling, going beyond plot formulas and binary morals. A study of contemporary screenplays and films with complex protagonists and challenging relationships (character introduction, intimate moments, dramatic tension, the “necessary and unavoidable” obstacle, exploring theme and story, subtext and text) Format: A healthy mix of lecture and workshop, viewing clips, analyzing scenes from screenplays, and creating a scene with dramatic tension.…
Craft & Voice: Poetry Workshop with Ilya Kaminsky
Registration closed. Waitlist only. Email mcanciob@mdc.edu to add your name to the list. 4-Day Workshop Wednesday – Saturday, May 8 – 11 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. In this class, we will talk about poems from around the world and also discuss your own work. Everyone will receive a line-by-line reading of their poetry. The details, images and sounds, the aspects of line, line-break, metaphor, and other tools of our craft will be discussed in depth.…
The Wildness and Carefulness of Writing a Novel with Moriel Rothman-Zecher
3-Day Workshop Wednesday – Friday, May 8 – 10 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. In order to create a new universe — i.e., a novel — a writer needs a sense of recklessness, boldness, imagination, and wildness. But in order to tame this universe, to sharpen its logics, and to make enough sense out of its rhythms to tell a compelling story, a writer needs discipline, methodology, grit, and carefulness. In this workshop, we will explore the contradictory and complementary ideas of wildness and carefulness in novel writing,…
Experimental Writing for Non-Experimental Writers with Porochista Khakpour
4-Day Workshop Wednesday – Saturday, May 8 – 11 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. What does it mean for writing to be experimental? The great writer Margaret Atwood defines it as writing “that sets up certain rules for itself . . . while subverting the conventions according to which readers have understood what constitutes a proper work of literature.” In making its own rules, a lot of the old rules have to be tossed out, of course, and so this workshop provides a few examples of the most innovative,…
What We Remember: A Workshop on Character and Memory in Fiction with Angela Flournoy
4-Day Workshop Wednesday – Saturday, May 8 – 11 | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Embedded in the stories we write are numerous smaller stories–the ones characters tell themselves about the lives they’ve led and the people they’ve known, which combine to give us a fuller sense of characters and their concerns. We will examine memory as a vital tool for character development, and we will look at the ways that memory can influence nearly every other element of a work of fiction.…
