I've been a member of Poets at Work for six years now and have enjoyed watching my writing steadily deepen and improve with the guidance and support of this group. It's been encouraging to see my poems be published as well as to watch my fellow classmates also achieve both regional and national recognition for their talents. We follow a specific format which encourages writers to consider questions posed by the group when they return to their piece for additional editing and re-writes. Terry seems interested in helping the writer to find his/her authentic voice as opposed to mold the writer into a particular shape. While I have enjoyed taking shorter classes/workshops with a variety of instructors for additional experience and knowledge, I love having this workshop as an ongoing home base where I may continue to test my material with people who understand where I've been and where I hope to go. If you're looking for a solid, steady community of writers who have been around for years and will welcome you with open minds and hearts, look no further. :-) It costs nothing to sit in on a class to see if the format appeals to you so I strongly encourage you to contact Terry if you are interested in learning more. And just like going to the gym, the more often you attend, the more present you are and the more you contribute to the experience, the more you will gain in return. :-) read more

From 1997 to 2007 I participated in a critique-based writing class - One Page at a Time - led by Terry Wolverton at Writers At Work. The class met once a week. We submitted work and then received critiques the following week. During my ten years at Writers At Work, I had a 50-plus hour job, but was able to complete six drafts on two novels. The class was encouraging and motivating, especially with the daunting/humbling process of constructive criticism. Overall, it was great learning experience. The class helped to hone my writing chops, polish my public reading skills, prepare for agent pitches and writing query letters, plus handle and give critical feedback. In addition, I was immersed in a supportive writing community. Many are still writing friends today. Terry is an experienced and intelligent writer, reader, and editor who is adept at directing students on content and structure. Her classes have a diverse enrollment, which exposed me to a wide range of writing styles and genres. The diversity was invaluable in terms of interacting with writers with a wide range of human experiences, reading about those experiences in their writing, and receiving critiques from people who view life through various lenses. read more

Since joining Writer's at Work about a year ago I look forward to Thursday nights as the highlight of the week. Terry Wolverton has created a safe space where writers may hone their skills. Terry put a lot of careful thought into the rules of her critiques that are designed to put the decision making in the hands of the writer, while providing an opportunity to see the effectiveness of current work. The other members of the workshop come from varied fields but all of them have been thoughtful, intelligent people working on a variety of projects: from short fiction to novels, from screen plays to creative non fiction. Some are funny, some are poignant, some are crafted to perfection while others are powerful but raw. Everyone in the group is supportive. Every week we do a check in where we have to admit how much (or whether) we wrote the week before. It keeps everyone honest. I had always wanted to write a novel but without the gentle support of Terry and Writer's at Work I don't think it would have become so achievable. I am half way through by first first draft and I haven't lost momentum. If you are thinking of joining a writer's workshop - this one's really a great experience! read more

When I joined the poetry workshop at Writers at Work, I found the creative community I had been searching for--a group of talented writers who were as interested in helping me make my work better as they were in improving their own. The workshop became my creative home, a place where I could bring my experiments and drafts and nurture them into finished pieces. Some of my greatest growth came out of the work I did there. Terry Wolverton is an incisive reader who manages to illuminate what's going on in a draft without ever imposing her own vision or voice. Her method of critiquing aims at helping writers see the possibilities in their writing and develop them in their own way. More than that, she teaches by doing, and being, what so many of us aspire to. She writes and publishes constantly, showing that it is indeed possible to nurture creative work every day, in the middle of an extremely busy professional life. The spirit she brings to her writing and her creative life is huge, generous and endlessly inspiring. I highly recommend her as a teacher, a writer, a manuscript consultant and a human being. read more

When I first joined Writers at Work and learned that many people in the group had been attending every Saturday morning for years, I didn't quite understand what that meant. In my experience, workshops had always been time-limited and lasted 6-12 weeks, but now I am one of those people who have been going for well over five years. I've learned that WAW is more than a workshop - it's a community of support and encouragement. It's because of the ongoing nature that it's so effective in shaping one's work into something meaningful and publishable, something that just couldn't happen in a short-term workshop. While in Terry's Saturday morning poetry class, I wrote, revised, and published my first book of poems, The Silence of Doorways. It wouldn't have happened without the support of Terry and the focus that results from meeting regularly. A fellow WAW member dubbed Terry "The Poem Whisperer," and she certainly lives up to that name. read more

I attended Terry's Thursday night class for about six years. I went from writing a sports blog to publishing essays on gender and other cultural issues. I now have a close writing community with people I met in Terry's group. This month alone I've published both an essay and a short story. Now that I no longer attend the group, I see Terry once or twice during the process of writing each piece. She gives me feedback based on what I'm trying to do and will sometimes make a suggestion that turns my head but ends up helping me. Giving constructive feedback and head turning suggestions is a huge big deal, it requires listening very closely to what the writer is trying to do and encouraging them forward without interfering with their process. Terry is also an author and has edited numerous book, so she's very helpful with suggestions for finding markets for a writer's work. I highly highly recommend Writers at Work, it's life changing. read more

Can't get your words on the screen? Have a big wad of writing but no form or plot? Want to tell your life story but not sure why anyone would care? Join one of the workshops at Writers at Work! You'll become part of a vibrant writing community that will constantly challenge and stimulate. It won't be about you and your writing all the time, but you'll be surprised how much you can learn from (and be inspired by) conundrums your fellow writers face. And it is very sweet to celebrate their successes and victories. I've been part of Terry Wolverton's writing community for a number of years, and she has pushed me to move on with my work when life seems too overwhelming. Her feedback often gets right to the heart of a problem, and others in the group have helped focus my work. Whether you are writing poetry, a novel, a memoir, a screenplay, or a fabulous lifestyle blog, there really is no other writing workshop in LA. read more

The workshop at Writers at Work that Terry has set up is a place where writers can concentrate on active listening and the constructive iteration of their writing. Building upon a genuinely supportive and critical constituency has allowed me to go beyond the structure and thinking that informed my previous writing and has taken art reviews and criticism beyond the usual modes and genres. Terry's broad humanity and carefully fashioned crit system allows for growth and feedback for each writer without the usual intrusions of personality and the limits of individual taste. Her tremendous acumen ranges from the technical to the poetic to the thematic and, aside from my personal evolution, the workshops make room for transformations of many different types of writers and writing. If you are looking for a deeper and more significant mode of writing, writers at work is the best place I know of to accomplish that task. read more

I've taken writing courses all over the place, including at UCLA and the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, and Writers at Work is by far the best. The classes are small--usually under 10 people--and ongoing, so you get to know everyone's work pretty well. The teacher, Terry Wolverton, provides excellent guidelines on giving feedback, so that the workshop experience is always constructive and supportive. She has a knack for choosing people who care about their fellow writers' work as much as they care about their own, and I haven't found this type of environment anywhere else. Terry also teaches in the Antioch MFA program, and is an accomplished poet and writer, so you're in very good hands. For many years, I've thought of Writers at Work as my "creative home," and I know that being a writer would be a lot tougher without it. Highly recommended! read more

There's that book you've always wanted to write. You find time here and there in your busy, overloaded life to work on it a little. Maybe you've even made it all the way through the first draft. You know you need help to make it better, but you aren't sure how. Writers at Work can help you. I know because I've been there. Terry Wolverton is a terrific writing teacher and coach. She creates a supportive and disciplined environment in her workshops where you will hone your craft while learning how to construct a good plot and solid characters. I also met great people who have become personal and literary friends. My first novel has just been published. That never would have happened without Terry and the other members of my workshop. Highly recommended! read more

A writing workshop can be the difference between talking about writing and regularly getting words down on the page. Finding the right workshop is not easy, however. I poked around through a few meet-up writing groups but ultimately settled on Terry Wolverton's Writers at Work. Why? I wanted a focused, high-level discussion of writing, with clear, useful feedback. Terry Wolverton workshops offer all those things (and some things I didn't know I needed). Having been part of the Thursday night group for a year now I can say I am much closer to the goals I have for my writing (a nonfiction book and a novel) and am developing the writing muscles needed for the long haul. Thank you, Terry! read more

Thanks God for this workshop. When I first began at Writers at Work, I thought I knew what writing fiction was all about. Once the education commenced, I realized just how much I had to learn. Without Crafting the Story, I would still be struggling with plot, with stakes, and with completing a project. I've written three novels under the guidance of Terry Wolverton, the instructor, and I am proud of each one of them. Classes consist of student volunteers reading from his/her work, followed by in-depth discussions and critique on plot and character development by a very astute group of fellow writers. I couldn't recommend this class more! read more

WAW is a fabulous community of writers under Terry Wolverton's direction. I finished my book Wisdom Walk in large part due to Terry's keen eye and deep intuition about good writing. For the past two years I've attended a writing worshop, The Craft of Story and have learned so much from fellow writers and Terry about the process, craft, and mystery of writing! This has been one of the most valuable contributions to my life as a writer and seeker of truth. It's a gift worth giving yourself. So many rewards--creative, spiritual, and interpersonal. You won't want to miss any events associated with this writing community. read more

Writers At Work is a wonderful environment for all types of writers and writing in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angles. It has been in existence for nearly 15 years and is run by Terry Wolverton, a well-established writer/instructor within the LA literary scene. Terry keeps workshops limited in size so all students get the opportunity to explore their craft in an intimate and supportive setting. Fiction, memoir, poetry, essay and hybrid styles are all welcome. Many writers in the program have their work published. And there are many loyal writers who have been with Writers At Work for years. read more

Terry Wolverton, who runs this workshop, is pretty freaking brilliant. I've been attending for 6 years, and the first book I wrote that came out of the workshop was published by Amy Einhorn at Penguin (editor of "The Help"). Almost finished with my second book, and I owe it all to Writers at Work. Great group of high-caliber writers who give professional, compassionate feedback. You get tremendous support, both from the other writers and from Terry, who can diagnose a story problem or thematic issue in a SNAP. I highly recommend this workshop, and I hope I'll be in it forever. Worth every penny. read more

In my first year with Writers at Work both my writing and reading practice have been transformed. Terry Wolverton is a master teacher and facilitator of the writing workshop. The key difference in WAW and other workshops is Terry's facilitation of the group critique process. This is a true writers group. If you are looking to dig deeper into your writing, learn how the reader is experiencing your words on the page, and want a supportive, encouraging and challenging environment to do that in take the next step come experience a class for yourself. read more

I never saw myself as a writer, but joined the group to learn how to write a One Woman show. In the time I have spent in the class I have come to learn that Terry Wolverton's amazing ability to see the real story of your writing and lead you in finding your own voice and style. Her gentle encouragement and tremendous expertise has given me the belief in myself as a writer. I would highly recommend her classes for the experienced writer and novice. I am so glad I found her class, Im sure you will be as well. read more

Terry is a genius at critiquing work and finding people that are different enough writers to give you real worthy advice that ultimately helps you become a better writer. Writers At Work is a great place and because the workshops meet weekly, and consistently, so its a great place to keep you writing at a great pace. A few years ago, I was a little nervous to join -or even read in front of other people- and now it's a time I very much look forward to each week! If you're on the fence, make the jump! read more

Have you always had a dream of learning to write? Perhaps, produce better stories than you thought you were capable of writing? Then Terry Wolverton's classes are the place for you. She is a true Teacher and guides each of us to the best work we can produce. I'll tell you a secret...I didn't know how to write when I came to her Crafting The Story workshop several years ago. Now I am finishing my second draft and will soon have my novel out in the world. Come on, what are you waiting for? read more