Free Pop-Up Writers Workshop Presented by Collegeville Institute, The Threshold Center, & Spiritual Direction for Writers®

Collegeville Institute’s intensive writing workshops are designed to nourish writers willing to contend with questions that come from looking clear-eyed at the complexities of the contemporary world. In all our programs, we seek to strengthen writers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who are in search of meaning, spiritual connection, and openhearted engagement with others.

For years, the Collegeville Institute’s beloved, week-long workshops have been a highlight of our program. But not everyone can get away for a whole week — and even those who can need continued support throughout the year — so this spring, we’re bringing the workshop to you.

Designed to nurture the vocations of those who fit writing in the margins of busy lives, our Pop-Up Workshops offer:

45 minutes of conversation with and mentorship from a professional writing mentor
co-writing space, with optional generative writing prompts
plenary lecture by a local author

Ten individual spots with our writing mentors are available at each Pop-Up Workshop. Bring (or send in advance) up to five pages of prose or two poems for feedback and conversation with your mentor. Or, if you don’t have pages ready, come for conversation and guidance about the complexities of the writing life. (These sessions are focused on craft and revision, not publication — but your mentor won’t mind giving a few minutes at the end of the session to publishing questions, too, if you have them.) Please Note: Everyone who registers for a mentor session is welcome to bring poetry or prose for review even though the registration form only mentions poetry.

We’ll also have co-writing sessions throughout the day and facilitated writing exercises to help generate new work. As the day closes, at 3:00 pm, all are welcome to attend an hour-long plenary with a distinguished local author.

Whether you only have time to drop in for a session with a mentor — or you want a space for co-writing, and a visit with a mentor, and then you want to stay for the plenary — or any combination thereof — we hope you’ll join us.

These program offerings are free. Although registration for the day is strongly and warmly encouraged, it is not required for attendance at the plenary or to participate in co-writing—feel free to bring along a friend last minute—yet it would help us ensure we have enough pens, chairs, and coffee. Registration is required to reserve a 45-minute one-on-one session with a writing mentor. If the one-on-ones are full, you can sign-up to be on the waitlist. (Register for the Birmingham Pop-Up Workshop here.)

The Birmingham Pop-Up Writers Workshop will include drinks and snacks from Church Street Coffee & Books.