The heart of Denver Writes’ programming has always been weekend workshops where students come together to write around a central theme with a community of writers. Each workshop combines creativity with education and community building.
Workshops are taught by volunteers in our writing community who have a wealth of unique ideas and creativity to share with the remarkable young writers who attend! Each year, we offer a wide variety of topics and are always looking to the kids to give us their ideas on what interests them!
Workshops are intended for students ages 7-15. Space is limited, be sure to sign up in advance!
Workshops are $40 per participant.
Save with a fall membership! All four remaining workshops for $120!
2025 Fall Workshop Schedule!
October 11th – 3 pm – 7 pm
17th Annual Scary Stories
The Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys. 830 Kipling Street, Lakewood, 80215.
Our Annual Workshop Returns! Join Denver Writes for our biggest and most requested workshop! We’ll discuss what makes stories truly scary, Writers will then craft their own horrifying (or maybe just weird and silly) tales. Then each participant will record themselves reading their story to share and terrify others for years to come.
November 8th – 10 am – 1pm.
Murder Mystery
The Bookies Bookstore. 2085 S Holly St, Denver, 80222
Someone has been murdered? Who? We don’t know because we haven’t created them yet! But who did it? Maybe you? But who are you? Wait, you haven’t been created yet either? And who will take up the task of solving this mystery? Also you?
In the Denver Writes version of this classic, writers create their own characters, then invite them to a party where ultimately, something terrible will happen. Writers will have to explain in story how it couldn’t have been them that committed the crime, or was it? And at the end our group of amateur detectives will determine who exactly did the crime.
November 22nd – 10 am – 1pm.
Choose Your Own Adventure!
Second Star to the Right Books. 1455 S. Pearl Street, Denver, 80210
Proceed to this workshop to learn about Choose Your Own Adventure stories and how they work. Then create your own twisting tale to lead your reader to their happy ending or maybe certain doom. After all, it’s their choice, or is it?
December 13th – 10 am – 1 pm
Written Gifts
Nagel Art Studio on the DU Campus. 2121 E. Asbury, Denver, 80210
Turn your words into cherished keepsakes! Written Gifts will give writers fun prompts to spark their creativity to write poems, stories, or letters to give as holiday gifts. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have a piece to share with someone special.
SUGGESTIONS? QUESTIONS? EMAIL US AT HELLO@DENVERWRITES.OR
WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
To register, find a workshop that interests you and click the ‘Sign Up Here’ link where you will be directed to fill out an online form. Be sure to follow the prompts all the way through to where you are asked to ‘Submit’ to be certain your registration is completed. You will receive an email confirmation from Denver Writes within 72 hours notifying you that your registration is confirmed.
Please note that in order for us to offer the best possible experience for all writers, we will not be able to accommodate participants who show up the day of the workshop without having registered online or spoken to Denver Writes prior to the date of the workshop.
Payment
Each Workshop is $40 per participant.
Save with a fall membership! All five fall workshops for only $150!
- Workshop payments may be paid through PayPal (follow prompts on registration form), through Venmo @DenverWrites, Colorado Gives, Zelle with hello@denverwrites.org, cash, or check.
- Please keep in mind that our main priority is having a place for students to write, and we do not want any financial barriers preventing students from attending, please email hello@denverwrites.org to request a scholarship, partial scholarship, or other payment arrangements.
- Cash payments can be brought day of program.
- Check payments may be mailed or brought on day of program. Endorse checks to Metro Denver Promotion of Letters and mail to:
Denver Writes
PO Box 12256
Denver, CO 80212
Denver Writes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Workshop payments are considered tax-deductible donations to Denver Writes. Denver Writes operates due to donations from our patrons.
Waitlists
Once a workshop is full, it will no longer be open to registration. You may, however, email Denver Writes at hello@denverwrites.org to be placed on a waitlist as cancellations do happen! We will let you know what number you are on the waitlist when you email and will then only contact you prior to the workshop if a spot opens up.
CANCELLATIONS
We want to be sure our workshops benefit as many participants as possible, so please take the time to read through our cancellation policy below.
If you need to cancel for any reason, please notify Denver Writes at least 72 hours prior to the start of the workshop so that we are able to accommodate anyone on our waitlist.
Of course, emergencies do happen and will certainly take that into consideration!
On rare occasions, Denver Writes will need to cancel a workshop. In these cases you will receive a full refund or the opportunity to sign up for a future workshop.
PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS
2025
VERSES THAT MOVE: EXPLORING SLAM POETRY
WHAT IF? WRITING MAGICAL FICTION
THE PENCIL AND THE PLATE: DESCRIPTIVE FOOD WRITING
PERSONAL NARRATIVES
ZINE SCENE: ZINE MAKING
2024
Blast to the Past: Writing Historical Fiction!
Valentine’s Poetry
How to Plot a Novel (Using Beat Sheets) with author Ellen O’Clover
Character Building with author JC Peterson
Outdoor Adventure Writing with Jamie Siebrase
Illustrations for Stories
Travel Journalism with Jamie Siebrase
16th Annual Scary Stories at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys
2023
World Building: Creating Planets, People, Creatures and More from Scratch with author J.E. Thomas
Poetry: Words From the Heart
15th Annual Scary Stories at the Denver Musuem of Miniatures, Dolls, & Toys
Campfire Stories
Illustrations for Stories
Choose Your Own Adventure
Pantser to Plotter with Jessie Weaver
14th Annual Valentine’s Poetry with Nancy Bo Flood & Wendi Silvano
Genre Writing with Ellen O’CLover
2022
Written Gifts
Folklore
Playfulness with Language
14th Annual Scary Stories at The Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, & Toys
Screenwriting
Illustrations for Stories
(re)Searching Your Story with Melissa Savage
Slam Poetry and Reading
Zine Making with the Denver Zine Library
2021
Written Gifts
Apply for the Denver School of the Arts
13th Annual Scary Stories
Campfire Stories at Four Mile Park
Nature Writing
Titanic and Denver Historical Fiction
Fantastical Shorts
12th Annual Valentine’s Poetry and Fundraiser
2020
Written Gifts Online
Apply for the Denver School of the Arts
Ghost Stories
12th Annual Scary Stories
Sound, Rhythm, and Rhyme
Screenwriting
Bringing the Imagined to Life: Designing Your Own Character
Story Shuffle
Traveling With Poetry
Mysterious Houses
11th Annual Valentine’s Workshop and Fundraiser
Folklore
2019
Written Gifts
Illustrations for Stories
Apply to the Denver School of the Arts
NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month
11th Annual Scary Stories at the Four Mile Historic Park From 4 – 8 PM
Journaling
Campfire Stories
SongWriting with Bradley Weaver
World Building
Monsters, Myths and Legends! With Author Lija Fisher!
10th Annual Valentine’s Workshop and Fundraiser
Exploration Travel Writing and Review at Casa Bonita
2018
Written Gifts and Fundraiser
Apply to the Denver School of the Arts
NaNoWriMo – National Novel Writing Month
10th Annual Scary Stories at Theatre 29!
In-Bodied Writing with Stina French
2018 Summer Camp Book Release Party & Open Mic
COMIC BOOK CREATION, A SPECIAL DENVER WRITES WORKSHOP IN FOUR PARTS
SONGWRITING WITH BRADLEY WEAVER
BIKE POETRY WITH BIKE DENVER AT COLUMBINE ELEMENTARY
TRAVEL WRITING
SCREENWRITING
9th ANNUAL VALENTINE’S POETRY AND FUNDRAISER
2017
WRITTEN GIFTS AND WRITTEN GIFTS FUNDRAISER
ADDMISSION TO DENVER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
NANOWRIMO – NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH WITH LAUREN HALLSTROM
9th ANNUAL SCARY STORIES AT THE DENVER MUSUEM OF MINIATURES, DOLLS, AND TOYS
ILLUSTRATE YOUR STORY WITH JAM PUBLISHERS
CREATING NEW WORLDS
SPOKEN WORD POETRY
JOURNALISM
CREATIVE NON-FICTION
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR STORIES
8TH ANNUAL VALENTINE’S POETRY WORKSHOP AND FUNDRAISER
2016
WRITING FOR ADMISSION
SCARY STORIES
CREATING COLORFUL CHARACTERS
ILLUSTRATE YOUR STORY!
REVIEW IT! THE ART OF WRITING BOOK REVIEWS @BOOKBAR
EVERYDAY MAGIC
OUR 7TH ANNUAL POETRY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY WORKSHOP AND FUNDRAISER
THE ART OF FLASH FICTION
SONGWRITING
2015
WRITTEN GIFTS
SONGWRITING with Snake Rattle Rattle Snake
DENVER WRITES UNPLUGGED: MUSIC, INTERVIEWS AND REVIEWS
CAMPFIRE STORIES
SLAM POETRY with JOVAN MAYS
10-MINUTE PLAY IN TWO PARTS