Adult Writers’ Studio Memoir Intensive (August 2025)

In-Person at Thurber Center

Adult Writers’ Studio is a welcoming and creative community of writers 18+ who gather to share and discuss their writing, participate in generative exercises, provide/receive feedback about each other’s work, engage in topical discussions, and support each other through peer motivation and kind, constructive criticism.

Led by writer and facilitator Marty Ross-Dolen, the AWS Memoir Intensive is designed for serious memoir, personal essay, and other creative nonfiction writers. Peer feedback groups will be intentionally curated based on writing level so participants can exchange feedback and receive support that best aligns with their needs.

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‣ Meeting Information

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Adult Writers’ Studio meetings are inclusive and supportive of as many writers as possible by focusing on topics, tools, techniques, prompts, exercises, discussion, and feedback that apply to a wide range of writers' needs and interests. Discussions will be organic/based on what participants want to talk about rather than pre-constructed topics.

Please bring something to write on/with to every meeting (pen and paper, laptop, etc.).

Most meetings begin with discussion and generative exercises, followed by time for peer feedback/workshopping pieces. There is an informal sign up process to workshop your pieces, and we ask that you send your work to us ahead of time so we can distribute it to group members. This ensures that your peers come to the meeting having already read and made notes about your work, and the meeting time can be fully devoted to discussing that feedback. Participants are expected to be honest, kind, and constructive when giving feedback—we are not here to tear each other down.

Adult Writers’ Studio is an evolving and responsive program. Thurber House and facilitator Marty Ross-Dolen will adapt to participants’ needs and interests as they become apparent and as participants share feedback with us. Never hesitate to speak up about how you think AWS can best support you and your peers on your writing journey.

Pricing:

$180 for the full two weeks. A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact Jess Cox at jcox@thurberhouse.org if you need financial assistance.

‣ Meeting Location & Schedule

Location:

Meetings will be held at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215), next door to Thurber House. See location, parking, and accessibility information below.

If weather, widespread illness, or other circumstance hinders meeting in-person, we’ll meet virtually on Zoom instead.

If you’re ill and can’t attend an in-person meeting, please contact Jess at jcox@thurberhouse.org.

MEETING SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Saturday, August 9, 2025 from 9:30-11:30 am ET
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 9:30-11:30 am ET

‣ Meet the Adult Writers’ Studio Facilitator

Marty ross-Dolen

Marty Ross-Dolen is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and is a retired child and adolescent psychiatrist. She recently received her MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts where she served as a reader and copyeditor for Hunger Mountain Review. Prior to her time at VCFA, she participated in graduate-level workshops at The Ohio State University. Her essays have appeared in North Dakota Quarterly, Redivider, Lilith, and Willow Review, among others, and she received a notable mention in The Best American Essays series. Her new memoir is Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter's Search for Truth (She Writes Press, May 2025).

Photo credit: Kimarie Martin Photography

‣ Location, Parking, & Accessibility

All meetings will be held at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215), next door to Thurber House. In the event of inclement weather, widespread illness, or other circumstance that hinders meeting in-person, we will meet virtually on Zoom instead.
If you are ill and can’t attend an in-person meeting, please let us know by contacting Jess Cox at jcox@thurberhouse.org.
Parking on Jefferson Avenue:
Free, easy street parking is available all along the Jefferson Avenue oval (unlimited on weeknights; three hour limit on Saturday mornings). Note: only the spots along the one-way oval are free; the spots along the two-way ends of Jefferson Avenue (near Broad Street and Long Street) are not free.
Parking off N. 11th Street (behind Thurber Center/Thurber House):
Free visitor parking is available in the small lot directly behind Thurber Center/Thurber House, accessible off N. 11th Street and located here.
All other parking lots do not belong to Thurber House and you may be towed.
Depending on various factors, in-person meetings will take place on either the first floor or the second floor of Thurber Center.
The entrance, first floor meeting space, and restrooms at Thurber Center are handicap/wheelchair accessible.
The second floor meeting space is only reachable by stairs. There is no elevator. If you cannot navigate stairs, please let us know and we will accommodate to the best of our ability.
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How to reach the wheelchair ramp:
If you park on Jefferson Avenue:
There is a slight curb (some wheelchairs can navigate this). The closest “ramp” cut is the entrance to the large parking lot on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Long Street (here).
Follow the sidewalk through the Thurber Center front gate. Take the sidewalk around the porch on the right side of the building. The entrance to the wheelchair ramp will appear on your left, past the porch.
If you park in the Thurber Center/Thurber House rear parking lot:
Follow the sidewalk between the handicap parking signs (here). The sidewalk will take you around the north side of our multipurpose building, Thurber Center.
The ramp will appear on your right and leads up to the front porch.

‣ FAQ & Disclaimer

For any questions that are not answered here, please email Jess Cox at jcox@thurberhouse.org or call 614-412-5955.

You will receive an email order confirmation containing your registration information.
Yes, although online registration is encouraged. To order by phone, call 614-412-5955.
Purchases made by credit/debit card are charged a modest fee to cover Thurber House’s processing costs. To pay by cash or check, please email jcox@thurberhouse.org or call 614-412-5955.
All registrations are final and non-refundable. However, you can give your spot to a friend, family member, colleague, etc. if you cannot attend (contact us for assistance).
Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by event and program speakers in all mediums are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thurber House, its affiliates, or its staff/board.