Adult Writers’ Studio: Beginner Intensive (All Genres)

In-Person at Thurber Center

Adult Writers’ Studio is a welcoming and creative community of serious writers 18+ who gather in person or virtually 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 Kathy Matthews, the AWS Beginner Intensive is designed for budding writers in all genres. 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.

Writers of all levels are welcome to attend, but the AWS Beginner Intensive will be geared toward writers who are new to writing groups and peer feedback and/or who are just beginning their writing journey.

Registration Closed

Psst… looking for an intermediate/advanced Adult Writers’ Studio? Learn more about the AWS Fiction Intensive and AWS Memoir Intensive.

‣ 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 upload your work far in advance of your sharing date so your fellow group members can read it and prepare feedback. 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 the facilitator 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 season.

A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact Jess Cox at jcox@thurberhouse.org if you need financial assistance (you must include your full name, a statement of need, and an 8-10 page writing sample).

‣ Meeting Location & Schedule

Location

All meetings will be held in-person 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, June 16, 2026 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 9:30-11:30 am ET
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Thursday, June 25, 2026 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 9:30-11:30 am ET

‣ Meet the Adult Writers’ Studio Facilitator

Kathy Matthews

Kathy Matthews is the current Interim Executive Director of Thurber House. She is also a freelance writer, editor, and writing instructor. Kathy has taught adults and children at Thurber House since 2002, as well as served as editor-in-chief of Flip the Page: Central Ohio's Teen Literary Journal, a position she held for ten years.

Kathy’s work has appeared in Columbus Monthly magazine and, most recently, in the anthology awfully hilarious: period pieces. Her creative nonfiction received an Individual Excellence Award grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Kathy served as managing editor at PageSpring Publishing and as committee chair for the Word is Art Stage at the Columbus Arts Festival for six years.

‣ Location, Parking, & Accessibility

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.
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.
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 to transfer a registration.
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.
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.