Upcoming Writing Workshops!

Join us for in-person writing workshops in The Hague!

Each stand-alone workshop is appropriate for beginning or advanced writers. Workshops offered include Craft (capped at 10 writers with the opportunity to workshop up to 750 words of your own writing) or Skill (focused on learning about a particular topic with no pressure to prepare anything in advance). Please scroll down for more information! All workshops are held at the Ellen van Woerden Studio in The Hague center, located here.

December 3, 2026: CRAFT Integrating Backstory

How do you avoid "info dumps"? What are strategies to artfully reveal necessary details from your character's past?

6:30-9 (65 EUR)

December 10, 2026: CRAFT Setting

How can you set the scene for your reader without getting bogged down in too much detail?

6:30-9 (65 EUR)

January 14, 2027: SKILL Plotting a Novel and Getting Unstuck

"My novel is going all over the place--what do I do?" And: "I've started a draft, but now I'm stuck--help!"

7-8:30 (35 EUR)

How do I sign up?

Fill out the form below! If there is room in the course, you will receive a confirmation email with an invoice. Only after paying the invoice are you officially enrolled in the course (please note that if you do not see a "Thank you!" message after hitting Submit, then the form did not send).

If you have any trouble or any questions, please email me at elisabeth@elisabethdini.com.

FAQs

What's the difference between Skill and Craft Workshops?

Skill Workshops

Skill workshops do not require any advance preparation, and while writers may have the opportunity to share snippets of their work, there is no requirement to do so. Instead, skill workshops focus on discussion and guidance around a particular topic and provide:

* Concrete strategies to tackle burning, topical questions that those working on longer pieces of fiction face;

* Resources to review before class for writers to prepare for discussion and Q&A; and

*The opportunity to connect with other local writers and aspiring writers!

Cost: EUR 35/session

Craft Workshops

Craft workshops are more intensive and encourage students to bring in up to 750 words of their own writing to workshop. For this reason, group size is limited to 10 writers, and the workshops are longer. More preparation will benefit your workshop experience, and writers upload their submissions before the workshop starts so that I and other students can pre-read. Craft workshops focus on:

* Building technique by analyzing a short story available in the public domain (no purchase necessary);

* Workshopping up to 750 words of your own writing from a current project or based on a prompt for those without a current WIP (work-in-progress); and

*Meeting other local writers and aspiring writers!

Cost: EUR 65/session

How do I prepare for a Craft Workshop?

A week before each Craft Workshop, I'll provide you with a link to a short story and discussion questions to consider while reading as well as a folder where you can upload a piece of work of up to 750 words for other participants and I to pre-read (for those short on time, it's also fine to bring your work with you to the workshop and submit it for a cold critique).

What if I don't have any writing prepared to submit?

If you don't have a WIP, or if you feel like trying something new, I will provide a different writing prompt in advance of each workshop to get you going!

Can I sign up for more than one workshop?

Yes! Each workshop focuses on different writing techniques and functions as a stand-alone session or as a mini-course in the event that you opt to take more than one.

I can't make these dates; how can I find out about future offerings?

Sign up in the form above to be informed of future offerings! I also teach through the Amsterdam-based International Writers Collective, which offers courses in-person throughout the Netherlands as well as online. I encourage you to check out their course offerings here.

What is your refund policy?

Once you receive an invoice and pay, you are officially enrolled in the workshop(s) you have selected. Unfortunately, the logistics of providing refunds are challenging for a one-person operation, especially when class sizes are limited. For that reason, I can't provide a refund once you have paid; however, in the event that you cannot attend, you can switch attendance to a future workshop (so long as one is offered) if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, or else I will provide written feedback on up to 750 words of writing that you can send to me anytime 6 months after the date of the missed workshop.