Everyone has a story to tell. If you’re thinking about finally taking your novel, memoir or short story projects more seriously, this new community writing series is here to help. 

The Community Workshop Series, which kicked off Oct. 27, aims to guide local writers who want to write poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. The program — launched by Butler University Master’s of Fine Arts in 2025 — is designed to help adults with their writing regardless of ability.  

Guests can attend one, a few or all of the workshops. These 13 writing workshops are led by alumni from the Butler MFA program and will take place at bookstores, nonprofits and various Indianapolis Public library branches. 

Here’s a list of where all fall and winter workshops will take place: 

Reconnecting to the Natural World through Writing

 📖 Instructor: Amy Gastelum
🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23
📍 Warren public library branch, 9701 E. 21st St.

Finding the Poem in Your Life: An Entry to Writing Poetry

📖 Instructor: Lydia Johnson
🗓️ 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5
📍Indiana Humanities, 1500 N. Delaware Ave.

Directing Your Fiction: An Introductory Writing Workshop

📖 Instructor: Elisabeth Giffin Speckman
🗓️ 2-4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14 
📍Pike library branch, 6525 Zionsville Road 

Writing Short Stories From Your Life and Times: A Fiction Workshop

📖 Instructor: Jennifer Delgadillo
🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 
📍 Fort Ben library branch, 9330 E. 56th St.

Finding the Small Details to Start Writing Creative Nonfiction: A Workshop

📖 Instructor: Bek Primrose
🗓️ 7:15-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 
📍Golden Hour Books, 5208 N. College Ave.

The final eight workshops of this season will occur between Jan. 7- April 30, 2027. Check the Community Workshop Series website for more information. 

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Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.

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Check out 13 free creative writing classes

by Mesgana Waiss, Mirror Indy
October 29, 2026

<h1>Check out 13 free creative writing classes</h1> <p class="byline">by Mesgana Waiss, Mirror Indy <br />October 29, 2026</p> <p>Everyone has a story to tell. If you’re thinking about finally taking your novel, memoir or short story projects more seriously, this new community writing series is here to help.&nbsp;</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.butler.edu/arts-sciences/master-fine-arts/community-workshop-series/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Community Workshop Series</a>, which kicked off Oct. 27, aims to guide local writers who want to write poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. The program — launched by Butler University Master’s of Fine Arts in 2025 — is designed to help adults with their writing regardless of ability.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Guests can attend one, a few or all of the workshops. These 13 writing workshops are led by alumni from the Butler MFA program and will take place at bookstores, nonprofits and various Indianapolis Public library branches.&nbsp;</p> <p>Here’s a list of where all fall and winter workshops will take place:&nbsp;</p> <h3 id="h-reconnecting-to-the-natural-world-through-writing" class="wp-block-heading">Reconnecting to the Natural World through Writing</h3> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>📖 Instructor: Amy Gastelum<br />🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23<br />📍 Warren public library branch, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/9701+East+21st+St,+Indianapolis,+IN+46229?entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">9701 E. 21st St</a>.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <h3 id="h-finding-the-poem-in-your-life-an-entry-to-writing-poetry" class="wp-block-heading">Finding the Poem in Your Life: An Entry to Writing Poetry</h3> <p>📖 Instructor: Lydia Johnson<br />🗓️ 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5<br />📍Indiana Humanities, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/1500+N.+Delaware+Ave.,+Indianapolis,+IN+46202?entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1500 N. Delaware Ave.</a></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <h3 id="h-directing-your-fiction-an-introductory-writing-workshop" class="wp-block-heading">Directing Your Fiction: An Introductory Writing Workshop</h3> <p>📖 Instructor: Elisabeth Giffin Speckman<br />🗓️ 2-4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14&nbsp;<br />📍Pike library branch, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/6525+Zionsville+Rd,+Indianapolis,+IN+46268?entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6525 Zionsville Road&nbsp;</a></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <h3 id="h-writing-short-stories-from-your-life-and-times-a-fiction-workshop" class="wp-block-heading">Writing Short Stories From Your Life and Times: A Fiction Workshop</h3> <p>📖 Instructor: Jennifer Delgadillo<br />🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15&nbsp;<br />📍 Fort Ben library branch, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/9330+E+56th+St,+Indianapolis,+IN+46216?entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">9330 E. 56th St</a>.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <h3 id="h-finding-the-small-details-to-start-writing-creative-nonfiction-a-workshop" class="wp-block-heading">Finding the Small Details to Start Writing Creative Nonfiction: A Workshop</h3> <p>📖 Instructor: Bek Primrose<br />🗓️ 7:15-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6&nbsp;<br />📍Golden Hour Books, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/5208+N.+College+Ave.,+Indianapolis,+IN+46220?entry=gmail&amp;source=g" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5208 N. College Ave.</a></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <p>The final eight workshops of this season will occur between Jan. 7- April 30, 2027. Check the Community Workshop Series website for more information.&nbsp;</p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://mirrorindy.org/free-community-creative-writing-workshops-indianapolis-public-library/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://mirrorindy.org">Mirror Indy</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.&nbsp;<img src="https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" alt="" width="16" height="16" style="width:1em;height:1em;"></p> <img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=94646&amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R" style="width:1px;height:1px;"><script> PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://mirrorindy.org/free-community-creative-writing-workshops-indianapolis-public-library/", urlref: window.location.href }); } } </script> <script id="parsely-cfg" src="//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js"></script>

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