DC WRITERS' SALON

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing. Very meta, we know. We've read Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, Amy Tan, Ursula Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut with Suzanne McConnell, Ernest Hemingway, Donald Maass, and Roy Peter Clark.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over ten weeks to explore how to bring the author's insights into our own writing.

This Fall, we're doing something new: getting into poetry with Mary Oliver, reading "A Poetry Handbook" alongside her collection "Felicity." We are meeting on these dates from 11am - 12:30pm in person and virtual so join however suits you. 


  • October 16th, initial discussion on poetry
  • October 30th, reading both books through page 34
  • November 13th, reading both books through page 57
  • November 27th, reading both books through page 91
  • December 11th, reading Handbook to the end

We meet every other Sunday for a chat about how to integrate nuggets into our writing, sometimes playing with prompts. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the duration, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two.

​All members welcome, no need to sign up, just show up (and ideally read, not a requirement but helpful!) 
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Join Book Club
To share book ideas email hello@dcwriterssalon.com. For a taste of book club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.

About Membership

DC Writers’ Salon is a studio and community for writers, for the active or aspiring; author, poet, comedian or playwright (and all the other forms); extroverted artists seeking humans or introverted linguists seeking accountability.

The Salon is like a yoga studio for writers. Writers of all genres and stages come to write at Salons - two hour sessions to primarily write together, but also to
stay accountable, reflect on the writing process, and connect with others in an otherwise lonely art. 

There are two Salon memberships - casual and regular - and you can also drop in if that better suits you. Memberships include a whole bunch of Salon Goings On including a monthly social. 
Become A Member
Member Benefits
CASUAL
REGULAR
Salons Per Month
up to 3 Salons
Unlimited
Morning Poppins
Unlimited
Unlimited
Finishers' Group
-
Yes
Use of Salon Drop In Hours
Yes
Yes
Member Feedback Events
Yes
Yes
Book Club
Yes
Yes
Friday Socials, Sunday Suppers, Movie Nights
Yes
Yes
Workshop & Event Discount
-
Yes
Snacks, Drinks, SWAG & Hugs
Oodles
Oodles
Monthly Cost
​$55
​$95
You can change or pause your membership at any time. Email hello@dcwriterssalon.com with questions or for help.

About Membership

DC Writers’ Salon is a studio and community for writers, for the active or aspiring; author, poet, comedian or playwright (and all the other forms); extroverted artists seeking humans or introverted linguists seeking accountability.

The Salon is like a yoga studio for writers. Writers of all genres and stages come to write at Salons - two hour sessions to primarily write together, but also to
stay accountable, reflect on the writing process, and connect with others in an otherwise lonely art. 

There are two Salon memberships - casual and regular - and you can also drop in if that better suits you. Memberships include a whole bunch of Salon Goings On including a monthly social. 
Become A Member
Member Benefits
PATRON membership

Connect to writing & community
PRACTICE membership

Space & time for a regular practice.
PROJECT membership

 Support to grow, finish and publish.
Join hosted writing Salons:
​Two-hour writing sessions book-ended by connection and reflection.
Twice per month
Once per week
Unlimited
Open hours writing:
​Use of the Salon studio for solo writing sessions. 
Can be a visit
Can be a visit
Unlimited
Be included in our member directory:
Helping members get to know and connect with those working on similar writing.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Participate in Affinity Circles: 
Monthly topical gatherings to discuss writing, resources, and know-how. 
Yes
Yes
Yes
Come to potlucks, socials, and member-led nights:
Regular occasions to socialize with fellow writers. 
Yes
Yes
Yes
Be part of the Salon book club:
Every other week discussion of a book about writing.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Join Finishers' Group and feedback exchanges: 
Groups that boost accountability, connection, and feedback, including from developmental editors. 
-
-
Yes
Author and Agent wine and cheese events: 
Quarterly Q&A events with industry experts.
-
-
Yes
Access to publishing databases and classes: 
Resources to subscription tools to support publishing.​
-
-
Yes
Get snacks, drinks, and SWAG: 
All sorts of drinks, snacks, and Salon goodies.
Oodles
Oodles
Oodles
​Monthly Cost
​$75
​$125
​$155
You can change or pause your membership at any time.
​Email hello@dcwriterssalon.com with questions or for help.

Set Up Your Membership

You're almost done! But if you landed here and aren't sure what this is, go back a step.
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$20 per Salon 

Drop into a Salon as you'd like rather than become a monthly member. 
Salon Drop In
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$55 per month

Join a Salon up to 3 times per month, and have access to other benefits.
Casual Membership
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$95 per month

Come to as many Salons as you'd like and have access to all member benefits.
Regular Membership
Helpful notes: Memberships renew on the 1st of every month. You can cancel any time and also have the option to pause for a month or two for any reason. We also reserve the right to refuse or cancel membership.

About Membership

DC Writers’ Salon is a studio and community for writers, for the active or aspiring; author, poet, comedian or playwright (and all the other forms); extroverted artists seeking humans or introverted linguists seeking accountability.

The Salon is like a yoga studio for writers. Writers of all genres and stages come to write at Salons - two hour sessions to primarily write together, but also to
stay accountable, reflect on the writing process, and connect with others in an otherwise lonely art. 

There are two Salon memberships - casual and regular - and you can also 
drop in if that better suits you. Memberships include a whole bunch of Salon Goings On including a monthly social. 
Become A Member
Member Benefits
CASUAL
REGULAR
Salons Per Month
up to 3 Salons
Unlimited
Morning Poppins
Unlimited
Unlimited
Finishers' Group
-
Yes
Use of Salon Drop In Hours
Yes
Yes
Member Feedback Events
Yes
Yes
Book Club
Yes
Yes
Friday Socials, Sunday Suppers, Movie Nights
Yes
Yes
Workshop & Event Discount
-
Yes
Snacks, Drinks, SWAG & Hugs
Oodles
Oodles
Monthly Cost
​$55
​$95
You can change or pause your membership at any time. Email hello@dcwriterssalon.com with questions or for help.

Set Up Your Membership

You're almost done! But if you landed here and aren't sure what this is, go back a step.
Picture

$75 per month

For writers who want to be part of a fellowship community and reconnect to writing.

​Join up to twice a month, plus community benefits.
Patron Membership
Picture

​$125 per month

For writers who want to prioritize space and time for a regular writing practice.

Join one Salon each week, plus community benefits.
Practice Membership
Picture

$155 per month

For writers who want to grow in their craft, complete work, and explore publication.

Join as many Salons as you'd like, plus community benefits.
Project Membership
Helpful notes: Memberships renew on the 1st of every month. You can cancel any time and also have the option to pause for a month or two for any reason. We also reserve the right to refuse or cancel membership.

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing. Very meta, we know. We've read Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, Amy Tan, Ursula Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut with Suzanne McConnell, Ernest Hemingway, and Roy Peter Clark.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over ten weeks to explore how to bring the author's insights into our own writing.

This Summer, we're getting into "The Emotional Craft of Fiction" by Donald Maass. We are meeting on these dates, in person and virtual so join however suits you. 


  • July 17th, 11 - 12:30pm, reading through Chapter 2
  • July 31st, 11 - 12:30pm, reading through Chapter 4
  • August 14th 11 - 12:30pm, reading through Chapter 5
  • August 28th, 11 - 12:30pm, reading through Chapter 6
  • September 11th, 11 - 12:30pm, reading through the end

We meet every other Sunday for a chat about how to integrate nuggets into our writing, sometimes playing with prompts. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the duration, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two.

​All members welcome, no need to sign up, just show up (and ideally read, not a requirement but helpful!) 
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Join Book Club
To share book ideas or get on the Google group, email hello@dcwriterssalon.com. For a taste of book club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.

The Salon Book* Club

* Essay Edition
In the Salon book club, we read books about writing. Very meta, we know. We've read Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, Amy Tan, Ursula Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut with Suzanne McConnell, Ernest Hemingway, and Roy Peter Clark.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over ten weeks to explore how to bring the author's insights into our own writing.

For this Spring quarter, we're changing it up a bit: Instead of a book, we're digging into this collection of curated essays to explore what works, what doesn't, and why. We are meeting on these dates, in person and virtual so join however suits you. 


  • April 24th, 11 - 12:30pm, Essays Widely Read
  • May 8th, 11 - 12:30pm, Essays on Hard Topics
  • May 22nd, 11 - 12:30pm, Humor Essays
  • June 5th, 11 - 12:30pm, Social Commentary Essays
  • June 19th, 11 - 12:30pm, Essays by Impressive Women

We meet every other Sunday for a chat about how to integrate nuggets into our writing, sometimes playing with prompts. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the duration, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two.

​All members welcome, no need to sign up, just show up (and, of course, read the essays, not a requirement but helpful!) 
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Join the book (aka essay) club
To share book ideas or get on the Google group, email hello@dcwriterssalon.com. For a taste of book club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing. Very meta, we know. So far, we've read Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, Amy Tan, and Kurt Vonnegut and Suzanne McConnell. 

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over eight to twelve weeks to explore how to bring the author's insights into our own writing.

For this quarter, we're reading Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast and we'll be meeting on these dates:


  • July 25th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Six
  • August 8th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Fourteen
  • August 22nd, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Nineteen
  • (Skipping Labor Day weekend, some extra time for reading)
  • September 19th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through the end

We meet every other Sunday to chat and play with prompts, taking time to integrate nuggets into our writing. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the whole book, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two. All members welcome, no need to sign up, just show up, virtually OR in person.
Picture
Join the book club
To share book ideas or get on the Google group, email hello@dcwriterssalon.com. For a taste of book club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing, like Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, Amy Tan, and Stephen King. Very meta, we know.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over eight to twelve weeks to explore how to bring the author's insights into our own writing.

The last meeting of this quarter is on March 21st, during which we are talking about the end of Where The Past Begins by Amy Tan. The next book we'll be reading is Pity The Reader by Kurt Vonnegut and Suzanne McConnell 
meeting on these dates:

  • April 18th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Five (page 74)
  • May 2nd, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Fourteen (page 148)
  • May 16th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Twenty Five (page 215)
  • May 30th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Thirty One (page 295)
  • June 13th, 11 - 12:30pm, Read through Chapter Thirty Seven, the end (page 383)

We meet every other Sunday to chat and play with prompts, taking time to integrate nuggets into our writing. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the whole book, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two. All members welcome, no need to sign up, just show up (right now virtually, of course). 
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Join the book club
Save the date: the next book club will kick off on Sunday, October 17th. 

To share book ideas or get on the Google group, email hello@dcwriterssalon.com. For a taste of book club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.
We know that priorities ebb and flow so we've provided a range rather than a fixed number of Salons each month. 
It's intended to be a guideline to help you, but not something cumbersome to count and track.
Email any time for help changing or pausing your membership.
Member Benefits
SMALL
MEDIUM
LARGE
Salons Per Month
1 - 3 Salons
4 - 8 Salons
8 + Salons
Morning Poppins
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Finishers' Group
-
Yes
Yes
Member Jams
-
Yes
Yes
Book Club
Yes
Yes
Yes
First Friday Socials & Sunday Suppers
Yes
Yes
Yes
Workshop & Event Discount
-
Yes
Yes
Snacks, Drinks, SWAG & Hugs
Oodles
Oodles
Oodles
Monthly Cost
$45
$95
$135

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing, like Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, and Stephen King. Very meta, we know.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over eight to twelve weeks. For the first quarter of this year, we are reading Where The Past Begins by Amy Tan 
and meeting on these dates (*recently updated):

  • February 7th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through I. Imagination
  • February 21st, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through III. Retrieving The Past
  • March 7th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Nine 
  • March 21st, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through VI. Language (the end)

We meet every other Sunday to chat and play with prompts, taking time to integrate nuggets into our writing. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the whole book, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two. And no need to sign up, just show up (right now virtually, of course). All members welcome.

Book suggestions and discussion ideas very welcome or email us to get in on the Google group (email hello@dcwriterssalon.com). For a taste of Book Club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.
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Join the book club
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Save the Date and Sneak preview: For April through June's book club that kicks off on April 4th, we'll be reading Pity the Reader by Kurt Vonnegut and Suzanne McConnell. 

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing, like Anne Lamott, Samuel Delany, bell hooks, Amy Tan, and Stephen King. Very meta, we know.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over eight to twelve weeks to explore how to bring the author's insights into our own writing.

The last meeting of this quarter is on March 21st, during which we are talking about the end of Where The Past Begins by Amy Tan. The next book we'll be reading is Pity The Reader by Kurt Vonnegut and Suzanne McConnell 
meeting on these dates:

  • April 18th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Five (page 74)
  • May 2nd, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Fourteen (page 148)
  • May 16th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Twenty Five (page 215)
  • May 30th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Chapter Thirty One (page 295)
  • June 13th, 11 - 12:30pm, Read through Chapter Thirty Seven (page 383)

We meet every other Sunday to chat and play with prompts, taking time to integrate nuggets into our writing. It's encouraged to stick with the group for the whole book, but totally understandable if schedule changes mean missing one or two. And no need to sign up, just show up (right now virtually, of course). All members welcome.

Book suggestions and discussion ideas very welcome or email us to get in on the Google group (email hello@dcwriterssalon.com). For a taste of Book Club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird.
Picture
Join the book club
Save the date and sneak preview: For July through September's book club that kicks off on July 11th, we'll be reading The Power of Myth, by Joseph Campbell. 

The Salon Book Club

In the Salon book club, we read books about writing, like Anne Lamott and Samuel Delany and Stephen King. Very meta, we know.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over eight to ten weeks. Beginning in October, we will be reading Remembered Rapture by bell hooks 
and meeting on these dates: 

  • October 18th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Remembered Rapture (p 45)
  • November 1st, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through From Public to Private (p 96)
  • November 15th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Intellectual Life (p 143)
  • November 29th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Emily Dickinson (p 199)
  • December 13th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Writer to Writer (the end)

We meet every other Sunday to talk and play with prompts, taking time to digest and integrate nuggets into our writing. It's encouraged that you try to come to all meetings, but totally understandable that's not always possible. And no need to sign up, just show up (right now virtually, of course). All members and passes welcome.

Future book suggestions and discussion ideas very welcome or email us to get in on the Google group (email hello@dcwriterssalon.com). To get a taste of Book Club, here is a collection of quotes and exercises from our last two books: Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird and Samuel Delany's About Writing.
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Join the book club

The Salon Book Club

By popular demand, introducing a book club unlike any other.

In the Salon book club we read books about writing, like Natalie Goldberg and Stephen King. Very meta, we know.

Rather than discuss once, we read and practice with one book over eight weeks. We are currently reading About Writing by Samuel Delany 
and meeting on these dates:

  • July 12th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through On Pure Storytelling (p 94)
  • July 26th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Part One (p 148)
  • August 9th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Part Two (p 206)
  • August 23rd, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through A Silent Interview (p 309)
  • September 6th, 11 - 12:30pm, Reading through Nits, Nips, Tucks and Tips

We meet every other Sunday to discuss and play with prompts, practicing with the insights of the book. It's encouraged that you try to come to all meetings, but totally understandable that's not always possible. And no need to sign up, just show up (right now virtually, of course). All members and passes welcome.

Future book suggestions and discussion ideas very welcome hello@dcwriterssalon.com. To get a taste of Book Club, here is a collection of quotes and prompts from our last book, Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird. 
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Join the book club

About Finishers' Group

In bringing together write
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    Join a Q4 Finishers' Group

    You're not committing to this, just getting the wheels turning.
    This is like an open mic (minus the open) and will be scheduled based on interest.
    By clicking submit, you get that Finishers' Group participation is for you and your fellow Finishers and you commit to be part of the group through March 28th. All submissions after January 18th will be bumped to a Q2. group.
Submit
Some answers to frequently asked questions about Finishers' Group: 

  • You absolutely don’t have to be write a whole book or screenplay, but decide what success is. (e.g. 2 short stories OR 5 essays or poems OR a book proposal, etc.)
  • You certainly don’t have to be able to attend all dates since life happens but great if you can. Only caveat is that if you join a group and drop out, other than for an emergency, you likely won't be invited back into a group.
  • There are three groups - Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. You stick with your group's day but you can most certainly come to any other Salon outside of your group if you ever have to miss Finishers.
​
Finishers' Groups start at the beginning of each quarter.
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Member Updates

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October 26, 2019
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1807 18th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009

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Questions and policies
​

membership

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FOR MEMBERS

Manage membership
Join a Finishers Group
Affinity Circles
​Book club

Open hours
​Member-Led Fridays


(we don't post much because, well, it's distracting to writing : ) 
1807 18th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009
To keep everyone safe, the Salon has a 100% Covid boosted policy. Please decline to join in person if you're not vaccinated.