Events, Classes, and Workshops
The Driftless Writing Center offers a multitude of classes on a variety of topics for writers of all levels. Led by both DWC board members and guest instructors, past offerings have included grant-writing, crafting effective press releases, nature writing, manuscript revision, writing poetry, and how to start putting words on a page, a workshop for everyone.
The DWC also provides regular writing enrichment tutorials for home-schooled students and has worked with public high school students on writing personal essays. We endeavor to keep tuition as low as possible to make sure that everyone has access to our offerings, and the DWC always sponsors one scholarship spot for every class.
Several of our classes have been offered after hearing from community members. If you’d like to suggest a topic, tell us about an author you’d like us to bring to the area, or provide feedback of any kind, we’d love to hear from you.
Viroqua In-Person Connect & Write
Join other writers once a month for an hour of in-person focused writing time.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Central Time) on the following Sundays of 2026 (and 2027):
October 18
November 22
December 13
January 10, 2027
at: Magpie Gelato, 113 S Main St, Viroqua, WI 54665
The Driftless Writing Center is excited to offer monthly opportunities to work in person with your fellow writers. "In-Person Connect & Write" brings writers together for focused writing time in a supportive community of peers. Join us for an hour of focused writing time at tat Magpie Gelato), one Sunday per month, hosted by DWC board member Rose Davey.
Walk-ins are welcome but RSVPs are helpful.
To RSVP or for more information, please email Rose Davey: rosendavey@gmail.com
Free and open to the public, donations also welcome.
We look forward to writing with you in Viroqua!
First Saturday Write-In in La Crosse
Join other writers in-person in La Crosse for monthly drop-in writing times
First Saturday of each month from 8:30am-10:30am
2026:
January 3
February 7
March 7
April 4
There will be no write-in in May
June 6
July 4
August 1
September 5
October 3 (there will be no official host, but you are still encouraged to gather and write!)
November 7
December 6
The Root Note, 115 4TH ST SOUTH, LA CROSSE, WI 54601
Join us for a monthly casual monthly writing opportunity. Drop in and out anytime, from 9 am to 11 am. Write, chat a bit with other writers if you like, but mostly, grab the time to write and feel motivated by the writing energy around you.
To RSVP, please email DWC board member and La Crosse Write-In host Jodi Vandenberg-Daves at jodivandenbergdaves@gmail.com to let her know you're coming. This will help with reserving seats for writers at The Root Note, which can be busy on a Saturday morning. If you don't get at chance to RSVP, drop-ins are welcome.
Submissions Lab (virtual)
Feb--Saturday 2/7/2026 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
May--Tuesday 5/12/2026 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Sep--Wednesday 9/9/2026 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Nov--Saturday 11/14/2026 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm
Online
Join us for our quarterly online submissions labs - a dedicated time to work on submitting your work for publication!
Join the DWC for online co-working sessions designed to help you power through those pesky submissions tasks. We'll meet online with the goal of sharing submission resources and stating our individual intentions for the session. Then we'll get to work on submitting our writing to the outlets of our choice.
Whether it’s journals, anthologies, residencies, or contests, if you’ve got work that needs to get out there, come co-work with other writers to get a jump start on the spring submissions season!
Please register for Connect & Write here to receive the Submissions Lab link. If you are already registered for Connect & Write, just log into the Submissions Lab with that same link.
"First Friday" Open Mics
The DWC’s series of online open mics will continue on the first Friday of every even-numbered month.
7:00pm (Central Time) on the following Fridays:
February 6
April 10 (April's open Mic has been moved to the second Friday of the month)
June 5
August 7
October 2
December 4
Held online via Zoom
The Driftless Writing Center will sponsor another year of “First Friday” online open mics. All members of the DWC community are encouraged to read their work and/or be part of the listening audience. Look for an email message a couple of weeks before each event for specific details, including information on how to register to read. “First Friday” events are free, though donations to support this and other DWC programs are very much appreciated!
Contact dwc.openmic@gmail.com for more information on signing up to read.
Connect & Write
Join the Driftless Writing Center and Arts + Literature Laboratory for a
virtual write-in.
10 - 11 a.m. Monday mornings
10 - 11 a.m. Tuesday mornings
10 - 11 a.m. Wednesday mornings
10 - 11 a.m. Thursday mornings (NOTE: Thursday and Sunday sessions are hosted by Arts + Literature Laboratory.)
10 - 11 a.m. Friday mornings
9 - 10 a.m. Saturday mornings
9 - 10 a.m. Sunday mornings (hosted by ALL)
All “Connect & Write” events are online via Zoom.
The Driftless Writing Center's casual drop-in “Connect & Write” sessions will continue throughout 2025 on the schedule above. Write a novel, pull together that poetry chapbook, explore your cross-genre ambitions, or focus on a single essay. Please join us whenever you can to work toward your writing goals!
All meetings are held online via Zoom. The DWC’s “Connect & Write” program is free, but registration is required. To register, click here.
View Online Discussions and Readings from Contours: A Literary Landscape
Online recording available now
Kimberly Blaeser, Peter Blewett, Leslie Damaso, Katherine Fischer, Mary Ellen Gallagher, Kristine Jepsen, Jonel Kiesau, Kevin Koch, Justin O’Brien, Laura Romeyn, and franciszka voeltz.
The McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua recently featured Contours: A Literary Landscape in their Adult Summer Reading Program. Lisa Henner discussed the history and goals of the Driftless Writing Center, David Hough talked about the making of the anthology, and contributor Janet Rowe read from her work.
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Contours: A Literary Landscape, you can do so here.
Stories from the Flood Project: An ongoing oral history and community-service project
This project is ongoing
More information is on the Stories from the Flood website
After the devasting flooding in late August and early September 2018, we wanted to do more than mop floors and haul away trash, and we decided to do what we do best—help people tell their stories. For more information on this ongoing community-service project, visit wisconsinfloodstories.org
Our Cancellation Policy
Wisconsin weather can be unreliable and occasionally challenging—especially in winter—and we want everyone to travel wisely and safely.
In case of inclement weather, the DWC will follow the Viroqua Public School District’s cancellation notices. If the Viroqua Public School District cancels classes for the day, the DWC will cancel any program scheduled for that day. Please check our Facebook page for up-to-the-moment notices.