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Creative Writing San Francisco

Explore Creative Writing Groups and Events in San Francisco

430kMonthly events

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4.5App store rating

200kGroups

Sit Down and Write

Sun, Sep 20, 6:00 PM

From Oakland Creative Writers

4.8

Writers write. And if you haven't written in a room full of writers writing, you haven't lived! It's a nice feeling, at the least. 11:00 a.m. Arrive, find a spot, support our patron by purchasing a beverage and/or snack and tipping well. Then socialize until writing-time begins! A few minutes before, we'll go around the circle introducing ourselves, our writing passions, and our goal for the day. 11:15 a.m. The organizer will start the clock, and for the next 1 hour conversation shall be discontinued as everyone works on whatever writing or reading (or what-have-you) strikes his or her fancy. The key here is a nice, courteous quiet. Headphones are recommended. 12:15 p.m. Writing-time ends. You're welcome to continue writing, resume socializing, hail a cab, do whatever you want, because you're an adult.

6 attendees

Shut Up & Write!® NEW LOCATION in NORTH BEACH

Sat, Sep 26, 5:30 PM

From Shut Up & Write!® SF Bay Area

4.8

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **PLEASE NOTE: if there are no RSVPs by 24 hours before the event on Saturday (i.e. by Friday 11 am) the MeetUp will be CANCELLED for lack of interest.** **===============================================================** ***Want to write in a café on a Saturday afternoon in the company of other writers?*** We’re doing just that, every week. Come and be inspired to complete your work! **NEW LOCATION!** Because Caffe Capriccio no longer allows customers to use their laptops, we have moved down the block and around the corner to **Cafe Francisco — 2161 Powell St.** Plenty of seating options (tables, booths, inside, outside), a large menu, great location. Here’s how it works: **10:45 AM** **Show up** at **Cafe FRANCISCO,** feeling productive and energized! We meet in the main cafe area, across from the counter. We’ll have Shut Up and Write signs on the tables, so we’re easy to find. Brace yourself for 90 minutes of writing in focused silence. * ***\*RSVP and please arrive by 10:45 am in order to get settled in, get set up, order food. We will introduce ourselves briefly and start promptly at 11:00 am.*** * * **11:00 AM to 12:30 PM: we shut up and write!** * **12:30 PM: Post-writing chat!** More writing if you like! Or break and head out to get a jump on your other weekend activities. ***Sound good?! Join us!*** \* \* \* If you are new to the "Shut Up & Write" concept... Shut Up & Write hosts free in-person and online writing events for writers all over the world. Our goal is to ensure that every writer, regardless of genre or skill level, has access to the community, accountability, and resources they need to be successful in their personal writing goals. Our events use our proven formula: a few minutes of introductions, an hour (or more) of focused writing, and a final check-in to share the hour's progress. **What to Expect** ***\*\*\* RSVP and please arrive 10–15 minutes early to get settled at an in-person event.\*\*\**** Our host will lead introductions and then everyone will write for a quiet, focused period of time. Afterward, we’ll have an optional time to chat and get to know each other. Members often talk about their successes and challenges as writers. Our events are a safe space for writers to work on their craft. **No one will read or critique your writing.** For more information about our events, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com). **Being Late is Okay**: Just show up and get settled, without interrupting other writers who may be in the zone :-) Check in with me **after** the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write sign.) **\*\*If you RSVP that you will attend, and your plans change, PLEASE change your RSVP to indicate you will NOT be attending!** (\*\*That saves your host from trying to save seats/table space) This is a cozy cafe and can get busy on the weekend -- if it gets crowded, please be considerate and allow room for other patrons by sharing your table with writers in our group. **What Should I Bring?** Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block the cafe’s ambient music or the occasional conversation by other patrons. **Other Important Details:** VENUE WIFI NAME/PASSWORD: [posted next to cash register] TRAVEL / PARKING: * The **#8/#30/#45 buses + the Powell/Mason Cable Car all pass by within a couple of blocks. Street parking.** GUIDELINES: **Please support a local business and thank our hosts by purchasing something**. No outside food. We want the owner to be glad we are there and see that we are good for business!

2 attendees

Sit Down and Write

Sun, Sep 27, 6:00 PM

From Oakland Creative Writers

4.8

3 attendees

The Geography Within Us: A Poetry Gathering on Place, Memory, and Belonging

Sat, Oct 17, 9:00 PM

From Kaavya Connections: World Poetry, Literature & Music

5.0

Perhaps home is not simply the place we come from. Perhaps it is a language in which our name sounds different. A kitchen where someone knows what we like to eat. A city whose streets our feet remember. A landscape whose seasons still live somewhere in the body. A person beside whom we do not have to explain ourselves. A song that returns us somewhere. Or a place where we arrived as strangers and, slowly, unexpectedly, learned to belong. We carry many geographies within us. The place where we were born. The neighborhood where we grew up. The cities we chose and the ones circumstance chose for us. The landscapes we left behind. The languages through which we learned to understand the world. The people who made unfamiliar places feel like home. Over time, these places become more than locations on a map. They enter our memories, our gestures, our food, our music, our language, even the ways we understand distance and belonging. Sometimes we leave a place and discover that it never entirely leaves us. And sometimes a place we never imagined belonging to becomes part of who we are. **The Geography Within Us** is **a gathering devoted to place, memory, and belonging, and to the many landscapes, languages, people, and journeys that quietly become part of our inner lives**. Together, we will explore not simply where we come from, but the more mysterious question of **what places have become part of who we are.** Across traditions, poets have carried entire worlds within their poems. Mahmoud Darwish carried Palestine through memory and language. Agha Shahid Ali recreated Kashmir across distance and longing. Derek Walcott explored the ways landscape, history, and identity become inseparable. Naomi Shihab Nye finds belonging in family, language, ordinary encounters, and the crossings between cultures. Joy Harjo writes of land, ancestry, memory, and our deep relationship with place. Their poems remind us that geography is not only something outside us. It can also become something we carry within. This gathering asks: **What places have become part of who we are?** **How do landscapes, languages, cities, and communities continue to live within us long after we leave them?** **And how do the places we discover unexpectedly change our understanding of where we belong?** We will read poems about childhood streets and adopted cities, familiar landscapes and distant homelands, kitchens and train stations, migration and arrival, language and memory, journeys and returns, and the unexpected places where belonging finds us. You are welcome to bring: * A poem about a place that has shaped you. * A piece connected to a city, landscape, language, neighborhood, or community you carry within you. * A poem about leaving somewhere, arriving somewhere, or unexpectedly finding a sense of belonging. * A song, photograph, recipe, memory, or passage that transports you to another place. * An original work about a geography, real or imagined, that has become part of who you are. We invite poetry from all languages and traditions. Together, we will read, translate, reflect, and listen, allowing the different geographies we carry to meet in the same room. As always with Kaavya Connections, the gathering may wander beyond the theme. We follow where the poems, memories, and conversations lead. Join us for an afternoon exploring the places that made us, the places that changed us, the places that surprised us, and the places that continue to live quietly within us. Bring a friend, a poem, a place, or simply come to listen. **Above all, bring the worlds you carry within you.** Please find more about us here — Kaavya Connections Website: [https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/](https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Please also join the mailing list for upcoming gatherings and events: [https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/mailing-list/](https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/mailing-list/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) If you would like to volunteer to help organize future gatherings and performances, please email: [contact@kaavyaconnections.com](mailto:contact@kaavyaconnections.com) **Kaavya Connections**

7 attendees

Berkeley -- Shut up and Write + Coffee

Thu, Sep 24, 9:00 PM

From Shut Up & Write!® SF Bay Area

4.8

Welcome! Let's meet for a session of quiet writing. **Instructions** * Small group. RSVP for waitlist. * Location will be emailed to confirmed attendees. * NO: outside food, walk-ins, "no-shows." Thanks. **Meet**: Backyard garden, outside. Host will post location if we move. **Coffee** and food for sale onsite. No outside food, please. **What** Join other writers for an hour of focused writing and work. "Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice." Come and get it done. **Schedule** 2:00 PM Quick intros 02:15 Timer starts. Write for one hour. 03:15 The end. Chat (outside), take off, or keep writing. \*Food is available there or at the many nearby venues. THANK YOU to Cafenated cafe, our host! **Guidelines** • Wi-Fi available • **Amenities**: Coffee, tea and food for sale. Please buy refreshments here to support the cafe. • BART: Downtown Berkeley. PARKING: street. • Bring headphones if you want to reduce outside noise distraction. • Socializing (optional, away from table) happens after 03:15 PM. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is encouraged. • **RSVP** only if you can make it, and update ASAP if your plans change. • **Running late?** Join us quietly and start writing! This is your practice and focus time, so I hope to see you there. HAPPY WRITING! *** **Notes** • See our "About Us" link, above left, for SUAW meeting tips and etiquette. • Locations and times change according to availability. • By joining, you agree to workspace rules and agree to leaving space in same condition as it was found. • Photo: Cafenated Posted by: Rosanna, volunteer organizer

2 attendees

IN PERSON Saturday Morning Writing Meetup

Sat, Oct 10, 5:00 PM

From East Bay Women Writers

4.9

After a six-month haitus, this weekly Saturday morning writing session is back! I'm pleased to say this group has been meeting for four years. This is a place for women looking for time, space and community to work on their writing goals -- poetry, fiction, journaling, non-fiction, essays, whatever words you need to get out. We meet in person, writing at my home in Emeryville (which has different rooms and corners where folks can plug in a laptop or sit with a notebook and work on their poems, journal entries, novels, plays, memoirs, etc. I'll provide coffee and tea :) Schedule: 10:00-10:15 a.m.: Introductions and socializing. 10:15-11:15: One hour of writing. A prompt will be provided, but if you have an idea for your morning writing, work on that :) 11:15 to noon: Regroup and (optional) share. Everyone gets five minutes to read their work out loud to the group. This is voluntary and there is no critique from others. Vaccination required. My address will be sent to those who RSVP.

10 attendees

Think Outside the Covers with Laurie McLean

Sun, Sep 20, 8:00 PM

From California Writers Club - Berkeley Branch

4.6

Join the California Writer's Club for our monthly speaker series. This meeting also functions as our club meeting and is a great way to get to know our organization, while also experiencing a great speaker talk from a writer, for writers. [Tickets via Eventbrite HERE](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/think-outside-the-covers-with-laurie-mclean-tickets-1999147693567) ABOUT THE TALK Kick off your writing season with our first speaker of the year, literary agent Laurie McLean at a brand new location off Piedmont Avenue. By 2050, every author will be an authorpreneur, predicts Fuse Literary partner/agent Laurie McLean. Because your book is more than just a book. It’s a story. And with all the myriad new technologies and storytelling opportunities at hand, publishing is experiencing a revolution that you should be a part of. Come hear this successful, seasoned agent, and former Director of the San Francisco Writers Conference, update you on the state of publishing, leaving ample time for questions! ABOUT LAURIE McLEAN Founding Partner FUSE LITERARY Laurie McLean spent 20 years as the CEO of a multi-million-dollar marketing agency and 8 years as an agent/senior agent at Larsen Pomada Literary Agents before co-founding Fuse Literary in 2013 with her business partner Gordon Warnock. Laurie specializes in middle-grade, young-adult and adult genre fiction including romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, and weird westerns. Laurie was on the management team of the San Francisco Writers Conference for more than 20 years, including as the Director for five years, and co-founded two ePublishing companies that she eventually sold: Joyride Books for romance, and Ambush Books for tween and teen books. Find out more at [FuseLiterary.com](FuseLiterary.com) or follow her on most social media @fuseliterary. Get to Know our Club President, Debi Mason, in our Member Spotlight. **Location** This event will be LIVE at the new GOODNESS Community Center off of Piedmont Avenue, right behind Peets Coffee. Space is limited, grab your tickets asap! **Agenda (more details in Eventbrite where you must purchase tickets)** 12:30-1 Setup, Members can come early to help and socialize 1:00-2:00 Author Success Group 2:00-2:15 Networking 2:15-2:45 Club Announcements/Monthly Members Meeting 02:45 PM-03:00 PM - Member Spotlight, Debi Mason 03:00 PM-03:45 PM - Keynote Speaker, Laurie McLean ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA WRITER'S CLUB For more than a hundred years, the Berkeley California Writers Club has educated writers of all abilities in the craft and business of writing. Our purpose is to promote fellowship and to provide practical information that supports writers in achieving their publishing goals. The Berkeley Branch is the founding branch of the statewide [Club](http://calwriters.org/), which now has [23 branches](https://calwriters.org/cwcbranches/) and around 2000 members throughout California.

4 attendees

Sit Down and Write

Sun, Oct 4, 6:00 PM

From Oakland Creative Writers

4.8

2 attendees

Impactful Creative Writing Mastery: 1 Day Training, San Francisco, CA

Thu, Oct 22, 2:00 PM

From Mangates Global Professional Learning Network

**Overview** Enhance internal collaboration, communication, and teamwork to improve efficiency and workplace performance. **Ready to secure your spot? 🎯 Register now and complete your payment securely via Stripe Checkout!** [Click Here](https://buy.stripe.com/6oUcN55U68n41TigCE2oE47) **About the Course:** **Duration**: 1 Full Day (8 Hours) **Delivery** **Mode**: Classroom (In-Person) **Language**: English **Credits**: 8 PDUs / Training Hours **Certification**: Course Completion Certificate **Refreshments**: Lunch, snacks, and beverages provided during the session **If you would like weekend training sessions, kindly reach out to us at [info@mangates.com](info@mangates.com) for availability and scheduling.** **Course Overview** This 1 Day creative writing course is designed to strengthen your storytelling and writing craft. You explore narrative structure, tone, writing styles, and descriptive techniques. The training includes hands-on writing practice, character development, dialogue creation, and editing approaches. You learn both foundational principles and advanced strategies that help you write engaging stories, articles, scripts, or content. The course ensures you leave with improved confidence, clarity, and creativity in your writing. **Learning Objectives** By the end of this course, you will be able to: * Understand the core principles of creative storytelling. * Build well-structured narratives with engaging flow. * Develop strong characters and meaningful dialogue. * Use tone, voice, and style effectively in writing. * Apply descriptive techniques to bring scenes to life. * Edit and polish writing for clarity and impact. * Apply creative writing skills across multiple content formats. *** **Target Audience** * Aspiring writers * Students looking to improve writing skills * Content creators and bloggers * Scriptwriters and storytellers * Marketing and communication professionals * Anyone wanting to enhance their creative expression *** **Why Choose This Course?** This course blends theory with practical writing exercises to help you become a confident storyteller. The trainer brings experience in creative writing, content development, and story-based communication. The curriculum is structured to develop both creativity and technical writing ability in a single day. Real examples, live exercises, and guided practice ensure strong skill development. **©2026 Mangates Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd. This content is protected by copyright law. Copy or Reproduction without permission is prohibited.** **Want to train your entire team?** We offer customized in-house training designed to strengthen creative communication, storytelling, and content development skills. The session can be adapted to focus on branding, scriptwriting, persuasive writing, or narrative building based on your team’s requirements. Ideal for companies seeking innovation, creativity, and improved communication capabilities. **📧 Contact us today to schedule a customized in-house session: corporate@mangates.com** **Modules** **Module 1: Foundations of Creative Writing** * Understand what makes writing creative and compelling. * Explore imagination, originality, and writing purpose. * Learn key elements of strong storytelling. * Icebreaker *** **Module 2: Narrative Structure & Story Development** * Understand story arcs including beginning, conflict, climax, and resolution. * Learn how to outline stories for clarity and flow. * Explore pacing techniques to maintain reader interest. * Activity *** **Module 3: Character Building & Dialogue Writing** * Learn how to create believable, layered characters. * Understand how dialogue reveals personality and emotion. * Explore techniques for natural and engaging conversations. * Role Play *** **Module 4: Tone, Voice & Writing Styles** * Explore how tone shapes emotion and mood in writing. * Understand different writing styles and how to use them. * Learn how to develop your unique writing voice. * Activity *** **Module 5: Descriptive Writing & Sensory Detail** * Learn methods to paint vivid images through words. * Understand how sensory details engage readers. * Explore techniques to avoid over-description. * Case Study *** **Module 6: Editing & Polishing Your Work** * Understand the editing process for clarity and impact. * Learn how to refine sentences, paragraphs, and structure. * Explore common writing mistakes and how to fix them. * Simulation *** **Module 7: Applying Creative Writing in Modern Content** * Understand creative writing in blogs, scripts, social media, and branding. * Learn how to adapt storytelling for different formats. * Explore writing techniques that boost audience engagement. * Activity **FAQs** **What types of writing does this course cover?** It covers storytelling, descriptive writing, dialogue, tone, and narrative structure **Do I need prior writing experience?** No, the course is suitable for beginners and intermediate writers. **3\. Will there be writing exercises during the session?** Yes, activities and guided writing tasks are included. **4\. Does the course cover editing skills?** Yes, you learn how to refine and polish your work effectively. **5\. Will this help me write better content for blogs or social media?** Yes, modern content writing applications are included. **6.Do I receive a certificate after completing the training?** Yes, a Course Completion Certificate is provided. **7\. Are lunch and refreshments included?** Yes, lunch, snacks, and beverages are included. **8\. Can I bring my own writing samples for feedback?** Yes, you may bring samples for optional review. **9\. Is this course interactive?** Yes, it includes activities, writing tasks, and discussions. **10\. Can non\-writers attend this training?** Yes, anyone who wants to improve creativity or communication can join. **11\. What is the refund policy?** You are eligible to request a refund up to 7 days before the event.

1 attendee

Paris in Fall 🍂🇫🇷 — Paint, Sip & Create in San Francisco

Sun, Sep 27, 10:00 PM

From Feel. Create. Connect. SF — by TBArt Studio.

🍂 PARIS IN FALL — Paint, Sip & Create in San Francisco 🇫🇷🎨 Imagine spending a Sunday afternoon in Paris… without leaving San Francisco. Join us for Paris in Fall, a beautiful 3-hour creative experience at Bar & Bean Fusion, where art, wine, food, music, and new connections come together. You don’t need to know how to paint. This experience is designed for beginners as well as anyone who simply wants to relax, create something beautiful, and enjoy a special afternoon. 🎨 Choose your Paris-inspired artwork Create your own version of one of three designs: • Lady in Red • Together in Paris • Paris Dreams We’ll be working with mixed media, collage, and acrylic paint. The Eiffel Tower and figures are pre-printed, so you can focus on creating the atmosphere, colors, textures, and your own interpretation of Paris. ✨ Your experience includes: • 3-hour guided creative experience • All art materials • Your own finished Paris artwork to take home • A glass of wine • Cheese, fruit & light snacks • Paris-inspired atmosphere & photo moments • A chance to meet and connect with new people 👗 Dress for Paris! Red or orange accessories are encouraged — a scarf, beret, belt, lipstick, or any little French-inspired detail you love. 📅 Sunday, September 27, 2026 ⏰ 3:00–6:00 PM 📍 Bar & Bean Fusion 1 Polk St, San Francisco 🎟🎟️ TICKETS ‼️Early Bird — $110 Available for the first 8 tickets. 🎟️Regular Ticket — $115 ⚠️ Please note: Clicking “Going” on Meetup does not include your ticket or confirm your reservation. To purchase your ticket, click Going and check the Event Chat for Venmo payment information. Please include “Paris in Fall + your name” in your Venmo payment note. ✅ Your spot is confirmed once payment is received. Please note: parking is not available at the venue, so public transportation or rideshare is recommended. Come for the art. Stay for the atmosphere, conversations, and memories. ❤️ Feel. Create. Connect. Hosted by TBArt Studio × Bar & Bean Fusion от

3 attendees

Shut Up & Write Already! Fremont & East SF Bay

Sat, Sep 26, 5:15 PM

From Shut Up & Write!® SF Bay Area

4.8

**IMPORTANT NOTICE:** This event is listed on the Shut Up & Write! website. To see full event details, RSVP, or ask any questions, make sure to join the group here: [https://www.shutupwrite.com/series/id2vH3i21V00](https://www.shutupwrite.com/series/id2vH3i21V00) Please see the listing on the Shut Up & Write! website for full and updated event location details. \-\-\- Hello, Starting a Shut Up & Write group in Fremont. Location : Tables in large open atrium area in the back of the Fremont Library (May be changed later, with notice, to reserved rooms in Library, or to local Niles area cafes) Simple Format : 15 min : Meet & Catch up, share what you like about your writing goals 1 hour 30 min : Write in quiet 15 min : Share what you like (or didnt like) about your writing session! \*\*\* Join fellow writers each week to show up, sit down, and get words on the page. No critiques. No sharing. No pressure. Just focused writing time alongside others doing the same. After the session, you're welcome to stick around to chat, connect, and build your writing community. Wherever you are in your project, you're not doing it alone—this is your space to write.

1 attendee

Shut Up & Write!® at Precita Park Cafe

Tue, Sep 22, 5:00 PM

From Shut Up & Write!® SF Bay Area

4.8

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com). **Other Important Details:** Free WiFi available. Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.