Left Margin LIT: Creative Writing in Berkeley and the East Bay

STORIES START HERE

Left Margin LIT is a creative writing center offering classes, camaraderie,

and mentorship to East Bay writers of all backgrounds and experience levels.

We aim to promote storytelling and poetry as vital elements of a healthy city: enriching dialogue, building community, and supporting a culture of creativity.

UPCOMING CLASSES

Begins on September 30th

Character, Plot, and Place: Fiction Class

Imagine Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights without the British moorland, or N.K. Jeminson’s Broken Earth Trilogy, set anywhere but a seismically unstable planet. Imagine Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones apart...

Begins on October 5th

Nests, Spirals & Blooms: Poetry Class

In this poetry workshop, we will examine a series of natural forms to deepen our writing practice and to discover new possibilities. How can a bird’s nest teach us creative process? What might a snail shell show us...

Begins on October 13th

The Arc of Picture Book Writing

This course will offer the creative space to learn all about picture book writing. Classes will cover a range of craft topics including story arc, voice, and emotional resonance and will offer insight into industry standards...

See All Classes

Left Margin Testimonials

"I came to David when I needed help applying to MFA programs. Some writers will try to shape your work into a style like their own, but David was able to recognize my voice and polish it rather than mold it. Throughout the application process, David responded to every one of my concerns with reassurance and insight. He helped me navigate the painful purgatory of the waitlist, resulting in my acceptance. Without his feedback, advice, and encouragement, I wouldn't be attending my dream school."

Maya

MFA student, University of Michigan

— Name, Title