Redbud Writing Project
Write your story. Change your life.
ABOUT Redbud Writing Project
The Redbud Writing Project is the Research Triangle’s only adult education writing school, serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and beyond. Founded by two North Carolina State University MFA graduates, the Redbud Writing Project offers six-week courses online, at bookstores and community spaces around the Triangle, and at our headquarters at 719 N. Person Street in Raleigh. Our course topics range from short story, novel, and memoir writing, to workshopping and revising, to publishing and submitting. We also offer manuscript consultations and one-off seminars. We welcome beginners who are looking to try out a new creative pursuit, advanced writers looking to further hone their craft or embark on a specific project, and everyone in between!
our ethos
We want our workshops to feel open and inviting—places where students feel supported and excited to write, share, and revise. We are guided by the principles of empathy, compassion and candor: we seek to approach each story with an open mind and an eye toward understanding the writer’s intentions, ultimately helping the author write the story they want to tell.
We believe wholeheartedly in the art and craft of writing: our classes focus on both accessing inspiration and refining technique. In our workshops, we use a variety of exercises to help you generate ideas and we give specific, actionable suggestions. Instead of a vague critique, such as “I wanted to understand your character better,” we’ll tell you, “Your character’s arc is not as clear in this draft as it could be; why don’t you try making an outline of her emotional journey while also expanding your climactic scene?” We empower students by examining specific elements of story, such as character, dialogue, plotting, setting, theme, and revision.
Most importantly, Redbud is not just a school, but an institution that fosters a community of writers in the Triangle area. Every session, we sponsor a reading and party where writers showcase their work to their friends, family, and admirers. We also strive to include people from all walks of life in the Triangle area through our outreach efforts and scholarship program.
Whether you’re a beginner or an old pro, we hope to see you in one of our classes soon!
“The fiction class I took was highly informative and enjoyable! What Emily & Arshia have created is amazing and I can’t wait to take another class (and practice workshopping) again.”
“They are onto something really rare and wonderful.”
more than classes
The Redbud community consists of thousands of students who have taken our classes since our founding in 2019. The bond between Redbud students — affectionately called Redbuddies—extends beyond the classroom: our students often forge new friendships, start new writing groups, and find new manuscript critique buddies in our classes. Our regular readings, trivia nights, and literary-minded social events also give Redbuddies an opportunity to socialize, talk books, chat writing, and make new connections. With so many people moving to the Triangle, our community is continually growing: sign up and see what we’re all about!
Our founders
