Dear Writers,
December 2015



One person quickly pulled over on the highway and registered for the spring workshop from her phone. Another shared a Willy Wonka "I've Got the Golden Ticket" video clip after she received her confirmation.
 
In all, writers from 35 states, a couple of Canadian provinces and Madrid (yes, the one in Spain) will flock to the University of Dayton in the spring for the March 31-April 2 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. We sold out in less than six hours, a new record. To add your name to the wait list, click here.

Enjoy some of our registrants' hysterical and heartwarming stories.

Comedic Genius

Alan Zweibel started his comedy career by selling jokes to Catskill comics, earning $7 for every joke that made audiences laugh. Today, he's "earned a place in the pantheon of American pop culture," according to
The New York Times.
 
An original Saturday Night Live  writer, Alan has won multiple Emmy, Writers Guild of America and TV Critics awards for his work in television. He's a renowned comedy writer, playwright, novelist, author of children's books, screenwriter -- and our Humor Writer of the Month .
 
After headlining the 2012 workshop, he's returning in the spring to teach writers how to write funnier. Who better than this comedic genius?


Hold the Dates
YOU CAN WRITE!
Even though the spring workshop is sold out, you can still snag a free registration. Just enter a previously unpublished humor or human interest essay and win the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. Four free registrations are available. The contest opens Jan. 4. 

HEADING TO HOLLYWOOD
The National Society of Newspaper Columnists, our partner, announces "a sparkling marquis" of speakers for its June 23-26 annual conference in Los Angeles, where Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard Pitts will be honored. 

Thanks to the generous support of workshop registrants, we will award two $1,500 scholarships to talented University of Dayton students at the spring workshop.

T he Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop endowment allows us to keep the workshop affordable for writers. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible gift to this fund, please click here

During this season of giving, we thank you for your support of this special workshop honoring Erma Bombeck's legacy. Happy holidays!

Keep writing!

Teri Rizvi
Founder, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop