Weekly creative writing studios: A relaxing accepting space for writers and creatives of all styles and experiences
Every month, we offer a series of four hand-crafted 2-hr afternoon studios, each on a unique theme comprising guided exercises, discussion, and dedicated writing time.
At their essence, these are creative writing studios, but all creative individuals are welcome to join, brainstorm, and/or glean inspiration for their projects!
We focus on creating a chill environment to nurture the imagination while providing techniques and inspiration. These are not critique-based workshops, so no pressure! All positive vibes.
You'll leave with one or a combination of:
A fresh angle on something that's been sitting in a drawer, forgotten computer folder, or deep in the back of your mind too long
The beginnings of a first draft of something you didn't even know you needed to write
A new scene, image, or character pulled straight from the studio theme and one of the most atmospheric cities on earth
The first lines of something that will actually lead you to a finished piece of work
Each studio is limited to 8 participants, so be sure to secure your space for each studio below!
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Portals in Plain Sight with Joy Waller
Sat. 12 Sept. 14:00-16:00 Takadanobaba
Somewhere between here and elsewhere, there is a secret doorway…
It might be an object. A person. A place. A word. A memory.
Through a series of imaginative writing prompts, we’ll search for the portals hidden in everyday life — and explore the strange worlds, memories, possibilities, and versions of ourselves waiting on the other side.
This creative writing studio is led by Joy Waller, co-founder of Moon Hotel Press, co-host of Drunk Poets See God, editor at Tokyo Poetry Journal, and co-founder of Urban Writing Haus creative writing workshops. Author of poetry collections Pause :: Heartbeat and Cosmic Nervosa. joywaller.com
Erased & Rewritten: The Palimpsest City with Brian Wood-Koiwa
Sat. 19 Sept. 14:00-16:00 Takadanobaba
Every city has been rewritten on top what was supposedly erased. Nature and war have attempted to erase Tokyo several times. However, the city resisted both times; it came back on top of itself. The resilient indentations are still there underneath.
Through guided writing exercises with ample writing time and sharing, we’ll write about places where two, or more, moments in time are in a space at once. Bring with you places you know: your city, neighborhood, station. Think about its name and why it was named that. You may even feel the bumps and indentations of the why of that name.
This creative writing studio is led by Brian Wood-Koiwa, co-founder of Urban Writing Haus creative writing studios; author of the UrbanWeird serial novels Flowers Wilt, Weeds Thrive and Conspiracy of False Citizens; author coach for speculative fiction authors; and photographer. urbanweird.com
Look for our October In-Tokyo Studios at the end of September!
Meet Your Hosts
Joy Waller
Joy was raised in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada and spent her young adulthood on Vancouver Island. She currently resides in Tokyo, Japan, where she serves as an editor at the Tokyo Poetry Journal and co-hosts the long-standing open mic series Drunk Poets See God. She is also the co-founder of Moon Hotel Press and Urban Writing Haus creative writing workshops. Her fiction & poetry have appeared in numerous publications, including Best Canadian Stories 2021, and she is the author of poetry collections Pause :: Heartbeat (2019) and Cosmic Nervosa (2024).
Visit www.joywaller.com for more info.
Brian Wood-Koiwa
Brian was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania in the US but knew he really belonged in cities—the bigger the better. He was thus destined to settle in the megalopolis of Tokyo over 20 years ago. He is the co-founder of Urban Writing Haus creative writing workshops; author of the serialized UrbanWeird dark fantasy novels Flowers Wilt, Weeds Thrive and Conspiracy of False Citizens; literary and technical editor; and founder of Tokyo Photo Explorations.
Visit the following for more info:
UrbanWeird Chronicles (fiction); BWK Editorial Services (editing); Tokyo Photo Explorations (photo walks)