Do you have a story? Do you want to take ownership of your narrative?
Join us for the Write Where You Are Writing Fellowship.

Every writer and storyteller knows that without the skills and courage to create, our ideas remain just that: ideas. 

To move forward and build a story with words or images requires a willingness to experiment and a confidence that what we have to say is important and will contribute to the broader conversation.

The new Write Where You Are program (WWYA) will give you the foundation to develop your personal narrative and begin telling the stories you want to put out to the world. 

This 3-month program is designed to build community, creative confidence, and leadership skills to a distinguished cohort highlighting narratives representing Chicago’s diverse multicultural neighborhoods.

Write Where You Are is presented by Stories Matter Foundation in partnership with the Lookingglass Theatre Company. Together, these two arts organizations bring a powerhouse of talented faculty and more than two decades of teaching storytelling and creating community. 

WHAT IS IT?

Write Where You Are Writing Fellowship is a unique opportunity for students to examine their personal creative writing process and approaches to prose, with an eye to honing and developing a writer’s voice. The program features a robust curriculum that builds upon the foundations of creative writing and dramatic storytelling.

Students will experiment with a creative sampling of Improvisation, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction. The foundational tenets of improvisation (Who/What/Where/Why) will be used to create a safe and open environment within which to develop new narratives.

Each cohort member will have the opportunity to submit early work for review and receive group feedback along with customized guidance and mentorship from the instructor(s). Some sessions will also feature leading instructors from StoryStudio Chicago and Lookingglass theatre.

WHAT WILL CLASSES LOOK LIKE?

Curated essays, reading assignments, experiential play, and individual research will drive the creative process. This means you will:

• experience different types of learning, including lecture, experiential exercises, and peer writer-driven discussion.
• engage with a new writing tool and use focused articles and other materials on story craft for class discussion.
• explore writing as a process and practice, and generate creative written work which will be reviewed and analyzed for voice and use of craft.
• experiment with form, discipline, and language play, along with customized assignments to deepen your learning and study, all with an eye toward pushing your perspective and “truth voice” in writing.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

This course encourages applicants who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and folks who are committed as white allies, with preference given to underrepresented voices and those in financial need. BIPOC identities include, but are not limited to: Black, Indigenous, People of Color and ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American).

This gratis writing fellowship supports our initiative to combat racism and stand alongside those who are fighting for social justice for themselves and their communities.

WWYA invites participants of various writing skills to submit an application to this free fellowship.

Applications will share a written personal narrative. Applicants ARE NOT judged on writing skill. Instead, we use applications to build a strong mix of personalities, life experiences, and story goals.

WHO ARE MY TEACHERS?

Led by Dionna Griffin-Irons, a Second City alumna and StoryStudio instructor, the creative writing staff boasts an illustrious team of StoryStudio prize-winning writers and authors, along with guest teaching artist/directors from Chicago’s renowned Lookingglass theatre. The fellowships offer unique hands-on teaching and mentoring to writers representing the diverse, multicultural vibrancy and voice of novice to intermediate writers representing Chicago’s neighborhoods. 

WHEN & WHERE DO WE MEET?

Most classes will meet at StoryStudio Chicago’s space in the Ravenswood neighborhood.

Beginning in early March 2026, the cohort will meet on Thursday evenings,  6:30pm – 8:30pm.

Tentative dates for the Spring 2026 program are:
March 19
March 26
April 2
April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30
(skip May 7)
May 14
May 21
May 28
June 4
Bonus Week: Showcase for writers to present what they’ve developed during the program.