Writing communities & classes

Since 2023, I’ve been leading generative writing workshops and communities. This is my favorite thing I do as an artist!

2026: Generative Workshop Series at QSpace in Ithaca

Generative Creative Writing Workshops
First and third Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Beginning March 3
Led by Jess Franken and friends

Turn off your self-critical mind and generate something new and wild. In these guided sessions, we’ll find inspiration in writing and other art, then spend most of the session writing, responding to a series of prompts and questions. For writers of all levels, as well as other folks who want to engage in creative play.

In-person at QSpace, part of K-House Karaoke & Arts Hub.

Free; registration appreciated so I can prepare enough materials and be in touch with any schedule changes. See registration form for accessibility details.

REGISTER

Past classes

  • Photo of mushrooms and moss with text "Generative Writing 1: February 2023"

    Generative Writing 1

    BEGIN BY BEGINNING

    This is not a classroom. This is a nurse log—a mossy, fecund medium to generate new life. Daily writing prompts, weekly raw-work sharing, readings, and discussions. A playful space to take your art seriously.

    A four-week guided artistic community. Online and asynchronous.

  • Photo of a terrarium with the text "Flash Nonfiction: April 2023"

    Flash Nonfiction

    COMPRESS, TRANSGRESS

    A generative space for play with short-form creative nonfiction. We’ll explore voice, form, image, and more with daily writing prompts, work sharing, readings, and discussion.

    A four-week guided artistic community. Online and asynchronous.

  • Photo of mushroom and moss with text "Generative Writing 2: June 2023"

    Generative Writing 2

    AUDACITY, EMBODIMENT

    Later, the time will come for peer critique. For the tenth revision, the fact check. Now, we play! Turn off your critical mind and generate. Writing prompts, discussions, and readings to spark ideas.

    A four-week guided artistic community. Online and asynchronous.

  • Collage image with text "Fine Fragments: October 2023"

    Fine Fragments

    LET’S GET EXTRALITERARY

    A generative space to explore zuihitsu, crônicas, observations, collages, casual list-making, looseness, dailiness, jumbles, found text, spontaneous scribbles, and other associative forms and nonforms.

    A four-week guided artistic community. Online and asynchronous.

  • Photo of mushrooms and moss with text "Generative Writing 3: December 2023"

    Generative Writing 3

    AN END-OF-YEAR CONVENING

    A gift for Future You—the one with the writing resolutions. When you sit down in January, ready to work, you won’t start from scratch. December You generated a bounty of seeds, waiting to sprout.

    A four-week guided artistic community. Online and asynchronous.

  • Jessica’s teaching is brilliant, playful, sensitive and welcoming. Her generative convening was pure magic. It helped me write lots of new work, make progress on long-term projects, and feel a wonderful sense of community with fellow writers.

    Generative Writing participant

  • Jess is such a brilliant, thoughtful holder of space for writing. She provided the perfect balance of structure and open-endedness, craft guidance and ease -- ultimately fueling SO MUCH writing and fostering a warm, supportive community.

    Generative Writing participant

  • Jessica Franken is a remarkable facilitator, curator, and creative guide. Her generative writing course helped me reestablish my daily writing practice, reinvigorate my work, and break new aesthetic ground. The creative community she cultivated was deeply supportive and caring while maintaining a high level of craft and rigor. She created an incredibly fertile artistic environment that’s nurtured my whole artistic self.

    Generative Writing participant

  • I came into this month extremely cranky and blocked and dreading my writing. I left this month feeling powerful, creative.

    Generative Writing participant