Grackle and Grackle hosts creative writing classes taught by accomplished writers who love to teach.

Took my first ever course through G&G with Georgina Key – Climb Into Their Skin. Admittedly, I was apprehensive about putting myself out there as an emerging writer with essentially no credentials. My anxiety, I’m glad to say, was short lived, and I am incredibly grateful for the experience. Georgina created a welcoming environment (albeit through Zoom) that allowed me to grow creatively with other writers of varying skill and experience levels and I learned a great deal. A very fruitful and fulfilling endeavor.

🐦‍⬛ Adam D.

Every time I take Variation in Prose, Miah's prompts become my stories. She is extraordinarily gifted and no matter how much experience you have, she will open your eyes in an unique way, and jog your memory and give you ideas. The best solution for Writer's block. The participants in our Wednesday morning class are extremely supportive. Thus this class is not only a learning adventure, but a therapeutic one. Look forward to it every Wednesday morning. For working people, you should demand an evening class. :)

🐦‍⬛ Ani B.

If you’re looking for a purposeful and creative way to spend a Saturday afternoon, look no farther than Georgina Key’s Lyrical Prose workshop. Here you will read stimulating prose together, write your own prose in response to writing prompts, music, and art, and bask in the glow of a warm and congenial atmosphere populated by other budding and experienced writers. Even though this workshop was on Zoom, the shared creative space that Georgina skillfully facilitated offered rich and fertile soil for letting our imaginations run wild on paper. Highly recommend.

🐦‍⬛ Meenakshi V.

I actually took two workshops this season and BOTH WERE A BLAST! Top marks for Grackle and Grackle partnering with such a dynamic instructor. Revision is tough, emotional, exhausting. With a rather ingenious deliberate touch Claire Anderson was able to motivate those in the course who were ready for a harder push, and others who simply need encouragement and direction. The materials she provided were pointed and carefully curated. Her comments were not selective either, the things she pushed beginners and experts on were directed to everyone, and were impactful to all of us. It’s hard to find that level of education in any craft. This course changed my writing, perspective, and my biases on who I take workshops with for the rest of my life.

🐦‍⬛ Chase H.

Grackle and Grackle secures some of the brightest minds in the industry. Onyinye Ihezukwu’s memoir course “Diaries of the Self” went far beyond what I’ve experienced with any other non-fiction course. It was deep, refreshing, motivational, because Onyinye led class discussions that didn’t just talk about how good a published story was, but what makes it works for us as readers and how to implement those techniques in our own stories. She helped us recognize that writing is not just about telling what we think is a good story as the author of it, but how we can be most effective in communicating what resonates most in the lines we write so that our audiences come away with accurate readings of the stories we as writers go through such great lengths to tell.

🐦‍⬛ Chase H.

Best Workshop Ever! I've taken other writing workshops, but the one I just finished at Grackle and Grackle was amazing. Between the wonderful teacher (Alex Chambers) and my classmates (including Miah the owner) I learned a lot and had a great time.

🐦‍⬛ K. Bradshaw

Melville said that a whaling ship was his Harvard and Yale. In that case, Grackle & Grackle has been my whaling ship. There, I’ve fashioned my own MFA thanks to the teachings of workshop leaders Miah Arnold, Claire Anderson, and Sarah Rolater. I can honestly say my writing skills have drastically improved thanks to their instruction. Miah Arnold and Raj Mankad are caring members of the Houston literary community that seek to give back with the literary fellowship that is Grackle & Grackle. Grackle & Grackle is the ship that seeks to carry you to the far seas of your literary dreams.

🐦‍⬛ Joseph R.

I’ve been taking “Variations in Prose” for a number of sessions and have grown as a writer thanks to both the exceptional teacher, Miah Arnold, and the other writers. This was my first writing workshop and I have found the experience supportive and instructional with a group of many seasoned writers. I encourage anyone who even has a twinkle of interest in writing to give it a try!

🐦‍⬛ Suzy L.

I took Variations in Prose with Miah Arnold in the fall of 2018, and had an exceptionally positive experience. Miah is a supportive and skilled teacher, and she led us through productive and fun exercises during each session. I also appreciated how constructive workshops were under Miah's direction. Great course, and I'm signing up again!

🐦‍⬛ Lynn H.

The Prompt and Circumstance workshop at Grackle and Grackle was a weekend of stimulating poetry prompts, in class writing and spot-on critiques. We even learned how to generate our own writing prompts. My brain buzzed the whole weekend. Cait Weiss Orcutt was superb! Thanks, Grackle and Grackle!

🐦‍⬛ Margo T.

I've taken 4 fiction workshops and a one-day poetry class. I've written 3 short stories and one poem I wouldn't have otherwise written. I've just signed up for a poetry manuscript workshop. The instructors are knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. The fellow students are friendly. It is one of my favorite communities in town. I wish the workshops I took in grad school had felt this relaxed and collegial.

🐦‍⬛ Carol D.

I took Allyn West's creative nonfiction course and it was fantastic. Mr. West is a wonderful instructor. The writing samples shared with us were fantastic and timely. In addition to providing content, he facilitated quality discussions. My classmates were helpful, engaged and courteous. The learning space is comfortable. I highly recommend taking classes here for beginners all the way through to advanced writers!

🐦‍⬛ Monica Y.

This was my first class with Grackle and Grackle and I enjoyed every session.
The standard of Poetry writing in the class was much more advanced than mine and as a result I learnt a lot from the wonderful teacher Niki Herd as well as from all the other writers in the class. I will definitely sign up again. Besides Poetry, our group also got into very interesting discussions on current social topics and it was encouraging to see that intelligent and respectful debate among people with differing views is not an entirely lost cause in today's America!

🐦‍⬛ Wendy S.