Redbud Writing Project

ABOUT the Redbud Writing Project

The Redbud Writing Project is a creative writing nonprofit whose mission is to bring the life-changing power of creative writing to everyone in our community. Since 2019, we’ve offered six-week courses and one-off events in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and beyond. All of our courses bring the rigor and care of graduate-level education to the general public. Topics range from short story, novel, and memoir writing, to workshopping and revising, to publishing and submitting. We welcome beginners who are looking to try out a new creative pursuit, advanced writers looking to further hone their craft or embark on a specific project, and everyone in between.

Fostering a community

Redbud is not just a school, but an institution. The Redbud community consists of thousands of students who have taken our classes since our founding. The bond between Redbud students — affectionately called Redbuddies—extends beyond the classroom: our students often forge new friendships, start new writing groups, and find new manuscript critique buddies in our classes. Our regular readings, trivia nights, and literary-minded social events also give Redbuddies an opportunity to socialize, talk books, chat writing, and make new connections. With so many people moving to the Triangle, our community is continually growing.

The arts are a tool for wellness, catharsis, and personal and social transformation, which is why we are committed to including everyone in our classes, not just those who can afford our tuition. We offer free classes for survivors of domestic violence, BIPOC writers, unhoused folks, low-income seniors, and more. We also have a scholarship program that allows students to take our tuition-based classes at a reduced cost. Learn more about these community initiatives here.