NORFOLK, Va. -- A lot of people are finding new, creative outlets during the pandemic. Some are baking or doing art projects - and some are writing!
The Muse Writer's Center, a non-profit organization in Norfolk, told News 3 it saw an uptick in interest in recent months.
The writing center’s executive director, Michael Khandelwal, said they are seeing more people taking up writing - from poetry to screenplays, as well as other writing styles.
So many have been doing just that, and the group includes new students from as far as Europe and Japan.
“Creative writing is so important to so many people around the world,” Khandelwal said. “We can show how Norfolk and Hampton Roads is a really vital literary community and that we have a lot to say."
The Muse Writer’s Center is currently offering virtual classes taught by published writers. These professional instructors range in different areas such as poetry and screenplay writing, among other writing fields.
Khandelwal added writing can serve as a great way to express what someone may feel and want to say.
"They're taking stock and realizing they have something they want to say,” Khandelwal said. “They want to tell their story or create their poem or make their screenplay to make a movie. I think writing is a great way for us to express ourselves, both in what we care about and what we want to say."
Courses are scheduled to start in March, according to Khandelwal. More information on programs can be found on the Muse Writer’s Center’s website. They also hold seminars, informational sessions and networking opportunities for people interested in expanding their writing, getting published and other topics.
The center also offers tuition help for those who need financial assistance. Khandelwal said the center will not turn anyone interested away.
