Write this way to spooky season! Kick off the haunting Halloween vibes with fellow writers at this one-day horror writing workshop in partnership with the Folded Leaf. We’ll talk about what makes horror stories work- how to craft high stakes, build tension, and give our readers goosebumps. We’ll look at examples of published work from writers like Stephen Graham Jones, Kelly Link and Daniel Kraus. Then, we’ll write our own horror stories.

Included in the suggested donation price is a ticket to see Daniel Kraus, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Angel Down, Whalefall, The Shape of Water, and more, at the City Opera House on November 23rd. Proceeds from the class will be split evenly between the National Writers Series StoryLoft program, which provides free creative writing classes to youth in our community, and The Folded Leaf Foundation.

No prior writing experience necessary, just a willingness to write, get weird, and have fun. Fall snacks will be provided.

Audrey Irontree is a fiction writer, developmental editor, ghostwriter and educator. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Fiction from Northwestern University, her Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and her Associate Degree from The Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Her short story, “Alligator,” was recently announced as a runner-up in the 2025 Adrift Short Story Contest and will appear in the 2027 Driftwood Anthology. Additional stories have appeared in the Portland Review, Meridian, and other publications. She lives in Traverse City and loves reading, creatures, art and gardening.