Reading and Writing with Joan Didion (a workshop with Alissa Wilkinson), March 16-22, 2026 May 1, 2025 By Event Details Date(s): Monday, Mar 16th, 2026-Sunday, Mar 22nd, 2026 Venue: Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club Categories: Regional Workshop, Writing Workshop Joan Didion often said that the way a writer says things is even more revealing than what they say. What can we learn about the work of writing from her? In this workshop, we’ll devote a week to Didion’s work, particularly concentrating on her essays, discovering the ways she approached specific craft challenges. We’ll practice close reading of Didion’s work. We’ll write. And we’ll workshop our work. (The work we’ll workshop will be work we generate during our time together — participants will not circulate already-written work ahead of time.) Long-standing devotees of Didion and those new to her work are warmly welcome! Alissa Wilkinson is a critic, author, and professor living in New York City. She’s a staff movie critic at the New York Times, and her latest book is We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine. The program is fully funded for accepted applicants, limited to 12 participants, and will be held at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club located in Durham, NC. Transportation to and from the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is the responsibility of participants. However, participants may be eligible to receive financial assistance to offset those travel expenses by completing a Financial Need Statement on the application form. Application Process A completed application includes an application form, resume or C.V., and a writing sample(s) of or equaling 10 pages of double-spaced prose. Applications are due Sunday, September 14. Apply here.
