The Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop has been dubbed the "Woodstock of Humor" and a "utopia" for writers — one "that only appears every other year, out of the mist, on the edge of the Great Miami River in Dayton, Ohio (like Brigadoon)."
The workshop's mission is simple: to encourage and inspire writers in the same way that celebrated columnist and author Erma Bombeck '49 found encouragement and inspiration at the University of Dayton.
Its mantra is timeless: "You can write!"
This collection is an archive of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop blog, which delivers news about the workshop, information for writers, profiles of Humor Writer of the Month honorees, and writing by participants and faculty of the workshop.
View the latest entries on the blog website.
Note: Publication of a piece on the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop blog does not constitute endorsement by the workshop or the University of Dayton. Opinions expressed in the pieces are those of the authors, not the University or the workshop.
Submissions from 2020
What's the good word?, Jerry Zezima
Zooming with second graders, Vicki Austin
Postcards from the pandemic, Sharon L. Cook
Homeschooling for the Quaranteens, Tyann Sheldon Rouw
Thanks, Vietnam War, for preparing me for the pandemic, Keri Kelly
Survive the supermarket with social distancing, Jase Graves
Have the best words, Curtis Honeycutt
Let's go over some rules, Meghan Riney
Pinkie swears and other magic, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
I can cook better than you, Robert Curelli
Who's Publishing What: About Your Father, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The great American grandfather, Jerry Zezima
A text message from October 2020, Janie Emaus
Keith Stewart, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Life in the old school lane, Marcia Kester Doyle
#WritersAtHome, Teri Rizvi
These healthy breakfast cookies will make up for everything your kids are missing during the pandemic, Heather Schwartz
The pandemic made me do it, Nancy Malcolm
Diary of a mad house couple, Jerry Zezima
Excuse me, sir, can I have that toilet paper on the bottom of your shoe?, Karin Esterhammer
Ask a terrier — sheltering outside the shelter, Dave Jaffe
Getting a grip on worry: 10 things you can do, Allia Zobel Nolan
Empty your pockets, Dominic Sanfilippo
Virus? Why us?, Debbie Merion
In longhand, in indelible ink, Teri Rizvi
Spend quality time in self-quarantine, Jase Graves
Life and love in the time of coronavirus, John Grogan
Alan Zweibel: Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The virtual workshop: Recordings offered at a discount, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Worrywart's Prayer Book, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
License to drive us … crazy, Pam J. Hecht
Confessions of a Senior Citizen Shot Put Juggler, Garret Matthews
Cooking is not my style, Mary McGrath
Little shoppers give me food for thought, Jerry Zezima
The prom dresses, Vicki Austin
A celebration of laughter, Patricia Wynn Brown
Work-at-home tips during uncertain times, Cara McDonough
Broadway melody of COVID-19, Laurie O'Connor Stephans
University of Dayton postpones workshop until the fall, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Midlife crisis intervention, Jase Graves
A self-rescue escape, Linda Curtis
Lost in translation, Joanna Manning
Daniela V. Gitlin: Practice, Practice, Practice, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Erma Bombeck Student Scholarship Winner: Michelle O'Dowd, Michelle O'Dowd
Erma Bombeck Student Scholarship Winner: Cassady Calder, Cassady Calder
Erma Bombeck Student Scholarship Winner: Jordan Elliott, Jordan Elliott
Profile: Mike Reiss, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Sew on and sew forth, Mary McGrath
Over the fence is out, Dean Norman
Erma Bombeck Student Scholarship Winner: Zinaejah Ozier, Zinaejah Ozier
An old goof has a new roof, Jerry Zezima
Allia Zobel Nolan: What I Like About You, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - A pain in the foot, Elaine Ambrose
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - Larry and me, Meredith Besser
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Local Honorable Mention- Hamburger helper cheesy taco casserole, Barbara Littner David
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Local First Place - Swimsuit Issues, Joanna Harris
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global Honorable Mention - Holy cards and wooden spoons, Susan Konig
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Local Honorable Mention - Creating space, Becky B. Koop
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global Honorable Mention - Mom's wind chimes, Robb Lightfoot
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - Mom's last gift, Tara Powers
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Local First Place - John Bradley, the greatest turkey who ever lived, Gwen Rosenberg
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global First Place - Not everyone should have kids, DeAnne Spicer Todd
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global First Place - Cherries in the snow, Kathy Shiels Tully
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Local Honorable Mention - Upgraded, Tami Himmelfarb Wolf
We are who we are, Karen Iseminger
Loaded, Mary Mills
My night at the Met with the Iron Duke, Kaye Curren
Winners!, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Can we talk?, Steve Eskew
My grandma keeps it 100, Diane Callahan
Laughter is the best medicine, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The cold was something to sneeze at, Jerry Zezima
Chirp!, Laura Becker
12 sure signs you should give this writing thing a try, Jessica Delfino
Manatee Sneeze, Linda Curtis
Out with the twenty-somethings, Vicki Austin
My guy went on vacay with a famous musician … and all I got was a lousy T-shirt, Susan Berin
A drive down memory lane, Laurie O'Connor Stephans
Keeping in touch, Julia Wilson
Off with the bra, Mary McGrath
Kathy Thorson Gruhn: Drug Tested for Being Happy, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
When you self-care enough to scare UPS, Wendy Parker
Baking lesson really pans out, Jerry Zezima
In metal, chivalry is dead, Colleen Rankin-Wheeler
Profile: Arlene Schindler, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
My doughy rump, Marie Lemond
A moment in time, Teri Rizvi
Weathering the other woman, Rebekah Iliff
Normal reaction to the rise of Skywalker, Keri Kelly
The power of Erma's universal appeal, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Sunday newspaper, Dean Norman
A real wake-up call, Jerry Zezima
Take an uncertain road trip, Jase Graves
Living in California, Derek Ries
Naps are not fake snooze, Jerry Zezima
Not so perfect, Martha Stewart, Jennifer Cramer-Miller
Gimme some zzz's, Jan Marshall
Sock solutions that bedazzle, Theresa Boedeker
A letter to my middle school son, Valli Gideons
Was that a nuclear event, or a hot flash?, Wendy Parker
