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 2018
Technologically Challenged, Who Me?, Debbie L. Miller
Mr. Sunshine, Jerry Zezima
The shredder, Steven Bluestein
Empowering women one laugh at a time, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Lessons from teaching thousands of writers, Fredrick Marion
I understand why Britney Spears shaved her head, Melissa Alkire
Misbegotten brainstorming, Steve Eskew
Dance like your dad's not watching, Jase Graves
Graduates, pay attention!, Myron Kukla
The mother of all rehabbers, Jerry Zezima
Profile: Ilene "Gingy" Beckerman, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Tale of Elliptical Hill, Becca Carnahan
Females and the facilities, Donna Fentanes
My quest for vanilla-scented trash bags, Raymond Reid
Wearing Spanx: An act of love, Erika Watts
FitBit for sleep: You count steps, I'll count Zzzzz's, Bonnie Jean Feldkamp
Who's that lady over there who always wears a hat? That's me., Ann Green
A hole lot of fun, Jerry Zezima
'Our communal and biennial home', Teri Rizvi
Erma Bombeck comes to life in Ohio Chautauqua tour, Teri Rizvi
Erma Bombeck: Bringing the generations together, Dorothy Rosby
Life on The Brady Bunch, Steve Bluestein
The high cost of water, Ken Schweda
On Measuring Value: Throw Your Calculator Away, Kimberly Hedzik
Defenseless driving, Jase Graves
Would Erma be funny today?, Mark Shatz
Greeting cards: A lost art?, Ann Green
Isn't it romantic?, Jerry Zezima
2018 EBWW Hits a New High, Teri Rizvi
A sacred pilgrimage, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Profile: Steve Bluestein, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Erma Two, Kelley Chikos
The pooper alternative, Kaye Curren
Three days of fun, Jolyn Young
Que syrah, syrah, Jerry Zezima
An honest-to-God day in the life of a writer, Anne Bardsley
A dog, a diaper and a scotch, Tracy Buckner
A laugh-out-loud journey, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Erma awesome, Martha Peebles
We came, we saw, we kicked ..., Yvonne Ransel
17 quiet days to write, Samantha Schoech
Lyric-ese, Donna Fentanes
Here’s looking at you grow up, kids, Jerry Zezima
The view from a hotel room of one's own, Teri Rizvi
No one knows if you're good enough, Fredrick Marion
Writing: learning, bite by bite, Kathy Eliscu
Erma Bombeck and friends, you inspired me, Stacey Gustafson
Spring break, or bust, Jase Graves
This country road, Laurie Oien
I wish I had known ..., Leah Vidal
The call of the riled, Jerry Zezima
Put a little vaseline on it, Donna Fentanes
Laugh out loud, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
How Erma saved me, Renee Schafer Horton
The gift of laughter, Teri Rizvi
Healthy eating has gone to the dogs, Janine Annett
Cook's day off, Gayle M. Rodd
Top 10 symptoms of "Erma-titis", Lynne Cobb
The queen returns!, Lori Solinski and Julie Osborne
The 60-year-old virgin, Laurie O'Connor Stephans
Profile: Rita Davenport, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Aviation traumatization, Marcia Kester Doyle
Analytical Larry, Steve Eskew
It. Is. Limitless., Amy Hartl Sherman
Quest for funny, Lois Simenson
My cup runneth over …, Donna Fentanes
How to become a writer in two easy steps, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
A blast from the past, Emily Solbert
#1 - UCWA threatens to turn all politicians into laughing stocks if they don’t support their agenda, Ed Toolis
Erma comes to life on stage, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
I wouldn't change a thing, Leslie Bamford
There’s more to life than weather, Tracy Buckner
Special holidays of children with too many siblings explained, Sarah Allen
When you have a cold: Some unsolicited advice, Janet Coburn
Trash talk, Brian Rutter
Liza Donnelly to open workshop, Rita Davenport joins keynoter line-up, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Antioch Writers' Workshop opens scholarship contest, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Making Concessions - one nacho at a time, Jase Graves
When church people knock, Stacey Gustafson
Laugh Out Loud, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Profile: Allia Zobel Nolan, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Judy Blume - My new best friend!, Stephanie Lewis
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Winner - It’s my mortal coil, and I’ll laugh if I want to, Susan Keller
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Local Honorable Mention: Chairman of the Board, Rosalie Bernard
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Local Honorable Mention - Smelling B, you say? Recalculating, Donna Boen
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - Monday never comes, Kathleen Bouvier
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - Lower the bar, I'm diving in, LouAnn Edwards
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Local Honorable Mention - Graduation prayer, Dale Ehrlich
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Local Honorable Mention - Tales from the road, Stephanie Fellenstein
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Local Honorable Mention - God's honest truth, Vicki Edwards Giambrone
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Local Winner: The Longest Journey, Sarah Hunt
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition - Humor Local Winner: Another day, another swatch, Jeff Kennedy
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global Honorable Mention - Not a dog person, Aussa Lorens
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - I know where the pink grass grows, Missy Nicholson
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global Honorable Mention - Something nice, Holly Rutchik
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global Honorable Mention - The lousy tooth fairy, Dana Starr
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Local Honorable Mention - A travelogue to two under two, Katlyn Stechschulte
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Human Interest Global Honorable Mention - She spins like Saturn, Jillian Van Hefty
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition - Human Interest Global Winner: The Gift, Julie Watson
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Humor Global Honorable Mention - The Seven Year Split, Pamela Wright
