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 2017
Zoo adventure, Mari' Emeraude
Glue do a St. Patrick’s switcheroo, Steve Eskew
The tiddlywinks channel, Jass Richards
Q&A with Barb Best … and Barb Best, Barb Best
CPR for Dummies, Jerry Zezima
Sharp like knives, Kristen Hansen Brakeman
Aging (un)gracefully, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Novelist Bonnie Jo Campbell to serve as finalist judge in Bombeck Writing Contest, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Medical update with mom, Cindy Argiento
The Gift, Heather Burnett
Going old school, Linda DeMers Hummel
We miss you, Erma!, Donna Fentanes
Social media aha moment, Anne Bardsley
Victoria's worst-kept secret, Jase Graves
Puppy Training 101 — Blame the husband, Dottie Lopez
Nutty but nice, Jerry Zezima
Small minds talk about people living in tiny houses, John Branning
Housework is for chumps, Mari' Emeraude
Fashion forward, Molly D. Campbell
What would Erma do?, Elaine Ambrose
Not my privates you don't, Kaye Curren
Is that a dog?, Karen DeBonis
At the Heart of It All, Hillary Ibarra
A Dog's Purpose for a mom and daughter, Lisa Marlin
It (usually) never rains in California, Jan Marshall
How I turned down Brad Pitt, Kara Martinez Bachmann
Finding your tribe, Lisa Smith Molinari
Balance, Jan Wilberg
Papa had another stone, Jerry Zezima
Liza Donnelly, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Baking made less easy, Robert Hoffman
Surviving Valentine's Day, Myron Kukla
No joke: Dave Barry to serve as finalist judge in Bombeck Writing Competition, Teri Rizvi
I'll remember the women's march forever because the Sharpie is still on me, Laura Becker
Musings, Mandy Gennaro
Scenes from a boomer marriage, Chapter 3, Roxanne Jones
In the fitness room, Jass Richards
Copy editor, where art thou?, Claudette Sandecki
On a cart and a prayer, Jerry Zezima
Looking back, moving forward, Angie Klink
Our tooth fairy is a lazy, shiftless hussy, Lynn LaPlante Allaway
Drawer dreams, Dawn Weber
Talking 'bout my generation, Linda DeMers Hummel
Stuck!, Jerry Tobias
Happy stinking new year, Connie Berry
Tech Dumb, Hillary Ibarra
All in good taste, Jerry Zezima
Cure for the common cold, Judy Clarke
The gift that cannot be regifted, Westina Matthews
This Gift is Personal: Bombecks Donate $20,000; Campaign Tops $60,000, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Submissions from 2016
Late again!, Mari' Emeraude
It's great to be a guy!, Bob Niles
Coffee in the keyboard: Why you should never lie, Liz Petrone
Lisa Goich, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
New Year's got me: wah, wah, wah, Danielle Sherman-Lazar
The math of writing contests, Cynthia Washington
2016 Christmas letter, Jerry Zezima
Yes, Kate, there is a Santa Claus, Ann Hudock
I don't want anyone to die for me, I just want a Barbie, Laura Becker
The Road Trip Dialogues (Excerpt), Jass Richards
Man rump, Cynthia Washington
It's Chloe time, Jerry Zezima
My neighbor, Erma Bombeck, Anne Bardsley
The annual Black Friday Flyer Weigh-In, Janine Talbot
Pam Sherman, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Travel on a root canal, Judy Clarke
5 takeaways from the Christmas classic, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", Paul Lander
Circle of giving, Joanne Brokaw
Roommates, Mari' Emeraude
Calling the Erma tribe: Be our champion on #GivingTuesday, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Pen pal, Aline Weiller
You must have been a beautiful baby, Jerry Zezima
Musings of Kaye Curren, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Letter to my son on his first birthday, Fredrick Marion
Perfect lipstick, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Idaho potatoes, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
When turkeys fly, Lynne Cobb
Mothers have great big ears, Kaye Curren
Sloppy reception, Steve Eskew
Twas that day before Christmas, Bob Niles
Flushing the happy, Liz Petrone
New black shoes, Jerry Tobias
That's how the Christmas cookie crumbles, DeeDee Filiatreault
Making your reviews into workhorses, Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Grandfather Playground Society, Jerry Zezima
Holy bones, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Karma is a you know what, Laura Fahrenthold
Dogs just wanna have fun – at the beach, Jass Richards
Give the gift of laughter and inspiration, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Inspired to write, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Molly Stevens, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
New face behind the workshop, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Ode to my father and the NY Mets, Tracy Buckner
Heel thyself, Laura Becker
When old age knocks, HIDE!, Mari' Emeraude
The chips fight, Sarah Estime
If I had a nickel for every Twinkie, Laurie Oien
Tooth or Consequences, Jerry Zezima
Don't lock your in-laws in the closet, Anne Bardsley
The night Poopsie came to town, Laurie Stone
