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.
Submissions from 2023
Christmas Kindness Has No Expiration Date, Marcy O'Brien
It's Great to be a Guy, Bob Niles
The 2023 Zezima Christmas Letter, Jerry Zezima
Top 10 Tips for Attempting Home Plumbing Repairs for the Single Parent, Etta Sedit
Who's Publishing What: The Good Humor Man, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: What the Farm, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
No Christmas Skits This Year — Just Brotherly Blunders, Steve Eskew
Sock It to Me, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: My Above Average Colon, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Bathtub Coin Collector, Linda W. Curtis
Is My Dad Santa Claus?, Leslie Miklosy
Withering Heights, Jerry Zezima
Humor Writer of the Month: Tracy Dawson, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Mailman, a Hero, Dean Norman
Of Fluffy Robes and Prose, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
My Cheddar is Better, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Joke in a Box, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Last Caretaker, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Wishing Bridge, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Heat Is On, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Rounding Third, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
November, Thanksgiving and Corn Silk, Dean Norman
Sensational Slate, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
He's Still Driving (But Now It's Me Crazy), Bob Niles
Just Like Young Times, Jerry Zezima
The Last Sleep-Out, Linda W. Curtis
Husbands Say the Darndest Things!, Renee Burns Lonner
Humor Writer of the Month: Ward Sutton, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Wanted: 450 of Your Best Words, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Think Pink and Smile, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Zuri the Zebra and the Seasons of Giving, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Bottle Deposits and Kidenomics, Dean Norman
How Do You Like Them Apples?, Jerry Zezima
Can't Stop Dancing, Jan Marshall
The Buzz on Beeps, Jerry Zezima
Pitchapalooza Champ, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What? The Advice Columnist, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
You Can Write!, Teri Rizvi
Off-the-Cuff Remarks, Jerry Zezima
Wallow in Words, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Satan Talks to His Therapist, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: When Being a Superhero Ain't So Super, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Humor Writer of the Month: Jane Roper, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
A Second Helping of a Winning Recipe, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Broken Things, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Spook the Magic Kitten, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Weight We Carry, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Funeral for a Fish, Jerry Zezima
Pillow Talk, January Gordon Ornellas
May We Introduce Our Judges?, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Early Bird Gets the Lemonade, Jerry Zezima
Get Your Funny On!, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Rave Restaurant Review, Jerry Zezima
Living A La Carte, Jan Marshall
Walking the Valk Alone, Steve Eskew
I Shopped and Didn't Drop, Jerry Zezima
Humor Writer of the Month: Joni B. Cole, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Big Dog, Giant Heart, Beth Broderick
Sword Fight, Mary Oves
Going Viral, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Blank, Zibby Owens
The Taming of the Screw, Jerry Zezima
Car Seats Forever, Laurie Whitman
Entertainers Extraordinaire, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Two Words: Clean Towels, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Write Your Own Perfect Ending, Teri Rizvi
Sunday Funnies, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Pouf!, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Garden of Eatin', Jerry Zezima
Push Pulls and Big Ovals, Dean Norman
A 'Big Potty' with My Big Sister, Paul Stelzer
Humor Writer of the Month: Ann Garvin, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Lottery Sweeps By My House — Again, Jan Marshall
That's the Ticket, Jerry Zezima
Headed Off at the Password, Jerry Zezima
My Friend, January Gordon Ornellas
Who's Publishing What: Mighty Gorgeous, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
I'm All Wet, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Morning in This Broken World, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: There's No Coming Back From This, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Live Free and Hike, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Never Burn Your Moving Boxes, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: World Peace Is an Inside Job, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Not Exactly the Bee's Knees, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Augusta, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Well THAT Was Funny, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Some People Have All the Luck, Jerry Zezima
Humor Writer of the Month: Joan Arent, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Jon Boat Years, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Gift of Laughter, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Peeling Away the Facade, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Cover Girl!, Jan Marshall
Life on Other Planets, Dean Norman
Who's Publishing What: Fast Fallen Women, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Wild, Beautiful and Free, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Famous in a Small Town, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Writing That Gets Noticed, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Bristle Boy Blue, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Party Like It's 2044, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Lone Jackass, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
