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 2022
Donna Cavanagh Talks Ocean Inspiration — and Kid Beach Reads, Nancy Berk
Erma Watch Party with Judy Carter: A Death-Defying Escape!, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Mothers, Jan Marshall
The Cold Facts About Ice Cream, Jerry Zezima
Humor Writer of the Month: David Misch, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
A Special Focus Group, Dean Norman
An Open and Shut Case, Jerry Zezima
Dear Wordle, January Gordon Ornellas
Who's Performing at Erma's Got Talent?, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Eskew? Call Me Askew., Steve Eskew
The Sound of Joking, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Raising Jess, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Our Potholes Are Out of This World, Jerry Zezima
Bailing on Another Vacation Blues, Keri Kelly
Making Franny Laugh, Alan Zweibel
Who's Publishing What: Crazy to Leave You, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Stang, Leslie Freidberger
Egg in Your Beer?, Dean Norman
10 Ways to be a Respectful Sister, Drue Wagner
Getting Carded at the Wine Bar, Jerry Zezima
Humor Writer of the Month: Rachel Grise, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Erma's Got Talent, Season Two, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
These Folks Are Good Medicine, Jerry Zezima
Love Expands, Elizabeth Billingsley Baldwin
An Act of Love, Kathryn Lehane
Sibling Love: Sisters! Ebook to be Released on National Siblings Day, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
School Dispirited, Elizabeth Trende
The Crash, Pat Washington
The Rise and Fall of a Real Klutz, Jerry Zezima
St. Patrick's Day at Kelly's, Dean Norman
Driven by Love, Suzy Girard-Ruttenberg
By the Numbers, Rita Lussier
Play Nice, January Gordon Ornellas
Truth and Fairy Tales, Lindsey Roth
Magical Memories, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Talk, Rachel Grise
A Book Full of Memories, Teri Rizvi
Love, Mama, Teri Rizvi
My New British Boyfriend, Dorothy Rosby
Who's Publishing What: Lost and Found in Paris, Lian Dolan
Diary of a Silly Grandfather, Jerry Zezima
Winning! In a Way ..., Cindy Eastman
Who's Publishing What: Gals Guide Anthology: Women of History, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Humor Writer of the Month: Rebekah Iliff, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Loving You Big, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Paint Misbehavin', Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: The Echoes, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Good Left Undone, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: The Next Thing You Know, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Whereabouts Unknown, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Fierce Women, Gina Barreca
A Sneak Preview of the Life and Work of America's Funniest Mom, Teri Rizvi
Erma, By the Numbers, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
A Resurgence of Interest, Teri Rizvi
You Can Write!, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Grandma's Treasures, Mindy Hoffbauer
Who's Publishing What: Scenes from Isolation, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Price of Paradise, January Gordon Ornellas
Who's Publishing What: Eating Salad Drunk, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Fast Fierce Women, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
My Two Meemaws — One Mild, One Wild, Steve Eskew
Hooked on Crocheting, Jerry Zezima
Building a Book Street Team 101, Colleen Markley
Passed Over — Again, January Marshall
Flaky the Snowman, Jerry Zezima
You Say Camels Can't Ski?, Vicki Austin
The Power of Non-Instantaneous Communication, Amy Weinland Daughters
Who's Publishing What: One for the Ageless, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Storytellers' True Stories About Love, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
On Becoming a Bi-Petual White House, Allia Zobel Nolan
Humor Writer of the Month: Aileen Weintraub, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Funny or Sweet Valentine?, Dean Norman
The Big Stuff Theory, Jerry Zezima
A Grave Situation, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Dear Dana, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Bag Lady, Mary Oves
Portrait of the Artist as a Family Guy, Jerry Zezima
Who's Publishing What: Champagne for One, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Dare to Live, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: Fight Naked, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Who's Publishing What: So You Need to Decide, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Workshop Postponed Until Fall, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Winter Wonderland, Dean Norman
The Dance of the Dunce, Jerry Zezima
Do You Want the Job?, Mary Ellen Collins
Create Space for Stillness, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Humor Writer of the Month: Dion Flynn, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Submissions from 2021
Who's Publishing What: Mouths of Garden, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Fab Floor, Jerry Zezima
Kick the Fruitcake, Erma Bombeck
Breaking Out of the Material Mold, Allia Zobel Nolan
A Post-Pandemic Visit from St. Nicholas, Curt MacDougall
2021 Zezima Family Christmas Letter, Jerry Zezima
Spinning Beulah’s Bun, Steve Eskew
The Heart of the Matter, Jerry Zezima
Calling All Book Clubs, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
The Ries' 2021 Christmas Letter, Derek Ries
It's Erma Time!, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop
Chime and Chime Again, Jerry Zezima
