Classes & Retreats

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"Taking Kelly Dwyer's class is the best investment I made all year."
--Steve deGrasse


Class Offerings

Now that the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts of the University of Iowa has closed down the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, Kelly is teaching on her own. 2026 offerings include Novel in a Year, a number of critique groups, and--we hope--an in-person workshop or two in Iowa City this summer. Please follow Kelly on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to this website to stay posted on current and future offerings. 


Retreats

After co-leading with Tanya Shaffer an incredible "Transformational Women's Writing Retreat" on Amorgos, Greece, in October, 2025, Kelly is returning for more!

Along with bestselling author Jonas Saul and popular thriller writer Rania Stone, Kelly will be teaching novel writing on Santorini October 7-16, 2026, on the gorgeous island of Santorini!



For more information, please see this brochure for our Santorini 2026 Novel Writing Retreat 
and email me if you have any questions at
KellyDwyer0077@gmail.com 

Participant/Student Testimonials

 I am Kelly’s Stalker Student. Wherever she goes, whatever she teaches, I am there. She could teach SciFi (not my fave) and I'd be there.  Kelly understands me, GETS me. 
–Magda Montiel Davis, author of Kissing Fidel

Kelly Dwyer’s weekend workshop was truly one of the most transformative creative experiences I’ve ever had. I had been struggling with my current writing project all year and this workshop gave me the tools and the encouragement to embrace it in a way that I never had.
--Kaitlyn R Behan (she/her/hers)

My meeting with Kelly [during our Greece retreat] helped me make a breakthrough on my manuscript! –Cait West, author of Rift

Kelly Dwyer is a gifted teacher. She presents the material in a clear way, with supporting handouts; she expertly manages class discussions; she provides extensive, insightful commentary on individual student texts; and she makes it all great fun! --Charles Loving 

The retreat exceeded my expectations ten-fold and really gave me confidence to move forward with my writing. --Rhonda Siebecker

Zowee, what a insightful reading of my novel! If I had the email address of every struggling writer on the continent, I would send a broadcast message telling them to take your course!
—David Penhale, Participant in "Plotting the Plot in the Novel," author of Passing Through

 Kelly has an exceptional gift for teaching, not only creating a safe and fair space for everyone, but also for providing substantive content and feedback. Kelly's teaching style is supremely organized, responsive, and positive. The whole experience was seamless.
--Kathy Prosch-Jensen, "Prepping for Publication."

Kelly is an exceptional instructor.
--Greg Moody

 Kelly is very insightful and can zero in on the key questions in each participant's work. And she has a great sense of humor!
—Candace Armstrong,  "Novel in a Week." 

Thank you, Kelly, from the bottom of my heart. I understand you when you teach, and that has never happened for me before, with writing! It is magical!
--Susan Minyard

Your feedback is always so incisive and on point. You have such a remarkable gift for recognizing plot pitfalls, cutout characters, and the moments where the foundation needs to be ripped out--versus the places that just need a little polish. Your insights make all the difference. --Karen Rawson 

Thank you, Kelly! This was my first writing workshop and I was so nervous, but I am amazed at how much I learned. I really appreciate all your input, not just on my project, but on everyone’s, which was so insightful and helpful. You put us all at ease and set the tone for a very congenial and collaborative environment. I am feeling very inspired and energized and actually believe that I can write this book! I plan to come back next year; it was such a wonderful experience!
—CF Yetmen, Author of The Roses Underneath, Gold Medal for Historical Fiction, Independent Publisher IPPY Awards

I gained confidence by being heard, by feeling respected and admired. I felt that I was someone worth listening to.  I felt unique and appreciated for myself, and I also felt a close kinship with the group for what we shared as women, writers, and seekers. –Gina Donlin Skifstad, Women's Writing Retreat in Greece 

"Kelly did a fantastic job!" "The class was amazing ... Lots of useful information, met some cool people, and got inspired." "I learned how to deepen a character and develop a plot." "Kelly did a masterful job of managing the tech logistics with patience and grace." "I walked away with a new idea for a novel." "Kelly Dwyer is a great instructor." "This was an incredible idea and experience!" "LOVED the class! It was inspiring!" "Kelly was awesome!"
--anonymous responses available upon request for "Prompt, Write, Share!: A Free Generative Workshop," Spring 2024.

"She taught me so much and I am so thankful for her." "She is so informative and generous." "Kelly is a highly qualified and inspirational instructor." "The class is fun! The professor is nice and excited. She teaches the concept well." "She is enthusiastic and understanding." "I love Kelly."
 --anonymous course evaluations available upon request for Creative Writing, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Fall 2024. 


Park bench reminder in Iowa City, Iowa. 

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