Blogs

Humor writer John Branning suggests the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop should be billed the “Erma Bombeck Writing, Drinking, Eating and Staying Up Too Late Laughing Workshop.”

Desiree Miller also renamed the workshop, dubbing it “The Erma Experience.” In her blog, she writes, “More than anything, it’s the general vibe and energy that make this conference worthwhile. You’ll be surrounded by people who WANT to get to know you, who welcome you into their circle, who make an extra seat at the table, literally.” 

Amber Shaw, inspired to start her next book, brought home many lessons, including “writers can sing all the words to ‘Delta Dawn’ without any rehearsal," a nod to Wade Rouse's heart-tugging closing night keynote talk.

Jamy May Wagner, a first-time attendee from Alaska, offers one word — “diet” — to describe her experience. “I received a steady diet of all the medicine the doctor prescribed: etched glasses full of love (no need to steal), salad plates piled high with friendship and dinner plates loaded with helpings of meaningful conversation. I was spoon-fed joy and laughter. I was beer-bonged raw honesty and authenticity. It all felt so good going down the hatch,” she writes.

In a piece on Medium.com, Janie Emaus describes the workshop as “transformational, inspirational, magical — where laughter and tears met at the intersection of keynote speakers and cake.”

In all, writers shared dozens of pieces, including videos, inspired by the workshop:

Laughing Matters by John Branning

The Bombeck and Call Edition by John Branning

Au Revoir, Dayton, Kara Kinney Cartwright

There Will No Longer Be Chocolate Cake at Every Meal by Kris Downey

I Paid Extra to Sit Between Two Large Bald-Headed Men: And Took Erma Bombeck’s Advice by Janie Emaus

A View from the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop by Estelle Erasmus

For Erma: when the real writers come back home, Barbara Fant

We All Deserve to Pursue Our Dreams by Bonnie Jean Feldkamp (Creators Syndicate)

Erma Bombeck’s Great Work Lives on at the University of Dayton by Bonnie Jean Feldkamp (Creators Syndicate)

Something as Scary as a Bear in My House by Carolyn Freudenthal

Short, Tight and Impressionable by Renee Johnson

A Hotel (Room) of My Own by Annmarie Kelly

The Godmother of Columnists by Leslie Gibson McCarthy (Webster-Kirkwood Times)

Erma Made Me Do It by Kelly McKenzie

The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop by Desiree Miller

Really, Erma Made Me Do It by Robin Raniero Norris

Oompa Loompa Hair by Leslie Noyes

Adventures in Ermaland by Amy Paturel

Keep Writing, Laughing and Believing by Wade Rouse

Insights, Laughter and Lessons Learned by Amber Shaw

Emotional Eclipses and Pilgrimages by Pam Sherman

Top Lessons from Erma by David Volk

Dashing My Dreams in Dayton by Betsy Voreacos

Erma One-Word Review by Jamy May Wagner 

Erma Lives by Peter Wallace 

Erma Bombeck: The Woman Who Made Us Laugh by Rich Warren (Saturday Evening Post)

A Thank-You Letter to Erma Bombeck by Susan C. Willett

What's Your Erma Success Story? (contributions from 30 writers)

Video Links

Facebook Live interview with Betsy Bombeck by Dena Blizzard

Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop Prompts by Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff

“Delta Dawn” sing-along at Wade Rouse’s closing night keynote by Kristen Wollett

“Erma Made Me Do It!” videos, a collection of more than two dozen attendee reflections

Photography and Illustrations

Numerous photo albums and one of illustrations created by artist-in-residence Bob Eckstein can be found on the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop's Facebook page.

Mark your calendars: the next Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop is slated for March 26-28, 2026.