From bestselling authors to comedy’s rising stars, the 2026 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop will bring together a keynote lineup that promises to inspire and entertain.
The workshop, set for March 26-28, 2026, at the University of Dayton, will feature Kelly Corrigan, Ann Garvin, Sona Movsesian, Steven Rowley and John Searles — writers whose work spans memoir, fiction, humor and media. Returning as emcee is stand-up comedian and author Leighann Lord, a longtime workshop favorite.
Registration opens at noon (EST) on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The workshop typically sells out quickly, drawing more than 350 writers from across the nation and beyond.
About the keynoters:
- Kelly Corrigan, who writes about family life and vulnerability, has been called “the voice of her generation” and “the poet laureate of the ordinary.” She is a New York Times bestselling author, PBS host and the creator of the popular podcast, Kelly Corrigan Wonders.
- Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author who has written for The New York Times and was a finalist for the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize. She founded Tall Poppy Writers, a group of traditionally published authors with a vision to “unite female authors with female readers.”
- Sona Movsesian, Conan O’Brien’s longtime assistant and author of the hilarious The World’s Worst Assistant. She co-hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.
- Steven Rowley, acclaimed novelist, is the Thurber Prize-winning author of The Guncle. The Guncle Abroad is a semi-finalist for the 2026 Thurber Prize for American Humor.
- John Searles, bestselling novelist whose work has been adapted for film. He appears regularly on NBC’s Today show to discuss books.
Cindy Ratzlaff and Kathy Kinney, authors and the creative duo behind Queen of Your Own Life, announced the keynote slate on Oct. 14 during Virtual Essay Cabaret, a free open mic night for storytellers. They’ll return to the spring workshop to close opening night with Erma After Dark: Essay Cabaret, an open mic night for writers to read their essays and short works-in-progress.
“This is not just a writers’ workshop. It’s a dream maker,” said Ratzlaff, a 30-year veteran of the book publishing industry. “People have left the workshop and had books published and their pieces appear in magazines. You will be engulfed by support.”
Added writing partner Kinney: “Here’s a guarantee. It’s life changing.”
Widely known as “a writer’s Woodstock,” the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop honors the legacy of the Erma Bombeck, the great humorist and columnist who graduated with a degree in English from the University of Dayton in 1949. The workshop, now in its 25th year, celebrates humor and human connection through storytelling. It welcomes writers of all experience levels who seek to improve their craft and build community.
Information about faculty, sessions, schedule and special features will be released later this month. Links for registration and the hotel block at the University of Dayton Marriott will be shared on Nov. 5 through the workshop’s e-newsletter and social media channels.
The early bird fee is $524 before Nov. 15, and $549 afterwards. The registration fee includes meals (three dinners, two lunches, two breakfasts and snacks), keynote addresses, hands-on workshops, networking — and much laughter.
As part of Kelly Corrigan’s visit to Dayton, the workshop donated 1,000 copies of Marianne the Maker, a children’s book she wrote with her daughter Claire Corrigan Lichty, to Head Start to support early childhood learning in the Dayton region. That initiative was made possible by a Grow up Great grant from PNC Bank and support from The Dayton Foundation, Dayton Children’s Hospital, CBD Advisors, Barnes and Noble, and community advocates Bob and Bernita Daley.
For more information, visit go.udayton.edu/erma.