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Speaking & Workshops

For fifteen years, I’ve guided thousands of students through creative writing classes and community workshops as well as one-on-one coaching and manuscript review. Teaching writing has become an abiding passion as well as an expression of kinship.

Contact me to speak with your organization, book club, or classroom.

“[Roohi is] one of the most gifted facilitators I’ve encountered. Her supportive presence, wise guidance, and brilliant instruction/facilitation created an environment of safety, trust, and growth.”

“Her feedback is always constructive. You can feel that she wants you to win.”

- Participant evaluations from The Collegeville Institute's workshop, "About Me, About You"
“Roohi's editorial letter was focused and cut to the heart of the story I was trying to tell. She pinpointed specific issues regarding character development and plot. She helped me to more deeply consider the historical context of the novel, and guided me to add more nuance to the characters and their conflicts. Roohi did not just tell me what aspects of the books needed improvement – she gave me suggestions about how to improve the book. She was timely, gracious, and professional and I look forward to working with her again soon.

- Anjali Enjeti, client

Past Workshops


About Me, About You

One-week residential workshop, 2023, 2024
The Collegeville Institute

Designed and taught one-week creative writing workshop to bring together women of color from diverse faith backgrounds to write creative prose (fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid forms) rooted in personal experience.

Muslim Women Write the Body

Six-month workshop series, 2021-22
Arts & Democracy

Designed and taught creative writing workshop series for Muslim women participants to explore their identities in relation to the body, faith, culture and more.

A Quest for Home

Young Adults / Teens Six-week workshop series, 2019 and 2020
Arts & Democracy

Designed and taught creative writing workshop series on home and belonging for South Asian young adults. Readings and prompts inspired by South Asian mythology.

Writing and Mindfulness

2021-2023
Theatre Within and Gilda's Club/The Red Door

Designed and taught several virtual workshops for people living with cancer. Sessions focused on discussion and prompts to explore the synchronicities between mindfulness practice and creative writing.

Writing the Familiar into Strange

Teens and Tweens 2019-2022
Brooklyn Public Library

Designed and taught several workshop series, both in-person and virtual, for teens and tweens at the Brooklyn Public Libraries.

From Instinct to Story Arc

Four-week class, 2021
Loft Literary Center

Designed and taught class to challenge traditional plotting craft and approach prose structure from instinct.

Learning by Listening: Research Techniques for Creative Writers

Designed and taught class to help writers incorporate research techniques into their writing, especially focused on historical fiction.

Roohi teaching a class of students
Photo by Emily Ahn Levy