February 15, 2026

Baltimore Review News: BR editors presented our free Valentine’s Day Generative Workshop on Zoom yesterday, sharing examples of love-related creative works and providing timed exercises. We had a good number of participants, and everyone seemed to enjoy their time with us. There’s something about the pressure of having a timer counting down five minutes or so that puts the imagination into overdrive. This wasn’t our first generative writing session, but I hope that we can present these more frequently in the future.

AWP: There is so much happening! Of course, we’ll be at our Bookfair table, T623, throughout the conference. Here’s one happening: a scavenger hunt. So be sure to stop by our table—and all these tables.

And a couple of off-site events:

On a personal note: I participated in a Zoom reading tonight for the Cleaver Issue 52 contributors. One of the most enjoyable readings I’ve participated in. Lovely hosts, wonderful readers.

My chapbook is officially announced! Lines + Stars post on Facebook: “We're delighted to announce that Baltimore-based poet Barbara Westwood Diehl's sumptuous debut collection ‘Foolish’ will be published this spring as last year's winner of the annual Mid-Atlantic Chapbook Series.”

And a micro accepted by Washington Writers’ Publishing House for their Capital Love anthology.

Now to get to work on slides for teaching Creative Writing Techniques for our local Renaissance Institute and getting myself organized for the Eastern Shore Writers Association the week after AWP—during which I will have zero time to work on anything else.

And somewhere in the days ahead, there will be writing time?