Diana Friedman
Description
Diana Friedman is an award-winning author whose work has appeared in literary journals, newspapers, blogs, and popular press magazines. Her fiction and nonfiction span a wide range of subjects, from environmental disasters and difficult children to international families, honey bees and the people who love them, sex and rock and roll, anxious airplane pilots, and the endlessly elusive search for meaning.
She is also a teacher and editor who loves helping people discover and strengthen their creative voice. Diana is delighted to facilitate summer creative writing retreats in the Basque Pyrenees, as well as winter writing retreats at Zigbone Farm and Retreat Center, about an hour from Washington, D.C.
Her writing has appeared in publications including the Baltimore Sun, Newsweek, Flyway: Journal of Writing and Environment, Whole Earth Review, Bethesda Magazine, Ithaca Women’s Anthology, the Legendary, Sport Literate, Animal: A Beast of a Literary Magazine, Women on Writing, and Stone Highway Review.
Born and raised in New York City, Diana studied environmental science and sustainable agriculture at the University of California, Berkeley, and Cornell University—two subjects she remains deeply passionate about, alongside writing. After living on both coasts, she settled outside Washington, D.C. in 1996, where she has since been writing, raising a family, causing a little trouble, and growing the occasional vegetable. She earned her M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins in 2018, taught science writing at the University of Maryland, and currently teaches creative writing through the New Directions Program at the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis. She has led many writing groups, offers retreats for private groups, and also works as an editor with select clients.
What students and clients say
- “Diana is the consummate writing instructor... a spirit guide through the dense forest of creative sprouting.” — Thomas Rini, MA LMHC
- “She is encouraging and supportive... I learned a lot from her.” — Delia Kostner, PhD
- “The writing exercises took me deeper than I thought I would go... I would definitely do it again.” — Hillary B.
- “I was on fire that day. Diana poured creative kerosene all over us and lit a match.” — Leah D.
- “Her exercises were fun and enlightening... very therapeutic to bring these to the surface.” — Shannon B.
- “She offers a unique combination of encouraging support and constructive criticism... clear recommendations on how to continue to develop my writing project.” — Sylvia F.
- “If you’re in need of thoughtful, experienced, and inspired guidance, you’re in need of Diana.” — Dena L.
- “Her skill is rare... I would highly recommend Diana as your partner in writing a book or article.” — Celine Mullins, PhD
