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I Am Music: Horror Edition / Creative Writing Workshop

In this special horror edition deep dive writing workshop led by NYWC workshop leader Alisha Acquaye, we’ll specifically listen to Black musicians who use horror, absurdity, mystery and eccentricity in their art. Through curated media lists (essays, music videos, performances, interviews, music reviews and more), group discussions and imaginative writing prompts, we’ll use music as a guide to writing through our complex emotions, ideas and fears.

This workshop will begin on Wednesday, October 7th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (edt), and will meet six (6) weeks until November 11th.

(Note: this is a creative writing workshop, not a songwriting workshop! But songwriters are welcome. )

Workshop title inspired by Timbaland and Magoo’s song “I Am Music” featuring Aaliyah and Static Major.

APPLICATIONS TO THIS WORKSHOP ARE CLOSED

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DROP-IN WORKSHOP FOR BLACK WRITERS

Alisha Acquaye is a writer, artist and event organizer with a passion for mutual empowerment across POC communities, and self-imagination as an instrument for resistance. Her work—ranging from journalism, creative nonfiction and multi-media collaboration—explores the relationships between art, identity, culture and intersectionality. Alisha is particularly inspired by the creative and afrofuturistic methods Black people use to reclaim their narratives, and self-care and community building as formative weapons against oppression.

In addition to documenting and storytelling, Alisha co-founded Sister Circle Brunch, a womxn of color event for sharing food and discussing self-care, and Unblended, a photo and interview series that celebrates the importance of Afro Asian friendships. You can find Alisha at alishaacquaye.com and read her essays in Teen Vogue, GQ, Allure, OkayAfrica, ELLE, The Establishment, Catapult, and more.

Black Nightmare Creative Writing Workshop

In this month long writing workshop, led by NYWC workshop leader Alisha Acquaye, we’ll watch and discuss films and television episodes revolving around Black horror. We’ll write into the themes, ideas and inquiries these visuals introduce, and contemplate how they intersect within our identities, relationships, society, and most of all, our creativity.

This is a 5-week workshop that will begin on October 8th from 6-8 p.m (edt) until November 5th.

APPLICATIONS TO THIS WORKSHOP ARE CLOSED

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DROP-IN WORKSHOP FOR BLACK WRITERS

 

Alisha Acquaye is a writer, artist and event organizer with a passion for mutual empowerment across POC communities, and self-imagination as an instrument for resistance. Her work—ranging from journalism, creative nonfiction and multi-media collaboration—explores the relationships between art, identity, culture and intersectionality. Alisha is particularly inspired by the creative and afrofuturistic methods Black people use to reclaim their narratives, and self-care and community building as formative weapons against oppression.

In addition to documenting and storytelling, Alisha co-founded Sister Circle Brunch, a womxn of color event for sharing food and discussing self-care, and Unblended, a photo and interview series that celebrates the importance of Afro Asian friendships. You can find Alisha at alishaacquaye.com and read her essays in Teen Vogue, GQ, Allure, OkayAfrica, ELLE, The Establishment, Catapult, and more.

NYWC’s Virtual Mic Check 10/16/2020

NY Writers Coalition (NYWC) is hosting a virtual open mic night on Friday, October 16, from 7 – 8 pm EDT hosted by Jon Sands!

In the spirit of our mission, we’re giving our workshop attendees and leaders the opportunity to share the writing they’ve created in our virtual workshops with the entire NYWC community—and the public!

To attend as a guest, register for the Zoom webinar, CLICK HERE

HOW THE OPEN MIC WORKS:
NYWC hosts three creative writing workshops per day, six days a week. Participants respond to prompts issued by the workshop leader and write for a designated amount of time. In our Mic Check events, participants and leaders will have the chance to share what they’ve written with the public. Each person will read for a max of three minutes.
 
ABOUT NYWC:
NY Writers Coalition work amplifies the voices of historically unheard and under-resourced individuals in our society; we welcome people of all backgrounds into our free virtual creative writing workshops. No writing experience is necessary, and writers of all levels of experience are welcome. In each workshop, participants write a piece in response to optional prompts provided by the workshop leader. NYWC’s workshops are based on the Amherst Writers and Artists workshop method developed by Pat Schneider and are led by an experienced, trained workshop leader.
 
ABOUT JON SANDS:
Jon Sands is a winner of the 2018 National Poetry Series, selected for his second book, It’s Not Magic (Beacon Press, 2019). He is the author of The New Clean, the co-host of The Poetry Gods Podcast, and a curator for SupaDupaFresh, a monthly reading series at Ode to Babel in Brooklyn. His work has been featured in the New York Times, as well as anthologized in The Best American Poetry. He teaches at Brooklyn College, Urban Word NYC, and facilitates a weekly writing workshop for adults at Baily House, an HIV/AIDS service center in East Harlem. He tours extensively as a poet but lives in Brooklyn.

NYWC Remembers Pat Schneider

Pat Schneider (1934-2020)

NY Writers Coalition is celebrating the life and mourning the loss of Pat Schneider, creator of the Amherst Writers Method of writing workshops, which she describes in her book, Writing Alone and With Others. All of NYWC’s workshops are based on this safe, supportive, craft-driven and deeply powerful model, so our organization is just one small piece of Pat’s life-changing work. We join a worldwide community of people who’ve been impacted by Pat’s life, and are deeply saddened to hear of her loss.

I like thinking about our piece of Pat’s legacy, and how happy she would get when we’d discuss NYWC.  Pat’s writing workshops with women in low-income housing and other groups for similarly underrepresented/oppressed groups inspired me to create NYWC.  So, if you’ve led or participated in one of our more than 20,000 workshops sessions over the past eighteen years, you are connected to Pat.

I also like thinking about the incredible work of like-minded writers leading workshops and organizations all over the world–all in one way or another connected back to the Amherst Writers and Artists movement that Pat, with her husband Peter, launched and continued to inspire, even after she “retired.” (I have stories.)

Pat was a brilliant creative writer, across so many genres. (One of her poems is below.) For anyone interested in writing/creative and spiritual practices, I recommend her book How The Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice. If you have any interest in creating or running writing workshops, Writing Alone and with Others is essential.

Pat’s family has posted more information on her Facebook page. They request that, if you wish, you may honor her by making a donation in her memory to AWA, the organization she founded, nurtured, and sustained with love and boundless energy, either online at https://amherstwriters.org/honoring-pat/, or by check to Amherst Writers and Artists, PO Box 1076, Amherst MA 01004.  You may also post on her memorial blog here.

I feel lucky to have had Pat Schneider as a mentor and friend for more than twenty years. I have so much more to say than can go in an email.  I am thinking about the writing prompt that Pat used to give: “Close your eyes, get in touch with your body, and imagine yourself in a doorway, then write what you saw in your mind’s eye.” I like to think that maybe somewhere, on the other side of that doorway, Pat is already working on her next book.

Aaron Zimmerman
Founder & Executive Director

 

we tell stories, build
from fragments of our lives
maps to guide us to each other.
We make collages of the way
it might have been
had it been as we remembered,
as we think perhaps it was,
tallying in our middle age
diminishing returns.
Last night the lake was still;
all along the shoreline
bright pencil marks of light, and
children in the dark canoe pleading
“Tell us scary stories.”
Fingers trailing in the water,
I said someone I loved who died
told me in a dream
to not be lonely, told me
not to ever be afraid.
And they were silent, the children,
listening to the water
lick the sides of the canoe.
It’s what we love the most
can make us most afraid, can make us
for the first time understand
how we are rocking in a dark boat on the water,
taking the long way home.
— Going Home the Longest Way Around, by Pat Schneider

The Words Between Us Mic Check

We’re hosting a special virtual mic check featuring the participants of The Words Between Us: A Writing Series for Black Womxn on Friday, October 9th, starting at 7pm EDT. It will be hosted by workshop leader, Alisha Acquaye. RSVP as a guest and show your support! Best of all it’s free and everyone is invited!

In the spirit of our mission, we’re giving our workshop participants the opportunity to share the writing they’ve created in this writing series with the entire NYWC community—and the public!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

ABOUT THE WORDS BETWEEN US: The participants wrote to different themes revolving around Black womxnhood, and received readings from Black womxn writers. The readings were meant to inspire, entertain and ignite their imaginations. It’ll be a wonderful event to commemorate this cycle of this writing series and to show support to all of these amazing writers!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WEEKLY THE WORDS BETWEEN US DROP-IN WORKSHOP

**********

Alisha Acquaye is a writer, artist and event organizer with a passion for mutual empowerment across POC communities, and self-imagination as an instrument for resistance. Her work—ranging from journalism, creative nonfiction and multi-media collaboration—explores the relationships between art, identity, culture and intersectionality. Alisha is particularly inspired by the creative and afrofuturistic methods Black people use to reclaim their narratives, and self-care and community building as formative weapons against oppression.

In addition to documenting and storytelling, Alisha co-founded Sister Circle Brunch, a womxn of color event for sharing food and discussing self-care, and Unblended, a photo and interview series that celebrates the importance of Afro Asian friendships. You can find Alisha at alishaacquaye.com and read her essays in Teen Vogue, GQ, Allure, OkayAfrica, ELLE, The Establishment, Catapult, and more.

I Am Music: A Writing Workshop for Black Music Heads

In this deep dive writing workshop*, we’ll interpret, analyze and pull inspiration from our favorite Black muses, and use their art as mirrors into self. Each week we’ll zoom in on a specific artist who influences Black contemporary sounds. Through curated media lists (essays, music videos, performances, interviews, music reviews and more), group discussions and imaginative writing prompts, we’ll use music as a guide to writing through our complex emotions, ideas and fantasies.

Workshop title inspired by Timbaland and Magoo’s song “I Am Music” featuring Aaliyah and Static Major.

*This isn’t a songwriting workshop, but songwriters are welcome!

NOTE: This workshop is for Black writers only.

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

NYWC Summer Youth Program

We’re happy to announce our NYWC Virtual Summer Youth Program! We’ll be offering a series of FREE creative writing workshops for New York City youths ages 10-18, but virtually through Zoom!

It will span for 6 weeks, with our first workshops starting on Saturday morning, July 11th. We’ll have another set of workshops on Tuesday afternoons starting on July 14th. We do want to note that kids and teens will be divided into different groups.

SCHEDULE

Saturdays / 10:30 am – 12:00 pm / July 11th – August 15th

Tuesdays / 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm / July 14th – August 18th

Please also share this news, with anyone who may be interested. It’s a great way to engage and encourage the creativity of kids and teens as they await the new school year.

At the moment we have reached capacity for the number of kids and teens to join. Sometimes there are participants who drop-out, which leaves spots open, so please fill out our form if you are still interested in having your child(ren) attend. This doesn’t guarantee a spot, but we will email ASAP if a spot opens up.

CLICK HERE TO BE ON OUR WAITLIST

Email us at summeryouth@nywriterscoalition.org regarding any questions.

Our Workshop for Essential Workers

Calling all of the amazing and hardworking individuals who are considered essential workers during this time, take a moment (when and if you’re able) to unwind and ground yourself with a creative writing workshop. From working in the medical field to being a delivery driver–if your occupation requires you to leave your home during COVID-19–you’re an essential worker. Come join us this summer and write with us, best of all it’s free.

To provide a safe and supportive space, we do require that those who plan to participate fill out a brief pre-workshop application.This is to ensure that only those who are essential workers join the workshop. If you are not an essential worker, please sign-up for our weekly general public virtual workshops. We don’t have a set date for the first workshop, since we’re in the starting phase, generating interest. Please spread the word to anyone in your life who may be interested! Participants from all over are welcome!

THE WORKSHOP WILL BE SET FOR SATURDAYS FROM 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (EDT)

click here to apply!

Our 24-Hour Virtual Write-A-Thon!

EVENT DETAILS

Please join us on Saturday, June 6-7 for the 15th annual—and first-ever virtual—NYWC Write-A-Thon! It will be a 24-hour long celebration of writing, writers, and literature. All funds raised will directly boost NYWC’s WORKSHOP LEADER EMERGENCY FUND, supporting the working writers, freelancers, and activists who have been running free virtual NYWC workshops throughout the pandemic shutdown.

Click here to purchase your tickets outright.

To fundraise for your ticket, visit our peer-to-peer fundraising page here.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

What happens at the NYWC Write-A-Thon? 

We will host workshops, give prompts, write together as a community, host events, and hold readings and author talks throughout the 24 hours. Most events will happen through Zoom, and additional materials will be made available online via our website. 

Several participation levels are available: the All-Access Pass allows you to attend all or any part of the entire Write-A-Thon—the best value for your wallet and creative muse! You can also purchase tickets for specific 6-hour blocks of programming, or for special prime-time programming. 

What is NY Writers Coalition? What do the funds that are raised support?

NYWC is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization launched in 2002 and one of the nation’s largest community writing organizations. Each year, we provide more than 1,000 free creative writing workshops for people not heard from often enough in our society. Our workshop members include youth, people with disabilities, court-involved and incarcerated individuals, seniors, women, LGBTQ communities, people in recovery, and many others. We are unique in the breadth and scope of our work and have been a model for other organizations bringing the power of creative writing to those in need.

One-hundred percent of the funds raised through the 2020 Write-A-Thon will go directly to our new Workshop Leader Emergency Fund, which provides stipends to our workshop leaders, many of whom are freelance writers, teaching artists, and others economically impacted by the current crisis. 

NYWC and the Write-A-Thon sound amazing. Tell me more about the event!

Write-A-Thon 2020 includes access to the following programming:

  • Creative writing workshops: A range of workshops to help support your writing practice. This includes chances to write together and share your new work with others in an NYWC-style workshop and attend craft talks and genre-specific workshops led by a diverse set of guest instructors. 
  • Mic Check: An open mic for you to share aloud something you wrote during the Write-A-Thon! Takes place at the end of each 6-hour block.
  • Virtual Co-Working Space: A Zoom room where you can write in community with fellow writers from all over the world. We will share a writing prompt every 30 minutes to help you keep going, as well as low-key writing challenges to help keep you motivated. 
  • Inspiration Station: A place to find all kinds of audio, visual, and text-based writing prompts, poems, links, and reading lists, for whenever you need a boost!
  • Special Events: Readings, writer talks, live chats, and panel discussions with writers, editors, agents, and publishers. 

Who is scheduled to appear? 

This year’s speakers include: 

  • Libba Bray, the New York Times bestselling author of The Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing)
  • Jessica Bruder, a professor of narrative storytelling at Columbia Journalism School; New York Times contributor, and the author of Snowden’s Box Trust in the Age of Surveillance, Burning Book, and Nomadland
  • T Cooper, the author of seven novels, including the best-selling The Beaufort Diaries and Lipshitz Six, or Two Angry Blondes, with television writing credits on Netflix’s “The Get Down”, BBC America’s “Copper”, and a writer and consulting producer on NBC’s “The Blacklist”
  • Ricardo Cortés, an artist, writer,  New York Times best-selling illustrator (Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and Party: A Mystery by Jamaica Kincaid), and publisher
  • Glory Edim, the founder of Well-Read Black Girl (WRBG), a Brooklyn-based book club and digital platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood.
  • Kaitlyn Greenidge, a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and the author of the award-winning novel We Love You, Charlie Freeman
  • Tiffany D. Jackson, author of the NAACP Image Award-nominated YA novel Allegedly and the forthcoming title GROWN
  • Alexis Henderson, author of the YA novel The Year of the Witching
  • Marian Fontana, a writer, author (A Widow’s Walk), and performer for over 25 years, whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Guardian, and more, and who has been featured on “This American Life”, CNN, “Good Morning America”, and “All Things Considered”
  • Mira Jacob, author of The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing, the graphic memoir Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations, and cofounder of Pete’s Reading Series in Brooklyn
  • Carley Moore, poet, essayist, and author of The Not Wives, 16 Pills, Portal Poem, and The Stalker Chronicles.
  • Mary Morris, author of numerous works of fiction, including the novels The Jazz Palace, A Mother’s Love, and House Arrest, and of nonfiction, including the travel memoir Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone
  • Arthur Nersesian, author of the best-selling novel The Fuck Up and The Five Books of (Robert) Moses
  • Elena Nicolaou, the Culture Editor of OprahMag.com and avid Bookstagrammer
  • Jennifer Pastiloff, creator of the hybrid yoga workshops “On Being Human”, author of the 2019 novel of the same name, and founder of the online magazine The Manifest-Station
  • Carl Hancock Rux, an award-winning poet, playwright, novelist, essayist and recording artist
  • Vijay Seshadri, the author of the poetry books “Wild Kingdom,” “The Long Meadow,” “The Disappearances,” (Harper-Collins India), “3 Sections,” and “That Was Now, This Is Then” (forthcoming Fall, 2020), as well as many essays, reviews, and memoir fragments. His work has been widely published and anthologized and recognized with a number of honors, among them the Pulitzer Prize.
  • Nova Ren Suma, the author of A Room Away from the Wolves and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Walls Around Us, both finalists for an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel
  • Amanda Stern, the author of numerous books, including The Long Haul and Little Panic, and a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Believer, and many more.
  • Johnny Temple, the publisher and editor in chief of Akashic Books, an award-winning Brooklyn-based independent company dedicated to publishing urban literary fiction and political nonfiction

 

A special thank you to our sponsors, including:

Brooklyn Social Media

Radio Interview with Louie b. Free

NEW YORK WRITERS COALITION: FREE ZOOM WRITING WORKSHOPS, OPEN MICS

Thursday, May 7th, via Louie b. Free

NEW YORK WRITERS COALITION’S RAPID RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS CRISIS:

FREE ZOOM WRITING WORKSHOPS, OPEN MICS AND SUPPORT FOR MARGINALIZED GROUPS

Over the past 18 years, the Brooklyn-Based nonprofit organization NY Writers Coalition (NYWC) mission has been to help people in crisis ease isolation, find community, and ground themselves through the art of creative writing. In response to the Coronavirus crisis, NYWC immediately launched a rapid response in mid-March, and now offers 3 free virtual creative writing workshops a day, 6 days a week, to support people from all over the world through supportive and powerful workshops.

“Creating safe writing spaces for hundreds of people each week from groups routinely in crisis has prepared us for this unprecedented moment in history,” said Aaron Zimmerman, NYWC’s Founder and Executive Director. “The process of creative writing is an attempt to find meaning and purpose, to create a legacy, to name what feels unnameable, and assert one’s identity in an increasingly crushing world.”

As the crisis continues to unfold, NYWC is unrolling ambitious new programs to further connect those struggling with the effects of social distancing.

To watch the video interview, please click here.