Sankofa Literary Society Writers Workshops

Write With Vision Literary Workshop

Whether you are a seasoned author or are just beginning to write seriously, the workshop experience can nurture your artistic life as few other activities can. The SLS annually conducts hundreds of workshops in various genres of writing and book coaching. The workshops are titled Write With Vision Workshops. Workshop participants share with one another their work-in-progress, marketing and promotions tips and success stragetizes under the guidance of an experienced group leader who is also a marketing expert. SLS also hosts literary events, readings and conferences; sells books and literary ebooks; and offers a congenial, supportive environment for an author to meet others who are on the same path. Write With Vision offers online and offline workshops for writers of all genres. It has both free and paid memberships and is populated by aspiring writers and new authors.

The secret for writing well and getting published is the same as the secret for a successful organization: hard work by committed individuals willing to learn from past experience.

The purpose of the Write With Vision Literary Workshop is to promote and support the concept of professionalism in published and unpublished authors, and to aid all participants toward the goal of successfully marketing what they write.

For more information, email questions to: sankofa_literary_society@yahoo.com

DC Area Membership Organizations & Organizations That Offer Writing Classes

If you have a organization that offers writers new insight and guidance, please submit your information to the Editor at: sankofa_literary_society@yahoo.com

FREE Writer's Workshops

Associated Writing Programs

Umbrella organization for colleges and universities offering the Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Publishes The Chronicle, AWP Job List, hosts annual conference, web conferencing, members directory. Web site also contains a helpful list of writers conferences. Website: http://awpwriter.org

Write With Vision Tele-Workshops

Sign up for a Write With Vision Tele-Workshops class and get the best professional writing instruction available—with all the convenience and speed and convenience of the Internet. For more information, email interest to: sankofa_literary_society@yahoo.com

You will proudly receive:

professionally-developed workshop materials

fast, personal feedback from your instructor

creativity-boosting exercises

fun, productive writing assignments that work directly toward your writing goals

tips to help you improve all your writing—not just what you're currently working on

valuable writing contacts

new ideas and feedback from workshop peers

You'll get individual attention—constructive suggestions and timely feedback you can put to use right away!

Blackout Arts Collective

A grassroots coalition of artists, activists and educators working to empower communities of color through the arts. A national organization with chapters in DC, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, New Haven, New Orleans and New York, BAC raises awareness and catalyzes action around critical issues that impact local communities to foster positive social change. The DC Chapter has hosted poetry open mics and other performance events at Cafe Mawonaj and Sankofa Books. http://www.blackoutartscollective.com/

Black Writers' Guild of Maryland, Inc.

Offers free monthly workshops andd speakers, an annual conference, and special showcase events for members. http://www.blackwritersguild.org

Brookland Area Writers & Artists

"Dedicated to creating community and fostering mutual support among writers and artists in the Brookland neighborhood of NE DC." Hosts a monthly reading series and a monthly coffee-and-conversation group. http://www.bawadc.com

Capitol Hill Poetry Group

This web site showcases the work of a long-standing workshop group of nine poets: Shirley Cochrane, Mary Ann Larkin, Chris Llewellyn, Jean Nordhaus, Patric Pepper, Robert Sargent, Elizabeth Sullam, Keith Yancy, and Edwin Zimmerman.

http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/capitolhillpoets/home.html

Cave Canem

Commited to the discovery and cultivation of new voices in African American poetry. Offers an annual summer workshop/retreat, a first book prize, readings, more. Located in Charlottesville, VA. Beltway poets associated with Cave Canem include: Cornelius Eady, Elizabeth Alexander, Kyle Dargan, Jane Alberdeston Coralin, Holly Bass, Derrick Weston Brown, Joel Dias-Porter, Jay Frazier, Brian Gilmore, Yona Harvey, Valerie Jean, Brandon Johnson, Toni Asante Lightfoot, John Murillo, Venus Thrash, Hayes Davis, and Teri Ellen Cross. http://www.cavecanempoets.org

The Chamberlain's Men

A group in La Plata, MD that celebrates the works of Shakespeare with weekly disucssions, movie nights, and sonnet writing workshops. http://www.chamberlainsmen.org

City Lit Project

Baltimore-based organization that coordinates writers workshops, author readings, publication seminars, book festivals, youth events, and publishes books by regional authors through its Pagoda Press imprint. http://www.CityLitProject.org

The Creative Alliance

Membership organization of writers, visual artists, scholars, educators, and businesses. Located in Highlandtown in Baltimore. Sponsors a wide range of performances. (410) 276-1651. http://www.creativealliance.org

The Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington

Umbrella organization for non-profit arts groups in the region. JoBank, Ticket Connection, Business Volunteers for the Arts, trainings, advocacy, bimonthly newsletter, ArtsWashington, annual members' guide. Good source for group-rate health insurance for individual members. http://www.cultural-alliance.org

DC Poets Against the War

A group of area poets formed to promote social change and to protest aggressive international government policies. Information on purchasing an anthology, poems, news of readings and special events, and links. Coordinator, Sarah Browning. Special events coordinator: Melissa Tuckey. http://www.dcpaw.org

The Federal Poets

Hosts an open monthly poetry workshop and publishes a semi-annual anthology of poems by members. "The oldest continuously active poetry group" in DC, founded in 1944. Hosted by Nancy Allinson. http://fedpoets.tripod.com

Flanked

Organization for women writers, offering classes, special events, and a bi-annual writer's conference. Programs are designed to promotee excellence, diversity, and intimacy. Based in Baltimore. http://www.flanked.org

Footlights

The Modern Drama Discussion Group of Washington, DC. Each month 25-35 members meet to discuss modern drama at inexpensive restaurants near Metro stations. The group attends half the plays they discuss, often with the director in attendance. Membership and meetings are free, group rates arranged with local theaters. E-newsletter.

http://www.footlightsdc.org

Greenbelt Writer's Group

Sponsors readings, critique groups, and book discussions in Greenbelt, MD. Has published anthologies of works by members. http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/5620

Maryland Writers' Association

Classes and critique groups, readings, contests, annual conference, community outreach projects. Publishes bimonthly newsletter, Pen in Hand, and biannual literary journal, Scribble. Covers poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Centered in Annapolis.

http://www.marylandwriters.org

National Writers Union, DC Chapter

UAW Local 1981/AFL-CIO. Offers guidance on contracts, legal consultation, and grievance services. Sponsors readings and workshops. Members can qualify for medical benefits, college scholarships, personal, home equity, and car loans, and press passes. Dues based on annual writing income. http://www.nwudc.org

Nightwriters

Offers writing seminars in such locations as Napa Valley, CA, Isle of Mull, Scotland, and Tuscany, Italy. Based in Bethesda, MD. http://www.nightwriters.com

Playwrights' Forum

Runs writers' groups for playwrights, public and in-house readings at cooperating theaters and universities, a publishing program, and free theater ticket privledges for members.

http://www.erols.com/pforum

Poetry Society of Virginia

State-wide organization that hosts readings and member events, a newsletter, competitions, and an annual festival. http://www.poetrysocietyofvirginia.org

Prince George's County Poets

Web page edited by Eboni Bynum, promoting writers in PG County, their activities, and literary opportunities within the County. http://members.tripod.com/poetconnection

Smithsonian Resident Associates

Classes, lectures, travel, performances on diverse subjects, including literary topics. Members get discounts on classes, Smithsonian Magazine, other discounts.

http://www.ResidentAssociates.org

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Mid-Atlantic Region

Hosts conferences, a list serve, newsletter. http://www.scbwi-midatlantic.org

Sol y Soul

Arts for Social Change. Programs include: Spoken Resistance, a workshop and performance group of young spoken word poets; El Barrio Street Theater, a performance collective; DivideDCity, a literary journal; and presentations of theater, poetry, and performance art by local and visiting artists. Regie Cabico, Artistic Director. http://www.solysoul.com

Washington Book Publishers

Informal, all-volunteer "salon" of individuals in the publishing industry.

http://www.washingtonbooks.org

The Washington Friends of Walt Whitman

Founded over 20 years ago by Martin Murray, the Washington Friends sponsors occasional tours, book signings, and readings.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cyberwalt/

Washington Independent Writers

Networking and freelance job referrals for writers and editors; also hosts classes (including some seminars with internationally-respected writers), small groups, annual conference, monthly newsletter. http://www.washwriter.org

West Virginia Poetry Society

State-wide organization hosts contests, events, a newsletter, and networking opportunities.

http://www.wvpoetrysociety.homestead.com

West Virginia Writers

Non-profit literary organization that sponsors an annual writers' conference and an annual writing competition. Web site lists information on writing groups and workshops throughout the state. http://www.wvwriters.org

Women's National Book Association, Washington Chapter

Nonprofit professional association of women and men who work with and value books (including publishers, librarians, booksellers, writers, editors, agents, illustrators, marketing and promotion professionals, and teachers). Monthly newsletter, networking brunches, and programs covering both literary and professional development topics.

http://www.wnba-books.org/wash/index.html

The Writers Center

Non-profit, tax-exempt membership organization for writers. Workshops in all genres for both beginning and experienced writers, led by local authors, in several locations: Bethesda, Arlington, Germantown, Leesburg, Centreville, Ft. Washington, and Olney. Readings, performances, staged readings of plays. Visiting writers series. Book gallery, with excellent selection of local authors and literary magazines. Annual small press book fair. Publishes Writers Carousel (newsletter, 6 times a year) and Poet Lore (biannual literary journal with national distribution). Member services include discounted legal fees and group health insurance. http://www.writer.org

Writing the Body

A series of workshops for "those who have experience with life threatening illnesses or chronic conditions, as patients, care-givers or family members" led by Anne Becker.

http://www.bodywriting.org

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