The Poetry and Writing Program

Age Population:  12-Adults 

Introduction:  

The African American Museum poetry program has inspired both young and old community members to share their experiences with others though their written works. To this end, the museum has developed a program to assist writers in enhancing their skills.

Significance of the Project:

The Long Island Writers Project (LIWP) will fill a void in the creative writing community in Western Long Island.  Writers need a place to find support, work on improving their craft, and gain information about publishing their work.  Until this time, such a group has not been available in this community.  The establishment of the Long Island Writers Project will not only enhance the quality of creative writing expression for the individual participants, but will also create a resource for community organizations in need of writers and their services. 

Writers in Nassau County in need of fellowship, feedback, and instruction, have had little alternative to meeting their needs other than traveling into Manhattan, other boroughs, or Suffolk County.  The LIWP, located in the African American Museum in Hempstead, will take place in a central location that is far more accessible.  The LIWP will provide a service to Nassau County residents who are writers interested in developing their craft. 

The Project's purpose is to provide a workshop experience to writers of fiction and nonfiction, so that they can receive and give feedback, utilizing a collaborative process which relies on the expertise of published and nonpublished writers.  The benefits include the development of strategies, information and materials in support of the writing craft.  These services are most often provided for a fee by literary agencies which have marginalized writers in certain communities who do not have the financial resources to avail themselves of professional services.  The LIWP will encourage writers to help themselves and each other; thus, giving a voice to writers who have (until now) found little or no support in pursuit of their dreams. 

In addition, the LIWP will expose the community to the work of Long Island writers and increase interest in their work.  The Project will be able to interact with public schools or other educational institutions to collaborate on readings and workshops, thereby promoting literacy.

Goals and Objectives:

Monthly Workshops: Free and open to the public.  Monthly workshops conducted by professionals in the writing field will provide instruction in skill building and/or information regarding publishing one’s work. The focus of the LIWP is to inspire experienced and novice writers through fellowship and the sharing of resources and information among writers.  The Project will support writers from beginners to advanced by disseminating information on calls for submission, writing contests, grants, fellowships, career opportunities, and self-publishing.

 Weekly Critique Group:  In addition, it will conduct a weekly critique group as a venue for feedback to writers who have completed work and/or have work in progress.  Through reading and analyzing each other’s work within a friendly atmosphere, many will find their writing skills improving. The only requirements for joining the group is that writers must be actively writing, submit their own original work, participate in critiquing the work of others, and have the determination to improve their writing skills. 

Community Service: The Project will conduct a Reader’s Theater production, free and open to the public.  This production will showcase members’ works to community residents, including school groups and community-based organizations.

Planned Activities:

Weekly Critique Group Meetings

Monthly Workshops

Reader’s Theater

Future: Literary Magazine

Resources:

Staff: Critique Group Facilitator

Meeting Space: African American Museum