If you want to pursue your passion for creative writing, you’re in the write, ahem, right place. The creative writing community in Rockland, particularly in Nyack, is thriving. Lucky us to live in such a creative place.
Still, it’s not always easy to know how to connect with other writers. Here are some ways to do it plus — bonus! — a multidisciplinary organization that offers resources for writers.
Next up in this series: Where to find events for readers and writers (who, no surprise, are sometimes the same people), including book clubs, readings, author events, and more. We touch on some here, but we’ll go further in the next installment.
Editor’s note: Many thanks to Lily Greenberg for her input on this article.
The All Ways Writing Collective
The first and best local stop for connecting with the local writing community is the All Ways Writing Collective. Poet, educator, and organizer Lily Greenberg launched the organization in 2023, building on the work of the now inactive River River literary organization. Currently, about 400 writers find inspiration, support, community, and connection through weekly Writing Circles, Write Nights, readings, and events. Here’s some of what All Ways Writing offers. To learn the latest, subscribe to the Substack.
Writing Circles
Facilitated by different creative writers each week, participants are given a prompt and about 45 minutes to write, then have the option of sharing what they create. It’s a warm, welcoming group open to creative writers working in any genre with any level of experience, and you can drop in to any writing circle any time. Every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Creative Arts Workshop, 171 Main Street, Nyack. $10 payable in cash to the facilitator at the event.
Write Nights
Writing can be lonely; not at Write Night, where you can work silently in the vibey upstairs room at Prohibition River on your writing alongside other writers, and can sip a drink or eat if you like. In the last 15 minutes, you’re invited to share how your writing went. Every first Tuesday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Prohibition River (usually upstairs in its Rose Hall), 82 Main Street, Nyack. Free, but good to register).
Readings
All Ways Writing partners with other organizations in the Nyack community to hold public readings. These include: poetry readings at Big Red Books pairing visiting guest poets with local community poets; prose salon-style readings at Marydell Faith & Life Center featuring a smattering of local prose writers; and environmental themed-readings at River Hook Preserve (among others). Typically free and open to the public, these readings are a great way to get a sense of who in your community is out here writing — and hopefully be inspired in the process.
Writing Workshops at Bookstores and the Library
Some local independent bookstores and the Nyack Library offer writing workshops, sometimes in collaboration with authors and other organizations. They’re a great way to meet and connect with other writers. Be sure to check their websites frequently to see what they’re offering; the following is just some of what’s coming up.
The Sparkle Bookstore in Sparkill
May 13: Poetry Workshop with Juan Pable Mobili: Making Our Poems Stronger, Together. A workshop with Rockland’s poet laureate.
May 20 and June 17: Prose Writing Circle with Rebecca Watkins and Donna Miele: A chance for fiction and nonfiction writers to share their work, discuss goals, and offer feedback; $10 per meeting,
Big Red Books in Nyack
July 1, 8, 15, and 22: Fiction Writing Workshop with Big Red Books owner and author Richie Fulco. (Read more about Richie.)
Nyack Library
May 12 and 26: OWL Writers Group, Nyack Library Community Room, 11:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. This is Nyack Library’s ongoing poetry workshop for older writers to experience an ongoing morning of creativity and conversation.
Spoken Word Poetry
Rockland Poets
If you’re interested in performing spoken word poetry, the Rockland Poets organization offers Poetry Slams, a Poetry Open Mic, and Circle Up. More about this in the next installment, which has a bigger focus on events.
Bonus! a Multidisciplinary Resource for Writers
The Arts Council of Rockland is a multidisciplinary arts organization that’s not exclusively devoted to writing, but it does oversee the Rockland County Poet Laureate program, and offers professional development workshops and grant opportunities.