The
Writer's
Hood
A Community Exclusively For Storytellers
Scholarship
Created by a writing scholar and taught by writing scholars, The Writer's Hood is a place where writers of all backgrounds can study craft, learn various narrative writing formats, and grow as storytellers. We believe in making academia accessible to all, valuing community and education over elite institutional practices.
At The Writer's Hood, you can explore a variety of uniquely designed courses and workshops that stretch and hone your storytelling skills. Each session, no matter the theme, is curated to cover essential writing topics that support writers as they fine-tune their voice, expand their imaginations, and think beyond the page.
Pedagogy
The Writer's Hood teaching approach is grounded in the philosophy that our stories serve as historical and social archives of our lived experiences. We know that the best way to examine our world under a creative lens is by focusing and understanding craft; it's what ultimately distinguishes us as writers.
In addition to craft, we've established a set of principles that support our methodology:
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We teach storytellers how to think like scholars and write like artists
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We encourage writers to tell the truth (at all costs!)
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We believe the nature of art is spiritual and the practice of it is political
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We accept that universal themes exist in our lives, and acknowledge that a writer's unique voice is what makes the story different
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We believe that all process is progress
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We practice mentorship as a key form of facilitation
Our Writing Community
Our classes and workshops cater to writers from all writing disciplines and experience levels. There is no extensive application or interview process involved. Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to enroll in a course, while minors can participate in workshops and community activities with parental or guardian consent. We invite all prospective students to reach out and inquire about the classes we offer each semester. We're here to guide you and answer any questions.
Teachers at The Writer's Hood are creative professionals working in the writing industry. They come from a wide range of writing disciplines, educational experiences, and cultural backgrounds. Most of our faculty is comprised of dedicated multi-hyphenated artists as well. Every semester we challenge our educators to teach a course they've always wanted to teach, or to create one that they now see as a need in our changing world. As a place that honors scholarship, we take pride in providing our faculty members and visiting instructors with opportunities to enhance their teaching pedagogies, try new methods, test out theories, and deepen their philosophies.
* Educators who are interested in pitching a workshop or course should contact us directly (with a CV attached) or
Coming Soon to The Writer's Hood Community...
The Wordsmith Membership
As The Writer's Hood continues growing, so will our community of members! We know that the process of writing can be a solitary one, and sometimes writers just need to engage with other like-minded people...So, we are currently creating an online, monthly paid membership group called The Wordsmiths.
With this membership, writers will receive access to:
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Free workshops and discounted courses
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Invites to exclusive virtual & in-person events
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An online community resource blog where members can network, post and share messages
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A pay-what-you-can scale for one dramaturgical feedback session on your choice of work per cycle (for scripts, excerpts of novels, and poetry collections
Be the first to know about it by subscribing to our newsletter!
The Playwright's Hood NYC
New York City is the dazzling stage that captivates the world, where Broadway lights shine bright and iconic cultures like Hip Hop and Salsa were born! While artists flock here for inspiration, the powerful voice of native New Yorkers (generations deep, culturally specific & rooted in this city’s history) is slowly being erased like neighborhoods lost to gentrification.
That's why The Writer’s Hood is launching a Lab & Residency exclusively for NYC-born-and-raised playwrights who have lived (and continue to live) the stories of hustle, struggle, scholarship, joy, remembrance, and who celebrate love for the city at the epicenter of American Theater. The world still needs to hear and learn from their authentic New York stories. More details coming soon...
In the meantime, if you're a NYC Playwright then add your name to our database today: