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ACW GOES DIGITAL

Anne Labastille memorial Writing residency

Indoor and outdoor writing spaces, family-style meals, and fireside discussions at a lakeside lodge in the Adirondacks

The Adirondack Center for Writing will offer their annual two-week residency October 4-18, 2020 to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers at a lodge on Twitchell Lake, in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains.

Six writers are selected to take part in this intimate community of writers, half of the spaces are reserved for regional authors, and the other spaces are open to writers from all over the world. Quality of written submissions will be our primary consideration when accepting applications. 

“What really stands out for me about this residency was how, from the very first moments of the residency on, we were invited into an experience of ease, play and kindness.  It wasn’t that the act of writing wasn’t taken seriously, it was. But the sense of acceptance and warmth I felt made me feel so welcomed and free.  And I think this had a real effect on my writing.  I took my time with what I wrote, really listened to it, took risks”

Fay Dillof, 2019 Anne LaBastille Memorial Writers Residency Alumnus

• Applications open July 1-15, 2020

Book Hangouts

Bring your favorite books to recommend and hear new titles to put on your to-read list from other readers. All Book Hangouts are on Zoom. Meeting details will be sent after completing registration.

• July 23, 2020: Science Fiction & Fantasy
• August 6, 2020: Memoir
• August 20, 2020: Poetry

ADK Book Club

Led by Betsy Folwell and Amy Godine

For the first time ever, two brilliant writers in the region, Betsy Folwell and Amy Godine, will lead a discussion of two hand-picked Adirondack books. Betsy Folwell, of Adirondack Life Magazine, has selected two titles that should be heralded for both excellence of craft and for echoing life as it is experienced in the rural communities of the Adirondacks. The two titles selected to discuss are Adirondack Portraits: A Piece of Time by Jeanne Robert Foster and The People from Heaven by John Sanford. 

This virtual, one-of-a-kind event presented by Adirondack Center for Writing is an opportunity open to the public to talk about these mostly overlooked books with two great thinkers of our region. Register to save your spot and to receive meeting log-in detail. More info and where to find the books here.

• August 13, 2020 at 7pm via Zoom

Weekly writing prompts + responses shared weekly

Creative writing prompts to kick off the dust and inspire you to create and re-work your writing. The incredible and talented ACW family is stepping up and sharing their expertise with you! Future prompts are provided by Julia Alvarez, Mahogany L. Browne, Joseph Bruchac, Betsy Folwell, Sue Halpern, Bill McKibben, Jon Sands, Steve Stern, Chase Twichell, Lauren Whitehead & more.

• This week’s prompt was created for you by: ACW Staff, Baylee Annis
• Responses have a special space under Featured Writing

THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ACW

ACW remains committed to building our community of writers, readers, storytellers, poets and fans of the written word. Through weekly writing prompts and posted responses, new online classes, and book lovers hangouts, and more, ACW is continuing to bring people and words together. 

ACW looks forward to relaunching the important in-person programming you count on. Until then, know that ACW is evolving with every new day. With your support, the online programming launched in March has become a special mark of the importance of writing, reading, and discussion. Anything you choose to give helps immensely to secure a strong future for ACW.

WATCH 👉 ACW spotlight on Mountain Lake PBS

listen 🎧 First person interview with acw

Head to the 40 minute mark to hear ACW’s Nathalie Thill chat with Mitch Reich about the Virtual Howl and the importance of telling and listening to stories right now.