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About Us

How We Use Your
Generous Donation

In The Community

We are proud of the free workshops we are able to provide to the community.

Westport Writers’ Workshop is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing transformative creative writing instruction to underserved communities. We send qualified instructors to provide free creative writing workshops for 6-7 weeks in the student’s community. Annually, Westport Writers’ Workshop helps over 120 students put a voice to their experiences. Westport Writers’ Workshop could not provide these writing workshops without your support and donations.

Moms of Children with Disabilities

Bringing together moms who have neurodivergent children to write about the daily obstacles and triumphs of motherhood.

Bigelow Center of Fairfield

Providing creative writing workshops to seniors who are focused on sharing their life stories with their families and friends.

STAR

The STAR workshop is for adults with developmental uniqueness. They meet for one hour a week to engage in writing their thoughts and feelings and creating community.

YPIE: Yonkers Partners in Education

Our instructor guides these students for college preparedness.

Homes for the Brave

Homes for the Brave  provides housing, vocational training, and life skills coaching to help veterans leave homelessness behind. 

Center for Empowerment

Provides support services for victims of interpersonal violence in the form of counseling and advocacy, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter. 

Scholarships

We provide a limited number of partial scholarships for our workshops.

Westport Writers’ Workshop has been a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing instruction to underserved communities and partial scholarships for students with financial needs for over 14 years. Our fundraising efforts and your continued support have allowed us to help over 50 deserving students in the last two years.

"Westport has been simply incredible in supporting my writing career. The scholarships have allowed me to focus on both craft and continuity as a writer. I was able to add a new genre to my repertoire - creative nonfiction - as a result of this support, and am now working on a collection of personal essays. I wouldn't have been able to imagine that a year ago. In deep appreciation of everything you do to support writers!"

-  Scholarship Recipient

Why Choose Us

Our Mission

The Westport Writers’ Workshop is an independent literary arts center.

Offering enriching, supportive creative writing classes, as well as free literary readings to the public. Our organization also provides free writing workshops to underserved populations within our community and beyond.

We believe every person has a story and can be a writer.

You can expect a small, supportive workshop led by an inspiring, experienced instructor. Our workshops consist of no more than seven writers, and each of our instructors has an MFA and/or published works. You’ll write, read, and learn from each other. Our focus is always on the quality of the writing – not on the subject matter. By joining a community of writers, you will become a stronger writer while supportively influencing others to refine their craft.

Westport Writers’ Workshop is a beacon of the literary arts community.

Westport, CT, along the scenic Saugatuck River, has long been a creative sanctuary for writers. For over 125 years, Westport has been home to a rich cultural legacy that began in 1910 when F. Scott Fitzgerald discovered the town and found inspiration for The Great Gatsby. Westport’s artistic community has flourished since then, drawing writers, musicians, and artists from around the world. Legendary figures such as Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who called Westport home, helped support the local arts scene, while musicians like Keith Richards and Nile Rodgers, and writers including Shirley Jackson, Robert Ludlum, and Shonda Rhimes, further enriched the town’s creative landscape.

For the past 20 years, the Westport Writers' Workshop has served as a beacon for the literary arts community. Our mission is to nurture, support, and connect writers at all stages of their creative journey. We offer a welcoming environment for writers to learn, draft, revise, and ultimately publish their work, continuing Westport's proud tradition as a hub of artistic expression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Begin by reading the course descriptions carefully. If you have questions, email us at exec@westportwriters.org or call the office at (203) 227-3250, and we are happy to help place you in the class that best fits your writing goals and needs.

Our beginner/introductory classes are for writers just starting out or who haven’t written in a very long time and crave more instruction. The intermediate classes are for writers who have taken a few workshops either with us or elsewhere and are ideal for writers who’ve already developed a foundation in the craft. Our advanced classes require the permission of the instructor and a short manuscript submission. Please contact the office if you are interested in registering for advanced classes.

We also offer a number of open level classes. Instructors will cater these classes to varying skill levels and students will benefit from working with writers at different stages of the process.

At Westport Writers’ Workshop, we believe creativity is fostered in small classes. To maintain this intimate creative environment, we cap each workshop at seven participants. Our workshops that focus on the business and marketing side of writing and do not involve sharing work may include up to ten participants. Our one-time lectures and Intro. to Craft series may include up to fifty students.

In most workshops, writers read their work aloud, followed by feedback and extensive discussion among workshop participants and the instructor. The exception to this is specific offerings that focus on the business and marketing side of writing or craft lectures.

You can expect to share work every week.

We are pleased to provide a limited number of need-based partial scholarships for our classes. To apply, please visit our SCHOLARSHIPS page and submit the form. 

Yes, all of our instructors are available for coaching and editing. Visit our EDITING & COACHING page to learn more about our large menu of services, from query letters to full manuscript critiques and everything in between. Instructors are also available for multi-week, one-on-one MENTORING.

Students withdrawing more than three weeks before the first workshop will receive a refund or full credit toward a future workshop. No refund will be given for students withdrawing less than three weeks prior to the start of the workshop regardless of whether the student attended the workshop.

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Beth Criswell

Board Chairman

Beth Criswell has been writing with Westport Writers’ Workshop for over five years where she has developed her craft and enjoys diving into her YA high fantasy world series. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and brings prior experience as a member of other local nonprofit boards and organizations, and as an attorney.

Leila Shields

Secretary

Leila Shields has enjoyed the inspiration and instruction offered by the Westport Writers Workshop for many years, experiencing classes with various instructors and students in both memoir and fiction; she’s currently at work finishing her first manuscript. Dedicated to the arts, she serves on the board of Norwalk’s Shakespeare on the Sound. Currently a middle school Language Arts teacher at Wilton’s Montessori School, Leila was previously a writer and editor with Condé Nast Publications, specifically for Allure, Self, and Women’s Sports & Fitness Magazines. She’s a graduate of Yale University and Phillips Academy Andover, where she currently contributes as a Head Agent and member of Andover’s Alumni Council and Development Board. She lives in Westport with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

Alana Sanko

Dramatic Lab Director

Alana Sanko is an award-winning creator, writer and producer. For over two decades she has written and developed for comedy, drama and animated series, as well as TV movie and network and cable pilots across multiple platforms. Her Nickelodeon series, Just for Kicks, which she created and developed with Executive Producer Whoopi Goldberg, won her a WGA Award, and the animated MTV series Spy Groove, that she was Head Writer on, received an Annie Nomination. Credits include the original ABC comedy pilot, See Jayne Run, the Disney Channel Original Movie Get a Clue, and the acclaimed CBS television series Murphy Brown, starring Candace Bergen, which was named on the WGA’s list of 101 Best TV Series. Alana has also written for numerous children’s series and is currently producing an independent feature film. She's a proud member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, BMI, SACD, New York Women in Film & Television and the Writers Guild of America.

Julianne Mulvey

Marketing Director

Julianne Mulvey grew up in Alaska, California and Texas. After getting her business degree, she made her way to Manhattan to work as an investment banker specializing in M&A and Project Finance before refocusing on her passions. In addition to her work at Westport Writers' Workshop, Julianne is also an editor for a large education consulting company and teaches at SoulCycle. Julianne lives in Connecticut with her husband, three children, two dogs, and two cats. She appreciates sarcasm and beautiful sentences.

Keri O'Connor

Finance Director

Keri grew up in Fairfield, CT. She received a B.S. in accounting from The Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Her professional career began at Arthur Andersen LLP, Boston where she earned her CPA. In 1999, she became the finance manager for Clear Channel Theatrical, one of New York City’s largest Broadway production companies with a focus on budgetary wellness. Keri was certified as a behavioral money coach (CMC) in 2014 and started her own practice. She continues to assist small businesses and individuals in behavioral and practical solutions for financial success. She lives in Fairfield with her four kids and golden retriever Daisy.

Alix Morrow

A screenplay and fiction writer, Alix Morrow has written several screenplays including ‘Till We Meet Again which received awards in the independent film circuit, and two novels for which she is currently seeking representation. After receiving a BA in Literature from Trinity College, an MA in Literature from The University of Chicago and an MFA in Screenwriting & Fiction from Fairfield University Alix ran a content creation business for over ten years. Now she writes full time, serves as PTA President for her daughters’ school, and as the Director of Education for Southport Congregational Church. On a constant search for sanity and inspiration while living simply and pursuing her dreams, Alix maintains her blog Simple Life Big Dreams for posterity’s sake. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two daughters, Eleanor and Ophelia.

Patricia Minskoff

Patricia Minskoff lived in New York City until the age of twelve when a series of books by Enid Blyton inspired her to go live in England and attend a British Boarding School. She has lived in the UK, NYC, MA and Santa Fe. A graduate of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and the New School, she has an M.F.A. in Directing and Playwriting. In past chapters of her life, she has worked as an actor, stage manager, playwright, producer, and director. As an Arts in Education advocate, she has taught Shakespeare and playwriting at The Harwich Junior Theatre in Massachusetts and from 2016-2021, directed the annual musical for an Elementary School in CT. Trish re-discovered her love of learning and creating with words at the Westport Writers Workshop after taking her first class back in 2017. She adores the discovery of new genres, the incredible staff, and the amazing community at WWW. Trish is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Stage Directors, and Choreographers Society (SDC), and SAG/AFTRA. She has served on the Boards of the Ridgefield Playhouse and ACT of CT.

Natasha Bowens

Natasha Bowens has loved writing since the first grade when she gave out her laminated literary creations as Christmas gifts. She followed the Writing track of an English major at St. Lawrence University, edited the college newspaper and pursued an early career in public relations in Boston, New York and London. After then holding various communications positions at New Canaan Country School and many years into raising a family, she realized how much she missed the creative expression and freedom writing afforded; happily, this was about the time she discovered the Westport Writers Workshop. Since then, and following an awesome first class in fiction writing, Natasha has been involved in screenwriting classes, and currently is in the very ongoing process of revising her first feature screenplay - a comedy, because, life. She lives in Westport with her husband and three daughters of varying college- and high school-ages, and is so happy and grateful to be a part of this amazing and inspiring community.

Beth Stevens

Beth Stevens is an Emmy-winning writer, editor, and producer. She is a founding editor of Broadway.com, where she continues to serve as Managing Editor. She is the Supervising Producer for The Broadway Show, the only nationally syndicated weekly theater news program. She co-wrote and produced the Emmy-winning CBS Special At the Tonys and has worked for such companies as Bravo Television, Barrington Stage Company, Warner Brothers, the Sundance Institute, Richard Frankel Productions, and more. She taught creative writing and playwriting at the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center and The Writers' Wing. Her articles, fiction, and poetry have appeared in Time Out New York, American Theatre Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, The Syndrome, The Cape Rock, Chiron Review, The Waverly Review, and others. There are many people named Beth Stevens—this one is not the Harvard neuroscientist, country singer, finance consultant, or young performer in Liverpool.

Galia Gichon

Galia Gichon is an independent personal financial expert with more than 20 years in financial services, including nearly 10 years on Wall Street and an MBA in Finance. Her career has spanned corporate bond research analyst, personal finance expert, angel investor, entrepreneur advisor and author. As an angel investor, she actively supports women led and impact start-ups. She is the Founder of Down to Earth Finance, independent personal finance education. She has been teaching at Barnard College’s Athena Center for Leadership and Freelancers Union for 10+ years. She has been widely quoted in The New York Times, NBC, CNN, and more. Previously, she worked at Bear Stearns and Nomura Securities. Galia is also the author of “My Money Matters” which was featured on TODAY SHOW, the author of a novel The Accidental Suffragist, and co-host of the popular podcast “Fiscal Firecrackers” with leading actress Susan Yeagley - Funny Finally Meets Money.

Kanwalroop K. Dhanda

Treasurer

Kanwalroop Kathy Dhanda is passionate about the environment and the protection of natural resources. She is a Professor of Management at Sacred Heart University and her scholarly work focuses on sustainability issues. She has published about 40 journal articles and co-authored two books. She loves to read and travel in her free time. Recently, with the encouragement of instructors at the Westport Writers’ Workshop, she has begun working on a memoir and short stories that she hopes to publish someday. Kathy graduated cum laude from Angelo State University and received her doctorate degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She lives in Wilton with her husband, Adrian, and her two children, Arman and Ariana.

Deirdre Kelly

Board Chairman

Deirdre Kelly is a Westport based writer and editor. After moving to the area from London, she took her first class at WWW in 2019 and has been hooked ever since. She has a background in advertising and is a life-long reader and chronic buyer of far too many books. She received her B.A. from Wesleyan University and her MSt in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford. She's been a contributor at writing conferences at Bread Loaf and Yale and is currently finishing what she hopes will be her first published novel.

Julie Sarkissian

Pitch & Publish Co-Coordinator

Julie Sarkissian is the author of Dear Lucy, published by Simon and Schuster and nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize. Her essays, short fiction and book reviews have appeared in The New York Times, Tin House, The Huffington Post, The New York Observer, Flavorwire, and Westport Magazine, among others. Born and raised in Southern California, she has a BA in English from Princeton, where she won the Leyone Francis Page award for her thesis, and an MFA from The New School. She is a writing coach, manuscript editor, and writing instructor across all genres at the Westport Writers' Workshop. Through their outreach program, she has run workshops for nonprofits such as temporary housing shelters, English language schools, and for differently-abled adults. She is Co-coordinator with Liz Matthews of the Westport Writers' Workshop Pitch & Publish Conference.

Liz Matthews

Program Director

Liz is a writer and editor who received her M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts (2008) and M.A. in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Liz began her professional career in publishing, both at a literary agency and as an Editorial Assistant at Random House before teaching middle and high school English at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Quality Women’s Fiction, Town & Country, Literary Mama, Brain Child, Mothers Always Write, The Rumpus, and Big Fiction Little Truths among other places. Liz teaches Introductory & Intermediate Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Creative Writing. She co-coordinates our Pitch & Publish Conference with Julie Sarkissian.

Blake Schnirring

Executive Director

Blake grew up in the inland Northwest and attended the University of Idaho. In 1989 she left Idaho for Los Angeles where she spent the next thirteen years in business development for publishing and technology industries. In 1999, she relocated to the East Coast where she continued to build success in business development for technology, fitness, and retail industries. Blake was a member of the oral storytelling group Mouse Muse before she decided to put her memoirs to paper. She found Westport Writers' Workshop and fell in love with their workshops and community spirit. In 2015, Blake joined the Board of Directors and has served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. She is excited to serve as Executive Director and continue to nurture Westport Writers' creative writing workshops, outreach programs, and community events. Blake lives in Westport, CT with her husband, two children and two dogs.