Who can join? Any active member of the Library can apply to a writing group. Writing groups are intended for members with some experience working in a critique group, but prior publication is not a prerequisite for acceptance.

Writing Group Availability as of March 2025:

Fiction - 2 of 4 groups currently have space available

General Non-Fiction (please note that this group does not accept memoir or personal narrative) - currently closed

Children's/Young Adult - space available

Poetry - 2 of 2 groups have space available

Writing NYC - currently closed 

How do the Writing Groups work?

Each of the Library's writing groups is self-governed by its members. The writing groups evaluate application materials and make all decisions about acceptance, the maximum size of the group, and its working protocols. 

The Library hosts the groups onsite in Little Whit on the Third Floor or on the Library's Zoom account. Meetings are monthly for two hours.

Application Instructions: Please email the following to [email protected]:

• Please briefly answer the following questions:

             a. Writing group you are applying to - fiction, non-fiction, children's/young adult, poetry

             b. Reason you wish to join a writing group and what you hope to get out of the group

             c. Level of experience working in writing groups
 

• Please provide a 6-7 page writing sample in docx or pdf formatted as follows: Times New Roman 12 point font, double-spaced, one-inch margins. Please leave your full name off of the sample as groups make blind evaluations based only on the writing sample. Name the file with your initials, the genre, and date (eg: CW_FICTION_071124).

For any other questions, please email [email protected].