Writers in Progress

Writers in Progress Writers in Progress is the Valley's Literary Arts Center.

Writers in Progress' mission is to provide the community, inspiration and editorial guidance to enhance writers' lives and work. Our small workshops and one-on-one mentoring support attract people who want to take their writing to the next level in an encouraging environment. Located at the Brushwork Arts & Industry Building in Florence, MA, we also host a Live Literature reading series.

Registration is now open for the 2026 WriteAngles Conference, which will be held on Saturday, October 24th at Bay Path U...
09/02/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 WriteAngles Conference, which will be held on Saturday, October 24th at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The day-long writers’ conference has 21 hands-on workshops on topics from memoir, to poetry, and writing ghost stories, as well as panels on alternate routes to publishing, book promotion, and a conversation with literary agents. Award winning author and producer Essie Chambers will kick off the day. There are opportunities for networking and meeting with literary agents. Please visit writeanglesconference.org for more information.

“Writing is 90 percent procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials. It’s a m...
09/02/2026

“Writing is 90 percent procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials. It’s a matter of doing everything you can to avoid writing, until it is about four in the morning and you reach the point where you have to write.” -Paul Rudnick

You know the feeling all too well: the excitement of a new project has worn off, and stubborn resistance has set in.  Yo...
09/02/2026

You know the feeling all too well: the excitement of a new project has worn off, and stubborn resistance has set in. You want to make progress with your writing! You want to get the book (or story, or essay or collection or dissertation or revision) done, but somehow you can’t wrestle yourself down to the desk. Or you do manage to get your seat in the chair, but the work feels impenetrable, dull, impossible… You’re overcome by a sense of futility or fatigue. You’re worried you might hurt someone. You wonder if you have anything to say.

We all know that resistance takes many forms but is really fear in disguise. Fear of failure. Fear of the uphill slog. Fear of vulnerability or exposure. The only thing that helps most writers overcome that fear is having a schedule, manageable goals, and the support of other writers. That’s why we created the Resistant Writers’ Support Group. For three hours a week, writers will come together online to blast through resistance and get the work done. Each session will start with a brief check-in, an inspiring quote or craft tip and a selection of imaginative prompts to get you rolling. Then, we’ll write together for two hours (!), after which there is another quick check in to share successes/progress and set a weekly intention, creating accountability and support. Minimal sharing/feedback. This group is perfect for anyone with a longer writing project who craves productive writing time, accountability, inspiration, and encouragement.

This workshop will be held online.

The workshop will not meet on October 19th.

Mondays, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST; 7-week workshop begins September 14th

Learn more/sign up here or at the link in our bio: https://www.writersinprogress.com/writing-workshops/p/resistant-writers-support-group-sarah-browning

“Sit and quiet yourself. Luxuriate in a certain memory and the details will come. Let the images flow. You’ll be amazed ...
09/01/2026

“Sit and quiet yourself. Luxuriate in a certain memory and the details will come. Let the images flow. You’ll be amazed at what will come out on paper. I’m still learning what it is about the past that I want to write. I don’t worry about it. It will emerge. It will insist on being told.” -Frank McCourt

Join us for an inspiring evening of readings from our faculty, followed by time to connect with other writers. Enjoy ref...
09/01/2026

Join us for an inspiring evening of readings from our faculty, followed by time to connect with other writers. Enjoy refreshments, explore our spaces, and discover the warmth and inclusivity that shape our community.

Featured readers: Dori Ostermiller, Jacqueline Sheehan, and Emily Lackey

Saturday, September 12th, 4:30 p.m.

221 Pine Street
Studio #359
Florence, MA

“Writing is hard for every last one of us…. Coal mining is harder. Do you think miners stand around all day talking abou...
08/31/2026

“Writing is hard for every last one of us…. Coal mining is harder. Do you think miners stand around all day talking about how hard it is to mine for coal? They do not. They simply dig.” -Cheryl Strayed

Every writer dreams of the day her work is in print, but the road from dreaming to publishing is treacherous, filled wit...
08/31/2026

Every writer dreams of the day her work is in print, but the road from dreaming to publishing is treacherous, filled with pitfalls, politics, and more places to submit than a writer knows what to do with. In this half-day workshop, writers will discover the fundamentals of submitting their work to literary journals, websites, and magazines. We’ll discuss how to find the right venue for your work, how to organize your submissions, what to include in a cover letter, and how to deal with and respond to inevitable rejections (or acceptances!). Writers will leave this workshop with a clear sense of how to start submitting their work, a list of where to submit, and a personalized plan for their submission process. Whether you’re a writer just starting out or a writer ready to send your work out into the world, this professional workshop is a must!

The workshop will take place online.

Thursday, September 10th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. EST

Learn more/sign up here or at the link in our bio: https://www.writersinprogress.com/writing-workshops/p/submitting-your-work-emily-lackey

“The only thing worth writing about is people. People. Human beings. Men and women whose individuality must be created, ...
08/27/2026

“The only thing worth writing about is people. People. Human beings. Men and women whose individuality must be created, line by line, insight by insight… There is no nobler chore in the universe than holding up the mirror of reality and turning it slightly, so we have a new and different perception of the commonplace, the everyday, the ‘normal,’ the obvious.” -Harlan Ellison

Join us for a morning of writing among peers! Our Community Writing Workshops run like all of our generative writing wor...
08/27/2026

Join us for a morning of writing among peers! Our Community Writing Workshops run like all of our generative writing workshops do, with a brief warmup, inspiring prompts, and plenty of time to write and share. A wonderful way to jumpstart your writing projects!

Community Writing Workshops will be held online.

First Sunday of the month, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m EST

Learn more/sign up here or at the link in our bio: https://www.writersinprogress.com/writing-workshops/p/community-writing-workshops

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” -Louis L’Amour
08/26/2026

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” -Louis L’Amour

Address

221 Pine Street, Studio #359
Florence, MA
01062

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