Writing may be a mostly joyful process, but the process of offering our work to journals and literary agents can feel terrifying, or simply like drudgery. This confidence-building workshop will help you increase your motivation for getting your work out into the universe, where it deserves to be seen. We’ll work on setting reasonable and
Straw Dog Writers Guild
Straw Dog Writers Guild 15th Anniversary Celebration & Reading
Join the Straw Dog Writers Guild to celebrate their 15th anniversary with a lively panel discussion featuring Guild co-founders and members. Highlighted are readings by novelist Michael Jerome Plunkett and poet Julia Thacker, both alumni of the Edith Wharton & Straw Dog Emerging Writers Residency, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary. In September, Plunkett’s debut novel Zone Rouge (2025) is
Equinox Potluck & Poetry Share
Bring poetry (your work or work by others) and a dish to celebrate summer’s harvest. What do you bring to the table? Whether food or skill, speak to what you bring to the banquet of life. Come share your poems about community and activities you enjoy doing in a group or anything else that speaks
A Writer’s Night in December
Straw Dog Writers’ Guild and Longmeadow Adult Center present writer Jovonna Van Pelt on Thursday, September 11th, from 6:45-7:30pm at the Longmeadow Adult Center. Jo is the author of “Unrelated Questions” a gorgeous book of poetry published in 2019, and her endearing book of Christmas Stories, “Merry and Bright,” was published last fall. Over the
A Writer’s Night in November
Straw Dog Writers’ Guild and Longmeadow Adult Center present writer Joy Baglio on Thursday, September 11th, from 6:45-7:30pm at the Longmeadow Adult Center. Joy Baglio is the founder of Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshop, a literary arts organization offering writing workshops based in Northampton MA and virtually. Her short stories are widely published and forthcoming in
A Writer’s Night in October
Straw Dog Writers’ Guild and Longmeadow Adult Center present writer Morgan Sheehan on Thursday, September 11th, from 6:45-7:30pm at the Longmeadow Adult Center. Morgan Sheehan is a writer, teacher and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner. She’s a published poet, essayist and produced playwright. You can find her working on her new YA novel, scrawling anecdotes about
Voices for Resistance presents: Celebrating One’s Roots, a reading and conversation with Theresa Okokon
Voices for Resistance presents: Celebrating [Being True to] One’s Roots, a reading and conversation with Theresa Okokon, storyteller, co-host of Stories from the Stage, and Pushcart Prize nominated essayist. Theresa will read selections from her writings and share stories of grief, identity, and courage. Nicole Young-Martin, founder and host of Black Writers Read, will shepherd
A Writer’s Night in September
Straw Dog Writers’ Guild and Longmeadow Adult Center present writer Suzanne Strempek Shea on Thursday, September 11th, from 6:45-7:30pm at the Longmeadow Adult Center. Suzanne Strempek Shea grew up in a small Polish-American Western Massachusetts village, dreaming of becoming a horse trainer or an artist. Her first published writing was a newspaper she handwrote and
Addressing social concerns while preserving cultural identity in children’s literature
Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion that explores how children’s books can shape, reflect, and celebrate cultural identity. We will share insights into the power of storytelling in helping young readers see themselves and others in the books they read. The conversation will touch on the importance of authentic representation, the role of diverse
Annual Celebration!
Save the date for our Annual Celebration! This year we’re gathering at the Florence Civic Center celebrating the 15 year anniversary of Straw Dog Writers Guild.