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Pioneer Valley Writers' Workshop
a literary arts center for writers

 Workshops & Classes • Editing & Coaching

Creative Community • Literary Events

We are in the September / October 2023 Issue of:

Pioneer Valley
Writers' Workshop
is featured as

one of twenty-one
alternative ways to
get a writing education.

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"The ability to craft a compelling story is one of the most powerful tools we possess as humans."
- Joy Baglio, Fiction Writer & Founder/Director of PVWW

Upcoming May Workshops

April 28 (1 - 5pm ET)

One-Day Memoir: Where I End & You Begin with Arya Samuelson

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Begins May 6

8-Week
Intro to Fiction
with Carolyn Zaikowski

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Begins May 7

6-Week
Intro to the Personal Essay

with Carolyn Zaikowski

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New to PVWW?

A great way to get started is to join our free once a month community writing session!

Join fellow writers for monthly generative writing sessions with PVWW Founder Joy Baglio! Get in an hour of writing, meet other writers, and start your weekend with some creative inspiration! Community Writing is for writers of any level of experience and/or genre who are interested in generating new work, getting back into the creative flow, working on a specific project, or simply creating more accountability around their writing practice by being part of a casual, motivational, drop-in friendly gathering. Our goal at Community Writing is always to write together, in the supportive company of others, as well as meet fellow writers and build community. We hope you join us!

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SIGN UP FOR
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Get updates on new classes, readings, community events, news, & more!

About Us

PVWW was founded in 2016 by writer Joy Baglio, and each season our team of thirty author-instructors offers around 25-30 one-day and multi-week writing workshops in fiction, memoir, nonfiction, poetry, hybrid/experimental forms, and publishing - for aspiring and experienced writers of all levels and backgrounds.

 

We also run a 10-Month Manuscript Program (March - December) for writers working on book-length projects, open for applications every year October/November through the end of the year.

 

Most of our workshops are limited to a small number of writers (8, 10, or 12, depending on the particular class) - with the exception of larger "lecture" seminars - and are held live on Zoom (sometimes with an additional online classroom space) which allows discussion and participation from all participants.

 

In addition to our classes and workshops, we host frequent virtual author readings, discussions, and panels; twice-a-month generative Community Writing gatherings for writers of all levels and genres; and most of our instructors are available for professional one-on-one manuscript consulting, coaching, and/or editing services.

Our focus is on a rigorous understanding of craft and technique as well as helping writers develop and nurture their own writing process, all while building community and creating a supportive and fun environment for writers of all levels. 

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Our Philosophy

Writing is a life-long pursuit, and as writers we are constantly observing and learning. There is no end to discovery on this journey.  We truly believe that the skills of the writer and storyteller do matter and can change peoples' lives and the world. Our goal is to create an inspiring literary community while helping writers of all levels and backgrounds hone their tools, improve their craft, and accomplish their goals as storytellers, writers, and authors. We also know that writing is an art form that can be practiced, honed, and improved. Imagination can be nurtured, and exercised. We don't view craft as a rigid set of "rules" that writers must adhere to, but as tools with multifaceted uses and purposes that we are always learning more about, and that can ultimately help us achieve our own storytelling goals, no matter what level we may be at or how long we've been writing. We don't view craft and these "tools" of the writer as an end in themselves, but as a means to better express ourselves and tell our stories. To become more confident storytellers, poets, memoirists, essayists, etc. As Ursula K. Le Guin has said,"Skill in writing frees you to write what you want to write. It may also show you what you want to write. Craft enables art." We couldn't agree more!

Our Students
and Community

Writers of all backgrounds, career levels, and walks of life attend our classes: Some have MFA's and published books, others are taking their first steps toward exploring with words and making writing a part of their lives. Writing is a life-long journey, and our community reflects this!

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What people are saying

"Can't say enough about PVWW, Joy, and her amazing team of teachers! Writing is very much about the ability to sit in your seat for hours and put pen to paper, but coming to PVWW helps you build a community around your writing, breathe new life into your efforts, and get out of your own head a bit. And beyond that, I've learned lots of practical, nuts-and-bolts techniques that have vastly improved my work."

- Emily Everett, Managing Editor at The Common

"PVWW is the most effective writing platform/service/group I've tried in the local area. The variety offered when it comes to events is a great mix-up between workshops, free writing sessions, and one-day classes, which specifically focus on particular areas of writing/craft. Each time I go to one of these events, I feel not only reenergized, but capable of carrying out the various techniques and tools that are shared."

- Meg Granger, reader for The Masters Review 

All classes and workshops
are small & virtual, via Zoom.

Before the pandemic, our classes were held in a physical classroom (in Western MA, where we are based) and while we do plan on having in-person classes and events at some point in the future, we are completely virtual right now and for the foreseeable future, with the exception of sporadic in-person readings and events. No matter what the future brings, we will also plan to continue virtual workshops indefinitely.

Our Courses

One-Day Writing Classes

Single-session classes, seminars, and lectures, with inspiring authors 

One-Day Classes run 2 - 3 hours and focus on particular writing-related craft, process, or publishing/career-related topics. They often emphasize the development and honing of specific skills, through craft instruction, lecture, analysis of published work, in-class writing exercises, and discussion. One-Day Classes are an opportunity to dip a toe into writing instruction (if you're new to writing), get a burst of inspiration about a particular topic, and be part of a supportive writing group for an afternoon! Unless stated, they DO NOT entail outside reading or the opportunity to receive feedback on your work. Limited to 12 writers (in most cases), yet occasionally larger "lecture" seminars are offered.

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Multi-Week Writing Courses

Weekly writing courses focusing on a range of genres and styles

Multi-Week Courses meet weekly (via Zoom) for the stated number of weeks and include a mix of weekly deadlines, reading and/or writing assignments, and either a focus on generative work (producing new writing during the course) or giving / receiving feedback on workshop-ready pieces. Multi-week workshops are more rigorous in focus than our Ongoing Writing Groups and our One-Day Classes and require a commitment for the length of the course; they usually also require at least a few hours of work per week outside of class. They are always supportive in nature and a great way to build a regular writing practice and cultivate a writing community. *** Please note that not all multi-week courses offer opportunities for feedback, so make sure to read the course description thoroughly! *** Most multi-week courses are limited to 10 writers.

Ongoing Grops

Ongoing Writing Groups

Generative, no-workload groups for those wanting to make time for writing

Ongoing Writing Groups are generative in focus, with no outside workload, for writers interested in making more time in their life for writing (whether for current projects or new ones), connecting with other writers, and building a supportive community around their writing practice. They meet weekly, for a set number of weeks (usually 6 or 8), followed by a 3 - 4-week break, before continuing on for another session, and so forth. Gatherings will include a mix of in-class writing time, optional prompts and exercises, opportunities to share work aloud for on-the-spot feedback, and craft discussions, and each group may evolve and change based on the needs and interests of the participants. Registration happens one session at a time, yet all current group members will get priority in signing up for the next session, if they choose to. Each Ongoing Writing Group is limited to 10 writers and open to all levels and backgrounds. 

Additional Offerings

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Take your craft to the next level 

Manuscript

Editing

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Supportive guidance from professional authors

One-On-One

Coaching

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Author readings, panels, community • FREE

Literary

Events

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Monthly generative writing sessions • FREE 

Community

Writing

Our Instructors

Published Authors. Experienced Teachers. Supportive Coaches / Editors.

We are professional writers and authors of all genres and styles who love teaching our craft and guiding others through the writing process!

Click on our photos to read our bios, or browse Our Team page!

Pioneer Valley Writers' Workshop

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