ALA, Writers Guild Initiative Announce Creative Writing Workshops for Librarians

The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA-OIF) and the Writers Guild Initiative (WGI) are seeking 25 librarians for a unique series of online writer’s workshops that will pair the librarians with professional film and television writers. The workshops will provide participating librarians the opportunity to write, create, and make their voices heard under the tutelage of skilled writers. All librarians are invited to apply, and 25 librarians will be randomly selected to participate in the workshop series. Applications are open now through December 16, 2024, and there will be four workshops scheduled from Saturday, February 1 through March 8, 2025.

The workshops are supported and administered through the WGI’s Helen Deutsch Writing Workshops and will consist of four three-hour virtual sessions. Those registered will be placed in smaller groups of 5-7 participants, and each smaller group will have a pair of writing mentors. Participants are encouraged to write about whatever they wish, and all work created in the workshops belongs solely to the participant who writes it. Everything shared is confidential.

Author Peter Parnell and librarian Amanda Jones inspired the creation of the writers’ workshops. Both have been active in their respective fields for many years. Most recently, they have been thrown into new roles, fighting against censorship aimed at silencing their voices and their creative works. They approached the WGI and ALA to facilitate this workshop collaboration.

“In the fight against book bans, librarians are the bravest people I know. I’m thrilled to be collaborating with the indomitable Amanda Jones, the Writers Guild Initiative, and the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom in creating a writing workshop for librarians, helping encourage those who are daily defending the work of writers to become writers themselves,” said Parnell.

“I am beyond honored to be included with Peter Parnell, the Writers Guild Initiative and ALA in the pilot program for the Librarians Workshop. There’s a writer inside each of us, and it is important to tell our stories,” said Jones.

“Each day the staff of the Office for Intellectual Freedom supports librarians on the front lines of the censorship battle, and we’re privileged to witness their courage and determination,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “We’re grateful to be able to partner with Peter, Amanda, and the WGI to provide them with an opportunity to lift up their voices and amplify their stories.”

Since 2008, the WGI’s Helen Deutsch Writing Workshops have brought professional film and television writers together with underserved communities to encourage self-expression through writing. The WGI has partnered with various organizations to provide writing workshops for wounded veterans, family caregivers of veterans, immigrant youth, LGBTQ asylum seekers, people living with chronic illness, and many others. WGI workshops link accomplished professional writers with members of marginalized communities facing significant challenges. Mentors are accomplished professional writers who are exceptionally skilled at their craft, have innovative teaching styles, and include Pulitzer prize-winners, Emmy and Peabody award-winners, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows.

Each workshop is tailored to meet the specific needs of that community. WGI’s goal is for participants to use writing to reflect on experiences, share insights, identify a path forward, and make their voices heard. Many of these groups suffer from PTSD and other trauma and have found our workshops to be engaging and helpful. While the professional writers are not therapists, they are artists who provide safe spaces to write, create, and build trust and community.

Participants should be able to attend all four online sessions which take place on: February 1, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST, Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST, Saturday, February 22, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST, Saturday, March 8, 2025, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. EST.

Apply here today! Applications are open through midnight EST on December 16 and attendees will be notified on Friday, December 20, 2024.