Special Events

Join us for at the intersection where creative passion meets profession.

Join Westport Writers’ Workshop instructors and writers for an immersive retreat at the Highlights Foundation campus, tucked away in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. This transformative experience will offer dedicated time to dive deep into your manuscript, discover new genres and strategies to establish a more regular writing routine, or simply provide the accountability and community that is missing in your regular life.

Prompt Workshop – Complimentary Community Event

February 11, 2026

Wednesday

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm EST

Join our new instructor, Madelin Parsley, for a free prompt workshop Wednesday evening. Madelin will share prompts to inspire you to start writing or to reinvigorate your novels or memoirs-in-progress. All levels welcome!

Madelin Parsley

Scenes that Count: the Tentpoles of Your Novel

February 22, 2026

Sunday

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

This two-hour workshop will help you determine whether your plot is supported by the kinds of scenes that prevent a story from sagging and losing its shape. We’ll look at how these major scenes shape the narrative arc and how the scenes in between can be strengthened to guide readers from one pole to the next. Through examples, brief exercises, and targeted work on your own manuscript, you’ll come away with a clearer understanding of the scenes that truly hold up your novel—and how to make them sturdier and more compelling.

Elise Chidley

Hook An Agent With Your Query Letter

March 7, 2026

Saturday

10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

In this one-session workshop, we’ll master the essentials of a great query letter—what to include, what to leave out, and how to make yours irresistible. Together, we’ll review proven examples and tackle your specific query challenges. Come with all your query-letter questions. Perfect for any writer who wants to master the art of first impression while pitching your work. Ideal for attendees of our Annual Pitch & Publish Conference!

Elise Hart Kipness

Self-Publishing Essentials: Launching Your Own Book

March 7, 2026

Saturday

10:00 am - 12:00 pm EST

Are you curious about self-publishing? Get the insider perspective from the author of over two dozen self-published novels and novellas in this fast-paced one-time workshop. We'll talk about what it costs, how long it takes, and what marketing tools you should start investing in now. Your self-publishing journey will be as unique as your writing journey, and this workshop will help you understand how to face the plethora of decisions a self-published author will have to make. There will be plenty of time to ask all of your self-publishing questions!

Libby Waterford

How to Prepare Your Power Pitch

March 14, 2026

Saturday

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

Learn five "Power Pitch" frameworks + templates in this laser-targeted workshop. A Power Pitch is a specific pitch formula that allows you to communicate the value of your novel so agents perk up, pay attention, and immediately want the full, all in 1-3 short sentences! These frameworks are straightforward, swipe-and-deploy, easy to adapt to the specifics of your novel (so it still sounds uniquely and distinctly you) and take all the guesswork out of writing the perfect pitch...instead you'll have yours knocked out by the end of our time together.

Destiny Salter

Winter Student Reading Featuring Outreach Students

March 18, 2026

Wednesday

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT

Pour yourself a warm cup of tea, glass of wine, or your favorite spirit and join us for a virtual reading with writers in our winter workshops. This season's reading also features students from our outreach workshops with Bigelow Senior Center and moms of children with disabilities. Support your fellow student writers, get a sneak peek into different workshops, and be inspired by the overall talent we have here at WWW! OPTIONAL DONATIONS WILL SUPPORT OUR FUTURE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

Westport Writers' Workshop

Pitch & Publish 2026

March 21, 2026

Saturday

9:00 am - 5:30 pm EDT

Join Westport Writers' Workshop for a full day of dynamic talks and industry panels, the rare opportunity to pitch your book—including submitting five pages of your work to two literary agents and one-on-one pitches, a keynote address from acclaimed author Helen Simonson and other creative speakers and panelists. Connect with fellow writers, deepen your understanding of the publishing world, and end the day in celebration at our Saturday evening wrap party.

Westport Writers' Workshop

This Moment in Time: A Workshop for Jewish Writers

March 25, 2026

Wednesday

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm EDT

What does it mean to be a Jewish writer in 2026? What will you write to mark this moment in time—for yourself and for others? Inspired by prompts, readings, and in-class discussion, you’ll have the chance to explore your thoughts and feelings creatively, as you begin new pieces you can work on after the workshop is completed.

Barbara Josselsohn