The Jessica Speart Fellowship
In 2022, we lost our very special instructor and friend Jessica Speart. Along with her successful career as a bestselling author, Jessica was a Lee Strasberg trained actor, which led to her most notable role on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, where she played the recurring role of Angela Foster. Jessica was also an avid traveler and wrote for magazines about wildlife endangered by poachers, smugglers and corporate polluters. It was these experiences that led to her 1997 debut, Gator Aide, which launched her wildlife mystery series featuring Rachel Porter, a spunky Fish and Wildlife special agent.
For ten years, we were fortunate to have Jessica as a beloved instructor of Mystery & Thriller, Memoir, and Upper Level Fiction, as well as many wonderful one-time workshops, including the unforgettable “What If?” workshop.
Needless to say, Jessica was a special person, writer, teacher, and friend. Most importantly, she was a fearless supporter of her students, especially when a financial barrier prevented them from taking workshops. To honor Jessica’s work and spirit, we created the Jessica Speart Fellowship, a $1,000 stipend to be used over the course of a year at the workshop in whichever way serves your writing best. These funds can be applied towards workshops, coaching/editing, mentoring, or one-time offerings.
To apply for this award, please submit the following to Liz Matthews at [email protected]
- A Personal Statement detailing your background as a writer, your current project, and what you hope to get from this scholarship, including which workshops, or one-on-one options interest you most (one-two double-spaced pages maximum)
- A sample of your writing (10-20 double–spaced pages)
Submissions will be accepted July 1st – August 15th.
Westport Writers' Workshop
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what workshop is right for me?
Begin by reading the course descriptions carefully. If you have questions, email us at [email protected] or call the office at (203) 227-3250, and we are happy to help place you in the class that best fits your writing goals and needs.
Our beginner/introductory classes are for writers just starting out or who haven’t written in a very long time and crave more instruction. The intermediate classes are for writers who have taken a few workshops either with us or elsewhere and are ideal for writers who’ve already developed a foundation in the craft. Our advanced classes require the permission of the instructor and a short manuscript submission. Please contact the office if you are interested in registering for advanced classes.
We also offer a number of open level classes. Instructors will cater these classes to varying skill levels and students will benefit from working with writers at different stages of the process.
How many writers are in each workshop?
At Westport Writers’ Workshop, we believe creativity is fostered in small classes. To maintain this intimate creative environment, we cap each workshop at seven participants. Our workshops that focus on the business and marketing side of writing and do not involve sharing work may include up to ten participants. Our one-time lectures and Intro. to Craft series may include up to fifty students.
Will I have the opportunity to read my work aloud?
In most workshops, writers read their work aloud, followed by feedback and extensive discussion among workshop participants and the instructor. The exception to this is specific offerings that focus on the business and marketing side of writing or craft lectures.
How often will I be able to share my work in an Advanced workshop?
You can expect to share work every week.
I can’t afford these prices. Do you offer scholarships?
We are pleased to provide a limited number of need-based partial scholarships for our classes. To apply, please visit our SCHOLARSHIPS page and submit the form.
I am not sure I am ready for a workshop yet. Do you offer coaching and editing?
Yes, all of our instructors are available for coaching and editing. Visit our Coaching and Editing page to learn more about our large menu of services, from query letters to full manuscript critiques and everything in between. Instructors are also available for multi-week, one-on-one Mentoring .
Do you offer refunds?
Students who withdraw more than two weeks prior to the start date of the workshop are eligible to receive a refund or a credit applicable toward a future workshop. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals made within two weeks of the workshop start date or after the first session has occurred, regardless of attendance. Failure to attend a workshop does not constitute an official withdrawal. In the event that Westport Writers’ Workshop or an instructor cancels a session, a makeup will be scheduled; if a makeup session cannot be arranged, a pro-rated refund will be issued. Credits issued in lieu of a refund will remain valid for one year from the original date of purchase. Westport Writers’ Workshop reserves the right to remove any participant who fails to comply with the organization’s code of conduct; in such cases, no refund or credit will be provided.
What are your policies?
Refunds and Credit Policy
Students who withdraw more than two weeks prior to the start date of the workshop are eligible to receive a refund or a credit applicable toward a future workshop. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals made within two weeks of the workshop start date or after the first session has occurred, regardless of attendance. Failure to attend a workshop does not constitute an official withdrawal. In the event that Westport Writers’ Workshop or an instructor cancels a session, a makeup will be scheduled; if a makeup session cannot be arranged, a pro-rated refund will be issued. Credits issued in lieu of a refund will remain valid for one year from the original date of purchase. Westport Writers’ Workshop reserves the right to remove any participant who fails to comply with the organization’s code of conduct; in such cases, no refund or credit will be provided.
Code of Conduct
Our workshop fosters an environment where writers can achieve their artistic goals without fear of unwanted exposure, uninvited criticism, or plagiarism. Students may not discuss or provide information about another writer's work to anyone outside the workshop without the writer's express permission.
Students are expected to be respectful at all times toward instructors and fellow participants, including, but not limited to, being attentive and courteous. Instructors and Westport Writers’ Workshop reserve the right to remove any student who is disruptive, including instances of belligerence, unwelcome contact either in person or via email/phone, inebriation, or other behavior deemed inappropriate by staff.
Attendance
There are no refunds if a student cannot attend a regularly scheduled class or make-up class. Out of respect for our students’ privacy, weekly workshops are not recorded and are not available for absent students to review.
Age Policy
Our workshops are a forum for students to share a broad range of life experiences and creative concepts which may include mature topics. All students attending our standard programming must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Younger students may join our specialized teen and youth programming.
Schedule/Holidays
Workshop meeting dates are listed on our website under each specific course. Occasionally, dates may change due to extenuating circumstances. In the event of an unforeseen cancellation, a makeup class will be scheduled. If a makeup cannot be offered, the workshop fee will be prorated to reflect the reduced number of sessions. Westport Writers’ Workshop observes holidays and breaks in alignment with the Westport Public School calendar.
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