Tuesday and Thursday p.m., weekly

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, JCW brings together writers of mixed genres and styles for workshops or writing prompts.

During workshops, writers read and review submitted works, including short stories, excerpts, scripts, poems, and more. We provide positive and constructive feedback on these pieces in a supportive and social environment. Writers are eligible to submit pieces to a workshop after attending one previous workshop. Pieces must be submitted at least three days in advance.

During writing prompts, we provide an idea, image, or other element as a prompt and then writers free-write for ten to fifteen minutes, after which they are encouraged (but not forced!) to share their work aloud.

For more information, please see individual events on our Meetup calendar.

Wednesday p.m., weekly

Our poets, known as the Jersey Plums, meet on Wednesday evenings for workshops, prompts, and skillbuilding.

Poetry workshops feature critiques of two poems submitted ahead of time. The workshops often end with one ten- to fifteen-minute writing prompt or a skillbuilding session. Prior skill sessions have focused on topics such as sound and rhythm, form, voice, and language.

For more information, please see individual events on our Meetup calendar.

Monday a.m., weekly

Every Monday morning, JCW offers an opportunity to get your body and mind right for the week ahead. The session begins with twenty minutes of gentle stretching led by an experienced yoga practitioner, followed by a silent thirty-minute writing sprint.

For more information, please visit our Meetup calendar.

Select Saturdays

The Jersey City Writers Full Story workshop is one of our most unique programs. Full Story meetings, which are held on select Saturday afternoons, involve a two-hour discussion and critique of a single writer’s complete book-length manuscript. The writer must submit their manuscript a month in advance so that readers have sufficient time to read the piece from start to finish.

The meetings are divided into two parts. The first part is much like a book club, with the writer acting as a fly on the wall, listening to the group discuss their book. The second part includes the writer in the discussion, giving them the opportunity to answer questions about their work and ask any questions of their own.

Upcoming Full Story workshops can be found on our Meetup calendar. If you’re interested in getting involved, please email thefullstory@jerseycitywriters.org.

Select Fridays (Live Readings)

The works of local writers come to life at our live reading events, known as Genre Nights. Each event is centered on a single theme or genre. A few weeks before the event, we announce a call for submissions and share guidelines. A panel of judges reads the submitted works and selects top pieces. Local performers then read the selected pieces at a gathering of food, wine, art, and local fellowship.

Join our mailing list to hear about our next Genre Night!

JCW is always looking for new ways to inspire and expand our reach in the community. We periodically hold special events outside our regular programming. Previous events have included holiday parties, writers’ retreats, NaNoWriMo mixers and marathons, a poetry festival in partnership with the Jersey City Literary Arts Council, a residency at Hudson County Community College, and more. Keep an eye on our Meetup calendar for these special events!