Our Mission

Writers in Progress’s mission is to enhance writers’ work and lives with writing workshops, readings and editorial support.  Housed in a gorgeous western Massachusetts artists’ studio, our intimate, in-person and online workshops and mentoring attract people who want to take their writing to the next level.

Author Dori Ostermiller founded Writers in Progress in 1992, with the belief that everyone has a tale to tell, that stories are essential in our lives and culture, and that the writing life calls for both rigor and playfulness, both accountability and validation.  Since then, we have ‘midwifed’ dozens of books, hosted hundreds of readings, and supported a multitude of writers in the discovery of their voices and completion of their projects.  WIP members include Emily Everett, Megan Tady, Steve Bernstein, JoAnne Jones, Kris Holloway, Alison Smith, Ashley Whitaker, Ellen Meeropol, David Lovelace, Dusty Miller, Ruth Lehrer,  Sally Bellerose, Dinah Mack, and many other published authors.

We offer weekly, monthly, one-day and half-day workshops—both in-person and online—taught by published authors.  Our workshops emphasize writing time, community and craft development, giving and receiving supportive feedback, and nurturing creativity and confidence.  Unlike many area workshops, we limit enrollment to eight participants for a high-quality experience.  You will never be shuffled into a breakout room or leave a class without the benefit of the instructor’s feedback!

In-person workshops include light refreshments and take place in our gorgeous Florence studio.  Online workshops use Zoom as our platform.  We also have a year-long Manuscript Intensive Series for writers generating book-length projects, and a year-long Revision Intensive for writers working to improve a book draft.

Our bright, 700 square foot studio is located in the historic Brushworks Arts & Industry Building, in Western Massachusetts, where we host a monthly Community Writing Workshop and a Live Literature Series. The studio is also available to rent for workshops, events, or individual writing.