Nurturing a Community of Writers and Readers
Regardless of the reason that writers and readers come to the Hudson Valley Writers Center in Sleepy Hollow, what strikes them first is the charm of the space. Paneled in American chestnut, featuring a stone fireplace and sweeping views across the Hudson River to Nyack, the former Philipse Manor station house on Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line evokes a sense of romance and history. “It’s funny to think this used to be a train station building because it’s so perfect for this space, right down to the cozy fireplace, which brings out those comfortable writer vibes,” said Cassie Cartaginese of Ossining, a teacher and fiction author who, along with Michelle Thomas, co-hosts the center’s monthly Open Write sessions.
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The center nurtures a community of writers, readers, and listeners who crave a safe space to exercise their creativity and to hear poems, stories, memoirs, and other pieces read aloud by up-and-coming authors, hobbyists looking for outlets to express themselves as well as luminaries such as Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham and renowned poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths. “A lot more people are pursuing their passions, to ‘seize the day,’” said Community and Operations Manager Christina Papadopoulos. “We have seen a lot of hobbyists looking to start to dabble in the writing genre of their choice.”
Started in 1988, the center supports writers at every level and step in their process. Its calendar of programs includes workshops and classes in writing poetry, memoir, stage plays, screen and television scripts, and more. Open Mic nights, held on the third Friday of each month, offer a chance to read and be heard. The Open Write sessions, offered on the second Saturday of each month, inspire attendees to write by prompts given to spark the imagination. Submission Sunday sessions provide “insider information on where and how to send [one’s] best work to literary journals.” Student Showcases shine a spotlight on the work that students have produced in the classes. The center also has its own small publishing unit, Slapering Hol Press, which takes its name from the village’s old Dutch name.
The Writers Center’s activities and events change with the times. Papadopoulos notices growth in the children’s picture book industry and in food writing, which has expanded with the trend of people photographing their meals for social media. “We’re looking to embrace the literary community in whatever way they are inclined to accept us,” Papadopoulos said. “We’re trying to provide all avenues for them.”
Read articles from current and all previous issues of The Neighborhood Buzz: Rivertowns, plus receive a printed copy of the magazine every 3 months.
When author David Sherrin’s picture book, The Big Bad Wolf’s Yom Kippur, was published, he chose the Hudson Valley Writers Center as the first place to hold a reading. The Tarrytown resident, who is a social studies teacher in the Scarsdale schools, appreciated having the center nearby when it came time to get the word out about his book. “It’s the perfect space, both because of its aesthetics and the mission of the organization,” he said after captivating a room full of children and adults during his August 27 reading of the book. Sherrin stayed afterward to sign copies.
For More Information
The Hudson Valley Writers Center
300 Riverside Drive, Sleepy Hollow, NY, 10591
(GPS: Philipse Manor Station)
914-332-5953
ask@writerscenter.org