Ability Write Now! (AWN) is a group of writing and editorial services that supports writers with disabilities who have a goal of publication. Under the Small Business Development Center (Cornerstone Program) of Ability Now Bay Area, AWN provides publication assistance that may lead to some payment. Support may include workshops, one-on-one writing coaching, editing, and submission research. Staff, family, friends, and others will give support to ensure services are responsive and personalized to each writer’s needs, wants, and aspirations. The program builds upon their strengths, focusing on their gifts, preferences, and learning styles. Writing samples (such as two poems of 40 lines or less each, or one short story or chapter of 1,000 words or less), and a meeting with the instructor are needed before admittance. AWN is designed for the writer who has already acquired advanced writing skills, but wants to learn how to publish in a way that may result in some form of payment.
Workshop
The keystone program of Ability Write Now is a weekly online writers’ workshop. Writers with disabilities meet virtually with the instructor and fellow writers to share new writing (e.g. a poem, a story, a chapter, or a script), provide constructive feedback, and research publication opportunities. The group may learn styles of writing, such as a sonnet or flash fiction, or learn how to use submission management systems. The group may also read and discuss the works of writers with disabilities or invite them to give readings or teach a topic. Poets, writers, novelists, podcasters, and artists are welcome in this group if they seek to gain the self-confidence and tools to publish.
Workshop Structure
The workshop occurs every Thursday morning from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. The workshop has a maximum of six participants with twenty minutes allotted to each. One confirmed attendee is needed for the workshop to start. The workshop will be delivered through Zoom. Each writer must be on Zoom through a device so that writers can see them and share documents. The instructor will adjust the time allotted for each writer according to how many attendees the workshop has and how much time the workshop has left after general introductions and updates.
Writing Coach
Another service Ability Write Now provides is one or two one-on-one weekly meetings of a half hour or more each with an instructor who offers manuscript critique, editing, and private tutorials on poetry, short stories, novels, and literary nonfiction. The instructor begins by asking, “What is important to you?” and then they build a strategy from there. The instructor will suggest reading the works of writers with the same disability and genre, targeting submissions to traditional publishing markets, reading sample issues of literary journals, and studying submission guidelines. An added service is that the instructor takes dictation so the writer can compose, even if the writer uses a spell-board.
Requirements
Writers are required to attend the Ability Write Now program a minimum of two days a week. They may also sign up for other Adult Development Center classes at Ability Now if they are in AWN at least two of their scheduled program days. While not AWN classes, classes in storytelling and story writing could provide opportunities for writers to learn basics and share work. As part of their attendance, writers may choose to take advantage of the facilities and technology at Ability Now Bay Area (complete with free computers and printing). Most importantly, writers are required to be writers and not passive listeners.
Student Learning Outcomes
Publication and getting paid, but if writers write only for money and not for passion, they may be quickly disappointed:
One poet may submit to many contests before winning one and a prize.
One writer may read at many events before getting invited as a paid featured.
One artist may submit to many journals before receiving a commission.
For these reasons, AWN does not guarantee publication or that a writer will make money. It is designed for writers who want to take their work to the next level by getting published and, sometimes even, paid. It empowers writers with disabilities to live creative and fulfilling lives.
Contact
For more information, reach out to Program Director Andre Wilson at andre@abilitynowba.org or call 510.531.3323