Word Magic: A Generative Creative Writing Workshop with Aaron Zimmerman

A welcoming creative writing circle with prompts, optional sharing, and supportive reflection. Open to all genres and all levels.

Creative writing is a means for self-expression, healing, reflection, preserving history, useful distraction, or just a fun thing to do. Writing in community with others, with guidelines designed to keep our space supportive, welcoming, and inclusive, is a magical process. It feels especially critical in this era to come together and connect with our creative sides.

In our generative creative writing workshops, we will write together in response to optional writing prompts and then be invited (but not required) to read aloud our newly created work. The group will then reflect back what they most liked, noticed, or remembered about this work. This will be a confidential incubator space to write anything that the prompt inspires, to journal or reflect, to think and dream, and/or work on something you've been writing or have always wanted to write. No creative writing experience needed and open to all genres of creative writing and/or journaling.

If you'd prefer to write using your laptop, please make sure it's fully charged as power won't be available. But there will be plenty of pens and paper.

Meet Your Instructor: Aaron Zimmerman, NY Writers Coalition, Bad Habits Writing Academy

Aaron Zimmerman was the Founder of Executive Director of NY Writers Coalition, one of the nation’s largest community writing programs, and has been leading creative writing workshops since 1997. He’s led thousands of workshops for writers of all backgrounds and experiences, and now hosts programs for writers through the Bad Habits Writing Academy. Being in community with and supporting writers is his passion and calling.

Aaron has received numerous awards and honors for his work with NY Writers Coalition. He has an MA in Creative Writing from City College where he also has taught creative writing. He is working on his second novel, and his first novel, By The Time You Finish This Book You Might Be Dead was selected by Poets and Writers as a “New and Noteworthy” book. His fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in numerous publications, including The Brooklyn Rail, The Daily News, Georgetown Review, South Dakota Review, Jeopardy, Mid-America Poetry Review, and Mudfish.

Taconic Ridge Farm is a member of TheWorkshopExperience.org, a group of friends and neighbors who produce exceptional experiential learning through open gardens and workshops on a wide variety of topics in the Roeliff Jansen region, where the Hudson Valley and Berkshires meet.