Harlem Writers United knows one of the major detractors from writing is finding the time within your busy schedule. Whether it's work, school, family - we all carry responsibilities that eat up our time and creative energy. This is why we believe in the importance of setting aside dedicated, focused time to write. Whether you write 200 words or 2000, progress is progress, and progress is growth. So join us and begin building your writing practice today! We meet the last Monday of every month from 6:00-8:00PM via Zoom.

What does a writers' gym 'Workout' look like?
  • WARM UP. We always kick off our writers' gym with a writing prompt to get the creative juices flowing without the stress of trying to advance our current project(s). Helps to ground is for the evening and promote productivity.
  • WORKOUT PLAN. Each the start of each session we take some time to set an intention for the evening. This could be a goal around word count, character development, outlining...whatever you want your focus to be for the night.
  • HIIT WORKOUT SETS. Over the course of the session we engage in three writing sprints of 20-30 minutes each, punctuated by 5 minute stretch breaks. This ensures the bulk of our time together is spent writing.
  • COOL DOWN.  At the end of each session we take some time to reflect on the intentions we set for the evening. Each writer is encouraged to share something they accomplished or something they learned.

​Join us at an upcoming workout session!

HWU SUGGESTED writing Resources

diyMFA is a great resource for the aspiring writer. Gabriela Pereira, the author, breaks writing down into an almost scientific method, a truly different approach to any other writing class or program. HWU uses the Writer Igniter, a prompt generator, which gives a character, a situation, a prop, and a setting. This is also a great resource anytime you may be feeling stuck and need to give your creativity a boost.
Every November, National Novel Writing Month - or NaNoWriMo - challenges writers of all ages all around the world to write a book in a month of any genre, totaling 50,000 words. It is an exercise in quantity over quality, and learning to turn off your inner editor in service of producing more words to page. A number of HWU writers have participated in the past, and it is particularly fun when we get a cohort to participate together.
What is story and what is plot? How much do you need to know about your main character – and supporting cast – before you draft your opening scene? Lisa Cron’s book “Story Genius” guides you through diving deep into the psyche of your protagonist and plotting out the first act and final arc of your novel. If you have ever felt your writing lacks a through thread, this is a great resource to help you weave in your protagonist's emotional arc and ensure your plot supports your character's broader journey.

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