Support Harlem Writers United: Empower Diverse Writers

Support Harlem Writers United: Empower Diverse Writers (tl;dr)

Help Harlem Writers United (HWU) fund our 2025-2026 special events, connecting aspiring writers to the information and resources they need to successfully pursue traditional publishing. Our group offers critique and writing sessions, as well as community building events, to foster a collaborative environment that supports each writer in growing their writing practice and developing their unique voice. Your donation will go towards honorariums for guest speakers, event marketing, and space rentals for our event season, including workshops for both fiction and nonfiction writers, as well as our annual “Battle of the Slush.”

See last year’s fundraiser here .

November Special: For every $100 raised, we’ll donate a book to Total Equity Now ’s Holiday Children’s Book Drive in Harlem!

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Support Harlem Writers United: Empower Diverse Writers!

Producing creative work, in any shape or form, can be exhilarating. Refining and molding our work gives us, as artists, a sense of purpose and drive. But there are times when creating is daunting. When we find ourselves alone and in a rut. That’s where community comes in. It can be challenging to know where to look for constructive and pointed feedback from a group of inclusive, thoughtful and non-judgmental peers. And for us writers, it can be especially difficult to connect with agents, editors, and published authors, let alone to unravel and understand the business of publishing.

Who is Harlem Writers United – And Why Should You Support Us?

Harlem Writers United (HWU) believes that everyone has a story, and that access to an inclusive and supportive environment where reading as learning, peer knowledge sharing, and focused critique are equally - if not more - beneficial than your average MFA program. We strive to increase access to industry knowledge and connection through free workshops and affordable special events. Writing does not have to be a solo activity - by writing together we build our capacity to grow within our craft. Our approach is three-pronged:

How Will Your Funds Be Used?

We are currently fundraising to cover 100% of expenses for our 2025 special events, and 50% of expenses for our 2026 events. Unlike our monthly events that are geared towards members of our mailing list, our special events are open to the general public. Details are still being finalized - and are subject to change, but our tentative 2025 event roster includes:

More specifically, your donation will go towards one of the following buckets:

Last year’s fundraiser enabled us to put on our 2nd Annual Battle of the Slush event “The Real and The Unreal” - our first one in-person. It was a huge success! Our guest judges included agents from Jill Grinberg Literary Management, New Leaf Literary & Media, and Azantian Literary Agency.

**November Special**: For every $100 raised, we will donate one children’s book to Total Equity Now’s Holiday Book Drive, which donates ~XX# of books a year to children in Harlem.

Formerly known as Harlem Neighborhood Writers (2014-2021), Harlem Writers United is a volunteer-run collective of emerging and published writers, predominantly from industry-underrepresented backgrounds across many lines of identity. Some of our most notable members include Celeste Rita Baker (“Back, Belly & Side”, Aqueduct Press, 2015; “De Motherjumpers”, Strange Horizons, 2018; “Glass Bottle Dancer”, Lightspeed, 2020, 2021 Locus World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story), Angela Dews (“Harlem Hit & Run, 2021; Harlem Writers Guild, Author), Shawn Frazier (“The Hoodoo Nigger”, Quail Bell, 2015; “Jacob and The Owl”, Rosebud Magazine, Mary Shelley Contest Winner; “Water Walkers”, Fiyah, 2023), and P. Anthony Michael (“Zipline”, Atmosphere Press, 2022).