Welcome to The Writer's Block, Inc. where literary art is in motion and within reach! At The Writer's Block, it is our mission to create a literary community where writers of color can thrive, connect, and share their voices.
For this North Texas Giving Day season, we are seeking support for the revitalization of our organization. Since 1996, we have been dedicated to developing writers of color through writing workshops/retreats, drop-in writing and critique sessions, on-demand courses and interviews, literary events, and publishing opportunities. With your support on North Texas Giving Day, we can continue our mission to provide a platform for diverse voices, expand our programs, and create more opportunities for writers to share their stories.
Writer's Retreat
Your generous contribution on North Texas Giving Day will also allow us to expand our immersive programming by helping us (re)launch our annual retreat as the Partners & Pages Writer's Retreat. This 5-day retreat for writers of all genres is designed to offer the perfect balance between relaxation, connection, soul work, and intense creative work.
The first two days are an opportunity for writers to bring a partner—a spouse, best friend, significant other, parent, or sibling—to enjoy a mini-vacation together. While they’re there, everyone can enjoy meals together and participate in social activities, readings, and opportunities to strengthen their relationships (including optional workshops on connecting, creativity, or personal growth).
After three days, partners depart, and the retreat shifts into focused creative development and dedicated writing time. Writers will also engage in immersive writing workshops, critique sessions, pitching, one-on-one meetings with mentors and agents, networking, craft lectures, author conversations, affinity group meetings, and an opportunity to dive deep into their craft in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Impact
For the past 29 years, The Writer’s Block has supported the racial, social, and economic equity of writers of color by providing honorariums, offering monthly writing workshops, hosting biannual retreats, and presenting at special events such as Tulisoma, the Texas Book Festival, Dallas is Lit Festival, SMU’s Dallas Literary Festival, South by Southwest Conference in Austin, and more.
We have impacted over 200 writers of color through our workshops, educational trainings, and an annual, focused retreat. Additionally, we have published over 50 writers of color across five anthology collaborations through our independent publishing company, and we regularly feature their work on our social media channels and podcast.
Beginnings
Our founders recognized the need for a space where writers of color could share their cultural nuances, interests, and experiences in a loving, supportive, and safe environment to develop, evolve, and become published. And so it was: The Writer’s Block was formed to create a unified neighborhood or “block” in Dallas, Texas, where writers of all backgrounds can come together to share stories, develop their craft, and build meaningful connections without leaving the South. Since our beginnings, we have been on a mission to build a community where writers of color feel supported and empowered to contribute to the literary landscape of our city and beyond.
Our mission is to support the craft and career of writers of color, across all genres, by helping them develop their voice, expand their opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to the literary world.
As we continue our mission to center the experiences, nuances, and voices of underrepresented writers, we are seeking support for the following key areas to expand our impact and reach:
1. Support for Programs and Workshops.
2. Sponsorships.
3. Technology and Resources.
4. Creative Coaches.
5. Marketing and Outreach.
6. Partnerships.
7. Publishing Opportunities.
With your support on North Texas Giving Day, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of writers and in the literary world as a whole. Thank you for helping us advance equity, creativity, and community through the power of words.
The Writer's Block centers the experiences, nuances, and voices of underrepresented writers. We are committed to creating inclusive and accessible programs, but especially those that reflect the diverse identities within communities of color. Through our writer's group, workshops, retreats, and literary events, we are committed to effecting positive change and advancing equity in the literary world.
Organization name
The Writers Block, Inc.
Causes
Arts & Humanities
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, Denton
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American, Other
BIPOC Leadership
Both the Executive Director/CEO and Board Chair
Address
543 W. Commerce St., #542