Invest in the Mission!
Stories Connect Us
There is a specific kind of electricity that happens at a Writers Read event, whether in New York City or the Hudson Valley. You know the feeling; it’s that moment when a writer steps up to the microphone, the room goes quiet, and a story begins that shifts the way we see the world—even if just for five minutes.
Because of friends like you, we were able to spark that electricity many times in 2025. It’s been a year of powerful voices, and thanks to support from our community, last year we were able to:
Produce 6 live events in NYC and the Hudson Valley, bringing community together to celebrate the spoken word
Showcase 84 writers, providing a platform to share their work with a live audience
Mentor 4 college interns majoring in marketing and digital media production
Resume production of our popular Writers Read podcast, sharing stories across all podcast platforms
Conduct a generative Hudson Valley weekend writing workshop for 8 writers
Publish Well Said Well Read, a hardcover anthology collectiing 62 favorite stories from our first decade
“The Photograph” at CPW, Kingston, NY • October 2025
The production team (with interns!) at City Winery NYC
SUNY New Paltz interns engineering a podcast session
Hudson Valley writing workshop, September 2025
Editor, mentor, and writing coach Steven Lewis
• Donate $500 by Dec. 16 and receive 2 copies before Christmas!
Even though Writers Read is run by volunteers, ticket sales alone for our live literary events don’t cover our costs. From venue rentals, technology subscriptions, and insurance premiums to travel and production expenses, the cost of doing this culture work—and keeping the arts alive—is rising.
Funding for the arts is scarce, and we need your help to keep the mic on in 2026.
Our goal for the coming year is to raise $30,000 by December 31. I'm excited to share the news that we’ve already received over $11,000 toward that goal, and are working to raise another $18,625 before the new year—funds that will go directly toward securing venues, marketing our writers to wider audiences, and ensuring that Writers Read remains a sustainable home for spoken word performance.
Would you consider investing in our mission with a tax-deductible gift today?
$ 50 covers an entire year of digital file backup (not sexy, but critical!)
$100 helps compensate the intern who assists at one of our live shows
$250 pays production expenses for five podcast episodes
$500 offsets rising venue rental costs for one live show
As a special thanks, if you contribute $500 or more to our mission by December 16, we’ll send you two signed copies of Well Said Well Read, our beautiful new hardcover anthology featuring some of the best stories from our first decade.
Each 270 page book contains 62 moving, provocative, or hilarious 2-page stories, guaranteed to arrive before Christmas—or the final night of Hanukkah!
Perfect for the readers in your life and your own bedside table, Well Said Well Read invites you to step into someone else’s shoes—if only for five minutes—and discover the extraordinary moments hidden within ordinary lives.
You can donate online immediately here, or by mailing a check to the address below.
Our stories connect us, emphasizing our shared humanity and reminding us we’re not alone.
Thank you for being part of our story, and for helping us champion the writers who tell them.
Wishing you all a peaceful holiday season.
With gratitude,
— Ed
Edward McCann, Founder
P.S. We have an incredible lineup planned for the spring season, including a special collaboration with the prestigious Bellevue Literary Review. Your gift today ensures we have the resources to make those shows happen. Please donate by December 31!
Writers Read Gives Voice
to the Stories that Bind Us
