The Writers Voice of Central New York

The YMCA's Writer's Voice, including the Downtown Writers Center and Writers Voice Online, is the CNY region's only community center for the literary arts. It hosts a wide variety of programs and events for wordsmiths and bookworms, creative writing workshops, readings by established and emerging poets and writers, and much more.

 

Learn more about DWC Membership

Get in touch with us!

340 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

 

For Workshops:

Tim Carter
Arts Branch Program Director
(315) 474.6851, ext. 380

 

For Young Authors Academy & Numberless Dreams:

Georgia Popoff
Workshops Coordinator
(315) 474.6851, ext. 380

 

For other Writers Voice and DWC programs and activities:

Phil Memmer 
District Executive Director
(315) 474.6851, ext.328

Creative Writing Workshops

Creative Writing Workshops
Each year, we offer over 70 workshops and courses for writers of all experience levels: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama, screenwriting, songwriting, and more.

Visiting Author Readings

Visiting Author Readings
Each year, the Downtown Writers Center and Writers Voice Online hosts more than 20 authors for free readings at the Downtown YMCA or live on Zoom.

Young Authors Academy

Young Authors Academy
The Young Authors Academy (YAA) is the Writers Voice teen writing program, and as a member, you'll work with the same terrific writers who teach in the regular DWC workshops.

Writers Voice Pro

Writers Voice Pro
Writers Voice PRO is a two-year intensive program for creative writers who are serious about honing their craft and growing their careers.

Stone Canoe

Stone Canoe
The YMCA's Downtown Writers Center publishes the award-winning literary journal Stone Canoe. For over 12 years, Stone Canoe has focused on making the work of Upstate NY writers and artists available to a national audience.

YMCA CNY Book Awards

YMCA CNY Book Awards
Each November, the YMCA's Writers Voice and Downtown Writers Center recognizes the best books published by CNY authors through the YMCA CNY Book Awards. Awards are currently presented in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

 

Programs of the YMCA's Writers Voice and Downtown Writers Center 
are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with 
the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.  

 

This project was made possible with funds from the 
County of Onondaga through the Marketing for Economic 
Development Program administered by CNY Arts.

 

This program is made possible by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) 
funding from the City of Syracuse Arts & Culture Recovery Fund Program, 
a regrant program of the City of Syracuse administered by CNY Arts.