Who we are
Write Action is Brattleboro’s literary heartbeat, a nonprofit devoted to nurturing writers, sparking creativity, and building a vibrant word-loving community in and around southern Vermont.
At the core? A monthly e-newsletter serving up local lit events, writing group updates, and juicy opportunities for scribes of all stripes. Add to that local events like our annual spring Poems Around Town, and you've got a thriving grassroots scene.
We’ve published The Best of Write Action, launched scholarships (including one named for the legendary Marty Jezer), and handed out awards to budding writers at BUHS since 2004.
Each fall, Write Action helps power the Brattleboro Literary Festival, providing volunteers, hosting the Literary Cafe, and authors’ readings, too!
Don’t forget our annual picnic! It’s equal parts potluck, poetry, and pure Vermont charm. Come for the hummus, stay for the haiku.
If you would like to be part of our email network, enabling you to receive notices about area readings, writing groups, and other literary opportunities and events, sign up below.
Our History
Write Action began in August 1999 as a grassroots effort to help a local writer replace a stolen computer. A marathon benefit reading at Common Ground Restaurant—attended by more than 100 people and lasting past midnight—raised the needed funds. More importantly, it revealed something lasting: Brattleboro’s writers wanted and needed a supportive community where they could share their work and encourage one another.
From that evening, Write Action was born.
Incorporated as a nonprofit in 2001, Write Action has played a vital role in nurturing the literary arts in southeastern Vermont. In its early years, seasonal open readings helped establish a strong and visible writing community. While the organization has since expanded its programming, public readings remain an important part of its mission.
Write Action has been closely involved with the Brattleboro Literary Festival since its founding in 2001, helping to plan and organize this celebrated annual event. That same year, the Write Action Radio Hour debuted on Radio Free Brattleboro and now airs weekly on WVEW 107.7 FM, continuing its tradition of sharing local voices over the airwaves.
In 2003, Write Action published The Best of Write Action, an anthology featuring work by sixty local authors. Supported by grants and community pre-sales, the collection remains an enduring testament to the region’s literary talent.
Supporting writers in times of need has been a central part of the organization’s mission.
The Lin Harris-Seares Writers’ Emergency Fund, established in 2000, provides modest financial assistance to writers facing hardship. Write Action also recognizes young writers through two annual awards presented to graduating seniors at Brattleboro Union High School: the Write Action Creative Writing Award (est. 2004) and the Marty Jezer Award for Excellence in Journalism (est. 2006), named for co-founder and first president Marty Jezer.
Since its founding, Write Action has worked to “nurture, encourage, and promote” the literary arts in the Brattleboro community. Through readings, festivals, publishing projects, awards, and collaborative partnerships, Write Action continues to energize and sustain the region’s vibrant writing life.
Contact us
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