AWA Founder, Pat Schneider
Some of the poems and writings on this website and in the anthologies were created in writing workshops held in the Amherst Writers (AWA) Method, a way of holding space for writing together that is both safe and generative, that teaches writers craft, and encourages the discovery of one's own voice.
The method was created in the 1980s by Pat Schneider, a writer herself, who had grown up in poverty in Missouri in the 1930s and 40s. After she received her MFA in writing, Pat was motivated to return to her roots, inviting others who had been marginalized to embrace their ability to use words to create art.
The Amherst Writers organization has, therefore, always had a strong social justice agenda. It is now a not-for-profit arts organization with more than 35 years history in carrying out their mission: to support the voices of established and emerging writers, to free silenced and marginalized voices, and to promote respect for the artist in all writers through the use of the AWA method, developed by Pat Schneider.
These days that social justice work is carried on through the programming division of AWA, "The Power of Story." Currently programs are offered to Survivors of Sexual Violence and to Caregivers— people whose lives and livelihoods are strongly impacted by providing physical and emotional care to loved ones.
In 2025, new writing workshops are planned for those living with Chronic Illness, among other affinity groups. Find out more about these workshops, including scheduling and registration details here.
Experience what workshops in the method can do for your writer’s voice and craft by joining AWA's Writers’ Membership ($50 per year that includes participation in eight workshops), discounts to work with editors in our Blue Pencil program and more.
Many of the writers who experience this life-changing method find themselves moved to encourage others by offering workshops in this format. AWA has been training and certifying workshop leaders to hold space in this radical way since the early 1990s. We have trained over 1200 leaders in the last 30 years.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the training and becoming certified as an AWA leader, read more here.
Every year we support up to 25% of our trainees through financial aid to become certified workshop leaders who will then work with affinity groups they want to support. And in the spirit of Pat Schneider, our Power of Story programs never turn away a candidate who would like to write with us but who cannot afford even the modest registration fee. If you’d like to make a difference for those writers and trainees, we welcome donations to these programs.
