Could SSW teacher Courtney Elizabeth Mack’s wry smile be the key to unlocking your novel’s potential? via The Collagist

Now that you can’t use the impending end of the world as impetus for finishing your long-gestating novel (the story of a man, a motorcycle and the shale fields of northwestern Canada), you might be worried about your efforts slacking in 2013. Fear not! Brooklyn’s Sackett Street Writer’s Workshop is here to whip your flabby writing brain into shape. Taught by professional writers, teachers and editors who all have MFAs, the Sackett Street workshop offers you an Iowa Writers’ Workshop experience minus the getting lost in a cornfield every weekend. And through midnight, they’re offering discounts to anyone who signs up, new student or returning student. (more…)

Is this Brooklyn’s nerdiest music group? Sure. why not. via Facebook

1. Can’t go home for the holidays to play games with your family? Do the next best thing and listen to comedians talk about their favorites at Spike Hill (Monday)

2. John Podhoretz sits down to explain that while the goyim vote like this (“A deedle doo do da”), Jews vote like this (“A deedle doo do da oy vey”) (Tuesday)

3. A yoga studio holiday party means lots of soused, attractive people. Soused, attractive, bendy people. Have fun (Tuesday)

4. “Choirfly” claims to be Brooklyn’s nerdiest a capella group. Which we know there’s tons of competition, but maybe they’ll do the kinda embarrassing Firefly theme and show they really deserve the crown (Wednesday) (more…)

A little rain never hurt a laptop. Wait… via Apathetic Thursday

Something like losing your house or your business can really inspire some feelings in a person. And not some bullshit millenial version of feeeelings after your friend with benefits but you want more, said no, she doesn’t want to go get brunch with you. It’s important to deal with tough stress like in a constructive, healthy way, like for instance writing about it. So the New York Writers Coalition has stepped up to provide anyone who needs it space in one of two weekly writing workshops. (more…)

Like Brad Pitt with glasses, this man is. Ira Glass will be at the Write-a-Thon this weekend.

This Sunday, the NY Writers Coalition is hosting its seventh annual Write-a-Thon at the Mark Morris Dance Center. The event is called “Write Your A** Off” and it works like this: You raise $150 and then you get to go to workshops with these people. The money you raise goes to support the coalition’s free creative writing programs for inmates, formerly homeless, substance abusers and other marginalized literary talents. (more…)

Writers of both the realized and aspiring kinds know the sometimes torturous solitude that accompanies their star-crossed profession. Or at least, the torturous impulse to keep hitting refresh on their Facebook feeds. Brooklyn writers now have an affordable way to flee their desk distractions and break through writer’s block, without 8-week commitments or cultish memberships in groups that make you flash your pedigree card before joining. The New York Writers’ Coalition offers weekly pay-what-you-wish writing workshops [link fixed] every Wednesday afternoon (that’s today), right in the center of Literary Brooklyn — and Walt Whitman’s old stomping grounds — Fort Greene. Writers of any experience level and type are welcome, but sessions are capped at 25 participants so early arrival is encouraged. No sign-up is required. (more…)