Our Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

As a precaution to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and care for our community, Just Buffalo Literary Center has postponed a number of events, and we will follow the guidance of Buffalo Public Schools in terms of Just Buffalo Writing Center programming.

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Youth Writing Workshops & Events

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Unless noted in the description, all JBWC youth workshops are currently hybrid (held in-person & virtually via Zoom), aimed at young writers aged 12–18, and limited to 10 participants.

*ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: Writers are welcome to participate with OR without video and audio during any of our virtual sessions. If you have any questions/issues accessing any of these opportunities, please let us know and we will work with you to make sure you can participate.

Virtual Writing Feedback: No ZOOM Required

JBWC staff and volunteers would love to read what you’ve been writing.

We can provide feedback, help you brainstorm/troubleshoot, or connect you with writing resources and publishing opportunities. Generally, we offer this through email and Google docs, but we are happy to adjust to fit your needs. To get started, email the Writing Center at jbwc@justbuffalo.org.

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Stay tuned for more updates regarding our continued commitment to the safety of our attendees and staff. (Wednesday, January 12, 2022)

January 2022
Story Sharing Circle on Climate Change

Story Sharing Circle on Climate Change with Ujima Company (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. During this special session, we’ll embark on a story sharing circle with the young artists/performers of Ujima Company considering these questions. Then we’ll create art (all genres welcome) to process our stories and the conversation. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, January 27, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
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February 2022
Cardioversion with Julio Valentin

Cardioversion with Julio Montalvo Valentín (Hybrid)

We are often told to write our hearts into the page. Just as often, we find that many things we write feel incomplete or sound “off-beat.” This workshop aims to identify the heart defects in past pieces of poetry and prose, and utilize “cardioversion:” a form of revision that shocks rhyme and/or rhythm into being. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Office Hours

Office Hours (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Office Hours is a space (and time) where young people can receive one-on-one feedback on any of type of writing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Just Buffalo Writing Center - Open Share - Youth Workshop 2022

Open Share (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Open Share is a time for you to share any of your creations, thoughts, and inspirations with peers. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, February 10, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Building Character with Richie Wills

Building Character with Richie Wills (Hybrid)

In this workshop we will explore how to go about creating characters that shape your narrative and what makes a reader care deeply about a character to the point where they remember them long after reading. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
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LeRoi's Universe with LeRoi Johnson

LeRoi’s Universe: Writing Inside Paintings w/ Burchfield Penney Art Center & LeRoi Johnson (Hybrid)

During this workshop, we’ll write inspired by the universes inside the paintings of Buffalo-based artist LeRoi Johnson. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, February 17, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
March 2022
Japanese Manga with Max Weiss

Japanese Manga Workshop with Max Weiss (Hybrid)

Are you a fan of Sailor Moon, Naruto, or One Piece? What about popular anime titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Dragon Ball Z, or the films of Hayoao Miyazaki? This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Trends, Fads, and Phases in Color with Danny Merlino

Trends, Fads, and Phases: In Color! with Danny Merlino (Hybrid)

This youth writing workshop centers around the works of cartoonist Alison Bechdel and her graphic novels, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, which is featured in her 2022 BABEL visit, as well as Fun Home. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, March 3, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Office Hours

Office Hours (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Office Hours is a space (and time) where young people can receive one-on-one feedback on any of type of writing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Just Buffalo Writing Center - Open Share - Youth Workshop 2022

Open Share (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Open Share is a time for you to share any of your creations, thoughts, and inspirations with peers. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, March 10, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Office Hours

Office Hours (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Office Hours is a space (and time) where young people can receive one-on-one feedback on any of type of writing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Just Buffalo Writing Center - Open Share - Youth Workshop 2022

Open Share (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Open Share is a time for you to share any of your creations, thoughts, and inspirations with peers. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, March 24, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Automatic Writing with Gabriel Bump

Automatic Writing with Gabriel Bump (Hybrid)

In this workshop, we'll fall into our thoughts. Students will try to write without pausing, without second-guessing themselves. We'll get lost in our writing, find a trance-like state, stumble, maybe, onto something revelatory. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
End Of The World Summit with Birch Kinsey

End of the World Summit with Birch Kinsey (Hybrid)

In this workshop we’ll create characters and lore imagining a summit to stop the end of the world. Then, in Dungeons & Dragons-style, we’ll improv our way through the summit and, hopefully, towards the saving of our future planet. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, March 31, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
April 2022
Office Hours

Office Hours (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Office Hours is a space (and time) where young people can receive one-on-one feedback on any of type of writing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Genre Gymnastics with Robin Jordan & Richie Wills

Genre Gymnastics: An Intro to Genre-Bending with Robin Jordan & Richie Wills (Hybrid)

Join Richie Wills and Robin Jordan for a workshop inspired by genre-bender Colson Whitehead in anticipation of his upcoming BABEL visit. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, April 7, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Playlist Writing with Dana Venerable

Playlist Writing with Dana Venerable (Hybrid)

This workshop explores the relationships we have to our favorite music as well as to the art form of making playlists. Writers will make their own playlists of up to 5 favorite tracks using Spotify or YouTube. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Power to the People with Ariel Aberg-Riger

Power to the People! with Ariel Aberg-Riger (Hybrid)

In this workshop we will look at political art and design—posters, buttons, zines—from movements across history and the world, including the work of Lester Beall + public works projects in the 1930s, the École des Beaux-Arts + the May 1968 uprising, Emory Douglas + The Black Panther Party in the 1970s, Gran Fury + ACT UP’s AIDS activism in the 1980s, and more. We will then each choose a cause, write slogans, and design our own political posters! This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Novels-in-Verse with Angel Barber

Novels-In-Verse with Angel Barber (Hybrid)

Join JBWC alum, Angel Barber, to explore novels-in-verse: writing a novel in poem form! Angel will share how he went about this process to create his forthcoming novel-in-verse, Dandelion Travels, published by West 44 Books. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, April 28, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
May 2022
Office Hours

Office Hours (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Office Hours is a space (and time) where young people can receive one-on-one feedback on any of type of writing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Just Buffalo Writing Center - Open Share - Youth Workshop 2022

Open Share (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Open Share is a time for you to share any of your creations, thoughts, and inspirations with peers. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, May 5, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Our Time with Brendan Bannon

Our Time with Brendan Bannon (Hybrid)

A collaborative workshop whose goal is to make a small book exploring the subtle and monumental changes we are experiencing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Writing with JBWC 2021 Youth Fellows

Writing with JBWC 2021 Youth Fellows with Millie Rae Rodriguez-Spencer & Sophie Zhu (Hybrid)

Curious about the JBWC Youth Fellowship? During this workshop, we’ll meet with last year’s fellows, Millie Rae & Sophie to hear about their projects and their fellowship experiences. We’ll also write together using prompts from Millie Rae & Sophie, and invite you to start brainstorming your own imagined fellowship project! This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Thursday, May 12, 2022
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
Office Hours

Office Hours (Hybrid)

At this time, all January workshops will be conducted virtually only. Office Hours is a space (and time) where young people can receive one-on-one feedback on any of type of writing. This youth writing workshop is FREE, aimed at young students aged 12–18, and limited to 10 in-person participants with the option to join virtually. ...
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203
Get Tickets Now View Event
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Where?

Just Buffalo Writing Center
468 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Buffalo, NY 14203

When?

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Who?

All workshops are FREE, aimed at young writers aged 12–18, and limited to 10 participants.

Virtual Writing Feedback: No ZOOM Required

JBWC staff and volunteers would love to read what you’ve been writing.

We can provide feedback, help you brainstorm/troubleshoot, or connect you with writing resources and publishing opportunities. Generally, we offer this through email and Google docs, but we are happy to adjust to fit your needs. To get started, email the Writing Center at jbwc@justbuffalo.org.