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Hours

Mon: 5 p.m. - 9 p .m.
Tues: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Wed: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thurs: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

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Our "If All of Rochester Read the Same Book..." Sponsors

Fred & Floy Willmott Foundation

University of Rochester President Joel Seligman & Dr. Friederike Seligman: underwriters for A Novel Evening with Ann Patchett.

About Writers & Books

Writers & Books
Promotes Reading and Writing
as Life-Long Activities for
People of All Ages and Backgrounds

Who We Serve

Each year our programs and services engage more than 25,000 Rochester-area residents of all ages and backgrounds in locations throughout the community.

How We Serve Them

Our programs reach people of all levels of interest in reading and writing and are designed to help people discover the important part that literature plays in our individual lives and the life of our community. The offerings are many and varied and reach out to constituencies of all ages and backgrounds living within our region, and include:

over 200 writing classes and workshops for youth and adults held at our facilities
SummerWrite creative summer camps for young people ages 6-19 from June through August
scholarships
outreach programs held throughout the community, in schools, hospitals, libraries, senior citizen centers, recreation centers, and social service agencies
readings and talks by visiting and regional writers
residency programs at our rural retreat center, The Gell Center of the Finger Lakes
two community-wide reading programs The Big Read in the Fall and “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book…” in the Spring
an annual Regional Playwriting Competition held in collaboration with Geva Theater as well as 2 Pages/2 Voices
internships in literary programming and management for high school and college students

Current Programs

Visiting Writers: Reading and talks by nationally recognized writers
Genesee Reading Series: This series, held monthly and now into its second decade, features writers from Rochester and western New York. In addition, other area writers reach local audiences through readings of plays-in-progress that are held intermittently and open readings that are held monthly.
Residencies: We occasionally have the opportunity to bring writers from throughout the country to this community to be in residence at the Gell Writers Center of the Finger Lakes for one to two-week periods. During their residency they devote time to their own writing and interact with individuals throughout the area through outreach programs scheduled in various community settings.
Educational Programs: Workshops and classes are offered year-round in writing, publishing, and the book arts at both our facilities.
Outreach Programs: We sponsor writing workshops on site at elementary and secondary schools and, in a new initiative, at various other locations, such as libraries and senior citizen centers, throughout the area.
Book Sales: Our bookstore offers a selection of titles by regional and visiting authors.
Conference & Retreat Center: The Gell Writers Center of the Finger Lakes, made available to Writers & Books' members at low rates, provides a peaceful respite from the normal routine of daily life for writing and retreats.
Publications: We publish books that are an outgrowth of our programs and that reflect our mission to best serve our audience and the field of literature.
Internships: Through arrangements with local schools and colleges, students can earn credit by working at Writers & Books. Students gain first-hand knowledge of literary programming and arts administration.
Library/Research Center: Our collection of contemporary poetry and criticism, as well as our archive of taped readings is available for use by the general public.

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The Bertrand Russell Society

Hosted by: Dr. David White
Thursday, March 11
Admission: Free to W&B Members/ $3 General Public

The Bertrand Russell Society was formed shortly after Russell’s death in 1970. Russell was born in 1872 and worked in fields such as mathematical logic; philosophy; social, religious, and educational reform; anti-war protests and politics. An accomplished writer, Russell received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. This ongoing lecture series promises to enlighten and entertain. Monthly meetings are open to everyone, not just to members of the society.

Monthly Story Slam

March. 17, 7 pm
Signup: 6:30 pm
Host: Carol Roberts

An open mic of true loose and spontaneous stories based on one’s own life! Themes include: “Brush with the Law,” “Love Life,” “Embarassing Moment,” “True Tales from College”...but stories can be independent of the theme. This is an event where participants tell stories about their lives. The stories are loose and spontaneous, and the emphasis is on authenticity. See examples on Youtube by searching MothUp Story Slam. According to The New York Times: “Like the folk revival in the 70s or standup comedy in the 80s, all of a sudden everyone is doing it....Storytelling has exploded into a thriving genre all its own, a new avenue to prominence for writers and, increasingly, for actors and comedians.” Each performer gets approximately 5 minutes. Signup list at front desk 1/2 hour before. or sign up by emailing Carol Roberts at crobert8@rochester.rr.com with “Monthly Sign Up” in the subject line.

Valley Manor Book Discussions

1570 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610
Thursday, March 18th from 10:30 a.m. - Noon. Music Room. .
Each event is Free and Open to the public.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. This is the “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book”.

History Reading Group

Hosted by Steve Huff
Thurs. March 18
Topic: Vaudeville
Free to WAB members & students/$3 general public

Join Writers & Books’s history buffs as they explore the big issues and personalities of history. We do not choose particular books, but only subjects. You can read any book or other material on the subject and join the discussion. Meets on the third

Wide Open Mic

Monday, March 22
7:30 p.m., W&B
Free to W&B members,/$3 suggested admission general public

W&B is proud to sponsor Rochester’s longest-running open mic, hosted by Norm Davis, poet and editor of HazMat Review. Known for its eclectic mix, Wide Open Mic welcomes poets, performers, and writers of all kinds.

25 & Under

Tues. March 23
7 p.m. W&B
Free to WAB members & students/$3 general public
Hosted by Sally Bittner Bonn

More than a quarter century ago W&B first opened its doors. To celebrate that milestone anniversary we initiated a monthly reading series featuring writers who are 25 and younger. Join us as we discover a new generation of writers for the next quarter century.

Click here for more March Events...

Writers & Books, Rochester's community literary center, inspires and instructs over 25,000 people each year through a wide array of offerings in nearly every literary genre. Believing that the written and spoken word are central to our lives and culture, Writers & Books celebrates, promotes and works to make them available to all. Writers & Books is located at 740 University Avenue, near Atlantic Avenue in the Neighborhood of the Arts.