Dear Emily, 

As summer settles and we turn toward the rhythms of fall, I’m grateful for the ways our community continues to grow. This year, we welcome six new fellows to the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project: Cari McCarty, Carley Cavaliere, Amber Smith, Kevin Goodwin, Kelly Jones, and Katie Katkich. Each brings fresh energy, insight, and commitment to the work of writing, teaching, and learning. We are excited to learn with and from them and welcome them to the WPWP. 

The (soon) close of summer and the arrival of September always remind me of the delicate balance between endings and beginnings. W. S. Merwin captures this moment beautifully in his poem “To the Light of September”: 

and for now it seems as though 

you are still summer 

still the high familiar 

endless summer 

yet with a glint 

of bronze in the chill mornings 

This turn of season reminds us that writing, too, is cyclical—sometimes lush and full, sometimes pared back and quiet, always shifting but always present. 

I invite you to read the full poem here. May it inspire us to embrace this season of new fellowship, reflection, and possibility. 

As always, thank you for taking the time to receive and review this newsletter. We are grateful to be in community with you. Feel free to share this information with others.

If you have any updates, ideas, and/or concerns, we’d like to hear from you. Email us at wpwp@pitt.edu.

📍 Where: Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, 799 Pinkerton Run Rd, Oakdale, PA 15071
📅 When: Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Join us for a rejuvenating day of writing at the beautiful Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Our retreat begins at 10am with gentle writing invitations designed to be explored individually or in small groups, followed by lunch and a writing workshop from 12:30–2:00 PM led by 2011 WPWP Fellow Jill Khoury. We will be meeting in the Pierce Room.  
Our theme for the day is momentum—the quiet force that carries us through seasons of growth, change, and creativity. Whether in writing, life, or career, momentum helps us move forward, reflect deeply, and stay connected to what matters most. 

Feel free to attend for the full experience or drop in as your schedule allows. Garden admission is covered by guests.

Please note: due to time limitations, we are no longer able to place new food orders for the retreat. Friends, family, and colleagues are warmly welcome. Bring a notebook and an openness to possibility.

🤔 What: WPWP Network Meeting
📅 When: September 9, 2025, from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Virtual

Join us for the September 9th Network Meeting from 6:00–7:30 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, learn more about our fall offerings, and discover ways to get involved…and of course some time for writing! 

Whether you pop in for a few minutes or stay for the entire evening, your presence matters. Share this invitation with fellow WPWP members and friends. Everyone is welcome, and we’d be delighted to see you there. No RSVP is necessary. A calendar invite has been sent for the event from wpwp@pitt.edu, so feel free to accept or decline as needed. The Zoom link is included below for your convenience.  See you then! 

📅 When: September 13, 2025, beginning at 4 p.m.
📍 Where: Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

Join this free event from the University of Pittsburgh Press celebrating the work of Toi Derricotte, with Ross Gay, Terrance Hayes, Joy Priest, and Gary Jackson at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium. Part of a Pitt Poetry series of events celebrating Ed Ochester, his work, and the poets he guided into the world.

Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

🤔 What: Write Out at Settler's Cabin Park
📅 When: October 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
📍 Where: Settlers Cabin Park, 608 Ridge Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Join us for our October Write Out at Settlers Cabin Park! This offering is a part of the National Writing Project’s annual Write Out initiative. 

This year’s theme, Awaken the Senses, invites us to engage deeply with the world around us by tuning in to sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. As we write in nature, we’ll explore how sensory experiences spark creativity, deepen our storytelling, and help us notice what we often overlook. 

Let’s pause, notice, and write—together in place. 

🤔 What: Words and Pictures
📍 Where: Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, 15213
📅 When: Multiple dates from September to November. Click here for more information.

🤔 What: Ten Evenings
📍 Where: Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
📅 When: Select dates from September 2025 through May 2026. Click here for more information.

We are excited to share that we are partnering with Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, PAL, this fall! In collaboration with PAL, we invite the WPWP community to attend Words and Pictures and the Ten Evenings series. During Words and Pictures events, WPWP fellows will have a chance to facilitate tabling activities for youth, as well as listen to the speaker. During the Ten Evenings series, PAL will reserve a select amount of in-person tickets for WPWP to attend!

The Speakers are as follows: 

Words & Pictures 

Angie Thomas: September 18, 2025

Sharon G. Flake: October 9, 2025 

Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris: November 6, 2025  

Ten Evenings 

Jess Walter: October 27, 2025 

Padma Lakshmi: November 10, 2025 

Beth Macy: December 8, 2025 

Calvin Duncan and Sophie Cull: February 9, 2026 

Sunil Amrith: March 2, 2026 

Angela Flournoy: March 23, 2026 

Merlin Sheldrake: April 13, 2026 

Michael Chabon: May 11, 2026   

Use this form to indicate what event(s) you are interested in attending! Please note, availability is limited. Filling out the interest form does not confirm the request. Your selection will be interpreted as an RSVP. We will contact you directly with confirmation closer to the event!  

We are excited to share that the WPWP has a channel on the National Writing Project: Write Now Studio! The WPWP will be using this platform to make announcements about upcoming opportunities, grow the network, and engage with NWP activities. 

 We encourage you to check out the following NWP activities:  

Teacher Research Community: This is a just-beginning group that is planning how to get better at getting better by doing that together.  

Professional Reading Groups: Find a reading buddy in these new groups that form each month! In August they read Unearthing Joy . 

Digital Source Evaluation: Guiding Secondary Students in a Deep Fake World There will be a webinar on AI led by two scholarly friends who are well known to travel together whenever they encounter unknown territories in technology and learning. 

🤔 What: Appalachian Writers Series
📅 When: Fall 2025
📍 Where: Chatham University and Livestreamed
 
Thoughout the fall, Chatham’s MFA in Creative Writing program will present readings by Laura Jackson, Amanda K. Jaros, Frank X. Walker, and Neema Avashia. This series is free and open to the public. Program can be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/chathamu.

If you have an event or opportunity to share with the WPWP community, let us know! We’d love to feature it in our next newsletter. 

We are continually enhancing our communication methods by addressing any gaps in contact information. Please complete the contact form below if you haven’t already. We encourage you to share it with others who might be interested in re/connecting with the WPWP network.