Pearl City Writing Workshop
Saturday, January 9, 2027
Studio D Catering and Venue, Pearl City Arts Building
120 Foundry Alley, Downtown Jamestown, NY
Four workshops, a lunch buffet, and a book fair, all in one day in Downtown Jamestown, NY.
Writers from all walks of life are invited to spend a Saturday learning from published authors and experts, then shop the book fair to close out the day.
Meet the Presenters
This year’s lineup extends well beyond the local crew, with presenters joining from Connecticut, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Fredonia, NY.
Nick Smith
“Writing for Film”
Best-selling author, filmmaker, actor, producer, and educator. Originally from England, Smith has worked on over 100 movies and TV productions, including The Little Vampire (2000), Army Wives (2007), Cold Soldiers (2018), and INT. HALLWAY/NIGHT (2026).
Tim Bennett
“Finding Inspiration in Cook Forest”
A hiker, backpacker, and photographer from Lancaster, PA, who always dreamed of adventure. After retiring, he set out to chase his biggest dream: retracing his late father's 1937 footsteps on Vermont's Long Trail. He chronicled the journey in his memoir, One Mountain, After Another.
Makenzie Ozycz
“The Mythology of Home: Writing Place as Character”
A full-time editor at the American Radio Relay League and a professor of creative writing and composition at Post University and Western Connecticut State University. Ozycz is also a freelance content editor for UConn’s Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy and Connecticut Humanities.
Shannon Kearns:
“Word Play in Poetry”
Her debut poetry collection, The Uterus is an Impossible Forest, was nominated for both a Bram Stoker and an Elgin Award. She was the runner-up for the Gina Berriault Work-in-Progress Award from San Francisco State University in 2026. Her work has been supported by Sundress Academy for the Arts and the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop.
Your Day at a Glance
Doors open at 9:30am and workshops begin at 10am.
All four workshops happen together in one open, collaborative space, so you will be up close with every presenter. The book fair follows in the same space.
9:30am - Doors open
10:00 to 10:45am - Workshop 1
11:00 to 11:45am - Workshop 2
12:00 to 1:00pm - Lunch buffet
1:00 to 1:45pm - Workshop 3
2:00 to 2:45pm - Workshop 4
3:00 to 4:30pm - Book fair (open to the public)
Where to Find Us
Studio D Catering and Venue is in the Pearl City Arts Building at 120 Foundry Alley, right behind Wicked Warren’s Jamestown. Look for the door directly beside the Roger Tory Peterson mural.
Free parking is available right at the building, and there is plenty of free street parking nearby as well.
What’s Included
Your $65 registration includes:
Four workshops led by published authors and experts in their fields
A lunch buffet, plus snacks and NA beverages all day
A table at the book fair, if you have books, art, or other wares to sell
Making a Weekend of It?
Downtown Jamestown is a walkable small city where museums, theaters, studios, and great places to eat are just a few blocks apart.
If you are traveling in from out of town, here are a few suggestions for where to stay and what to see.
WHERE TO STAY
Airbnb: Thurston Terrace Apartment, sleeps 6
Airbnb: Hamilton Apartment, sleeps 4
Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton
WHAT TO DO
National Comedy Center
203 W 2nd StreetLucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum
2 W 3rd StreetPearl City Clayhouse
220 E 2nd StreetThe Reg Lenna
116 E 3rd StreetNorthwest Ice Arena
319 W 3rd StreetThe Spire Theater
317 3rd StreetRobert H. Jackson Center
305 W 4th StreetFenton History Center
67 Washington StreetRoger Tory Peterson Institute
311 Curtis StreetAudubon Community Nature Center
1600 Riverside Road
Friday Night: Possible Meet-and-Greet Dinner with Open Mic
Arriving early? We’re considering a casual dinner and open mic at an area restaurant on Friday, January 8, so writers can meet before the big day. Check the box on your registration form to let us know if you would join.
Questions?
I’m a teacher by day and Dad by night, so the best way to ask your question is to send a note here, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Know a writer who would love this? Please share this page with them.
Studio D Catering and Venue, Pearl City Arts Building
120 Foundry Alley, Downtown Jamestown, NY
Pearl City Writing Workshop
Saturday, January 9, 2027
Doors open - 9:30AM
Workshop - 10:00 AM
Book Fair -
Were you with us last year? Share Your Experience
A sentence or two about your experience or why you would recommend it to another writer would help. Send your note to us here. With your OK, we may share it with your name or anonymously as we spread the word about 2027.