INITIATIVES

Write It Out! provides programming that centers community, imagination, and wellness for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Read our FAQs for more information.

The Program

The Program consists of free virtual writing workshops for a diverse group of adults (18+) from across the country living with HIV. The workshops are 5-6:30pm EST on Tuesdays and Thursdays from September to December. Anyone can apply; the only requirement is that applicants must live with HIV. Participants are selected through an open and barrier-free application process. Participants learn the craft of playwriting and discuss literary work about and by people living with HIV. Then, participants create their own short-form play, which includes a rigorous rewriting process after group discussions. This prepares each participant and their work for a rehearsal process with pre-selected professional directors and actors. The program culminates in an in-person final sharing (public reading) of each participant's work on World AIDS Day in NYC.

FAQ

Who is Write It Out! for?

Write It Out! is open to anyone living with HIV.
Do I need to be a playwright to apply to the program?

You don’t need any writing experience to apply to The Program. Writing samples can be a scene, poem, essay, etc. Writing samples can be as short as a few sentences but should NOT exceed ten pages.
Will I need to disclose my status?

For the protection of all involved, strict confidentiality is given to each applicant and cohort. The selection committee consists of Write It Out! alums.
When and where is The Program?

The Program runs for ten weeks virtually every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-6:30pm EST, September through December, with a Final Sharing on or around World AIDS Day (December 1st).
Does The Program pay selected participants?

The Program comes with a modest stipend given at the end of The Program.
When and how to do I receive payment for participating in The Program?

The stipend is for completing weeks 9 and 10 (i.e., the rehearsal process and Final Sharing). If writers do not complete weeks 1 through 8, they cannot participate in weeks 9 and 10. This means they will NOT be given a stipend for failure to complete The Program.
If chosen for The Program, can I attend the Final Sharing if I don’t live in NYC?

Those participants chosen for The Program who live 90 minutes or more from NYC will be provided roundtrip travel and one-night lodging. We are not able to accommodate travel and lodging for anyone other than The Program participants who live 90 minutes or more from NYC. If participants have someone they’d like to accompany them to the Final Sharing, they have to purchase travel on their own.
Do I have to attend every session?

Participants selected for The Program are given three excused absences and lateness (no more than 15 minutes or it’s considered an absence). These absences and lateness are not honored during weeks 6-9 when participants start to share work in class. Participants are expected in those sessions.
Do participants have to write about living with HIV?

Though it’s not required, participants often write plays that speak to the experience of living with HIV.
How are the collaborators chosen?

We work closely with professional directors, actors, and stage managers who align with the Write It Out! mission and values. Internally, we curate a set of collaborators who are able to work in an ensemble capacity (i.e., directors and actors who can work with multiple playwrights and plays simultaneously) to ensure a communal experience that celebrates and honors all playwrights involved.
Who can apply for the prize and what are the requirements?

The Prize is given to a playwright living with HIV. You must submit a full-length play (minimum 60 pages) for consideration. Musicals are not eligible at this time.
What support comes with the prize?

The Prize comes with an unrestricted $10,000 and dramaturgical support.
When do applications for the prize open?

Applications for The Prize open June 30th - July 30, 2025.
If chosen for The Prize do I have to write about living with HIV?

Though it’s not required, recipients often write plays that speak to the experience of living with HIV.