Founded in 2010 by Peg Alford Pursell, Why There Are Words is an award-winning literary reading series that takes place every second Thursday in the San Francisco Bay Area, and as of 2017, takes place at 5 more national locations: New York City, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Austin, with more branches to start in 2018. The flagship Why There Are Words series takes place second Thursdays in Sausalito, CA, at Studio 333, located at 333 Caledonia Street. Doors open at 7 PM. $10 at the door. Why There Are Words falls under the umbrella of WTAW Press, a 501c(3) non-profit independent publisher of exceptional literary books.

Each reading event presents a range of writers, including those who have published books and those who haven’t. All writers share the criterion of excellence. While often writers who read at the series have recently had a book published and are in the midst of promoting their new work, the guiding idea behind the series is that good work is timeless and needs to be heard regardless of marketing or commercial concerns.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter announcing upcoming readings each month, and do attend the readings! WTAW is a community, an opportunity to meet and talk with authors, readers, and talented and engaged people of all backgrounds.