Who We Are
The Writers Action Group was founded by Roger Wolfson, former staff to four US Senators and writer for five TV series. Together with Academy Award winning writers such as Callie Khouri (“Thelma and Louise”), Tom Schulman (“Dead Poets Society”) and political leaders such as former Congressman Steve Israel (a novelist and former chair of the DCCC), Writers Action has assembled some of America’s best storytellers with the express goal of helping Progressive candidates, causes, organizations, and businesses find their most compelling stories, express those stories authentically, and develop long-term, emotional relationships with large and diverse audiences.
We have worked with the some of the most prominent figures in progressive politics: Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Rosa De-Lauro, Ted Lieu, Joaquin Castro, and Adam Schiff. During the last election, we contributed to the Blue Wave, first by giving speeches on the art of storytelling to the entire Democratic Caucus in the U.S. Senate and House and to all Democratic Communication Directors. We then trained candidates for the DLCC, the PCCC, the NLC, and worked directly with the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC. Finally, we wrote speeches, crafted message, performed debate prep, and even held fundraisers for Doug Jones, Beto O’Rourke, Kara Eastman, Tracy Mitrano, Mary Gay Scanlon, Katie Hill, Deb Haaland, and Harley Rouda.
Including state, local, and national races, eighty percent of the candidates we helped, won.
Our Leadership
ROGER WOLFSON
former Counsel to Joe Lieberman, John Kerry, Paul Wellstone, and Ted Kennedy. Writer for Fairly Legal, Saving Grace, Law and Order: SVU, and The Closer.
Marshall Herskovitz
Emmy-winning creator of thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, Once and Again, quarterlife, producer of Legends of the Fall, Traffic, The Last Samurai, and Blood Diamond.
Callie Khourie
Academy Award winning screenwriter of Thelma and Louise, director of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and creator of the hit TV series Nashville.
GREGG HURWITZ
NY Times #1 international bestselling author of 20 novels. NY Times bestselling comic book writer (Wolverine, Punisher, and Batman). Screenwriter, the Book of Henry.
STEVE ISRAEL
former Congressman, DCCC chair. Author of Big Guns and the Global War on Morris.
ALEJANDRA CAMPOVERDI
former White House aide, Advisory Board of Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.
TIM KRING
Emmy-nominated creator of Heroes, Strange World, and Crossing Jordan.
MARTI NOXON
creator of Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, unREAL, and writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Code Black, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Glee and Mad Men.
MARK RIDDLE
President of the New Leaders Council, the nation’s premier progressive leadership training organization, and CEO of Wildcat Digital, a full-service campaign, brand management, and donor advisory firm.
TOM SCHULMAN
Academy-award winning screenwriter of Dead Poets Society, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, writer and director of What About Bob, Medicine Man, and 8 Heads in a Duffle Bag.
FELICIA HENDERSON
creator of BET’s The Quad, and Soul Food. Writer for The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Family Matters, Moesha, Sister, Sister, Gossip Girl, Fringe, and the Punisher.
DEBORAH PRATT
creator of Quantum Leap
RALPH WATSON
former Chief Creative Officer for several advertising agencies, with years of experience re-branding iconic American companies such as AT&T, Chevrolet, and Dominoes.
KRISTA VERNOFF
Head Writer, Grey’s Anatomy
BILL HARPER
Head Writer, Grey’s Anatomy
WINNIE HOLZMAN
Emmy-nominated creator of My So Called Life. Drama Desk Award winning and Tony-nominated writer of Wicked.
Services
Find Your Story Seminars
Everyone has more than one genesis story. But most of us don’t know which of these stories connects most deeply to our own excitement and passion. And, even among those who recognize their ideal story for a given circumstance - few can speak of it, from the heart.
The core principle of Writers Action is - if your words don’t evoke deep feelings in you, then they can’t evoke a deep response in your audience.
We’ve performed Find Your Story seminars for Senators, members of Congress, mayors, heads of non-profits, CEOs, scientists, and even professional public speakers. In a ninety-minute session, in person or by Zoom, we interview our clients and -- based on our artistic abilities and instincts -- we help them craft their their most compelling and exciting narrative. Then, we teach them how to tell this story with authenticity and candor.
Every client of ours who has engaged this service has based most of their subsequent communications on the result of their seminar. The stories we cultivate have become the basis of stump speeches, convention addresses, fundraising drives, and entire messaging operations.
Turning Issues into Stories
Writers Action typically performs “Turning Issues Into Stories” seminars with a candidate, officeholder, or leader -- and their entire senior staff. We go around the room and ask each individual to explain the most challenging part of their job. Then, we teach how to turn any challenge or issue, even the most dry, into a riveting narrative.
In ninety minutes, we can improve, if not turn around every aspect of entire operations. We then work with staff to produce scripts, and then perform follow-up sessions to ensure these stories can be conveyed with the greatest possible emotional response.
Fundraising Letters
Money matters. The ability to raise money raises profile, increases influence, and creates results. And yet - most fundraising efforts sound like Ransom Notes. They aren’t entertaining or engaging. They alternately preach to or threaten the choir.
Writers Action brings to bear the full force of the multi-billion dollar storytelling industry. We engage your donor audience in an ongoing, enveloping storyline that empowers them to become one of the meaningful characters in your story through their contributions, participation and support.
Our entire careers as writers are based on our ability to capture attention from already stimulated masses, then draw them in, engage them emotionally, and invest them in the struggles of our characters. We succeed by motivating massive audiences to commit their limited time and resources to becoming an active part of the worlds we develop for them.
Let us bring that power and emotional engagement to your fundraising campaigns.
Speechwriting
Writers Action develops campaign speeches, TED talks, fundraising appeals, corporate presentations, and major event speeches. We have written Presidential Stump Speeches, States of the City for Mayors, and speeches related to every aspect of political, corporate, and personal life. We also draft website copy, position papers, and more. Our goal is to ensure that your compelling core stories are front and center, consistent, and integrated in everything you present to the public. Every time the public is touched by you, they should know clearly what you stand for, what you are up against - and what you are doing for them.
Videos
Our writers, designers, directors and filmmakers can help develop all the media surrounding your campaign or organization, bringing state of the art talent and production abilities to the task. We have completed short videos and advertisements, fundraising videos, and entire social media campaigns.
With all House Democratic Communications Directors
With all Senate Democratic Communications Directors
Webinars
Writers Action can tailor webinars not only to meet your storytelling needs, but to fully match our skills to your interests.
For example:
Talking about Health Care (with the head writer for Grey’s Anatomy)
Picking your enemies / talking about Villains (with the creator of Heroes)
Giving Fire to Women’s issues (with the writer of Thelma and Louise)
Making Taxes and Financial Issues Simple (with the head writers for Billions)
Talking Terrorism (with writers from Homeland and 24)
Talking about Middle America (with writers from This is Us)
Getting the audience on your side, while talking about Justice and Crime (with a writer from Law and Order: SVU).
Talking about Education (with the creator of BET’s The Quad)
Telling stories about Race in an engaging and inclusive (with writers from Blackish)
Testimonials
“Given the skills they bring to bear, the Writers Action Group and the Democratic Party are a
marriage that is meant to last.”
“Roger has put together a group of talented story-tellers with a proven track record of building
long-lasting relationships with audiences of all kind in blue states, red states, or anywhere
in between. As someone who has been involved in messaging at the highest levels, I know
creative and powerful messaging when I see it. Do not pass up the opportunity to benefit
from these world-class writers.”
“Working with the Writers Action Group has been a pleasure. Progressives need to reach and
inspire large audiences, and professional storytellers understand how to make that happen.”
“I won my election to the State House by a single vote – briefly earning my Party the majority
- only have to my victory stripped away by the courts. I’m now working with Roger’s team on my
re-match. I cannot tell you how much I wish I’d had Writers Action behind me the
first time around.”
Scholarships
The “Paul Wellstone Scholarship Fund.”
We are dedicated to finding the right package of services that are affordable for every progressive campaign and cause. If you are interested in our services, our account managers will walk you through our discounts, special offers, and group rates.
We have also established the Wellstone Scholarship fund so that we can accept donations. Your contribution will help us provide our services to progressive campaigns and causes that cannot afford to pay.
Contact
For more information, or to speak to an account manager who can discuss our offerings and find the right package of services to suit your needs, email admin@writersaction.com, or fill out the following: