Those Who Teach: Katie McDougall, The Porch

In 2014, Katie McDougall found herself sitting at a coffee shop across from Susannah Felts, who was excitedly sharing her dreams of opening a dedicated writing center in Nashville. Susannah had been missing the vibrant literary scene she was a part of in Chicago and wanted to bring that energy here. Katie was teaching high school English but longed for an opportunity to explore writing as a career, and she jumped at the invitation to be a part of Susannah’s vision. The Porch was born, and they launched the website later that year, not anticipating the response that was coming from the community.

In the years since launching, The Porch has become Nashville’s foremost writing community, now offering more than 100 adult writing workshops and hosting around 20 events each year from their headquarters in an adorable little cottage in Berry Hill. Both Susannah and Katie are experienced writers and educators with long lists of published works and awards, and they’re sharing their experience and earned wisdom with burgeoning writers across Middle Tennessee alongside an extensive roster of experienced and highly qualified instructors.

As the community has grown, so too has the breadth of programs they’re able to offer, always working to fulfill their mission “to inspire, educate and connect writers and readers of all ages and stages.” In addition to traditional writing groups, they offer workshops on every aspect of the writing and publishing journey, from research and finding inspiration to editing and book proposals. The Porch also hosts reading groups, such as Lit Mag League and Better Off Read; a Brown Bag Lunch Series, in which participants discuss various elements of writing and the writing life over a casual meal; and youth programs that include the Slant Creative Writing Summer Camp and the Novel Collab Lab. And their reach is ever-expanding, as they help amplify diverse voices through the Immigrants Write program.

The success of this unique nonprofit is evident in the many students who have been accepted into MFA programs, been published in literary journals or even received book deals. But more than that, it’s evident in the hundreds of lives that have been improved by the creative support that The Porch offers. “The classes I’ve taught tend to have so many beautiful moments when people connect and bond,” says Katie. “I’m currently facilitating a workshop at Mending Hearts, a therapeutic community for women in addiction recovery, and the courage and support that comes from writing their hearts out and then sharing has blown me away.”