Beach Shack Writers

Hello --

I am excited to have the privilege of serving as Director of Beach Shack Writers. My sole mission is to serve writers in the same fabulous, generous, and nurturing way that I have been served over the course of my own writing journey. 

My job, as I see it -- as I've long dreamed it -- is to provide writers a beautiful and peaceful place, plenty of personal space, encouragement, the company of fellow writers, and homemade cookies!

I hope to have the opportunity to serve you soon.

Cindy Whitman

Professional Bio

A graduate of the esteemed MFA Writing Seminars at Bennington College, Cindy Whitman currently serves as Director of Beach Shack Writers on Hilton Head Island, where she leads weekly beachfront writing retreats, local writing workshops, and serves as a private developmental editor. Former editor at Pink Magazine on Hilton Head Island and KA Confidential Magazine in Santa Rosa, California, Cindy has worked with writers and published authors from coast-to-coast.

A Pirate’s Alley/Pen Faulkner award winner for the Personal Essay, Cindy’s work has appeared in USA Today Weekend, Hilton Head Monthly, Skirt, KA Confidential, and numerous literary magazines. She has been awarded writing fellowships from The Cottages at Hedgebrook, The UCross Foundation, and the Vermont Studio Center.

Cindy holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from the Bennington College Writing Seminars where she honed her craft under the tutelage of some of the country’s most lauded writers, including American Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize short listed author Bob Shacochis, Jill McCorkle, and Douglas Bauer.

The recipient of the Texas Associated Press Award for Feature Writing, Cindy’s career began in newspaper and segued into advertising copywriting for national clients including Maybelline Cosmetics, Pepsi, and Pizza Hut, earning a National Addy Award for Print Copywriting and a Clio.

Cindy's literary work is represented by Brandt & Hochman Literary Boutique in New York City. She currently resides, writes, and directs Beach Shack Writers on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.