meet carly ann filbin
about your instructor
Carly Ann Filbin is a multifaceted entertainer, celebrated comedian, storyteller, and the visionary force behind Written in Brooklyn. With a degree in Directing from Marymount Manhattan College, Carly brings a wealth of expertise to the art of crafting compelling stories, refining intuition, and bringing visions to life.
Her debut solo show, Validate Me, enjoyed a sold-out run at The People's Improv Theatre and garnered acclaim at the Cincinnati Fringe. This Doesn't Mean I'm Your Boyfriend, her second solo venture, made its mark at the renowned Upright Citizens Brigade before securing a summer residency at Carnegie Stage. Carly's most recent solo production, Coke Ass, premiered at Upright Citizens Brigade and concluded its successful run at Caveat Theatre.
Carly has toured the country with her captivating show, Let Me Break You Up: an Anti-Dating Game Show, and the humorous storytelling escapade Awkward Sex...and the City. she regularly graces stages with her original material, and you can catch her, along with other exceptional storytellers, at The Arlo Williamsburg for The Written in Brooklyn Storytelling Series.
A standout in the comedy scene, Carly hosts the uproarious Young Hot Sluts at Littlefield in Brooklyn. Beyond her performances, Carly is passionate about teaching. Alongside her role at Written in Brooklyn, she has shared her knowledge of comedy and writing globally, conducting workshops in cities like Copenhagen and Berlin, as well as at institutions like Muhlenburg College and within the dynamic landscape of New York City. Carly Ann Filbin is dedicated to spreading laughter and storytelling magic, captivating audiences worldwide with her unique blend of humor and insight.
"Carly's class did something for my spirit that I don't even understand. It was almost like some kind of (fun) therapy, to share our personal stories out loud and be heard and accepted so unquestioningly, in the space that Carly created - filled with honesty and laughter. Her brilliant, insightful, straightforward feedback focused on storytelling choices without making anyone feel judged for any personal story we wanted to share, or for any comedy style we wanted to try out. Carly just gets it, right away, and she wants to help you get yourself - your truth, your comedy, your story. By being her amazing self so fully, she helps you be more yourself too. She will make you laugh nonstop. And when you make her laugh, you'll feel like a million bucks. If this sounds like a love story, it's because it is!"
— Lily, filmmaker
Why Written in Brooklyn?
I've always wanted to write. The act of transforming my thoughts into a tangible creation, something I could see and hold, made me feel cool and validated. But I can’t spell, a boss once told me I have “serial killer” handwriting, and I constantly use incorrect punctuation! Not to mention I didn’t have a clue how to start putting the ideas whirling around my head on the page. I got stuck. I got anxious. I felt heated.
I’ve spent over a decade teaching myself how to write. I read memoirs, I learned comedy, I took writing classes. I wrote on the subway, I wrote on Trader Joe’s receipts, but mostly I wrote on stage. I have over a decade of experience of talking about my life in front of people, real people, who edit your piece with their reactions in real time. Sometimes I soared, sometimes I bombed and sometimes I went blank. Through years of trial and error, zero laughs, standing ovations, hazy late nights, caffeinated mornings, rewrites upon rewrites, studying comedians and New Yorker articles and tweets I’ve created a structure, a program and a way of teaching that can get even the most reluctant among us to not just start, but get horny for writing.
Writing isn’t the proper use of the oxford comma; that’s editing. Writing is dreaming and scheming, remembering and discovering, finding and creating meaning, and articulating those in-between, hard-to-reach feelings and thoughts in your distinct, original voice.
Who is this for?
Written in Brooklyn is for anyone who’s got a personal story to tell. So...everyone. No writing experience is necessary, only life experience. Whether you crave creativity, community, or accountability, you want to write a memoir, an Instagram caption, or screenplay, or if you just want to drink an oat milk latte with a fancy leather journal in your hand, you’ll find a home at Written in Brooklyn.
What do we offer?
Written in Brooklyn offers classes and workshops in all things creative non-fiction. A student can expect to take their life experiences and frame them to make a story, a joke, a show, a book, or just an interesting paragraph. We offer classes, sure, but Written in Brooklyn is about community. Join us, we’re saving you a seat.
“Before taking Storytelling with Carly I would have never dared to call myself a writer. In fact, I was terrified of even putting pen to paper because I felt I had nothing worthwhile to contribute. I entered my first class wanting to gain confidence and really hone the skills that made me... well, me. I left day one with so much excitement about what the future could hold, not only because of the community that was already established in the first day, but because I realized that everyone has a story to tell. It's the care and desire the goes into telling those stories that makes them special. Now, having gone through level 301 with Carly I can confidently say I look forward to writing and having opportunities to share these stories with others, whether they're the incredible group of individuals I've met through class, or complete strangers when I put out "Storytelling Sundays" on my Instagram. With Carly's mentoring I've found my voice, but more importantly myself.”
