WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS
formerly the Austin Writers' League
Writing Groups
Writing Groups
Writing groups are a way for writers to learn from and support each other. Although the groups are not an official activity of the Writers' League, the League is pleased to share meeting information as available to encourage this important mentoring system. Formats of these groups vary as do the personalties of each group. Call or write for more information before attending a meeting.
You do not need to be a member of the WLT to join one of these groups, but we encourage you to join us so you can take advantage of the many other benefits offered to members. Please refer to Don webb's short article, "Planting the Garden" which follows the list of writing groups.
| Austin Christian Writers' Guild |
Meets from 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in Austin, Texas. Annual Conference is February 25-26, 2000 with Sally Stuart and Jim Watkins through the American Christian Writers' Conference. Contact: Lin Harris linjer@ix.netcom.com for directions to meeting site and general ACWG information. |
| Austin Fiction, Writers Group |
Meets 7 to 9 p.m. every other Wednesday at Barnes and Noble Arboretum coffee shop for coffee, discussion, and fellowship. Short story and novel writers welcome. Lectures and work shops scheduled for new writers. Small critique groups. This is an informal group of people who have an interest in all types of fiction and are interested in publication. 837-2189. dcharlesdunn@aol.com. |
Austin Fiction Writers Group (AFWG) |
Our goal is to create a dynamic group of writers -- spanning career stages, genre interests, and experience levels-- all enthusiastically pursuing the art of fiction. We meet one Saturday each month in NW Austin. For more information see http://users3.ev1.net/~diane_holmes/index.htm |
Austin Mystery Writers |
Contact Karen MacInerney at 512.330.0049 or email macinerney@sbcglobal.net. |
Austin Poetry Slam |
Mike Henry leads this group Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (open mic), 8 p.m. (slam) at Ego's, 510 S. Congress, Austin. For more information, call 512.474.7091 or visit http://www.austinslam.com. |
| Austin Poetry Society | The Austin, Texas, chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas and an affiliate of the Academy of American Poets. APS members engage in outreach to the community, meet informally to hone their poetic skills. An eclectic array of speakers address the society at mothly meetings, and the society offers monthly and annual competitions as incentives. Membership is open to all, and visitors are welcome to sit in on meetings. Contact apswebmaster@austinpoetrysociety.org for more information. |
| Austin Screenwriters |
1st and 3rd Saturdays at 9:30 am, Bookpeople, 3rd Floor. www.austinscreenwriters.org for schedule and info. |
| Austin SCBWI |
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Austin Chapter offers a variety of services to people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature. Contact: Debbie Dunn, debbiedunn@debbielorendunn.com |
| Austin Songwriters Group |
Meets 1st Wednesday of every month at the Saxon Pub, 1326 S. Lamar. http://www.austinsongwriter.org |
| Austin Writergirls |
Meets twice monthly for lunch. Women writers with varied publishing experience. For location, dates, and times, contact Kim Lane at kimbolou@aol.com. |
Austin Unbound Screenwriters |
Screenwriters helping screenwriters since 2001. Austin Unbound, formerly Austin Screenwriters 2, meets the FIRST and THIRD Tuesday nights of each month, from 7-10PM. Membership is open to screenwriters of all levels who are committed to becoming the best writers they can be. Over half of our members are competition finalists and/or produced screenwriters and film professionals. For more information and the location of the next meeting, email: littlewriter50@yahoo.com . For more information, please see our website: http://www.austinbound.com |
Brazos Writers |
Second Thursday of a month at 7 PM at the new P. David Romei Arts Center building, 2275 Dartmouth Street, College Station. Brazos Writers is a nonprofit support community for those interested in the development and encouragement of all types of writers. Our regular meetings consist of speakers and programs. We also have regularly meeting critique groups. If you're in Aggieland, come join us ! www.brazoswriters.org |
| Christian Writers Group of Greater San Antonio |
Mondays, 6:30 to 8:30p.m., First Baptist Church of Universal City, in Faith Building, 1401 Pat Booker Road; Universal City, TX; 210-658-6394;You do not have to be members of the church to attend. For more information, contact Brenda Blanchard at ZBGP1@aol.com. |
Dallas Fort Worth Writers' Workshop |
The Dallas Fort Worth Writers' Workshop is a group of writers who
share information and critique each others' work on a weekly basis.
We also bring four to six editors/agents annually to Dallas to meet
with us (including pitching work to them). We have about 100 members,
and meet Wednesday nights at 7:00 in Euless, TX.
Dallas Fort Worth Writers' Workshop, P.O. Box 205, Euless, TX 76039-0205 or e-mail ajustice@arlington.net also see their Web page at http://authorlink.com/dfwpage.html |
Denton Writers' League |
Meets at 10:30am on the 2nd Saturday at the North Branch of the Denton Library located at 3020 N. Locust St in Denton, TX. For more information, e-mail Joni Latham at joni@verizon.net or visit the DWL website at http://byjoni.com/dwl |
| Eclectic Writer Critique Group |
Meets every three weeks. For date, time, location, and other information, email Sean Swank at sean_swank@yahoo.com. |
Fort Bend Writers Guild (Sugarland) |
Meets weekly at the Barnes & Noble, First Colony, in Sugar Land, Tx, at 7 p.m., Tuesdays. They are a group of 10-14 fiction writers interested in marketing their product. Contact Roger Paulding at rogerpaulding@earthlink.net or telephone 281-498-5025. |
Hallettsville Writers Group |
Meets every other Monday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 1205 E. 3rd St. Any genre is acceptable. All ages and genders are welcome. No fees or dues. Contact Darrell Phelps at 361.798.4437 or email eodtxn@aol.com. |
| Highland Lakes Writers |
2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Marble Falls Library, Joyce Minatra, 512/715-8800 |
Houston Writers Network In The Heights |
2nd Thursday, The Yale Street Coffee House, 2617 Yale in the Heights. For more info contact Holly Furgason at (713)880-1474 or visit the website at http://www.geocities.com/houstonwriters/ |
Irving Writers' Connection |
Meets 7 pm, second Monday of the month at Barnes & Noble, Irving Mall, and last Monday of the month at the Irving Arts Center. Critique and visiting speakers for writers of all experience levels and genres. Newcomers welcome! http://mywebpage.netscape.com/irvingwriterscon |
National League Of Pen Women (Dallas Chapter) |
National League Of Pen Women (Dallas Chapter) meet on the 1st Sat. of month 10 a.m. at the Dallas Library Lakewood Branch Conference Room |
| North Austin Writers |
Meets twice a month; contact Omega Baker, 512-491-8153, femgimp2003@myway.com |
Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization
(NETWO) |
NETWO meets the 3rd Friday of every month in Winfield at 2:00. Business meeting at 6:30, critique session at 7:00. Anyone interested in writing is invited. NETWO hosts a writers’ conference each April and a writers’ workshop each fall. NETWO, P.O. Box 411, Winfield, TX 75493 or contact: Georgia Henson, 903-856-6724 or e-mail to: jimcallan@winnsboro.com Visit http://www.netwo.org |
| Novel in Progress |
For more than 10 years, Novel in Progress has been meeting the second and fourth Sundays, Austin Recreation Center at 1:30 - 3 :30 p.m. All genres are invited. See web site at http://nip.lizardfire.com/ or call John 512 458 1855. |
| Old Quarry (Nonfiction) will be in recess during the Summer, 2004 |
2nd & 4th Thursday, 6 - 8:30p.m., Contact Dorie Bargmann, dorietx@msn.com, for location. |
| Poetry |
2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Hancock Recreation Center. Scott Wiggerman, 512.467-0678, swiggerman@austin.rr.com |
Poetry Discussion Group - Dallas |
POETRY DISCUSSION GROUP (Dallas) - Each meeting led by a different member of the discussion group. Ted Hughes Location: Center for Non-Profit Management 2900 Live Oak St. 214/821-0911. Contact person: Sue Glenn 214/828-1715 |
Poetry Society of Texas, Dallas |
THE POETRY SOCIETY OF TEXAS ( IN DALLAS) meets the second Saturday of the month, January through June, October, and December. Their annual awards are given in November, and their student awards made in May. Regular meetings are held at the Preston Royal Library at 5626 Royal Lane, Dallas at 2:30 p.m. Contact: Budd Mahan at bmahan@airmail.net for more information. |
| Romance Writers of America, Austin Chapter |
2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Howson Library, Jan Bold: check out their website: www.austinrwa.com |
San Antonio Romance Authors |
San Antonio Romance Authors, a chapter of Romance Writers of America, meets on the third Wednesday at 6:30 PM at Bambino Huey’s Cafe, 606 Embassy Oaks, San Antonio. Speaker presentation begins at 7:30. Contact President Linda Carroll-Bradd at lindakcb@yahoo.com or go to http://www.sararwa.com. |
| San Gabriel Writers League |
1st Thursday, 7 p.m., Georgetown County Extension Bldg. Joan Upton Hall at JMUHall@aol.com. Visit the SGWL website at http://www.sgwl.org. |
| San Gabriel Writers League |
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 6 pm. varying locations. Contact Deborah Weiss (deborahweiss@att.net) or Ginnie Voelker (algin@igg-tx.net). |
SCBWI (Southwest Texas Chapter, San Antonio) |
Contact Jan Kilby, Publicity Coordinator, (210) 657-0171, or Laurie Brown, Regional Advisor, (210) 656-7710, for details on meetings times and locations. |
| SF/Fantasy/Horror |
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Hancock Recreation Center. Wendy Wheeler, 512-275-5830, email, wendyw@io.comor visit http://www.wendy-wheeler.com/slugtrib.html |
Science Fiction Romance |
Science Fiction Romance is a writing organization blending just that - romance and science fiction genres. This genre covers the spectrum from straight science fiction / fantasy novels with romantic subplots to works where the romance is the main subplot or complication. Visit www.sfronline.com to learn more about this organization. |
Short Mystery Fiction Society |
Mystery authors and fans are encouraged to join a free email discussion group that focuses on short mystery and crime fiction. Brainstorm plot problems, post questions about crime scene technology or discuss other genre-related topics. To subscribe, send an email to: shortmystery-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. For more information, contact Earl Staggs at earl3429@aol.com. |
| Sisters in Crime |
Men & women interested in mysteries welcome. Programs 2nd Sunday. Contact Joyce Arquette, 512-266-6543, email: jamck@ev1.net. Visit http://www.hotsinc.org for the Texas chapter. |
Society for Technical Communication (Austin
Chapter) |
For technical writers, editors, illustrators, Web designers, and others: if your job involves communicating technical information, the Society for Technical Communication has the resources you need to help you do your job better... and to move your career forward. Monthly meetings are 6 to 8 p.m. on fourth Tuesdays, in the first floor auditorium of the MCC building, 3925 West Braker Lane. For a map and more details, see http://www.stcaustin.org. |
Southwest Writers |
Southwest Writers meet on the 1st Sat. of month 1 p.m.at the Dallas
Library Lakewood Branch Conference Room. 913 Reverchon Dr., Dallas,
TX 75211-2338 Kaye-Rose Miller, 214-339-5230 or Sammy Thompson, 972-681-3271 |
Story Circle Network |
For women interested in life-writing. Times, places, other information at http://www.storycircle.org |
Texas Coalition of Writers |
Texas Coalition of Authors is a non-profit corporation for the purpose of helping Texas authors market their books. To receive the free monthly e-newsletter with calendar of literary events, write join@texasauthors.org. Contact Linda S. Bingham, Texas Coalition of Authors, www.texasauthors.org |
Trinity Writers' Workshop |
Meets Tuesdays, 6:30 pm at the Bedford Boy's Ranch (Arts building), 2801 Forest Ridge Dr., Bedford, Texas 76095. Read and critique. Annual Sept conference (with Tarrant County College) features contest with cash prizes and speakers like Tom Sawyer, former head script writer for TV series "Murder She Wrote." See http://www.TrinityWritersWorkshop.com. |
West Texas Writers |
West Texas Writers meets at 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month except for June, July, and August in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Midland County Public Library, 301 W. Missouri, Midland, TX 79705. All are welcome. Contact Tomwhite@cableone.net. |
Word Goddesses (Irving, Texas) |
Word Goddesses is extending invitations to women creative writers with humorous, adventure oriented or new age slant to join new workshop. Meets alternate Wednesday nights near Hwy 183 & Valley View Lane. No membership dues at this time. For info, e-mail to gtsmrt@juno.com. |
Writers Club of Pasadena |
Meets in the community room of the Fairmont Branch Pasadena Public Library on Fairmont Parkway at 1 PM. The objectives of the Writers Club of Pasadena are "to encourage members to WRITE and to share themselves and their thoughts with others without fear of hurtful criticism or misunderstandings. Members encourage each other to seek publication and give practical help regarding format and markets at every meeting." Visit: http://writersclubofpasadena.cjb.net/ for more information. |
Writing From The Heart |
Meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at the Writers' League of Texas. For more information, contact Mindy Reed at MindyRed@aol.com. |
| Writing Practice |
Every Saturday, 10-noon, Mother's Cafe. Sandi Heimsath, 512-453-3446. Writing practice according to Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. |
Planting the Garden
By Don Webb
There are three ways to find both support for writers to write and critiques for writers to improve their writing. Special Interest Groups, Special Interest Groups, and Special Interest Groups. Or SIGs. These groups can meet face-to-face anywhere in the world. Groups can be discovered through local libraries, college or university English departments, or booksellers. In Texas, a writer can also find those groups printed each month on the back page of the Texas Writer. The Writers' League of Texas wants to locate as many writing groups as possible in Texas. The League also wants to encourage statewide formation of new groups.
Here’s what you can do about it. Think about something that you would like to do in your area of Texas.
At first, try something simple, like a general critique and networking group.
Second, find a place that would host it maybe a local library or a bookstore.
Third, let the League know about it, so we can list it in Texas Writer’s SIG page and in Footnotes, the League’s weekly electronic newsletter.
Fourth, get some local publicity you might want to run ads in the local free paper or get a free spot as a community service announcement on THE radio.
Fifth, meet regularly.
The secrets of running a SUCCESSFUL group are four.
- Be sure that you really talk about writing at every meeting.
- After the first six months, divide the work (such as, providing snacks, cleaning up, locking up, etc.) among two or three people, not just one.
- Be open to different kinds of writing and writers in the beginning. everyone will learn a great deal from differing viewpoints.
- Ask group members to mention their affiliation when they buy books, writers’ supplies, submit articles or speak in schools, and the group will slowly gain local prestige.
Obviously, SIGs can have members that are not in the League, but tell the League about your activities and the thoughtful staff send information packets about the League. Do groups work? I can think of about fourteen people that have been published since the SF/Fantasy/Horror group started in Austin about sixteen years ago. You have the power.
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