Our Mission

The mission of the South Carolina Writers Association is to offer a supportive environment for people to become better writers.

Our past and what we do

The SCWA, which began in 1990 as the South Carolina Writers Workshop, is dedicated to writers in all genres and levels of writing skill. It is led by a diversified volunteer board of directors, all of whom are writers themselves. Many of the association’s members participate in chapters and critique groups located across the state, where writers meet to support each other in structured and non-structured ways. (Currently, in 2021, many of the groups continue to meet virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic while some have begun meeting in person again; some are meeting with a combination of in-person and virtual settings. Contact the chapter leaders listed on the chapter page for the most up-to-date information.) The board provides guidance and support to the chapters and works with them to meet local needs. Services also are designed to support members who are not affiliated with a chapter.

In addition to issuing The Quill, the SCWA’s newsletter which helps members stay updated on chapter news, upcoming writing experiences and submission opportunities, the board also serves its members through its Events & Education program of workshops, conferences and retreats. These are designed to help members develop their writing skills, to network with other members and professionals in the industry and to assist in understanding and gaining access to the publishing side of writing. For the past two decades the SCWA also has created its own publications of member works – the online journal, The Petigru Review — also open to submissions from the public.

Financials

The SCWA is supported through its membership fees, event registration fees, donations and with generous grants from the South Carolina Arts Commission and South Carolina Humanities.

Governance

The SCWA is governed by its Bylaws, Policies and Procedures, copies of which are available at myscwa.org/policies or upon request; email administrator@myscwa.org.

Official Details

The South Carolina Writers Association (SCWA) is a literary arts 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Federal Tax ID number: 57-0922424

UEI#: CQEJGPSJBHV4

Telephone: 864-406-5495 (NOTE: This number is only monitored for voicemails.)