SCWA has been as busy as ever this fall. Here are updates on our various activities:

Website:

The new SCWA website is up and running, and it’s serving our members well. As with every new site, there have been minor glitches, which are being addressed. We appreciate your patience as we do so.

The new site is designed to serve or membership better, but we’re not stopping there. Beginning in the new year, we plan additional upgrades and an optimization project to improve how we reach writers everywhere.  

Publications:

The Petigru Review. We’re excited about the 2020 edition of The Petigru Review, which is just days away from being issued. Look for a special announcement on it soon.

Catfish Stew. The window for submissions to Catfish Stew will remain open until Jan. 15. Submitting your writing in a competition is a proven way to grow as a writer and enhance your skills. We encourage you to submit to this members-only anthology.

McCray Nickens and Coker Fellowships. We’re so proud to partner with the South Carolina Academy of Authors to offer $1,500 poetry and fiction fellowships, judged this year by Wiley Cash and Tiana Clark. Submissions are open through Jan. 15.

Submit entries for Catfish Stew and the McCray Nickens and Coker Fellowships at https://thepetigrureview.submittable.com/submit.

Membership/Chapters:

First Statewide Virtual Genre Group. Join SCWA for the launch of its first statewide virtual genre group, Memoir Writing. Mary Sturgill will host this new chapter starting on Jan. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. The group will meet virtually every second Thursday of the month thereafter at that same time. Participants will upload their writing via the new forum link on the SCWA website. If you would like to participate in this chapter, please contact Mary Sturgill at MarySturgill2003@yahoo.com. She will ensure you get a meeting link.

Other Statewide Genre Groups. If you are interested in hosting a statewide group in your preferred genre, please contact Nancy Allen-Mastro at scwamembership@gmail.com. You need not consider yourself an expert, only someone who wants to connect with others writing in that same genre. The host’s responsibility is to distribute meeting links and facilitate the meeting, while each participant brings insight and expertise to the conversation. We do not intend the statewide genre group to compete with local chapters but to offer you yet another collaboration outlet to support your writing.

Membership renewal. Membership renewals will occur as of April 1; however, new members can join for the remainder of 2020 and Q1 2021 for only $26. Please encourage your writer friends to take advantage of this discounted rate and build our membership roster.

Events & Education:

As announced in October, the April 2021 conference will be a virtual event. The Conference Committee is working hard on the details and examining delivery options. We hope to announce plans and open registration in December. 

In the meantime, we still have two programs to deliver to complete our 2020 virtual Member Pro Series:

“The Subtle Art of Suspense” by Craig Farris at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

“Self Editing: What Editors See That You Don’t See” by Michelle Buckman at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. (Rescheduled from Nov .11). 

These events have free registration on our website at myscwa.org.

As you know, SCWA has been awarded a grant from S.C. Humanities to assist in developing new programs, Writing Conversations and Become an Author. The Events & Education Committee is working on the delivery plans, which we expect to announce next month.

Other News:

Board of Directors nominations. We still are accepting nominations for the board of directors, either as a director or an advisor. We continue to need more talent to build on our successes and ambitious growth plans. Please contact me at scwritersassociationpresident@gmail.com if you are interested or have a suggestion. We need more diversity in all respects.

Diversity: Speaking of diversity, check out this link with Periplus. Periplus (not affiliated with SCWA) is a brand new mentorship collective for writers of color, and they are accepting applications until Dec. 15.

Writing organizations in South Carolina: SCWA is delighted to be part of the rich community of writing associations across the state offering support to all writers. However, we think there is an opportunity to better understand these organizations and examine opportunities to improve value to our members. We are creating a new initiative, the S.C. Literary Arts Partnership Project sponsored by SCWA and other essential partners. We’ll make an announcement soon! 

As always, we love hearing from our members. Please let us know how we can better serve you or how you can help our great association. You are welcome to join our board meetings, too!

Come write with us!

Mike Lee

President, Board of Directors

scwritersassociationpresident@gmail.com