SUPPORT THE 29th WASHINGTON WRITERS CONFERENCE
If you love writing—or love a writer—we encourage you to participate in our conference
by pledging your support to the writing life.
Help WIW continue to provide the support, networking, and growth opportunities that all
writers need—help us continue to do the write thing. more
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29th WASHINGTON WRITERS CONFERENCE
THE WRITING LIFE: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
View the conference schedule and register to attend the Spring Conferemce here.
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ONE-ON-ONE 10-MINUTE AGENT SESSIONS (WIW members only)
During the WIW conference, you can sign up for two one-on-one ten-minute agent sessions. Agent pitch sessions will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with a lunch break from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Available only to WIW members, agent sessions are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Conference participants may sign up for two one-on-one meetings, and the deadline is Monday, May 26, 2008. more
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AGENTS BREAKFAST (Members and Nonmember)
For an additional charge of $35 for members or $50 for nonmembers, participants may attend the Agents Breakfast where you will have the opportunity for an hour-long breakfast at a table of writers led by an agent. The Agents Breakfast is scheduled on a first-come first-served basis. No on-site sign-ups. No walk-ins.. more***
Pitching Formula for Success—Do Your Homework
Though presented with dozens upon dozens of unsolicited manuscripts, as well as hundreds of query letters, literary agents are always looking for new ways to find fresh, talented writers. A face, a handshake and a voice to go with a manuscript can move things along. Now more than ever, agents are attending writers' conferences to make that unique connection with their next prospective client. more
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Two months ago, WIW conducted its 2008 Member Survey.
This survey was extremely helpful in learning more about the members of our organization, needs, and hopes. During the survey period, from January 11 to January 30, 2008, 214 members responded – about sixteen percent of the total membership. Your Board was pleased with this response, as it is statistically sufficient to represent the entire membership. more
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The WIW Membership Recruiting Contest
As WIW members, we know about the benefits WIW offers—seminars, workshops, conferences, networking, and, most importantly, learning from each other. Because every member makes our group stronger and enriches our collective experience, we'd like your help recruiting new members—please spread the word among your friends and colleagues who may be interested in joining WIW. more
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To reflect the love of writing that we know our members share, your Board of Directors decided to update our logo and to add a tagline for our group that proudly states our commitment to the life of writing. We also think it is a look and statement that will help us continue to make our mark as the largest regional writing group in the United States. more
White House Holiday Decorations Press Preview
By Jeannie Block Bessmer, WIW Member
More than 120 local, national, and foreign journalists covered the Press Preview of the Holiday Decorations at the White House in late November 2007. First Lady Laura Bush made the announcement of the decorations’ theme of holidays in the national parks. more
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WIW's Job Bank connects communication professionals and potential employers. Subscribers receive listings of current employment opportunities and employers receive access to a wide range of diverse and experienced professionals, including writers, editors, designers, production management specialists, publicists and much more!
Saturday, June 14
THE WRITING LIFE: Where We Are and Where We Are Going
Cafritz Conference Center
The George Washington University
800 21st St. N.W.
Washington, D.C., 20052
Tuesday, May 27, 4 - 7 p.m.
Coffee Klatch
WIW Office
1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Suite 701
Washington, D.C. 20036
To read about the latest Coffee Klatch, click here.
More Coffee Klatches to come on June 24.
Check back for more details later.
Tuesday, May 20, 7 - 9 p.m.
Food and beverage orders from 6:30 p.m.
Three Keys to Writing a Good Political Book with Mark Stricherz, author of Why the Democrats are Blue: Secular Liberalism and the Decline of the People's Party
La Madeleine
7607 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
On Monday, June 16, 2008, for the BloomsDay 2008 Reading, there will be a reading of highlights from Ulysses. The reading will be at the Irish Channel Pub, located at H and 5th Streets NW. It will begin at 7:00 PM. This event is sponsored by The Harvard Club of Washington, D.C. and Washington Independent Writers. It is open to the public, and there is no admission charge.
Storytelling in Three Modes: Writing about Travel, History, and Science with author David Taylor, Ginseng, the Divine Root
By Solveig Eggerz, WIW Member
When David Taylor began to research his book, Ginseng, the Divine Root, he was aware of the two tracks of ginseng, often called the “root of life.” Conceptually, he moved back and forth between ginseng’s North American origins and ginseng’s 1,000 year history in Asia. American ginseng and Asian ginseng are both perceived to have enormous medicinal properties. But the proportion of active compounds differs to the point where Asian ginseng is known as a “warming” herb that boosts energy while American ginseng is a “cooling” herb that reduces stress. more
By Gil Klein,WIW Member
Washington, D.C., is gasbag central, and that makes it Mecca for a speechwriter.
That’s how Ed Vilade, who has made a living writing speeches for 25 years, summed up the opportunities available in this city for those few brave souls who wish to pursue that trade.
“The more people who blanch at the mention of speechwriting, the better it is for me,” Vilade told about 30 WIW members at a speechwriting workshop on March 4. more
By Michael Causey, WIW Past President
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He makes history come alive and inspires other writers in the process. It’s all in a day’s work for author, historian and Silver Spring resident Jay Winik. After winning praise and achieving bestseller listings with his instant classic April 1865, Winik is back with an even more ambitious work: The Great Upheaval: America and the Birth of the Modern World 1788-1800 (Harper). more
Getting Your Writing Done
By Joseph Barbato, WIW Past President
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From veteran to neophyte writers, the complaint keeps coming in a great chorus: “I can never find time to write!” And my response, alas, offers little solace: “You never will find the time to write. No one ever has. You have to make time to write. Then you have a chance of getting your scribbling done.” more