[st_row gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” img_repeat=”full” 1=”video_url_mp4″ autoplay=”yes” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234980bd2″ ][st_column id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234980b77″ ][st_row_2 id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349641b7″ ][st_column_2 span=”span6″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234960e69″ ][st_heading el_title=”greeting header” normal_font_color=”#071bc9″ normal_font_size=”32″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_left=”” div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23495e40a” ]Welcome![/st_heading][st_text el_title=”GREETINGS” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23495e96b” ]The Gulf Coast Writers Association is proud to provide a forum for fellowship, education, and information for writers in our community. Whether you write for pleasure or profit, you’ll find support from our members. And with an average of 175 members, there’s always encouragement and friendly guidance to help you improve your writing skills. Plus, our monthly speakers’ events are informative and fun, providing expert advice on topics such as writing techniques, publishing, marketing, and others. So no matter what your genre: general fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s, young adult, historical fiction, romance, mystery/thriller, memoirs, and more, you’re in good company. Check out our website and see what exciting things we have in store for you.[/st_text][st_divider 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234963358″ disabled_el=”yes” ][/st_divider][st_text el_title=”announcement” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23496382f” ]

Announcements

I have tried to post any other event cancellations on the website, but don’t have information on all events. Before you plan to attend any event, be sure to check to see if it is still scheduled.

Meet your  GCWA 2020 officers.

The GCWA writing contest winners received their prizes by mail and will be invited to attend a meeting later this year to celebrate and read their winning submissions. The winning entries are posted on the website. See winning entries here.

Send your suggestions for speakers or topics at meetings this year to Bob McCarthy.

Handouts from Bob and Judy’s presentation on Self-Publishing

Legal handouts from Anne Dalton’s November Presentation

Presentation slides from Charley Valera’s October Presentation

Submit your ideas for Workshops

Visit our new page for Blogs, Podcasts, and Webinars for writers.

Interested in joining a new critique or reading group? [list of current groups]

more announcements[/st_text][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”” ][/st_divider][st_text el_title=”game” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349604f0″ ]

New Writing Game

[/st_text][st_divider 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”” ][/st_divider][/st_column_2][st_column_2 span=”span6″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234964168″ ][st_heading el_title=”speaker header ” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ text_align=”center” normal_font_color=”” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349617b8″ ]September 2020[/st_heading][st_text el_title=”next speaker copy copy” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”text_e64522ce3c97845f0c343e9b1598dd3d” ]

[/st_text][st_heading el_title=”speaker header Sept” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ text_align=”center” normal_font_color=”” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”heading_1461da4d97f26efca34f39d8933965d2″ ]Jill Clark[/st_heading][st_image el_title=”image” image_file=”https://gulfwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/JillClark.jpg” image_size_wrapper=”” image_size=”full” image_alt=”Geneva Kelly” image_alignment=”center” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234962010″ ][/st_image][st_text el_title=”next speaker copy” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234962a2f” ]

Topic: How to Velcro Your Writing and Make It Stick

Jill will provide tips on how to find markets that fit your writing style and genre, how to use social media to your advantage, and creative ways to market your work once it is published.

Jill Clark freelances prose and poetry. Among others, her writing has appeared in Lerner Publications, Pocket Change Literary Magazine, Hedge Apple Literary Magazine, Ariel Chart Literary Review, The Nature Conservancy, and The Henry David Thoreau Institute. She hosts workshops, lesson plans, and activities for children in libraries and schools around Florida-based on characters, themes, or literary techniques generated from her recent publication Loose Balloons.

Please blog Jill at www.jillswriterscafe.com if you would like her to host an event or presentation, purchase her book at a reduced rate, or if you would like the author and illustrator to personalize the book.

To preview a portion of the book from Amazon select:

Loose Balloons Children’s Poetry Book Jill Clark

Future speakers.[/st_text][st_text el_title=”date and time” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349609f5″ ]Meeting: September 19, 2020, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Location: [map] Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library
4820 Leonard Street
Cape Coral, Florida 33904

First time guests free[/st_text][st_divider 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”” ][/st_divider][/st_column_2][/st_row_2][st_text el_title=”Mississippi” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23496410e” ]If you are looking for Gulf Coast Writers in Mississippi, click here.[/st_text][st_row_2 id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234980b26″ ][st_column_2 id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234980ad3″ ][st_row_3 gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” img_repeat=”full” 1=”video_url_mp4″ autoplay=”yes” border_color=”#000″ div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349653d2″ ][st_column_3 span=”span12″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234965386″ ][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234965336″ ][/st_divider][/st_column_3][/st_row_3][st_row_3 gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” img_repeat=”full” 1=”video_url_mp4″ autoplay=”yes” border_color=”#000″ div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234980a6a” ][st_column_3 span=”span6″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23497f9c0″ ][st_text el_title=”Join Us” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234965ff2″ ]

Join Us!

Gulf Coast Writers provide ideas, support, encouragement, resources and networking opportunities to fellow writers. Don’t miss out on all the great speakers we have planned for the upcoming year. Click button below to learn what you will get within our association. Only $40 annual ($50 for families). Come join the fun![/st_text][st_button el_title=”membership” button_text=”Membership Application/Renewal” button_type_url=”https://gulfwriters.org/join-us/” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23497eb57″ ][/st_button][st_spacer id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23497ef87″ ][/st_spacer][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23497f3f2″ ][/st_divider][st_text el_title=”Facebook” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23497f963″ ] LIKE our Facebook page and check out our meeting photos.[/st_text][/st_column_3][st_column_3 span=”span6″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234980a1b” ][st_button 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” el_title=”Membership2″ button_text=”Membership Application/Renewal” button_type_url=”https://gulfwriters.org/join-us/” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349804aa” ][/st_button][st_text el_title=”Dear Members” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349809c1″ ]Dear Members: Renew now! We value your membership and don’t want you to miss the exciting events we have planned for this year. Dues are payable from Fall until January 31. If you haven’t renewed and plan to attend our next meeting, please bring your money or check with you. Or you can pay today! Simply click the Membership Application tab and renew your membership online via PayPal. If you aren’t sure if you have paid your membership dues, please e-mail website@GulfWriters.org.[/st_text][/st_column_3][/st_row_3][/st_column_2][/st_row_2][/st_column][/st_row][st_row gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” img_repeat=”full” 1=”video_url_mp4″ autoplay=”yes” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349818f1″ ][st_column span=”span12″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349818a6″ ][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234981877″ ][/st_divider][/st_column][/st_row][st_row background=”solid” solid_color_value=”#e6e4e4″ child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498983c” ][st_column span=”span12″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349897e5″ ][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498244c” ][/st_divider][st_heading 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” 3=”#_EDITTED” 4=”#_EDITTED” el_title=”good news heading” heading_icon_icon=”fa fa-heart” text_align=”center” normal_font_color=”#071bc9″ normal_font_size=”32″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_left=”” div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234982b05″ ]Latest Good News[/st_heading][st_text 1=”#_EDITTED” el_title=”good news instructions” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234983082″ ]If there is an ellipsis (…) at the end of a post here, that means there is more to read. To read a complete post, click on the headline. Or, if you want to scroll through ALL of our Good News, Click Here for more good news. Good news is for members only. If you would like to join in the fun, visit the Membership Application Page to learn more about joining. If you are are a GCWA member with Good News, please send email to website@gulfwriters.org.[/st_text][st_blog el_title=”Good news” count=”3″ category=”3″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ pagination=”no” elements=”title__#__excerpt__#__ ” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498448f” ][/st_blog][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349848eb” ][/st_divider][st_heading el_title=”Events heading” heading_icon_icon=”fa fa-group” heading_icon_color=”#071bc9″ text_align=”center” normal_font_color=”#071bc9″ normal_font_size=”32″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_left=”” div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234984f3d” ]Events[/st_heading][st_text el_title=”events instructions” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349854aa” ]We get a lot of upcoming events sent to us, from all over Florida and even beyond. If there is an ellipsis (…) at the end of a post here, that means there is more to read. To read a complete post, click on the headline. Take a look at all the events. You can Click Here for more Events, and you can go to our calendar to see those that are posted in our local Lee county and surrounding areas. If you are affiliated with a group that is hosting an event that is relevant to authors, please send email to website@gulfwriters.org.[/st_text][st_blog el_title=”Events” count=”3″ category=”44″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ pagination=”no” elements=”title__#__excerpt__#__ ” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349860a7″ ][/st_blog][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349864e5″ ][/st_divider][st_heading el_title=”Writing Contest Header” heading_icon_icon=”fa fa-pencil” text_align=”center” normal_font_color=”#071bc9″ normal_font_size=”32″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_left=”” div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234986b11″ ]Writing Contests[/st_heading][st_text el_title=”writing contests instructions” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498704f” ]If there is an ellipsis (…) at the end of a post here, that means there is more to read. To read a complete post, click on the headline. Or, if you want to scroll through ALL of Writing Contests we have heard about, Click Here for more writing contests. If you are affiliated with a group that is hosting a writing contest, please send email to website@gulfwriters.org.[/st_text][st_blog el_title=”Writing Contest” count=”3″ category=”42″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ pagination=”no” elements=”title__#__excerpt__#__ ” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234987c34″ ][/st_blog][st_divider div_margin_bottom=”25″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234988077″ ][/st_divider][st_heading el_title=”Announcement header” heading_icon_icon=”fa fa-bullhorn” heading_icon_color=”#071bc9″ text_align=”center” normal_font_color=”#071bc9″ normal_font_size=”32″ wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” div_margin_top=”5″ div_margin_left=”” div_margin_bottom=”25″ div_margin_right=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae2349886b2″ ]Announcements and Opportunities[/st_heading][st_text el_title=”announcements instructions” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234988bb1″ ]If there is an ellipsis (…) at the end of a post here, that means there is more to read. To read a complete post, click on the headline. Or, if you want to scroll through ALL of our Announcements, Click Here for more announcements. Also, if you would like to make an announcement of your own, please send email to website@gulfwriters.org.[/st_text][st_blog el_title=”Announcements” count=”3″ category=”41″ div_margin_bottom=”25″ pagination=”no” elements=”title__#__excerpt__#__ ” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae234989783″ ][/st_blog][/st_column][/st_row][st_row gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” img_repeat=”full” 1=”video_url_mp4″ autoplay=”yes” child_of=”none” div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498c9ff” ][st_column span=”span6″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498a546″ ][st_text el_title=”website announcements” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498a4f2″ ]

GCWA officers

Meet the officers and directors for 2018/19.

Members Poetry and Prose

See the latest contributions by our members, Lorraine Walker Williams, Jim Gustafson and Joe Pacheco. Send your own poetry and short prose to website@gulfwriters.org.

New GCWA meeting agenda

We are replacing our long business meetings with contributions from our members. If you would like to speak at one of our meetings, please contact Bob McCarthy at Programs@GulfWriters.org or Irene Smith at Membership@GulfWriters.org

[/st_text][/st_column][st_column span=”span6″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498c9ae” ][st_text el_title=”Word Song Editor needed” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498ad7d” ]

Looking for Word Song editor

Due to time constraints our News Magazine WORD SONG is needing an Executive Editor with MailChimp experience in order to continue. If you would like to know more about it, please email TheWord@gulfwriters.org We will continue to send out a basic meeting announcement until then. If you are not seeing these emails, please search your SPAM and PROMOTIONS folder and then add the address to your contacts list. Or contact membership@gulfwriters.org to verify that your email is in the system. You can click here to see the current edition and get instructions for how to find our emails.[/st_text][st_buttonbar 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” el_title=”Word Song button” distance_between=”0″ buttonbar_show_title=”yes__#__ ” buttonbar_show_icon=”yes__#__ ” buttonbar_group=” ” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498c412″ ][st_item_buttonbar button_text=”Newsletters” button_type_url=”https://eepurl.com/b2I7gT” open_in=”new_window” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498c3c2″ ][/st_item_buttonbar][/st_buttonbar][st_text 1=”#_EDITTED” 2=”#_EDITTED” el_title=”more website announcements ” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ wrapper_bg_opacity_slider=”” id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23498c94e” ]

Services page on website

We have added a Writing Services page to the website. GCWA members, if you have a writing-related business you would like listed, please contact website@gulfwriters.org. No fancy ads, just listings for editors, illustrators, publishers, ghost writers, website designers, etc.[/st_text][/st_column][/st_row][st_text el_title=”Mississippi” wrapper_padding_top=”0″ wrapper_padding_left=”0″ wrapper_padding_bottom=”0″ wrapper_padding_right=”0″ id_wrapper=”elm_5bae23496410e” ]If you are looking for Gulf Coast Writers in Mississippi, click here.[/st_text]