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Local writing groups, workshops, programs 1. Finding the right workshop: a. Who writes? Or wants to write? What do you want to write? Knowing these answers can help you find the best writing group or workshop for you, but if you don’t know the answer exactly, no worries mate!

Writing is a journey of discovery.

b. Genre specific? c. How often do you want to attend? d. How local? 2. What is the difference? a. Writing group or critique group – usually a periodic meeting where writers gather to discuss, read, and/or get feedback on their writing b. Writing Workshop – term can be used for a group or a conference c. Writing Conference or Convention – a one, two, three day or more gathering of writers, editors, agents d. Online or Live? -- Some online workshops: Short story structure, Urban Fantasy: Fang- Dangle Your Fantasy with Urban Delight!, Editing Like a Pro, How to write memoirs, How to write scenes, Murder & Mayhem 3. Local Groups—there’s no way I can list every single writer’s group in DFW, so if I miss one, send me the info and I’ll add it . a. Artists & Writers of Lewisville/Denton/Flower Mound www.meetup.com/Lewisville- Area-Writers-and-Artists -- various meetings b. * ConDFW www.condfw.org – yearly science fiction and fantasy convention for writers and fans at the Crowne Plaza Hotel/Galleria, Dallas. c. DFW Independent Publishers www.meetup.com/DFW-IndiePub -- monthly meetup at Coffee House Café, Dallas, TX. Everyone interested in publishing independently welcome. d. DFW Sci-Fi/Fantasy Meetup Group www.meetup.com/dfwscififantasy -- talking science fiction and fantasy in literature, media, gaming and art. Go to local conventions, signings, readings, movies, museum shows, science lectures and more, meets monthly at the Renner Frankford Library, Dallas, TX e. DFW Science Fiction Writers Meetup Group www.meetup.com/sci-fi-writers -- Meets every 2nd Thursday at the Black Eye Pea on Coit Rd in Richardson. f. DFW Tea Readers www.meetup.com/DFWTea -- meets various days with published writers as special guests discussing writing g. * DFW Writers Workshop www.dfwwritersworkshop.org – meets every Wed night at 7pm at the Euless Simmons Center, 508 Simmons St., Euless, TX

Pat Hauldren www.pathauldren.com NORTH TEXAS WRITING WORKSHOPS / 2 h. * Dallas Area Romance Writers www.dallasromanceauthors.com – local chapter of the Romance Writers of America® (RWA) meets every 4th Saturday at the Holiday Inn Select in Richardson, TX. i. Dallas Area Writers Group www.dallaswriters.org – meets 2nd Tuesday monthly at 7pm at the Cedar Hill Library, Cedar Hill, TX. j. * Dallas Mystery Writers of America mwasw.org – meets 1st Saturday of each month at 9:30am at the Texas Land & Cattle, Richardson, TX. $5 door fee, cash only, [email protected] k. Dallas Poets Community www.facebook.com/DallasPoetsCommunity – open mic readings on 1st Friday of each month at Half Price Books, NW Hwy, Dallas, TX. l. Dallas Screenwriters Association www.dallasscreenwriters.com – focuses on screenwriting, meets at KD College, Dallas, TX. (next meeting Fri. Oct 26, nonmembers $10, members free, guest: Doug Richardson writer of Die Hard 2 & Bad Boys and Hostage). Monthly scene readings last Tuesday of every month at 7pm at Half Price Books, Dallas, TX. m. * FenCon www.fencon.org – yearly science fiction & fantasy writer and fan convention in Dallas, meets at Crowne Plaza Hotel/Galleria, Dallas, TX. n. * Flower Mound Writers Group (unknown url) -- 2224 Tiimberglen Dr, Flower Mound, TX, 75028, 972-691-9718, [email protected] o. Fort Worth National Poetry Slams and Open Mic www. meetup.com/THE-FORT-WORTH- NATIONAL-POETRY-SLAMS-AND-OPEN-MIC – various spoken work workshops and performances, organized by Michael Guinn p. Fort Worth Writers www.fwnwriters.com -- meetings every Saturday, 10am to noon at Frost Bank, 4200 S Hulen, Fort Worth q. Frisco Writers Group www.meetup.com/FriscoWriters/ -- monthly and weekly meetings for writers in the Frisco area—day group & night groups, for all genres and types of writers and writing, no fee r. National League of American Pen Women www.nlapw.org – 4 branches in Texas, 2 in Dallas: Dallas Branch www.nlapwdallas.org/, Ft. Worth Branch contact Mary Lou Osborne 817-656-0864, object of the League is to create progression and advancement in literary work, visual arts and musical composition. s. National Association of Women Writers www.naww.org – members get free monthly teleseminars, based in San Antonio, TX., connect and educate our members through books, CDs, tele-events, physical chapter events and much more. Our weekly newsletter goes out to over 3,000 women writers, editors, and publishers. t. * North Texas Romance Writers www.ntrwa.org -- local chapter of the Romance Writers of America® (RWA) meets every 3rd Saturday at 10am at La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant in Colleyville, TX. u. North Texas Speculative Fiction Workshop www.ntsfw.com -- meets every 2nd Saturday night at 6:00 pm at the Hurst Barnes & Noble Bookstore

Pat Hauldren www.pathauldren.com NORTH TEXAS WRITING WORKSHOPS / 3

v. Poetry Society of Texas www.poetrysocietyoftexas.org -- meets on the second (2nd) Saturday of each month at 2:30 pm at the Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal Lane, Dallas, TX. w. * Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, NC/NE Texas Chapter www.scbwi.org & www.scbwi.org/Regional-Chapters.aspx?R=47 for North Central and North East Texas Chapter -- Email: [email protected] x. Wordspace www.wordspacedallas.com -- presents author readings, workshops, concerts and salons, a non-profit literary arts group o North Texas. y. * The Writers Garret www.writersgarret.org & www.meetup.com/writers-438 -- located at 10809 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218 (between Centerville and Jupiter, north of Casa Linda and the Arboretum), alongside Lucky Dog Books (formerly Paperbacks Plus), various classes, workshops, and presentations around DFW (including Stone Soup Peer Critique Workshops) z. * Yellow Rose of Texas Romance Writers www.yellowroserwa.com – local chapte of the romance Writers of America® (RWA) meets every 2nd Saturday at the Merlot Room, Grapevine, TX 4. Texas & other writers’ groups & events a. The Authors Guild www.authorsguild.org -- published writer's advocate for effective copyright, fair contracts, and free expression b. * Mystery Writers of America www.mysterywriters.org – for mystery and crime writers and fans. Various conferences, awards, etc. c. National League of American Pen Women www.nlapw.org -- d. National Writers Union www.nwu.org – only labor union that represents freelance writers. e. * Romance Writers of America www.rwanational.org – national website for RWA, holds annual writers’ conference, RITA Award, other writing awards and events f. Science Fiction Writers of America www.sfwa.org -- a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres. g. * Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators www.scbwi.org -- one of the largest existing organizations for writers and illustrators. It is the only professional organization specifically for those individuals writing and illustrating for children and young adults in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia. Annual conference. h. UNT 2012 Visiting Writer Series english.unt.edu/creative-writing/visiting-writers -- brings nationally and internationally renowned writers to campus to give public readings i. * World Fantasy Convention www.worldfantasy.org – annual convention for fantasy authors, editors, agents, and fans, meets in a different city each year around the world. j. * World Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention www.worldcon.org – annual convention for SF/F/H writers and fans, meets in a different city each year (2013 is LoneStarCon in San Antonio, TX).

Pat Hauldren www.pathauldren.com NORTH TEXAS WRITING WORKSHOPS / 4 k. * Writers’ League of Texas www.writersleague.org – based in Austin, has satellite groups around Texas and members around the world. Annual conference. l. Women in Visual and Literary Arts www.wivlaorg – promotes women in creative growth, meets at 6:00pm on the third Tuesday of every month at the Museum of Printing History, 1324 West Clay, Houston, TX m. The Writers Guild of America www.wga.org -- a labor union composed of the thousands of writers who write the content for television shows, movies, news programs, documentaries, animation, and Internet and mobile phones (new media) that keep audiences constantly entertained and informed.

Pat Hauldren www.pathauldren.com