Join us for our monthly programs.
New Meeting Schedule
Beginning in January 2022, our Regular Meetings will be held on the second Saturday of every month from 10:00 am to noon and the fourth Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (no Wednesday meeting in December).
New In-Person Location
Our new location is at UNM Continuing Education (UNM-CE). Our Saturday meetings will still include a Zoom component, and our Wednesday night meetings will be strictly online. Go to SWW Meeting Location for more information about UNM-CE.
Visitor/Guest Policy
With the new year comes a return to SWW’s previous policy concerning meeting attendance. We encourage visitors and guests to experience what our award-winning writers’ association has to offer. Since membership dues pay for our outstanding speakers, we request non-members limit their attendance to three meetings, after which we hope they will join SouthWest Writers. Visitors are welcome beyond their first three visits at a cost of $10 per meeting.
See a schedule of all our events, and visit our YouTube Videos page for a listing of the recorded speakers from 2016 to the present.
ZOOM MEETING Procedure
Read about SWW’s new Zoom Meeting procedure on this page.
Saturday, July 9
10:00 am – noon
In Person & Zoom
Speaker: BR Kingsolver
Why and How to WRITE a SERIES
Sometimes a story is just too large to fit in one book. Lord of the Rings was originally written as a single book, but Tolkien’s editors broke it into a trilogy. Why? For one thing, a doorstopper requires a major time commitment from a reader. It’s also difficult to carry all that weight around. Even in the age of e-books, when someone sees that a book is a thousand pages, it gives them pause. And then there’s the business aspect. Spending two years writing that thousand-page opus is the time that you’re not making money. Breaking it into a trilogy and releasing a book every six months means being able to eat while you’re writing. And readers are far more willing to commit $14.99 for a paperback or $4.99 for an e-book than three times that for your finished thousand-page masterpiece, even if you could find buyers for a $45 paperback. But simply publishing every time you hit the three hundred page mark isn’t the way to split up the book. It takes some planning to ensure a great reading experience and to entice readers to buy the second book, and the third, and the ninth.
BR Kingsolver, author of 6 Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction series, grew up surrounded by writers, artists, myths, and folklore in Santa Fe, The City Different, in the Land of Enchantment.
After living all over the US and exploring the world–from Amsterdam to the Romanian Alps, and Russia to the Rocky Mountains–Kingsolver, a passionate lifetime skier, currently spends time writing and enjoying the view in Albuquerque. With an education in nursing and biology and a Master’s degree in business, Kingsolver has done everything from construction to newspaper editor and silversmith to computers.
All his books are exclusively with Amazon, so Kindle Prime and Kindle Unlimited customers can read as many as they wish. Click BR KINGSOLVER for the website.
Wednesday, July 27
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Via Zoom
Speaker: Margaret Shannon
YOU CAN WRITE YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
You CAN write your family history, whether it is a “just the facts” approach of ‘begats’ and vital statistics; a collection of character studies; memoir; or a creative non-fiction look at your ancestors set in the times and places in which they lived. In this talk, Molly will share her journey in writing Volume One of her family history. She will discuss research methods and sources, organization (digital and print) and the need for documentation and citations. You will hear about the decisions she made as the book evolved and her travels to places where her ancestors lived. Publishing woes and successes will also be covered. There will be a time for Q&A and a brief overview of the 3-week course she will teach in August, which will offer hands-on assistance as you embark on writing Your Family History.
Molly Shannon is a retired United Methodist Clergywoman, owner and quilt artist of Serenity House Quilts, and author of Abbey-Ashman: Two Colonial and Pioneering Families of North America. The book is a first-place winner in the NM Press Women’s contest and has won an award (TBA) at the National Press Women’s contest. She is an active member of the Albuquerque Genealogical Society, and in their sub-groups of Writing/Publishing, Celtic Heritage, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mayflower Societies.
Zoom Meeting Information:
Topic: SWW Wednesday Meeting – July 2022
Time: July 27, 2022 at 6:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join the Zoom Meeting
Our Zoom log-in policy has changed due to disruptions to our meetings. Non-members are required to contact our office (505-830-6034 or info@swwriters.com) or sign up for Elerts to receive a link to our upcoming meetings. SWW Members sign into the Members Only portion of the website (request a username and password from webmaster@swwriters.com if you haven’t already done so). Once in the Members Portal, follow the Zoom log-in directions posted prior to the meeting.
Saturday, August 13
10:00 am – noon
In Person & Zoom
Speaker: Ronn Perea
PUBLIC SPEAKING TO SELL YOUR WRITING
How do you present on a topic of your work and then sell it to an audience? Ronn will speak about warming to your audience to convey your credentials, gaining strong interest from the audience members, and molding that interest to meet the speaker’s goals.
A frequent speaker, Ronn Perea is the author of six novels and a stage producer of musical cabaret and comedy club. Visit his website: www.ronnperea.com
Zoom Meeting Information:
Topic: SWW Saturday Meeting – August 2022
Time: August 13, 2022 at 10:00 Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join the Zoom Meeting
Our Zoom log-in policy has changed due to disruptions to our meetings. Non-members are required to contact our office (505-830-6034 or info@swwriters.com) or sign up for Elerts to receive a link to our upcoming meetings. SWW Members sign into the Members Only portion of the website (request a username and password from webmaster@swwriters.com if you haven’t already done so). Once in the Members Portal, follow the Zoom log-in directions posted prior to the meeting.
Wednesday, August 24
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Via Zoom
Speaker: Johnny D. Boggs
Writing About Talking: Making Dialogue Sing
Grab your readers’ attention with dialogue. Dialogue is key to having realistic characters and stories. Johnny Boggs will share insights about what to do and what not to do when your fictional characters speak. You’ll hear how to make dialogue move your story with the use of slang, speech tags, and adverbs.
Johnny D. Boggs is the winner of a record nine Spur Awards from Western Writers of America, novelist Johnny D. Boggs received the 2020 Owen Wister Award for lifetime contributions to Western literature and was inducted into the Western Writers Hall of Fame. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His website is www.johnnydboggs.com.
Zoom Meeting Information:
Topic: SWW Wednesday Meeting – August 2022
Time: August 24, 2022 at 6:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join the Zoom Meeting
Our Zoom log-in policy has changed due to disruptions to our meetings. Non-members are required to contact our office (505-830-6034 or info@swwriters.com) or sign up for Elerts to receive a link to our upcoming meetings. SWW Members sign into the Members Only portion of the website (request a username and password from webmaster@swwriters.com if you haven’t already done so). Once in the Members Portal, follow the Zoom log-in directions posted prior to the meeting.
Saturday, September 10
10:00 am – noon
In Person & Zoom
Speaker: Anne Hillerman
WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN BEFORE I WROTE MY FIRST NOVEL
Anne Hillerman has expanded on the Navajo detective stories her father Tony Hillerman made popular. Her debut novel, Spider Woman’s Daughter, and all those that followed were New York Times bestsellers. Her eighth mystery is due for publication by HarperCollins in 2023. She lives in Santa Fe and Tucson. Visit her website at AnneHillerman.com.
In-Person Meeting:
Go to the SWW Meeting Location page for information about our new meeting place.
Zoom Meeting Information:
Topic: SWW Saturday Meeting – September 2022
Time: September 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join the Zoom Meeting
Our Zoom log-in policy has changed due to disruptions to our meetings. Non-members are required to contact our office (505-830-6034 or info@swwriters.com) or sign up for Elerts to receive a link to our upcoming meetings. SWW Members sign into the Members Only portion of the website (request a username and password from webmaster@swwriters.com if you haven’t already done so). Once in the Members Portal, follow the Zoom log-in directions posted prior to the meeting.
Wednesday, September 28
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Via Zoom
Speaker: B. Marika Flatt
PR BY THE BOOK
The world of book publicity is a crowded market. Learn from this 25-year veteran of literary promotion how to rise above the noise. What it takes to get the media’s attention and what you can be doing on your own, now, to be set up for book publicity success. We will discuss the blend of traditional publicity tactics with online and digital promotion, while tapping into social media and influencers as well.
Marika Flatt, 2021 Outstanding Austin Communicator, has been a book publicist since 1997. In 2022, she and her husband launched PR by the Book. A connector by nature, she is a past president of Women Communicators of Austin, and serves on numerous advisory boards and committees. She has been a regular speaker at notable book industry events, including Book Expo America since the 1990s and contributes to the statewide NPR show “Texas Standard.”
Zoom Meeting Information:
Topic: SWW Wednesday Meeting – September 2022
Time: September 28, 2022 at 6:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join the Zoom Meeting
Our Zoom log-in policy has changed due to disruptions to our meetings. Non-members are required to contact our office (505-830-6034 or info@swwriters.com) or sign up for Elerts to receive a link to our upcoming meetings. SWW Members sign into the Members Only portion of the website (request a username and password from webmaster@swwriters.com if you haven’t already done so). Once in the Members Portal, follow the Zoom log-in directions posted prior to the meeting.
Upcoming 2022 Meetings-Details listed above
♦ Saturday, July 9, 10:00 am
BR Kingsolver: Why and How to Write a Series
♦ Wednesday, July 27, 6:30 pm
Margaret Shannon: You Can Write Your Family History
♦ Saturday, August 13, 10:00 am
Ronn Perea: Public Speaking for Authors
♦ Wednesday, August 24, 6:30 pm
Johnny D. Boggs: Writing about Talking – Making Dialogue Sing
♦ Saturday, September 10, 10:00 am
Anne Hillerman: What I Wish I’d Known Before I Wrote My First Novel
♦ Wednesday, September 28, 6:30 pm
Marika Flatt: PR by the Book
Previous Speakers and Topics
2022:
♦ John Gilstrap, Whose Story Are You Telling?
♦ Stephanie Chandler, Build Your On-line Marketing Plan
♦ Jayne Ann Krentz, Reinventing Yourself: Tips for Finding Your Voice and Core Story
♦ Lauren Wolk, The Art and Business of Writing for Young Readers
♦ Jodi Thomas, Why Write a Series?
♦ Nancy Rubin Stuart, Using Fiction Techniques to Shape Non-fiction
♦ Jonathan Miller, How to Turn Your Life into a Novel
♦ Ellen Meeropol, Evil Characters We Love to Hate
♦ Kristin Owens,The Personal, Personal Essay
♦ Susan Katz, Why Every Writer Needs an Editor
♦ Melody Groves, Writing Westerns: The Good, The Bad, The Beautiful
♦ Jim Tritten, Short Stories are Fun
2021:
♦ Jonathan Miller, A Novel for the New Year
♦ Marcia Rosen, Podcast Marketing for Authors
♦ David Morrell, Thoughts and lessons from 48 years as a published novelist
♦ Natalie Goldberg, The Way of Haiku
♦ Susan Elizabeth Phillips, The Writing Life: Craft, Characters, Creativity, and Career
♦ Darynda Jones, Humor & Heat: How to Write Funny Without Sacrificing Sexual Tension
♦ David L. Robbins, The Art and Craft of the Narrative
♦ Gerard Hanberry, Geraldine Mills, Luke Morgan, Pete Mullineaux, Moya Roddy, Readings by Irish Poets
♦ Raffi Andonian, Controversial Historical Sites
♦ Debra W. Englander, Why You Need a Book Coach
♦ Dean Wesley Smith, Writing into the Dark: Writing Clean, One-draft Stories Without an Outline
♦ Sheryl Brown, Screenplay from Stakeholder Perspectives
♦ Jeffrey Candelaria, Artists, Writers, and a Business Mentality
♦ Paige Wheeler, Agents and Authors
♦ Fauzia Burke, Author Platforms
♦ Robin Cutler, The Power of Self-publishing
♦ James McGrath Morris, Researching Your Book
♦ Loretta Hall, Elements of Nonfiction
♦ Benjamin Percy, The Ninth Metal, Reading and Craft Discussion
♦ Rob Spiegel, Using Scenes to Build Your Story
♦ David J. Corwell, On the Edge of Their Seats: Horror and Suspense
♦ Lynn Miller, Writing like a Reader: Your Audience and Story
♦ Robert Kidera, Taking the Mystery out of Mystery Writing
♦ Lynne Sturtevant, Writing for the Web
2020:
♦ Melody Groves, 10 Dialogue Tricks to Make Your Characters “Talk Good”
♦ Jacqueline Murray Loring, International Publication Opportunities (or My Magical Tour of Ireland)
♦ Sherri Burr, Synchronicity and Perseverance: Two Elements to Finishing a Project
♦ Chris Allen, Brenda Cole, Charlene Dietz, Mary Therese Ellingwood, Evelyn Neil, Jim Tritten, Readings from the 2019 SWW Winners Anthology
♦ David Morrell, Getting Through It: How To Create A Storyline
♦ Chris Eboch, Myths about Writing for Children
♦ Rose Marie Kern, Niche Markets: A Pathway to Multiple Streams of Income
♦ Bennett R. Coles, Inside the Mind of a Publisher
♦ Sarah Baker, Jacqueline Loring, Kathy Schuit, Writing Through Lock Down: Importance of Literature in the Face of Fear and Uncertainty
♦ Kathy Louise Schuit, Illustrative Ideas For Standout Memoir, Poetry, and Prose
♦ Dan Wetmore, The Skinny on the Short-line Stuff
♦ Hakim Bellamy, “Flash” Fiction: Pictures and Poems
♦ John Rember, Writing, Teaching Writing, and Worrying about Happy Endings at Three in the Morning
♦ Corrales Writing Group, Building and Sustaining an Effective Writing Group
♦ Steve Brewer, Using Humor to Hook Readers
♦ Kathy Kitts, NaNoWriMo: How and Why You Might Want to Participate
♦ Geoff Habiger, What Do Publishers Really Want?
♦ Elizabeth S. Layton & Jacqueline Murray Loring, Screenplay Writing as Creative Magic
♦ Panel: Loretta Hall, Carolyn Carlson, Robert Kidera, Writing Contests from the Judges’ Perspective
