Join us for our monthly programs.
Meeting Times and Locations
Two regular membership meetings with a presentation by an expert on some aspect of writing are held each month:
- The second Saturday of every month from 10:00 am to noon MST (in person at UNM Continuing Education Building and via Zoom). (Starting in 2026, workshops will be held on the third Saturday of the month via Zoom. See the workshops page for more information.)
- The fourth Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm MST (via Zoom only). There is no Wednesday meeting in December.
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.
Visitor/Guest Policy
We encourage visitors and guests to experience what our award-winning writers’ association has to offer. 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.
ZOOM MEETING Procedure: Read about SWW’s Zoom Meeting procedure on this page.
Read our Zoom log-in policy. ALL ATTENDEES are required to have their zoom screen show either their name or phone number. SWW Members sign into the Members Only portion of the website (request a username and password from info@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. 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.
Need help signing into an SWW Zoom meeting? Watch this video.
2026 SWW Meeting Information
(For workshop information, go to the Workshops page.)
Saturday, April 11, 2026
10am – Noon
In Person and via Zoom
Speaker: Sara Frances
Joy, Death, and Memoir in Short Form Poetry
The two greatest topics in literature intersect unexpectedly with poetry and short poetic prose to offer a fulfilling opportunity for the memoirist or storyteller. This program offers a unique, approachable path, an alternative way to share sparkling bits of experience, without the full narrative burden. Think outside the book with examples from both famous and local poets and a dive into the scary space of modern. postmodern and how to challenge “difficult” poetry. Answers the question is poetry fiction or non-fiction.
Sara Frances self-defines as a photojournalist-poet. Her MA (Comparative Literature) and Poetry Collective of Lighthouse Writers Workshop cross genre with her photographic tittle Master Photographic Craftsman. Her full length illustrated poetry books are What to Wear to Paradise and Aqua Primordial, entirely written in Japanese forms.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
6:30pm – 8:30pm — Via Zoom only
Speaker: Debbie White
What Makes a Compelling Story?
Do you ever wonder why some stories grab and hold you while other stories just feel flat or unsatisfying? Do you want to take your storytelling to the next level? In this presentation, we’ll find out what makes a compelling story and why. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or nonfiction. It doesn’t matter if it’s a novel, short story, screenplay or play. The elements of a compelling story still apply. Get ready to take a deep dive into the art and craft of storytelling!
Debbie White first got published at 13 with a 4-H article in the Lincoln Journal-Star. Her career includes working as a newspaper journalist, copy editor, freelancer, director of communications for national firms and marketing agency owner. In 2023, she chaired the SouthWest Writers writing contest and was editor of the Woven Pathways anthology of winners.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
10am – Noon — In Person at UNM-CE and via Zoom
Speaker: Irene I. Blea
Writing Poetry as a Civil Right
Irene I. Blea shares her personal experience writing, presenting, and publishing her poetry as a civil rights and feminist advocate. She will share examples of the development of the genre and her work to illustrate how we can use our art to give voice to protect our freedom.
Irene Blea, an award-winning author, scholar, feminist activist, and a poet has an extensive publication record. She retired from California State University-Los Angeles after writing textbooks and academic articles to write poetry and novels. Her autobiography and a book of poetry were followed by Talking with Rudy: Conversations with Rudolfo Anaya, the award-winning literary giant. Visit Irene on Facebook.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
6:30pm – 8:30pm — Via Zoom only
Master of Ceremonies: Jim Tritten 
Writing from Personal Experiences – Member Readings and Inspiration
Veterans and family members who were published in Holes in Our Hearts (2023) or Unbreaking the Circle (2025), or who participated in the 2024 online memoir course, all funded by New Mexico Arts (NMA) and SWW, will conduct readings of their published writing from those programs that feature their healing journeys. Speakers will discuss how writing contributed to their healing.
Saturday, June 13, 2026
10am – Noon — In Person at UNM-CE and via Zoom
Speaker: Sherri Burr
How to Mine Family History for Literary Gold
Pulitzer Prize-nominated historian Sherri Burr encourages individuals to recall, interview, research and evaluate their family stories to determine whether they should write them into articles and books. Burr, a prolific author or co-author of over 30 law, business, and history books, told her family stories in Complicated Lives: Free Blacks in Virginia, 1619-1865 (Carolina Academic Press, 2019), which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in History, and in her first memoir, Living with Nephew: How I Got Voted the Meanest Parent in the World, which was published in 2026. During her talk, Burr will help participants create roadmaps for crafting their own stories. She will illustrate how to dig for literary nuggets through archives and libraries, as well as interviewing relatives and others family connections to place stories within the context of history.
Sherri Burr is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and the Yale Law School. After nearly 30 years of full-time law teaching at the University of New Mexico, she retired in 2017 to become a full-time author and the Dickason Chair and Regents Professor of Law Emerita. Burr has won numerous awards as an author, lecturer, and television producer. She lives in the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where her hobbies include golfing and cooking tossed in with occasional doses of horseback riding and kayaking.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
6:30pm – 8:30pm — via Zoom only
Speaker: Lisa Haneberg
Substack for Authors: A Primer
This presentation will provide tips and perspectives from authors currently using Substack to build their platform and an online tour of the Substack app with key pros and cons of using it.
Lisa Haneberg earned an MFA from Goddard College and is an award-winning humor writer. Lisa has published mysteries and over a dozen nonfiction books. Far From Ordinary: Predicaments, Misadventures, and Illuminations is her latest book. She was the SWW Editor for nearly two years and used Substack in this capacity.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
10am – Noon — In Person at UNM-CE and via Zoom
Speaker: Nancy McGuire
Freelance writing that pays the bills
Check back for more information
Check back for more information on the following meeting speakers/topics:
- July 22 – Christopher Locke – IBPA
- August 8 – Ruth Thaler-Carter – Finding and Working with Editors/proofreaders
- September 12 – Chris Bock – Keep the Pages Turning: Pacing Techniques
- September 23 – Starting a Small Business for Authors
- October 10 – Annual Meeting
- October 28 – TBA
- November 7 – Rose Marie Kern – Self Publish with KDP Amazon
- December 12 – Panel Discussion with YA writers
Previous Speakers and Topics
Most presentations were recorded and are available on the SWW YouTube channel.
2026:
♦ Kathleen A. Hessler, We All Have a Story to Tell: Memoir Musings and Mistakes
♦ Glory St. Germain, From Pages to Profits: How to Monetize Your Book and Make Your Words Work for You
♦ Dan Wetmore, To Free, or Not to Free (Verse): The Pros & Cons of Formed & Unformed Poetry
♦ Kimberly Rose, Tips for Success in Writing Contests
♦ Suzanne Stauffer, What’s Your Genre?
♦ Cait West, Writing from Trauma: How to Write and Publish Your Story of Abuse and Healing
2025:
♦ Layla Milholen, Publishing with McFarland
♦ John Roche, Freeing Your Free Verse from Flabbiness
♦ Dorinda Wegener, From Pitch to Launch: Publicity steps Authors Can Take to Maximize Book Exposure
♦ Judy Castleberry, What Judges Want You to Know BEFORE You Enter a Writing Contest
♦ Mary Lou Dobbs, Learn to Love Marketing & Sales
♦ Christopher Upton, Film Adaptation
♦ Dan Wetmore, The Building Blocks of Prose
♦ Irene Blea, From Poetry to Memoir
♦ Jim Tritten, Plot and Story Arc
♦ Geoff Habiger, Fantasy Gaming Scripts
♦ James Wilson, Mystery Writing
♦ Léonie Rosenstiel, Should You Shun Books with Footnotes?
♦ Jonathan Miller, The Ancient Secrets of the Three Act Structure of Storytelling
♦ Chris Eboch, Improve Your Pitch
♦ Suzanne Stauffer, Using Library Resources to Add Authenticity to Your Writing
♦ Laura Carney, How I Finished My Late Dad’s List of Life Goals and Wrote a Successful Book About It
♦ Gail Rubin, End-of-Life and Your Literary Legacy
♦ Krista Soukup, Marketing and Publicity for Writers
♦ Leonie Rosenstiel, AI Revisited: Should We Be Very Afraid?
♦ Readings from Unbreaking the Circle: Stories of Service
♦ Phillip Marshall, Digging Deep: Investigative Reporting and the Guardianship Crisis
♦ Saleema Ishq, Social Media Marketing for Authors who’d rather be writing
2024:
♦ Jonathan Miller, Completing Your Manuscript under Challenging Circumstances
♦ Chuck Greaves, The DIY MFA, Or: How to Teach Yourself to Write (Or to Write Better)
♦ Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos, Hybrid, Self or Conventional Publishing Pros, Cons and What is Right for YOU?
♦ Parris Afton Bonds, Writing Romance Novels — Then and Now
♦ Charlene Bell Dietz, Why Your Characters Misbehave, and Why AI Isn’t the Answer
♦ Marcia Rosen, Memoir Detective: Writing Your LifeStory
♦ Mary Collins, Creating Writers, Creating Citizens
♦ Shirley Blackwell, Contest Castles of Limerick and Haiku: How to Get Past the Moat Dragons
♦ Donna Pedace, Public Presentations
♦ Kathy Louise Schuit, Editorial Guidelines: NOT a Suggestion
♦ Irene I. Blea, Ph.D., Integrating Ethnic Characters into Your Writing
♦ Rose Marie Kern, Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing
♦ Carlyn Montes De Oca, In Conversation: Junkyard Girl
♦ Zachry Wheeler, How to Write Good Science Fiction
♦ BR Kingsolver, Writing in Series: Getting the Most out of an Idea
♦ Léonie Rosenstiel, How Jack Canfield Came to Write the Foreword for Legal Protection
♦ Laurel Goodluck, Vaunda Nelson, Khadijah VanBrakle, Natalie Linn and moderator Chris Eboch, Kid’s Lit Panel
♦ Neill McKee, From International Film and Media Maker to Award-Winning Creative Writer
♦ Sara Frances, What Judges Look for in Book Contests
♦ Antonio Weiss & Jacqueline Murray Loring, On Making SYMPHONY IN C-NOTE
♦ Léonie Rosenstiel, AI—Your Best Hope or Your Worst Nightmare?
2023:
♦ Jamii Corley, Introduction to Website Building
♦ Jim Jones, From Songs to Books and Back Again
♦ Joseph Badal, Two Important Writing Rules
♦ Cornelia Gamlem & Jacqueline Murray Loring, Publishing Paths
♦ Geoff Habiger, Newsletter Basics
♦ Jim & Bobbi Jean Bell, Be the Star of Your Online or Radio Interview
♦ C. Daniel Miller, Copyrighting, Rights and Permissions
♦ NM State Poetry Society, Poets and Writers: Why the Distinction?
♦ Sherri Burr, Wills and Trusts for Writers and Authors
♦ Robert Kidera, The Writer’s Tool Kit
♦ Dan Wetmore, Poetry, Focus and Form
♦ Stephen Kurkjian, The Greatest Art Theft in World History
♦ Kirt Hickman, Bring Your Settings to Life
♦ Ellen Byerrum, Comic Mysteries; or, What’s so funny about murder?
♦ Kathy Louise Schuit, Don’t Make Your Friends and Family Read Bad Stuff
♦ Diane Dimond, How to Investigate and Write about a Secretive System
♦ Phil Mills Jr., Challenges of Writing for Children in a Video Game World
♦ Sonja Dewing, Making Dollars and Sense out of Amazon Ads
♦ Michael Arnzen, The Transformation Scene
♦ Jim Tritten (host), Stories from the Veterans Anthology
♦ Ernie Witham, Finding Humor in Everyday Situations
♦ Christie Lowrance, A Writer’s Quest: Non-fiction, History, and Biography
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
♦ BR Kingsolver, How and Why to Write a Series
♦ Margaret Shannon, You Can Write Your Family History
♦ Johnny Boggs, Making Dialogue Sing
♦ Ronn Perea, Public Speaking for Authors
♦ Anne Hillerman, What I Wish I’d known before I Wrote my First Novel
♦ B. Marika Flatt, PR by the Book
♦ Dan Klefstad, DIY Book Promo
♦ Robin Perini, Taking Your Writing to the Next Level
♦ Judith Avila, Writing Your Memoir, An Act of Courage
♦ Parris Afton Bonds, First, The Plot
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