Enough About Us…
I am fortunate in how much I love my job and you all know how much I love Midwest Writers Workshop. Can I tell you something though? Sometimes I get tired of only talking about MWW! (can she say that???)
I mean, like any organization, we need to promote…
But where would be and what would we have to promote if it wasn’t for YOU?
Let’s Talk About YOU!
What are you working on? Have you had any recent successes? That can be getting a few sentences down on a napkin (me, last week) or getting a poem published in a journal. Let us know! We’d love to include you in our MWW Success Stories tab.
There’s always something to celebrate, even something that *seems* small. Those “small” things are BIG STEPS on your writing trajectory.
Here’s a few recent MWW Alumni Success Stories: Lee Pierce, Mona Mehas, Michelle MicGill-Vargas, Kelly O’Dell Stanley, and Jon Kaplan
Lee Pierce
I just released my 6th book, a collection of short alternative Christmas stories, and it has been my best reviewed book!
Check out Twelve Days: Unconventional Christmas Stories on Goodreads
Mona Mehas
My mother taught me to write poetry when I was a child. As an adult I composed what was necessary to get through college then I largely quit.
In 2019 my eldest sister passed and I started vomiting words due to trauma. Since then I’ve published 2 full poetry books, 1 chapbook, with another complete book of poetry forthcoming this summer. I’ve been published in over 100 journals and online museums.
My science fantasy novel is finished and I’m looking for publishers. I’m currently working on a novel-in-verse. I’m almost 70 years old and consider all this time from September 2019 to now evidence of my success story.
https://bsky.app/profile/monaiv.bsky.social
Michelle McGill-Vargas
My debut speculative historical fiction novel, AMERICAN GHOUL, was released September 2024 by Blackstone. I gave MWW a shout-out in the acknowledgments because I would not have achieved this without MWW. I’ve attended MWW for I don’t even know how many years. MWW was where I gave my first pitch to an agent. It was where I met instructors like Matthew Clemens and DE Johnson whose advice, critiques, and encouragement led me to never give up on becoming a published author. Had I not met authors Brenda Drake and Dee Romito at a long ago MWW conference, I would have never learned about Pitch Wars and using social media in my search for a literary agent, which was what led me to my agent and eventual publication. Attending and being a part of MWW is like a really good dream that sticks with you long after you’ve awaken from sleep. Those connections and classes have stuck with me and made me into the author I am today.
Kelly O’Dell Stanley
In November, I published a memoir, which I’ve been working on for seven years. I designed the cover and interior as well, so it feels like a really huge accomplishment that I finally finished it! Couldn’t have done it without all I’ve learned through MWW over the years!
THE ARTIST, Ladoga, Indiana is a memoir by Kelly O’Dell Stanley, where the brushstrokes of her father, Hoosier watercolorist Rob O’Dell, echo long after his passing in 2017. As Kelly moves into his restored turn-of-the-century building in a small Indiana town, she finds herself wandering the same roads he once traversed, enveloped by the vibrant landscapes he painted and the emotional landscapes of her own heart.
In her quest to understand her father’s legacy, Kelly dives deep into his art—discovering that its true beauty lies not just in technique, but in the profound connections it fosters. Rob found magic in the broken and the overlooked, reminding us all of the power of being seen and celebrated.
Through vignettes of Rob’s life, interwoven with heartfelt stories from those he touched, Kelly embarks on a journey of grief and self-discovery, navigating the delicate dance between loss and reinvention.
This memoir is a love letter to creativity and an exploration of what it means to redefine oneself in the wake of change. Framed by the legacy of a remarkable artist, The Artist, Ladoga, Indiana invites readers to embrace their own extraordinary, ordinary lives, reminding us that art can be a bridge connecting hearts across time and space.
Jon Kaplan
I am still telling people about my experience last summer at MWWW24. I got so much out of those few days with all of the other writers and the terrific presenters. One of my big takeaways was that there are many possible roads to publication. Prior to the workshop, I had been thinking about somehow getting some of my short stories published. But I only had the vaguest idea about how that might happen. After hearing from Jane Friedman about publishing and talking to many fellow participants, I realized that there are many paths to publication. I came back home and started researching different online and hard copy magazines that take submissions, subscribing to a couple of writing related substacks and just keeping my eyes open more on Facebook and other places for opportunities. I finished a new short story and submitted it to a couple of small presses with open submissions. To my surprise and delight, my story was accepted to be published in a Halloween anthology by Local Gem Poetry Press out of Long Island, NY. – https://tinyurl.com/2z3ey4e8. This really boosted my confidence and was certainly one of my writing highlights in 2024. Other ways that MWWW24 influenced me were my introduction to flash fiction and prose poetry. I have been dabbling in both of those areas as much as time allows. There are so many other ways that MWWW24 influenced and bolstered my writing and for all of that, I am ever so grateful. I wish all the writers out there good luck and progress with whatever they are working on. And remember that good old maxim – Put your butt in the chair!
Okay, But Maybe the New Year Motivation has Worn Off…
Feeling like you’re in a slump? (I’m right there with you, my sentences on napkins notwithstanding)
Reach out to the MWW community! The MWW Facebook group is a place for ongoing conversation with other writers.
And hey…we’ve created a free, low-pressure space where you can commit to getting 30 minutes of writing done. Next Wednesday, March 5, join us on Zoom at 7:00pm EST for the Wednesday Write-In!
Join our newsletter for the link!
The “Wednesday Write-In with MWW” is a 30-minute Zoom session, first Wednesday of the month, where we get together and WRITE.
It might seem weird to have the Brady-Bunch Zoom screen filled with people not talking to each other, but please trust me: It works. It creates an accountability; it creates a space where your sole purpose is to get words down on paper. I might allow for a *little* chit-chat 🙂
To accommodate people’s availability, we will alternate morning sessions and evening sessions. Let’s dedicate 30 minutes of our day, once a month, to generating words and developing our craft!
Have You Checked Out MWW25?
Join us this July 10 – 12, 2024 at the Ball State Alumni Center in Muncie, Indiana—or virtually, from the comfort of your own computer—and see for yourself the wonderful things MWW has to offer!
*All attendees have access to the recordings of sessions for 90 days following the conference.
Scholarship Applications Open
Midwest Writers Workshop is grateful to the donors who have made it possible for us to offer five separate scholarships for this summer’s hybrid conference, July 10 – 12. We encourage individuals who are in need to financial assistance to apply!
- Please note that scholarships cover the cost of registration only. Travel accommodations, meals, and manuscript evaluations are not included.
Scholarship Applications are due Friday, April 25
Success Stories
Finish an essay, a book, a paragraph? Have something published? Tell us about something exciting you’ve done with writing and/or publishing in the past year. Bonus points if you can tell us how MWW has made an impact on your writing.
Send your success stories to midwestwritersworkshop@gmail.com and we’ll post it on our website!
MWW is dedicated to building a community where writers can network with others and grow.
ADVERTISE WITH US!
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You can also be featured in our event programs!
Check out our advertising opportunities.
SEE WHAT ELSE MWW HAS TO OFFER
- MWW Writing Service: Receive manuscript evaluations from our experts
- Midwest Writers Workshop Facebook Group: Join our community to network, support, celebrate, and commiserate with other writers
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