The following is a list of independent writers groups that meet around the state.
Please note: while West Virginia Writers, Inc., may frequently share members with many of these groups, none of the listed groups are officially affiliated with West Virginia Writers, Inc.
Groups themselves are responsible for updating us on their contact information. If you have additions or corrections to this list please contact webmaster Eric Fritzius at eric.fritzius@gmail.com.
UPDATED 10 / 04 / 21
BARBOUR COUNTY WRITERS WORKSHOP
Meets every second and fourth Monday in the Student Lounge or the Library at Alderson-Broaddus College from 6:30 to approximately 8:30 p.m. Contact: Barbara Smith (304) 457-3038 or smith_b@ab.edu.
BECKLEY (Beckley Writers Group)
Meets every other Wednesday at 4 p.m at the Art Gallery on Johnstown Road. The meetings are held in the basement area. Writers are welcome to come share their essays and take part in writing exercises. There are no dues. Everyone is welcome. Contact: Peggy Debnam, pegdebnam2012@gmail.com.
BECKLEY (Literary Connections Writers Group)
Meets every other Tuesday at 7 p.m., at the Beckley Art Center, 600 Johnstown Rd, Beckley. For the next meeting date, contact Mary Ann Honaker at persephone576@yahoo.com, or Peggy Debnam at pegdebnam2012@gmail.com.
BERKELEY COUNTY (See MARTINSBURG.)
BRAXTON (and NICHOLAS)
Usually meets once every month in a member's home. Contact: Renita Sue Loyd (304) 689-1001 or wvwriter007@hotmail.com.
CHARLESTON (Charleston Creative Writing Meetup)
The Creative Writing Meetup meets on every other Wednesday at Taylor Books at 6:00 p.m. Bring your pages - short stories, scripts, creative fiction and non-fiction, poetry and more. All styles of writers are welcome. We'll talk about each others' work in lovely, helpful, and encouraging ways! Find the date for the next meeting at their website: https://www.meetup.com/Charleston-Creative-Writing-Meetup/
CHARLESTON (Pens Writer's Group)
PENS writer’s group meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, at 5:15 p.m. at Taylor Books in Charleston. For information please contact Alexis Hunter (alexisahunter@hotmail.com) or Eleanor Spohr (eleanorwv@suddenlink.net). All skill levels and genres welcome. Workshop style group: submit your piece before the meeting, and receive requested critique in group. PENS writers are professional, curious, helpful, educated, serious writers, always welcoming to new friends. Visit the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/PENScharlestonwv/.
FAIRMONT (The Crow's Quill)
The Crow's Quill meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The group specializes in critique of prose and genre. Writers may submit pieces for critique online to the moderator or bring hard copy to meetings. The group formed in 2005. Fore more information, please contact: Colleen Driscoll at cdriscollauthor@yahoo.com.
GLENVILLE (Friendly Fonts Writers Group)
The Friendly Fonts Writer's Group is open to all writers from the Central WV region, and meets the first Thursday of every month at Gilmer Public Library in Glenville. The meeting includes a brief reading to inspire thought, a writing prompt and writing time, and then time to share written works. Writers can join us at either 1 p.m. and/or 6 p.m., as individual schedules allow.
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY (See ROMNEY.)
HUNTINGTON (Black Dog Writers Group)
This group meets in members' homes and has seven members who write prose. It is presently CLOSED to new members. Contact: Llewellyn McKernan l.mckernan2@gte.net
HUNTINGTON (The Guyandotte Poets)
They have been an active group for more than 35 years, and they are always looking for people
with talent and energy who are serious about writing poetry. Contact: Mary Lou Pratt at
mlpratt007@aol.com or 304-730-1895.
HUNTINGTON (The Patchwork Writers)
Patchwork Writers meet the second Monday of each month at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 6p.m. Contact Susan Nicholas at tvnews3@frontier.com for more information.
HUNTINGTON (Society of the Lark)
Society of the Lark is a workshop community for women writers, wherein members participate in established writing cycles with one another and come together at various times throughout the year for professional development in the creative writing field. Please seehttps://sites.google.com/site/societyofthelark/ for more information.
HUNTINGTON (Wicked Wordsmiths of the West)
Wicked Wordsmiths of the West meets the last Monday of every month (except November) at the Cabell County Public Library from 5:30pm until 8:00pm. Open to new members who are looking for fun prompts and writing-based discussions. Potential members are invited to attend at least one meeting before starting the membership process. For more information, contact Membership Coordinator, Sarah Davis, at sarahdaviswrites@gmail.com or wickedwordsmiths@gmail.com.
JEFFERSON COUNTY (See also SHEPHERDSTOWN.)
The Mountain Scribes, founded in March, 2015, is an invite-only writer’s group that meets every other week. Our purpose is to support and encourage the transitioning of penciled notes to published works. We are a small group with a main focus on fiction, but we do support non-fiction writing with a narrative tone. Visit our website http://themountainscribes.
The Huntfield Writers Group is a by-Invitation-Only dedicated writers group of serious YA and Middle Grade authors who work towards their publishing goals. This group meets every Wednesday from 4:30pm - 6:30pm at a location near Washington High School, Charles Town, WV. This group is currently accepting new member applications. Anyone who wishes consideration should send a brief bio and 3 paragraphs of current original work to: HuntfieldWritersGroup@gmail.com.
LEWIS COUNTY
There is a writer’s group in Lewis County that meets the first Saturday of the month in Weston at the Louis Bennett Library at 10:00 a.m. Patsy Reckart moderates this meeting.
MARION COUNTY (See Fairmont)
MARTINSBURG
This fiction group usually meets at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library (101 King Street) from 1 to 4 PM on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Bring 8 copies of the work you want critiqued. Limit: 10 double-spaced pages. Chris Kaye is the facilitator. Her email is chadua1@yahoo.com.
MASON COUNTY
The Point Pleasant Writers Guild meets every1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Point Pleasant Mason Co. Library (304-375-0894). For more information contact Patrecia Gray 304-675-7929.
MORGANTOWN WRITERS GROUP
The Morgantown Writers Group meets twice a month, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 6:30-8 pm conference room at the Morgantown public library, spruce street. We host this Critique Workshop twice a month plus 2-hour Write-Ins on alternate Tuesdays. Contacts: Library (304-291-7425) or email to: georgelies@ymail.com.
OHIO VALLEY WRITERS GROUP
The Ohio Valley Writers meet at 7:00 PM on the third Wednesday of each month at the Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main Street, Wheeling. Writers are invited to read original material and discuss literature and publishing. For more info contact Laura Roberts at LJackson513@gmail.com.
PARKERSBURG - (CWG - Contemporary Writers Group of the Mid Ohio Valley.)
We are an eclectic mix of talented writers from around the Mid Ohio Valley and beyond. A smorgasbord of fiction, nonfiction and poetry writers who gather once a month at Stoked Coffee in Parkersburg to share writings, news and encouragement with each other.
We are all diligently working towards similar goals of improving our skills, learning our craft with the ultimate goal of publication. We work together to help one another through the various obstacles along our journey to become professionals in our chosen genres.
We have established a strong on line presence allowing us to share work, accomplishments and ideas outside of our monthly meetings. The CWG is now in its second year. We are looking forward to growing our group, expanding our presence in the MOV while continuing to help each other to meet our individual goals and collectively promote our work and accomplishments. For information about CWG contact Kathryn McClead
304 481-6218 Kathryn.mcclead668 @gmail.com
PRINCETON (Appalachian Pen Works)
Meets at 6:30 p.m., the second Tuesday of each month at the Princeton Public Library. Contact: Raymond Neeley raymond_neely@yahoo.com.
RIPLEY (The Appalachian Wordsmiths)
Appalachian Wordsmiths meet every Tuesday at the Ripley Library from 10am till noon. We bring copies of our work to critique. Contact Max Price at mcprice2@suddenlink.net or Janet Smart at wvsmarties@yahoo.com for more info.
ROMNEY (Ice Mountain Writers)
The Ice Mountain Writers meet at the Hampshire County Library on Main Street (Rt 50) in Romney WV on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30 - 7:00 pm. The group does writing prompts, shares what they have written (that night or at some point in time) and meets other writers who share interest in their genres. We brainstorm potential projects such as readings and share information on contests, book fairs and much more. Anyone - all ages and experience - interested in exploring their creative side is invited. For more information call 304-834-8369 or email: write@HampshireArts.org.
ST. ALBANS
A semi-closed group meets in the St. Albans Library every Tuesday at 1 p.m. If you want information about membership, contact Brenda Beatty: (304-727-3015) or icbeatty7@suddenlink.net.
SHEPHERDSTOWN (The Bookend Poets)
The Bookend Poets meet every 2nd Thursday of the month at Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown on German Street from 6-8 PM. Poets bring 10 copies of 2-3 poems to read and receive feedback from other attendees. Please contact Tom Donlon at tdonlon3@comcast.net or by phone at 540-336-6855.
SPENCER (Women's Writing Circle)
A newly formed Women's Writing Circle meets every other Friday from 10am-12pm at the Cunningham House Bed & Breakfast Inn, to discuss aspects of personal memoir and essay, fiction and historical non-fiction, poetry, contemporary and classic literature, and much more. Each group is facilitated and there is a small fee to participate. Please contact Liberty Newberry for details and dates: (706) 614-7112 or libertyshea1980@gmail.com.
SUMMERS COUNTY WRITERS' GROUP
Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Summers County Public Library, 201 Temple Street in Hinton. Contact Cheryl Kula at cheryl.kula@gmail.com.