WRITERS GROUPS
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 are responsible for updating us with changes in their contact information by emailing westvirginiawriters@gmail.com.
UPDATED 09 / 22 / 24
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 (Pens Writer's Group)
PENS writer’s group meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, at 5:30 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting rooms of the Kanawha County Library located in Charleston. For information, please send an email to penswritinggroup@gmail.com. All skill levels and genres welcome to this workshop style group. PENS writers are professional, curious, helpful, educated, serious writers, always welcoming to new friends.
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.
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 (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.
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.
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.
SHEPHERDSTOWN (The Bookend Poets)
The Bookend Poets usually meet on the third Saturday of each month at the home of Tom and Beth Donlon at 80 Spur Court in Shenandoah Junction. Bring up to 10 copies of 1-2 poems or selections from stories/fiction, so we can hand them out in the meeting. Each will read drafts, then will get comments/suggestions from the other attendees. Bring drinks and snacks if you want. Some food will be provided. Contact Tom Donlon for details at tdonlon3@comcast.net.
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.
SUTTON
The Sutton Adult Writer's Group meets the first Thursday of every month at 3 p.m. at the Sutton Public Library, Main Street, Sutton WV.
WHEELING WRITERS ROUNDUP
Meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00pm at the Wheeling Ohio County Public Library. Contact Christina Fisanick for details at fisanick@pennwest.edu.