SLWG Events

Workshops for Writers | The Writers Room

For those of you that will be attending IN-PERSON, workshops will follow the 2/28/22 St. Louis County Health Advisory. MASKS ARE OPTIONAL and we will not collect attendee information for contact tracing. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you. We will provide hand sanitizer stations throughout the room. We will also be social distancing the chairs and tables as well as asking everyone to participate in contact tracing (meaning we will require your contact information so we can keep you informed if there is new information available about the status of attendees’ health). NO FOOD OR DRINKS will be provided at the workshops.

For those of you who CANNOT attend in-person, we will continue our practice of hosting the monthly workshops through Zoom (except for our December children’s workshop). Continue to use the link provided in Here’s News or the teal event button on our website.

Please contact us at president@stlwritersguild.org if you have any questions. Do not contact the Lodge Des Peres as they do not have information on our meetings and policies.

1 - Workshops for Writers

Workshops for Writers is now Online and In-Person at the Lodge Des Peres.

For topic and speaker information please click on Next Month’s Workshops for Writers link below.

Additional Information for Alternative Logins
Meeting ID: 702 890 3800

Passcode: scribe

One tap mobile
+13092053325,,7028903800#,,,,*338517# US
+13126266799,,7028903800#,,,,*338517# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
        +1 309 205 3325 US
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 646 931 3860 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 305 224 1968 US
        +1 507 473 4847 US
        +1 564 217 2000 US
        +1 669 444 9171 US
        +1 689 278 1000 US
        +1 719 359 4580 US
        +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 360 209 5623 US
        +1 386 347 5053 US

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Passcode: 338517

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdyHnTmZVR

Having trouble? Look below for some troubleshooting tips.

SLWG Event Calendar

Workshops for Writers Handouts

Click the buttons to download pdf

Handout for Workshops for Writers Oct 2024 - Ten Tactics For Getting Great Book Reviews with Yvette Keller

Handout for Workshops for Writers June 2024 - How to Self-Publish a Book by Stefanie Newell

Handout for Workshops for Writers Feb 2024 Tax Season 2024: Tips and Strategies

Next Month’s Workshops for Writers

JOIN SLWG!

SLWG Membership $45 per year
Student/Senior Membership $30 per year
Gift Memberships available
SLWG Season: June 1 - May 31

When you register as a member, you will receive an email receipt with a link to download your Members Guide, which has all kinds of useful information, including the password for the Members Room. Please read your email receipt carefully for the link, and check your spam folder if you do not receive the receipt within an hour of registering. 

SLWG Monthly Events

| Workshops for Writers

1 | The First Saturday of most Months

Held on the first Saturday of most months (some it is the second Saturday due the holidays) 10am-12pm CT
A workshop on a writing topic. Online and In-Person! Recordings are in the Workshop Archive.
SLWG Members bring your promotional material to handout, and your books to sell.
Come early and mingle with other writers.
All are welcome. Free.

More ways to Join
Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Passcode: scribe

One tap mobile
+13092053325,,7028903800#,,,,*338517# US
+13126266799,,7028903800#,,,,*338517# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
        +1 309 205 3325 US
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 646 931 3860 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 305 224 1968 US
        +1 507 473 4847 US
        +1 564 217 2000 US
        +1 669 444 9171 US
        +1 689 278 1000 US
        +1 719 359 4580 US
        +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 360 209 5623 US
        +1 386 347 5053 US

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Passcode: 338517

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdyHnTmZVR

Having trouble? Look below for some troubleshooting tips.

| The Writers Room

2 | Third Thursday of Each Month

Held on the Third Thursday, 7-9pm.
Except November & December
Writing Discussion - Each month a different topic is discussed, or bring your writing troubles.
All are welcome. Free.

More ways to Join
Additional Information for Alternative Logins
Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Passcode: scribe

One tap mobile
+13092053325,,7028903800#,,,,*338517# US
+13126266799,,7028903800#,,,,*338517# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
        +1 309 205 3325 US
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 646 931 3860 US
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 305 224 1968 US
        +1 507 473 4847 US
        +1 564 217 2000 US
        +1 669 444 9171 US
        +1 689 278 1000 US
        +1 719 359 4580 US
        +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver)
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 360 209 5623 US
        +1 386 347 5053 US

Meeting ID: 702 890 3800
Passcode: 338517

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdyHnTmZVR

Having trouble? Look below for some troubleshooting tips.

ATTENTION: INFORMATION ABOUT SLWG EVENTS

St. Louis Writers Guild is suspending IN PERSON workshops and other gatherings until further notice. 
Look for the links for our virtual (online) events on our website, www.stlwritersguild.org.
Please DO NOT go to or contact the Lodge Des Peres or the Novel Neighbor for the workshops or open mic night. Neither of these businesses have any information about our events.
Please contact St. Louis Writers Guild with questions. You can email us at president@stlwritersguild.org, send us a message through the Guild page on Facebook, or check for the latest updates on our website. Please keep in mind we are a nonprofit organization run by VOLUNTEERS and may not be able to answer your question right away.

The virtual workshops are FREE for both members and non-members. Beginning in June, recordings of these events, as well as previous audio recordings of workshops, can be accessed through the members-only portal of our website.

Please stay safe and healthy during this difficult time.
You have friends here,
The St. Louis Writers Guild Board

St. Louis Writers Guild holds several special events throughout the year. Some of these are at an additional cost but many remain free or discounted for members.

If you’d like to volunteer to assist at these events please see the volunteer page or contact St. Louis Writers Guild. Click the button to learn more.

Coming Soon to Workshops for Writers

November 2: Audiobooks

December 14: Holiday Party

Information About SLWG Virtual Events

Ways to join an online event and troubleshooting tips - you may want to Google any issues you are having joining a meeting.

How to Join a Meeting

There are three ways to join SLWG Online Events.
1 - Press the button and join via a computer or laptop.
2 - Use the Zoom App for smart phones or tablets.
3 - Call in using the accompanying phone number - listed with each meeting.
SLWG uses either Zoom or Webex to host the meetings, a pc, mac, laptop, tablet, or smart phone is required.

Mic not working / Can’t hear

Is mute selected on the computer, the headset, or the audio speakers?

Does the PC have a mic? Not all towers do, most laptops and tablets have an integrated mic. A headset or microphone might need to be plugged in.

Did you run the Webex/Zoom Audio Test? It can help troubleshoot and identify any issues. This is also where a user can select different microphones or speakers, depending on which setup is being used.

Is the right mic selected in Webex/Zoom? There is a place under audio test that can be used to switch between microphones and speakers.

Is your computer set to allow third party software to access the microphone? This could have been done by an anti-virus program to prevent the camera and microphone being used. It is easily fixed in the settings/permissions section of the computers control panel. It's usually a toggle in the microphone settings.

Is the microphone's driver up to date? Te computer or device might need to be updated.

Does your computer "see" the microphone or audio speaker? That would be an IT issue within the computer. It might need to be serviced.

Webex and Zoom Rules

1 – Please mute your microphone during the event, unless asking a question. You may be muted by the host or presenter. Feel free to converse before and after the event, or in the text chat.

2 – Please feel free to ask a question in the text chat. You may also converse in the text, if you wish to have a conversation please use the private text chat by selecting the person’s name instead of everyone.

3 – Remember this is being recorded. What you say, and what you put in the text chat is recorded. Also, if you are on video, you are being recorded too. Your image may appear in the recording both when you speak, and when are idle, the video is always on.

4 – Be nice. Bad behavior will cause the participant to be expelled from the meeting.

General Issues

Restart the computer. If you’ve made some of the changes listed here, the computer might need to be restarted.

Using Chrome? It might prompt the user to install Webex for Chrome when logging into the meeting. Issues associated with this error usually have to do with sharing content.

Using Microsoft Edge? Try using IE instead.

Webex and Zoom require a lot of bandwidth, for those with temperamental internet, you may want to only use audio and not video, or call in with the phone for audio.

Try a different device? If the computer is being temperamental, the event is accessible via a tablet, smart phone, or by calling in via phone.  

Webex and Zoom Troubleshooting for SLWG Events

Login

The Event Link can be found on the Event Page, Home Page, or the Members Room. It will also be posted in Here’s News! Click the button or link and follow the instructions to join. You will be asked to add webex/zoom software onto your computer.

Consider downloading the Webex and Zoom desktop app, it will aid in any issues you might have. The program can be downloaded as a prompt when logging in.

Please make certain your audio and microphone are on and ready before you login.

Participants can call in via a phone number – a meeting code is required; it is included with the posts.

Participants can also log in via the computer and call in via a phone for audio.

Asking for a Password? It is the series of numbers, Meeting Code/Access Code, listed with button.

Crashing, Lagging, Pauses

Freezing, lagging, or pausing too much. Simply leave the meeting and reconnect via the same link.

If your Webex or Zoom session crashes and shuts down, leave the meeting and reconnect via the link.

Lagging, or “working slow” can be caused by throttling. How many devices are currently using your internet? Can you turn off some devices while viewing the webinar?

Running too many programs at once? Webex and Zoom take a lot of RAM, with too many windows open at once a computer can lag.

The 100th Anniversary Celebrations!

Join St. Louis Writers Guild as it celebrates 100 years!
St. Louis Writers Guild is holding numerous events to honor a century of helping writers!

SLWG 100th Anniversary Events!
June 14-16, 2019 - The Third Gateway to Publishing Conference & Convention

September 14, 2019 - Editing Extravaganza - a day of workshops and editing consultations

December 7, 2019 - Holiday Party with the Winners and Finalists of the 2019 Young Writers Awards

March 7, 2020 - Writers in the Lodge, a day of workshops, editing consultations, and pitching

July 13-17, 2020 - Summer Writers Camp - a week of workshops for young writers in 4th-8th grade

Aug 22, 2020 - The Publishing Evolution - a daylong online conference

September 12, 2020 - 2nd Annual Editing Extravaganza - free workshop with optional editorial consultations/query critiques

Oct. 10 - Gateway Con Pitchfest - a daylong only conference with Ask the Expert workshops and optional pitches to literary agents/publishers

October 24, 2020 - 100th Anniversary special event featuring Hollywood screenwriter Paul Guyot

October 28, 2020 — SLWG turns 100 years old! Thank you to all past, present, and future members!

Nov. 28-Dec. 31, 2020 — SLWG 100th Anniversary Virtual Book Fair

Dec. 5 - Holiday Party Online with readings by the Young Writers Awards Winners

March 6, 2021 - Writers on Zoom - a daylong online conference with optional pitches to publishers

2024

1/13/24 — Young Writers Contest Winner Readings

2/3/24 — Tax Tips and Strategies with Dan Connors

3/2/24 — Writers in the Lodge
Getting the Full Request with Cole Lanahan, literary agent
It’s a Different World Out There: Traditional Publishing’s New Landscape with Eileen Dreyer, author
Publishing Under Your Own Imprint: The Inside Scoop with Angie Fox, author (not recorded)

4/6/24 - Poetry for All: Meet the Missouri Poet Laureate with David L. Harrison

5/4/24 - Narrative Medicine with Aimee Mepham

6/1/24 - How to Self-Publish with Stefanie Newell

7/13/24 - Community Partner Networking Day

8/3/24 - Fan Fiction with Kathleen Kayembe

9/7/24 - Children’s Literature with Ryan Nusbickel and Phyllis Wheeler

10/5/24 - Ten Tactics for Getting Great Book Reviews with Yvette Keller

2023

1/14/23 — Cartooning & Comics Basics with Steenz

2/4/23 — How to Write When Everything Goes Wrong with Allie Pleiter

3/4/23 — Writers in the Lodge
Getting Started With eBook Publishing with L.C. Mortimer
How to Manage Critique Groups with Jennifer Stolzer
All About Editing and Proofreading with Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

4/1/23 — Developing Fabulous Characters with Lisa Wysocky

5/6/23 — Break Into Travel Writing with Lenore Greiner

6/3/23 — From 1st Draft to Published: Tips, Tricks, and Tidbits with Bonnie Swanson

7/8/23 — Creating Traditions for Fictional Cultures with Evan J. Peterson

8/5/23 — The Mechanics of Telling a Great Story with Gregory Ashe

9/16/23 — Haiku: Beyond 5/7/5 with Ben Gaa

10/7/23 — Plotting Your Creative Business with Kathy Van Voorhees

11/4/23 — NaNoWriMo: Story and Structure with Ciera Horton McElroy

12/9/23 — Book Party

2022

1/8/22 — Writing History: Crafting an Interesting (and True!) Story with Dr. Tanya Roth

2/5/22 —Love on the Page with Sela Carsen

3/5/22 — Writers On Zoom -
Catherine Rankovic “Conquering Business Avoidance”
Elizabeth Donald “Journalism in the 2020s”
Donna Tanner “Falconry Then & Now”

4/2/22 - Inspiration Through Everyday Objects with Missouri Poet Laureate, Maryfrancis Wagner

5/7/22 - Writing About Mental Health with Meredith Tate and John Allen

6/3/22 - Using Character Arcs to Outline with Catherine Bakewell and Esme Symes-Smith

7/9/22: Writing for Games with Mike Breault

8/6/22: Writing With Crime with Cathy Pickens

9/10/22: Writing Engaging Combat Scenes with L.L. McKinney

10/1/22: Horror as Legitimate Literature with John McFarland

11/5/22: Gateway to NaNoWriMo

12/3/22: Book Party and Young Writer Award readings

2021

1/9/21 — The Amazon Mindset: What Self-Publishing Authors Need to Know About the World’s Largest Bookseller with Matt Davids

2/6/21 — Five Steps to Having a Strong Query with Catherine Bakewell & The New Rules for Pitching with Brad R. Cook

3/6/21 — Writers on Zoom special online event: Workshops by Andrew Lound, Jody Feldman, Zack Jodlowski, Linda Joy Myers, Jane Ellen Ibur and Bob Baker, plus optional pitches to publishers

4/3/21 — How to Self-Publish Like a Pro: The Parts You'll Hate, but Have to Do! with Meghan Pinson

5/1/21 — Nicole Lanahan:  "Social Media Marketing: How to build a platform, engage readers authentically and turn followers into sales”

6/5/21 — Special YA Event: Lynn Stevens: “YA in the 21st century,” plus a Teen Panel “What YA authors get right and wrong”

7/10/21 — Jessica Mathews and Jennifer Stolzer: “The Con Experience”

8/7/21 — Cherie Postill: “How to Train Your Beta Readers”

9/11/21— Pitchfest: special event featuring three workshops and optional editorial consultations and pitches to publishers

10/2/21 — Mark Lasswell, Washington Post, "Writing Opinion Journalism"

11/6/21 – Amanda Jakle (Worldbuilding Basics for Authors) and Nicole Evelina (Worldbuilding for Historical Fiction, Sci Fi & Fantasy)

12/4/21 - Holiday Book Party with readings from the Winners of the Young Writers Awards.

2020

12/5/20 - SLWG Holiday Party with readings by the Young Writers Awards Winners

11/7/20 — Tax tips for writers and other creative professionals with Dan Connors, in cooperation with Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA)

10/24/20 — SLWG 100th ANNIVERSARY special event! Paul Guyot: “Everything You Know About Screenwriting is Wrong”

9/12/20 — Get Known Everywhere Using Publicity with Jill Lublin and editing consultations with Andrew Doty, Meghan Pinson, Catherine Bakewell

8/1/20 — How to write about encounters with the extraordinary with Karen Cavalli (online only)

7/11/20 — Research For Writers (Or How to End Up On A Watchlist in 20 Minutes or Less) with James Young (online only)

6/6/20 — What Not to Do — Book Marketing Experiments with Warren Martin, in cooperation with St. Louis Publishing Association (SLPA) - (Online webinar)

5/2/20 — Contract Clauses: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Michael Kahn, in cooperation with Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) — (Online webinar)

4/4/20 — Freedom in Form: The Poetics of Haiku and Ghazal with Ben Moeller-Gaa and Jennifer Lynn (Online webinar)

3/7/20 - Writers in the Lodge special event! Featuring presentations by Kortney Price, Guy Anthony De Marco, Andrew Doty, C.L. Postill, plus editing consultations and pitches to agents. Co-sponsored by the St. Louis Publishers Association

2/1/20 - Perfecting Your Pitch: Get Conference-ready with Brad R. Cook

1/4/20 - The Writing Techniques of Jules Verne with Reginald Van Stockum Jr.

2019
1/5/19 - Book Descriptions that Sell presented by Karen Sargent

2/2/19 - Writing with Humanity: Improving Characterization Across Gender & Sexuality presented by Rachel Clay & Kathleen Kayembe

3/2/19 - Freelance Your Way to Success presented by Linda O’Connell

4/6/19 - Perfecting Your Pitch: Get Conference-ready presented by Brad R. Cook

5/4/19 - What to Expect When You're Expecting (a Book): From Acceptance to Book Launch and Beyond presented by Jennifer Geist & Cynthia Graham

6/1/19 - Fundamentals of Book Marketing with LaShaunda C Hoffman & Tabitha Caplinger

7/13/19 - Bad Book Covers with Jennifer Stolzer and Brad R. Cook

8/3/19 - Audiobook Production for Authors with George Sirois and Jennifer Jill Araya

9/14/19 - Editing Extravaganza - Two one-hour workshops on editing with Catherine Rankovic and Andrew Jobling; sign up for 20+ minute editing consultation

10/5/19 — How to use Wattpad & Social Platforms to Kickstart Your Writing Career with Shelly X. Leonn & LL Montez

11/2/19 — Navigating the Wild, Wild West of Publishing with Cathy Davis

12/7/19 - Holiday Party! Featuring readings by Young Writers Contest award winners and dessert potluck

2018
1/6/18 – Landing an Agent (query letter, relationships, and more!) presented by Justin Wells – Remote Workshop

2/3/18 – Novel Revision 101 presented by Meghan Pinson

3/3/18 – Finish that book! presented by Allie Pleiter

4/7/18 – Get Conference-Ready: Perfecting Your Pitch to Literary Agents and Publishers presented by Brad R. Cook

5/5/18 – Perspectives on Writing Historical Fiction with P.A. DeVoe and Ed Protzel

6/2/18 – The Seven Deadly First-Page Sins presented author, Arianne “Tex” Thompson – Remote Workshop

7/14/18 – Working with an Illustrator presented by Illustrators Jennifer Stolzer and Craig Skaggs

8/4/18 – Resources for Indie Authors at St. Louis County Library presented by Sarah Steele SLCL Reference Specialist for Reader’s Advisory

9/8/18 – Delve into Genres with Camille Faye, Jo Hiestand, and Mia Silverton

10/6/18 – Writer Beware: “How Not to Get Published” Richard C. White of the publishing watchdog group, Writer Beware

11/3/18 – Surviving the Hike and Planning the Aftermath - NaNoWriMo workshop presented by Amanda Wells

12/4/18 -  Holiday Party with YWA Readings

2017
1/7/17 – Pulp Fiction Isn’t Just a Tarantino Movie presented by author, Van Allen Plexico

2/4/17 – Poetry/Fiction: The Artistic Language of Horror presented by Mary Genevieve Fortier and David Schultz II, founders of the St. Louis Area Horror Writers Society

3/4/17 – How to Pitch & Query Literary Agents & Publishers presented by Brad R. Cook

4/1/17 – Step 1: Write, Step 2: ???, Step 3: Profit presented by McKenzie Johnston Winberry

5/6/17 – Poisons You Personally Know presented by Fedora Amis, historical mystery author

6/3/17 – Making Biography Readable, Salable, and Absorbing presented by author, Peter Green

7/8/17 – Writing a Book is Hard. Publishing is Even Harder. Presented by Rick Miles, Red Coat PR

8/5/17 – Strategies for Critique Partners and Groups presented by Jennifer Stolzer, Secretary of SLWG and Critique Group Coordinator

9/9/17 – Writers, Tap into your Intuitive Creativity presented by Deborah Terra Weltman

10/7/17 – Taking Your Self-Publishing Career to the Next Level presented by Liz Schulte

11/4/17 – Crafting a Successful Synopsis presented by author, Shawntelle Madison

12/2/17 – Holiday Gathering and YWA Readings

St. Louis Writers Guild Harassment Policy

Be nice!

St. Louis Writers Guild has a zero-tolerance harassment policy and is dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free environment. SLWG hopes everyone has a wonderful time among the books, but if anyone feels harassed, intimidated, discriminated, or if you see harassment please report it to the information table or any staff member, and organizers will deal with the issue. There are safe areas available and SLWG will ban anyone who violates the harassment policy.

This includes all harassment, intimidation, and discrimination made on the basis of race, age, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, religion, class, body size, veteran status, marital/domestic partnership status, citizenship or any other marginalized identity. Harassment includes verbal comments, written comments, displayed images, or behaviors such as deliberate intimidation, stalking, body policing, unwelcome photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention, and bullying or coercion of any kind, in particular forcing another to accept your beliefs.

Thank you for making St. Louis Writers Guild Events a place for all book lovers!