Writers Groups Around the State

If you have additions or corrections to this list please contact Joe McCabe (304-274-6986)


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 (The Jabberwock Writers)
Usually meets in the Jabberwock Cafe from 6 to 8 PM on the first and third Thursday of every month. Members may bring work to be critiqued. Some members report on books they have read recently. A writing prompt is usually given. Contacts: Rhonda White (304-425-6452) rwhite_writes@charterinternet.com and Scott Thompson shthompson1@charter.net

BERKELEY COUNTY (See MARTINSBURG.)

BLUEFIELD
Usually meets the second Thursday of every month. Contact: Rob Merritt (304-327-6687) or rmerritt@bluefield.edu

BRAXTON (and NICHOLAS)
Usually meets once every month in a member's home. Contact: Renita Sue Loyd (304-765-7602) or RSL007@citynet.net

FAIRMONT (The Crow's Quill)
The Crow's Quill meets every other Wednesday from 6 PM to 8 PM in the conference room of the Fairmont chapter of the YWCA on Pleasant Valley Road. 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. Contact: T.W. (Terry) McNemar at MCNCON@IOLINC.NET.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY (See ROMNEY.)

HUNTINGTON (The Guyandotte Poets)
They have been discussing poems in the members' homes for more than 25 years, and they are always looking for people with talent and energy who are serious about poetry. Contact: John McKernan mckernan@marshall.edu

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

JEFFERSON COUNTY (See SHEPHERDSTOWN.)

LEWISBURG (Lewisburg Writers Group)
This group meets the first Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Wild Bean Cafe on East Washington Street. The group will also meet the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Birdhouse Cafe, West Washington Street.

MARION COUNTY (See Fairmont)

MARTINSBURG
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. Contact: Joe McCabe (304-274-6986) or hildajoe@msn.com.

MARTINSBURG (Athens on the Opequon)
This group was created in November 2003 to conserve, produce, and promote Traditional Poetry. Usually meets at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library on the first Sunday of every month from 2 to 4:45 PM. Contact: Annemarie Collins (304-267-7567) or poetry@ix.netcom.com and Carrol Kline (304-263-4395) or cekva@peoplepc.com

MORGANTOWN
Meets at the Morgantown Public Library, usually 2nd, 4th Tuesdays (6:30-8 p.m.). Manuscript critiques, market writing assignments, group writing, presentations. Contacts: Library (304-291-7425) or email to: George.Lies@mail.wvu.edu or Patricia.Patteson@mail.wvuedu

PARKERSBURG (Ohio Valley Literary Group)
Usually meets in the Board Room of the Public Library from 6:30 to 9 PM the second Thursday of each month. Bring 12 copies of the work you want critiqued. Contact: Wilma Acree (304-295-6599) wilmaacree@charter.net

RIPLEY (The Appalachian Wordsmiths)
Usually meets every Thursday (except the second) of every month at the coffee shop on Court St. across from the courthouse from 6 to 8 pm. Established January 2002. Contacts: Cheryl Kobe (304-273-0111) cpame@blackbearnet.1cis.com and Max Price (304 273-9986) mprice@marshall.edu.

ROMNEY (Ice Mountain Writers)
Sponsored by the Hampshire County Arts Council. Usually meets the third Wednesday of every month @ 7 pm at the Bank of Romney Community Building on Main Street. Bring 6 copies of the work you want critiqued. Publishes chapbooks and collections IMW members' writings. Sponsors a Visiting Writer each spring to conduct workshops in the schools and to perform with the IMW for the public. Contact: Larry Brown (304-822-7516) or Sibyl MacKenzie (304-822-7206).

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@charter.net.

SHEPHERDSTOWN (The Bookend Poets)
Usually meets the second Thursday of every month from 8 to 10 PM usually at The Four Seasons Bookstore on German Street. Bring 10 copies of the poems you want critiqued. Contact: Georgia Lee McElhaney (304-876-6745) geeleemce@aol.com