CWCO_live_smThe excitement in the air grows as we anticipate Catholic Writers Conference Live! CWCLive is set for July 26-July 29, 2016, in Chicago. The work of many committees supports the conference. During the CWG Meeting and Welcome Session – open to all – the officers, led by President Joe Wetterling, will show what the CWG is all about. I’ll speak up during one part of the presentation, giving an overview of committees and how members can participate:

Blog: Read book reviews, inspiration for writers, committee news, president’s message. Volunteer to write or edit articles for the blog. Contact Kathryn Cunningham or Dennis McGeehan at blog@catholicwritersguild.com

Catholic Arts and Letters Award: CALA is our awards competition for works of fiction of outstanding merit. A book must have our Seal of Approval to compete. Volunteer to help organize or judge the competition. Contact Carol Ann Chybowski at calacontest@catholicwritersguild.com

Catholic Book News: This monthly mailing to readers, bookstores and others in the publishing industry features two SoA books. Add your local Catholic bookstore to the list. Contact Dawn Witzke, booknews@catholicwritersguild.com

Conferences: We produce two writers’ conferences per year. Contact Ann Lewis and Karina Fabian

  • The Catholic Writers Conference Online is a webinar conference open to all writers Catholic and non-Catholic. Volunteer to give a presentation or help facilitate speakers and discussions. Contact cwgonline@catholicwritersguild.com
  • The Catholic Writers Conference Live is held in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN) Trade Show. Volunteer to help with registration and trade show booths, or introduce and assist presenters. Contact: cwglive@catholicwritersguild.com

Facebook group page: Start up discussions on all aspects of writing, marketing, faith, social action, or just socializing. Contact Karina Fabian at facebookpage@catholicwritersguild.com

Membership: Check your membership status or renewal date: Contact Maureen Smith, membership@catholicwritersguild.com

Public Relations: Volunteer to help with new media push with regular tweeting, Facebook posts and blogging to promote CWG activities. Contact Nancy Ward, CoordinatorofCommittees@catholicwritersguild.com

Retreat: Plan to attend the next one in October 2017 – combining the classic Catholic retreat with a writer’s retreat that encourages us to create on the spot. Contact Ann Lewis or Margaret Rose Realy, retreat@catholicwritersguild.com

Seal of Approval: SOA is a program for getting your book evaluated and approved for its Catholicity and quality. The Seal of Approval is a signal to Catholic bookstores that they can carry your book without concern about its content or quality. Volunteer to be trained to evaluate books for the Seal of Approval. Contact Ellen Hrkach, soa@catholicwritersguild.com

Speakers Bureau/Education – List your credentials as a speaker. Look for opportunities to refer schools, civic and church groups to this resource. Contact Dennis McGeehan, education@catholicwritersguild.com

Website – Get your news on the CWG home page–just send a media release to Ann Lewis, website@catholicwritersguild.com

Zenit selects articles from the CWG Blog and recommends them for publication on Zenit.com. Announced on Facebook group page. Contact Dennis McGeehan, zenit@catholicwritersguild.com

Critique groups: work with others to improve your writing.

  • Fiction: A guild within the Guild where CWG members assist each other in writing and launching their creations. For details or an invitation to join, send a message to Don Mulcare, FictionGroup@catholicwritersguild.com
  • Non-fiction: We critique each other’s work via email, using mark-up, offering suggestions about rewrites, organization and marketing. For guidelines, contact Nancy Ward at NonfictionGroup@catholicwritersguild.com

For more information on committees, contact Nancy Ward, CoordinatorofCommittees@catholicwritersguild.com

Nancy Ward, convert, journalist, author, and speaker, writes from Texas about Catholicism, conversion and Christian community at NancyHCWard.com, JOYAlive.net, and other websites and magazines. Through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story workshops, retreats and DVD, she shares her conversion story in Catholic parishes and at conferences, equipping others to share their stories. She contributed to the award-winning The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion, facilitates two Catholic Writers Guild critique groups, serves on the Guild’s Board, and speaks at national writers conferences.