Tampa Writers' Alliance
The Tampa Writers' Alliance is a self-help organization of adult writers--amateur and professional, beginning and advanced, aspiring and published--who share a keen interest in writing. The members, numbering about 100, turn out works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, plus other specialized output such as plays, movies, television scripts and visual arts material. The Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Florida, has recognized the organization's contribution to the community in the past by providing a year's supplemental funding and lists TWA as a member of the arts community. Tampa Writers' Alliance is a non-profit organziation whose Executive Board members are elected annually by the membership. All officers, workshop coordinators, and committee members are volunteers. Annual membership dues of $25 per year cover publicity, publications, participation in selected cultural events and contests and other activities of interest to members. When and where are General Meetings?General meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month (except December ) from 7 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. in the Tampa Main Library located at 900 N. Ashley Drive. Besides TWA business, these meetings feature highly qualified speakers who appeal to varied writing interests and who are themselves writers or have related credentials.When are the workshops?The CRITIQUE Workshop is held the second Wednesday of each month except December from 7 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. at the North Tampa Branch Library on North Boulevard just south of Busch Boulevard, diagonally across from Chamberlain High School. At these critiquing sessions members profit from friendly, constructive criticism. Activities range from guest speakers to exercises on various aspects of writing. The group accepts fiction, non-fiction and poetry for critique.The BEGINNING FREELANCER'S Workshop meets the third Wednesday of each month except Decmeber at 7 pm. until 8:45 p.m. in the Peninsula Library Branch on Neptune Avenue between South Dale Mabry and Henderson Boulevard. The workshop, taught by one of TWA's professionals, is a nine-part short course that familiarizes less experienced writers with the nuts and bolts of writing and publishing as a fareelance writer. The NONFICTION Workshop meets the fourth Wednesday of every month except December at Tampa's Main Library from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. These are work sessions that include interview techniques, computer shortcuts, research methods, article formatting and marketing. A POETRY Workshop meets on Thrusday from 7-9 p.m. at the Pine Grove restaurant on Florida Avenue at Busch Boulevard. This group gives Tampa Writers' Alliance members a venue for more developed technical critiquing of poetic work and strikes a balance by studying classic works. Check with the workshop coordinator for dates. TWA also offers several informal novel pods of four or five members that meet regularly to critique book-length manuscripts. After each meeting and workshop, many TWA members adjourn to a convenient restaurant or coffee shop for further networking and informal discussions about writing. By bringing together energetic and creative writers with eclectic skills and interests, Tampa Writers' Alliance opens new doors for successful pros as well as aspiring beginners. For more information, call . . .If you would like more information about The Tampa Writers' Alliance, contact Jim Able, Public Relations Director, P. O. Box 13982, Tampa, FL 33681 or telephone (813) 839-4675 or (813) 839-0075. Send for our free brochure and come to our General Meeting at the Downtown branch of the Public Library on Ashley Drive in Tampa the first Wednesday of each month (except in December when TWA holds their annual banquet). Attending the General Meeting will net you the next monthly issue of the Write Connections newsletter that contains workshop and special event details. Call the workshop coordinator listed and get more information about attending one of more workshops.How to joinMail your check for $25 to TWA treasurer J. Francis Croft, 5228 Wellig Avenue, Brooksville, Florida 34601. Without any further charge you may attend any and all meetings and workshops for a full calendar year. Included in these dues are 12 issues of Write Connections newsletter and one copy of Wordsmith, the organization's yearly anthology, as well as the opportunity to be selected for publication in either or both.Benefits of membership in TWA
|