Our History
In the spring of 2001, The
Book Group of South Florida voted to change its name to the
Writers' Network of South Florida in order to more
clearly reflect the purpose of the organization, that is,
to provide a forum for local authors and book professionals
to discuss mutual concerns and share information. Founded
in 1981, the organization was the only association of writing
professionals in South Florida at that time.
From the beginning, the membership
was drawn from a wide spectrum of writing professionals, including
book authors, publishers, editors, literary agents, librarians,
and teachers of writing. In time, writers who wrote on such
areas as poetry, biography, journalism, freelance writing,
play writing and ghost writing joined the group.
With the continuing influx
of writers to South Florida, a number of specialized writing
groups have been formed. Nevertheless, the Writers'
Network continues to fulfill a special role in the
writing community by providing expertise in the process of
writing and publishing along with an opportunity for members
to network with seasoned professionals.
At the outset, the criteria
for membership was authoring of a book. That requirement was
amended to include publication in any genre as all types of
writers sought membership. Consequently, the output of the
membership over the years has included several hundred fiction
and non-fiction works for adults, children and young adults,
in addition to hundreds of poems, articles and essays. Plays
by members have been produced by professional companies, and
members have been featured at conferences, appeared on television
and radio, taught seminars, written columns, and been published
online. Some members have movies contracts. Others have had
their works published in foreign languages, and many are published
online. Most members have websites,
all use email, and many have blogs.
The Writers Network
sponsors an Annual Writing
Contest in various genres, culminating in a Spring Gala
at which winners are announced and cash prizes are awarded.
In addition the Writers' Network provides
scholarships for writing workshops
offered by the Florida Center for the Book at the Broward
County Library. Monthly meetings of the group provide individual
speakers, who share information concerning the conception
and publication of their work, and panels, which discuss topics
of interest, such as marketing, electronic publishing, contracting
for movie or foreign rights, obtaining an agent and working
with an editor.
The Writers Network
functions today as meeting place for writing professionals
and a clearinghouse of information about writing
events in South Florida.
