New Newsletter Format
In response to member requests, I am forgoing the distribution of the newsletter as a PDF and am now using an email service. This allows you to view the newsletter in your email without downloading an attachment. We hope this change makes the newsletter easier for you to read.
We have a lot to share this month, so grab your favorite beverage before diving into our news and information. Don’t miss the following:
* 125th Anniversary Save-the-Date Announcement
* Letter from the President
* Member Highlights
* New Member Welcome
* Nibbles of News
* Notice of Upcoming Membership Vote
* Press Release
* Writers Conferences and Events
* Writing and Book Contest
Don’t forget to email Secretary@detworkingwriters.org with information on any published books or articles, achievements, honors, or other writing activities you would like highlighted in our next newsletter. If you have a link for the item to be viewed online, please include it.
Grace Grogan
Newsletter Editor
Letter From the President
We’re excited to announce the 125th Anniversary celebration on November 9! Our VP, Diane VanderBeke Mager, deserves most of the credit for this.
However, the entire DWW Board continues to work hard. In this newsletter you’ll see some of our progress, including website updates and welcoming Julie Bonner Williams as a new member.
During our last meeting, we passed a motion from the Constitution and Bylaws Review Committee to merge our Constitution and Bylaws into one controlling document. As you read the proposed changes, please note that this does not dilute any requirements for membership to approve changes. The articles in the current Constitution that require a full membership vote will also require a full membership vote in the new Bylaws.
I encourage all members in good standing to vote on this proposed change.
In other news, the board also voted to change the membership application guidelines to better match current publishing trends. In the past, DWW only accepted “traditionally” published writing samples. Now, the New Membership Committee will consider up to two hybrid- or self-published works. As before, all samples from applicants must demonstrate professional excellence and single authorship or byline.
Please encourage potential members who would enjoy connection, growth, and support to apply.
Happy Fall Writing! Hope to see you on November 9!
Laura Hedgecock
President
Welcome New DWW Member
A hearty welcome to our newest member, Julie Bonner Williams. Julie is an accomplished author, writer of magazine and newspaper articles, poet, and professional editor. A member of Michigan Writers, Rochester Writers, and the Poetry Society of Michigan, we are pleased that Julie now adds Detroit Working Writers to her list of organizations.
Julie’s publication credits date back to her high school years, when she submitted poems to Seventeen magazine. Seeing her writing in print sparked a lifelong love affair with writing and editing. We invite all members to visit Julie’s author website, where you can read her published essays and feature articles, learn about the wide range of professional editing services she offers, and dive into her blog.
About DWW
This year, Detroit Working Writers celebrates its 125th Anniversary! Stay tuned for information about our upcoming members’ event at detworkingwriters.org.
Founded as the Detroit Press Club on June 5, 1900, it was The City of Detroit’s first press club. Today, it is a 501(c)(6) organization and the State of Michigan’s oldest writer’s organization, sharing a storied history:
• When male journalists organized a press club in 1904, the group became known as The Detroit Women’s Press Club.
• In 1914, the name was changed to the Detroit Women Writers Club.
• In 1966, the organization’s name was changed to Detroit Women Writers.
• In 2000, DWW’s centennial year coincided with the City of Detroit’s 300th year, and DWW was designated as a Heritage Organization by Detroit 300.
• In 2003, the name was changed to Detroit Working Writers as membership opened to male writers.
DWW is committed to inclusivity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, or disability.
Membership in DWW is based solely on the excellence of published writing credits. Our membership includes novelists, journalists, poets, playwrights, scriptwriters, freelancers, travel writers, and essayists. From its thirteen founding members, the nonprofit organization grew to just under a hundred members by 2020.
DWW aims to continue its long history of programming by holding quarterly Members’ Meet-ups—a mixture of guest speakers on craft-related topics, write-ins, open mics, and hugs-and-hurrahs. The annual DWW Writer’s Conference, established in 1961 and paused since 2018, has drawn writers from throughout Michigan, presenting high-profile keynote speakers and a variety of craft-related workshops. For more information on DWW’s event schedule, visit our Events page.
DWW has published three books:
• Echoes from the Moon (1976), a volume of poetry by DWW members,
• Voices on Writing Fiction (1987), advice on writing by DWW members, and
• Century of Voices, a DWW Anthology 1900–2000 (1999), featuring the work of eighty-seven members that reflects a century of membership with historical introductions to each section.
We welcome new members and seek to invigorate the contemporary Michigan writing community, propelling the organization forward in the tradition of professional excellence brought forth by our trailblazing and inspired founders. To learn more about the application process, visit our Apply to DWW page.
Highlighting Our Members
Linda Nemec Foster’s poem “Scattering the Ashes on Lake Geneva” was highlighted by the editors of Poetry Daily on August 12, 2025. You can read her poem here.
Jean Alicia Elster is the narrator for the musical program Up South: Reflections of the Great Migration as part of the 32nd season of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival’s Blueprints in Sound series. Between musical selections, Elster read portions of her award-winning, family-based historical fiction trilogy, How It Happens, The Colored Car, and Who’s Jim Hines? (Wayne State University Press).
Grace Grogan had a 2-part series published in The Freshwater Reporter regarding Michigan’s involvement in slavery and the Underground Railroad:
* “Michigan’s hidden history of slave ownership” begins on page 4 in the March 12-May 20, 2025, edition.
* “Michigan’s Underground Railroad” begins on page 5 of the May 21-June 24, 2025, edition.
Notice of Proposed Consolidation of DWW Controlling Documents and Scheduled Vote
The DWW Constitution & Bylaws Revision Committee is in the process of reviewing Detroit Working Writers’ controlling documents. Following an examination of Michigan legal requirements, Robert’s Rules of Order, and modern-day practices, the Committee has determined that it is in the best interest of DWW to consolidate our Constitution and Bylaws into a single controlling document titled DWW Bylaws. In combining the two documents, the articles in the current Constitution requiring a full membership vote will also require a full membership vote in the new Bylaws.
The basis of this proposal is:
Michigan does not require a constitution; it only requires Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Robert’s Rules of Order §56:1 state “Under the preferred practice for ordinary societies today, the constitution and the bylaws—once usually separate—are now combined in a single instrument, referred to in this book as the bylaws.”
Ways to change your bylaws or constitution, published by Michigan State University Extension, states that Bylaws and Constitutions supersede parliamentary authority, and “It is now the recommended practice that these rules be combined into a single instrument, usually called the ‘bylaws.’”
The article further states, “…there are decided advantages in keeping all of the provisions relating to each subject under one heading within a single instrument—which results in fewer problems of duplication or inconsistency, and gives a more understandable and workable body of rules.”
With our current Constitution and separate Bylaws, it is necessary to refer back and forth between the two documents to obtain all information needed to determine a proper course of action. This has revealed discrepancies between the two papers regarding procedural requirements.
For the above reasons, the Constitution & Bylaws Revision Committee is requesting a vote of membership for the dissolution of our Constitution as a separate document, with its contents to be incorporated into the revised Bylaws.
During the interim period in which revisions are being implemented, the current Constitution and Bylaws will remain in effect as our governing documents. Upon completion, the revised DWW Bylaws will be presented to the membership for a separate vote of acceptance.
NOTICE OF VOTE: There will be a vote of all members in attendance at the Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 7:00 pm EDT on the proposal of the DWW Constitution & Bylaws Revision Committee to dissolve our Constitution and incorporate its contents into the Bylaws as one controlling document.
Upcoming Writer’s Conferences and Events
Writer’s Digest University Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference — This 3-day, one-of-a-kind online event for science fiction and fantasy writers takes place August 22-24, 2025. Learns techniques from seven published authors in seven one-hour webinar presentations, live Q&A with speakers, networking with fellow writers, unlimited On Demand viewing, and Bonus On-Demand Webinars. Register online here.
Harbor Springs Festival of the Book Signature Event — A 3-day celebration of readers, writers, books, and the literary craft. Features up to 50 nationally published authors and illustrators in sessions, including genres of fiction, nonfiction, mystery/thriller, poetry, cookbook, picture book/early reader, middle grade, and young adult. Registration is required; previous events have sold out. This is the 10th year of the annual event taking place September 26th-28th. This is the only multi-day, multi-genre book festival in Michigan. Learn more here.
18th Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference — Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at Oakland University in Rochester. The conference includes a keynote, breakout sessions, coffee, snacks, lunch, and parking. There are a total of 12 presentations for attendees to choose from. Fiction, non-fiction, and business topics are presented in workshops, panel discussions, and lectures. The event features Michigan authors, agents, speakers, and educators. Register before September 7th for the best pricing. Click here for more information.
Women Who Write & Create – A celebration of women showcasing their talent and diverse voices through writing and other creative channels. Held at the Hilton Garden Inn GR East on Saturday November 1, 2025, 11 AM to 3 PM in Grand Rapids. Admission is free and open to all. For more information click here.
Local Author Book Fair – Free public event with contests and prizes, free booths to authors. The event takes place in Nashville, Michigan on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Information available here.
Join The List for 2026 Mackinac Island Writing Retreat – The applications for the September 2025 retreat are closed, but you can join the list for 2026. The event brings together writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for an intensive week of generative writing, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing.
2025 A2 Community Bookfest—Formerly Kerrytown Bookfest – Will be held at the downtown library on Sunday, November 9, 2025 from 10 am to 5 pm. Booksellers, publishers, authors, and more on the vendor floor, with various activities for all ages, including keynote author talks, hands-on crafts for kids and adults, storytimes, and discussion groups. The Fifth Avenue Press annual author reception will celebrate books published by the Library in the prior year. The call for vendors is closed, but you can join the A2 Community Bookfest mailing list by sending your address to bookfest@aadl.org.
Save the Date for the next Rally of Writers to be held on April 11, 2026, at Lansing Community College West Campus. They are also sold out on their first ever Rally of Writers Retreat being held October 17-20, 2025. You can sign up to join the writer’s retreat wait list or to receive updates on all upcoming Rally of Writers Events.
Writing and Book Contests
Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards has an early-bird deadline of September 2, 2025, final deadline of October 1, 2025. Contest is for personal essays of 2,000 words or less with a top prize of $2,500 in cash, published in Writer’s Digest Magazine, and a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference and more. Everyone placing in the top 25 receives some type of award. More information and entry forms available here.
13th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards is the only Writer’s Digest competition exclusively for self-published e-books has a top prize of $5,000 cash, an interview with Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, and more. All books published or revised and republished between 2020 and 2025 are eligible. Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2025. Details can be found here.
Michigan Notable Books is held every year by the Library of Michigan, which selects up to twenty of the most notable books either written by a Michigan resident or about Michigan or the Great Lakes. The selected books are honored in the year after their publication or copyright date. For example, a book copyrighted/published in 2025 can only be considered for the 2026 award year. There is a Night of Notables celebration and an annual grant-funded authors tour to libraries throughout Michigan. Complete submission guidelines are available online.
Halloween Book Festival
The Halloween Book Festival will consider works in horror, science fiction, general fiction, general non-fiction, biography/autobiography, young adult, fantasy, photography/art, monsters, comics/graphic novels, unconventional romance, wild card (anything goes), alternative future/time travel, children’s books, and fan fiction. There is no date of publication restrictions. In addition to the book contest, they also award honors in several categories. Submission deadline is October 25, 2025. Entry forms are online.
2025 New England Book Festival Call for Entries
This is the 18th year for this annual contest. The festival considers non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, memoir, children’s books, young adult, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, photography/art, poetry, gay literature, regional literature, spiritual, wild card (anything goes!), business books, unpublished stories, and compilations/anthologies. Entries must be in English. Entry forms are online; entry fee is $50. You may enter a hard copy or electronic version by uploading a digital copy or sending an email attachment. Deadline for submissions: Must be received by the close of business on November 25, 2025.
Southern California Book Festival Call for Entries
Annual competition, considers published and unpublished works in fiction, non-fiction, biography/autobiography, memoir, how-to compilations/anthologies, photography/art, children’s, cookbooks, poetry, spiritual, young adult, business/technology, unpublished manuscripts, while card (anything goes!), nature/animals, and regional lit. No date of publication restriction. Entries must be in English or Spanish. Entries can be submitted by emailing a PDF, using the book uploader for e-book formats, or via Kindle. The entry forms are online; fee is $50, and all entries must be received by the close of business on November 25, 2025.
2026 Regional Book Festivals Call for Entries
Regional Book Festival has four events: Great Southwest, Great Midwest, Great Southeast, and Great Northwest. This is for books published on or after January 1, 2021; the deadline for submissions is February 25, 2026. Books must be in English. Accepted genres are non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, memoir, children’s books, young adult, how-to, history, cookbooks, science fiction, photography/art, poetry, regional literature, spiritual/religious, wild card (anything goes) self-help, business/technology, unpublished stories, and compilations/anthologies. Click here for details and entry forms.
2026 Los Angeles Book Festival Call for Entries
Annual book festival considering major publisher, independent publisher and self-published works in 19 categories published on or after January 1, 2020. In addition to the top selections receiving honors, they will also award the book festival’s Author of the Year, Book Design of the Year, and Publisher of the Year. Deadline for submissions is March 25, 2026; click here for more information.
Nibbles of News
Blog: The DWW Blog on our website has new items added. Read the latest content here.
Save the Date: The next DWW Board Meeting via Zoom is scheduled Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 7:00 pm EDT. All Members Welcome–membership vote will take place regarding Constitution and Bylaws Consolidation. To receive a Zoom invitation please RSVP to president@detroitworkingwriters.org
Share Your Accomplishments: If you are recently published, received an award, delivered a presentation, led a workshop, given an interview, or have any other news you want to share with fellow members, email Grace Grogan, Newsletter Editor, at Secretary@detworkingwriters.org, and send the information to our Social Media Chair, Richard Stiennon at richard@it-harvest.com for posting on our social media accounts.
Contribute to the Newsletter: If you have information other members might enjoy, send the links/information to Grace Grogan, Newsletter Editor, at Secretary@detworkingwriters.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2025 | Metro Detroit
Michigan writers’ association Celebrates 125th Anniversary
Detroit Working Writers is celebrating 125 years of supporting Michigan writers.
On June 5, 1900, a group of women writers formed the Detroit Women’s Press Club to support professional and aspiring female writers while traveling home from a National Women’s Press Club outing aboard the famed Detroit steamer Tashmoo.
Later called Detroit Women Writers—then Detroit Working Writers as it opened membership to all published Michigan writers—DWW’s goals are much the same today: encouraging excellence in the writing community and supporting one another.
Past president and award-winning poet and novelist Kathleen Ripley Leo knows the importance of peers. She explains, “For 125 years, DWW has been a tremendous source of support and advancement for members, such as novelist Joyce Carol Oates and Detroit Poet Laureate Naomi Long Madgett. DWW’s professional writers support each other and share a love of the written word.”
Member Phyllis Green, author of seventeen books and countless articles for young people, remembers DWW as an all-women’s organization in the 1970s, “My first friend was Elsie Price, who wrote very humorous articles for the Detroit Sunday newspaper. Elsie, Marjory Jackson Levin, and I organized one of the large DWW conferences at Oakland University that drew many would-be writers and a nationally famous author.”
Her well-wishes for her DWW colleagues as they plan a fall anniversary celebration embodies the spirit of Detroit Working Writers to embrace the past and look to the future: “I am 93. Never stop writing! Never stop doing art or anything that makes you happy. Be kind to your fellow writers. I hope you all get published.”
Whether you’re a reader looking to discover local authors or a writer considering application for membership, Detroit Working Writers invites you to explore our growing community and learn more about the writers who have shaped Michigan’s literary tradition for over a century at DetWorkingwriters.org.
# # #