DWW Rings in 2026!
Thursday, January 22, 2026
7:00 pm via Zoom
This is a free social event for members to
share our achievements from the past year
and plans for the new one.
Please Register at https://tinyurl.com/RingIn2026
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Happy New Year!
I hope you have all recovered from the holiday rush and are settling into 2026 with some writing goals to keep your fingers on the keyboard throughout the year.
Diving into this month’s newsletter, don’t miss the following:
* A Conversation with Lydi Conklin
* 19 Best Independent Bookstores
* Detroit Working Writers History
* Letter from the President
* Looking Back – DWW History
* Question of the Month
* Read Around the USA
* Ring in the New Year DWW Event
* Save the Date – Board Meeting Notice
* The Ugly Duckling
* Upcoming Author Events
* Upcoming Writing Events
* Upcoming Contests
* Welcome New Member Melissa Walsh
* What is a Chapbook?
Thank you to those members who submitted content for this newsletter! I invite everyone to share information about your accomplishments or content that may be of value to other members. Send any achievements, publication announcements, or other items to [email protected] for inclusion in the next edition. Please put “DWW Newsletter” in the subject line.
Thank you!
Grace Grogan
Newsletter Editor
Letter from the President
Happy new year!
I hope to wish you that in person at our DWW Rings in 2026 event on January 22, 2026, at 7 pm via Zoom. We’ll support and celebrate each other by sharing our goals for 2026, discussing any roadblocks we’ve faced, and celebrating 2025 achievements.
See the top article for the Zoom link!
This should be a fun, casual way to get to know your fellow writers!
Other news:
We’re proud to share that National Inspirational Role Models Visionaries (NIRMV) awarded DWW its Milestone Award for our 125 years of promoting professional writers and excellence in writing.
Honorary Director Kathleen Leo Ripley has had to step down from her position. The Board accepted her resignation with great appreciation for her years of service.
Reminders:
DWW Board meetings are open to members. The next scheduled meeting is on March 19, 2026, via Zoom. (Click to register)
Refer a friend: We’re always open to new members. If you know a writer who would benefit from membership, please direct them to https://www.detworkingwriters.org/apply-for-membership/
In the words of Thomas Mann, “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”
Wishing you the best in your writing pursuits,
Laura Hedgecock, President
The Ugly Duckling
Learn how this well-loved children’s tale is based on the real life experiences of the author. In this story Hans Christian Andersen shares his own struggles and triumphs to help children embrace their own beauty and uniqueness. Read The Ugly Duckling: A Tale of Self Discovery to learn how the book relates to Hans Christian Andersen’s life.
Lydi Conklin is known for representing queer characters with realistic nuance and detail. In Conklin’s new novel Songs of No Provenance, folk musician Joan Vole is a prime candidate for exploration. In this conversation, Conklin and William Huberdeau discuss narrative choices, the political imperative behind the novel, and how a person navigates the writing world with courage and grace.
Detroit Working Writers History
If you attended the DWW 125th Anniversary Celebration and enjoyed the historical information on display, or couldn’t attend and want to learn about our organization’s history, check out the following links. You will view history and photographs of the Women’s City Club building where DWW met, beginning sometime after the building opened in 1924 until 1967. The group left in protest of a building policy not to let women of color above the ground floor [Thumb’s Up to DWW’s support for civil rights]. The DWW then met in the historic McGregor Memorial Conference Center at Wayne State University from 1967 to 1970, and at the Detroit Public Library beginning in 1970. Enjoy the following:
A wonderful collection of photographs of the Women’s City Club, including the building under construction, its rooftop courtyard, and more.
Learn about the history of the Women’s City Club of Detroit, which was founded in 1919 by nine civic-minded women. Construction of the six-story, 75,000 square foot Women’s City Club building began in 1923 and was completed in 1924. In the 1930s the club membership grew to over 8,000, making it the largest women’s club in the world. The members list includes Detroit Women Writers Association.
The McGregor Memorial Conference Center is the first of four buildings on Wayne State University campus designed by world-renowned architect Minoru Yamaski. The building opened on May 18, 1958 An August 1958 Architectural Record feature celebrating the completion of the Center referred to it by stating “As graceful and sun-filled as a dream palace…” With a striking atrium, sculpture garden, and dramatic columns, the building was considered one of Yamasaki’s most distinguished works.
The Detroit Public Library was a five-year project. The land was purchased in June 1913, mansions cleared from the land in 1914, ground breaking was January 1915, and the cornerstone was laid in November 1917. The building was formally dedicated on June 3, 1921, although it had been open since March. The cost to build was $3 million, which today would be about $41 million. At the time of its opening the library housed over half a million books.
DWW’s archives, dating back to the inception of the group, are held in the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library.
Welcome New Member Melissa Walsh
Melissa writes non-fiction and journalism, drawing on over 35 years of experience when providing clients with editorial and publishing services. Born in Detroit, Melissa grew up in a UAW family and is the first generation to attend college. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Hope College. She pursued a master’s degree in linguistics while working in the International Services Office and English Language Institute at Wayne State University. Throughout her career, she has pursued her love of research and writing as a freelance journalist, contributing articles to local and regional magazines and newspapers. In 2005, she authored The Rookie Hockey Mom, which was revised and published in 2012. Melissa received a second-place award from the 2018 Michigan Press Association in the weekly media B news feature category for her article “Grosse Pointe Equestrian: Less club, more community,” which appeared in the Grosse Pointe News on June 21, 2018. You can learn more about Melissa on her website.
Upcoming Contests
Memoir Excerpt and Essay Contest by Craft is looking for longform creative nonfiction from 1,001 to 6,000 words runs from November 13, 2025 to January 25, 2026. Excerpts from book-length projects and stand-alone essays will also be considered. Submit unpublished work only. More information is available on the Craft website. Deadline for submissions: January 25, 2027.
Chautauqua Janus Prize celebrates an emerging writer’s innovation of literary form and function and function that reorders and upsets readers’ imaginations in a single work of short fiction or nonfiction. The winner will receive $5,000 for their manuscript and give a lecture in the summer, plus receive a publication in Chautauqua. This is for emerging writers who have not published any prose books. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026. Additional information available on the Chautauqua Institution website.
The Big Moose Prize is presented by Black Lawrence Press. The contest is open to new, emerging or established authors who have recently finished writing a novel. They allow traditional novels, novels-in-stories, novels-in-poems, and other hybrid forms. The winner receives $1,000, book publication, and ten copies of their book. Deadline
for submissions: January 31, 2026. Click here for more information.
The Iowa Review Awards offers a threefold contest where contestants can submit entries for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry during the month of January. Multiple entries are allowed, different genres constitute different entries. Prose submissions may be up to 25 pages and poetry submissions up to ten pages. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026. Additional information available on the Iowa Review website.
The Millenium Awards are presented by the literary journal, New Millenium Writings! Writers can submit poetry, fiction, flash fiction, or nonfiction, with no restrictions on style or subject matter. Fiction and nonfiction must be less than 7,500 words, flash fiction less than 1,000 words and poetry may include three poems less than five pages long. More information
is available here. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026.
The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition is provided by The Ghost Story. They are looking for work that incorporates the uncanny in under 1,000 words. Stories don’t need to involve ghosts specifically, but they do need fresh perspectives and superb writing. The winner receives $1,000 and both online and print publication. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026. Visit The Ghost Story website for submission information.
Short Memoir Prize is an annual contest from Fish Publishing in Ireland. Maximum number of words is 4,000, not previously published, and available for the Fish Anthology. In addition to cash prizes, the ten best memoirs will be published in the Fish Anthology 2026. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026; Results are announced April 1, 2026. Visit the Fish Publishing website for more information.
Swamp Pink Prizes is a contest offered by Swamp Pink, formerly Crazyhorse, and is seeking entries of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. Submissions may be up to 25 pages or a set of one to three poems. Each winner receives $2,000 and publication. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2026. Click here for submission details.
Winter Short Story Award for New Writers is awarding $3,500 plus publication. They are seeking fiction or narrative nonfiction up to 6,000 words. The contest runs from December 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026 and is open to any writer who has not published a novel or memoir with a major press. All winning pieces are published online. Deadline
for submissions: February 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT. For additional information visit The Masters Review website.
Next Generation Indie Book Awards presented by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group (IBPPG) in connection with literary agent Marilyn Allen is the largest international awards program exclusively for independent authors and publishers. It is open to self-published authors, e-book publishers, small press, mid-sized independent publishers, and university press. Entries are books written in English and released or copyrighted in 2024, 2025, or 2026. In addition to cash prizes, there is an extensive list of items all winners and finalists receive, including a full year of exposure on their website and a listing in the 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalog. Deadline
for submissions: February 13, 2026.
2026 Regional Book Festivals Call for Entries of the Great Southeast, Great Midwest, Great Southwest and Great Northwest book festivals. The Regional Book Festivals will consider works in 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. All entries must be in English. Books published on or after January 1, 2021 are eligible for this competition. Deadline
for submissions is February 25, 2026. Additional information and entry forms for each regional contest is available here.
2026 Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) Self-Publishing Literary Award call for submissions. The BCALA in partnership with the Indie Author Project is accepting submissions for the 2026 Self-Publishing eBook Award. This award honors the best self-published eBooks by an African American author in the United States in the genres of fiction and poetry. For more information visit the Black Caucus/American Library Association website. Deadline for submissions: February 28, 2026
2026 Poetry Contest call for submissions. The National Inspirational Role Models Visionaries (NIRMV) contest theme is “Celebrate Your Inspiration”, for poetry focusing on related people, places, things, or experiences. Participants must be 18 or older; there are no geographical limitations. Deadline for submissions: March 9, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced in early April 2026. You can download this PDF or visit the NIRMV Website for more information.
Inaugural Downtown Poetry Walk by the St. Joseph/Maud Preston Palenski Memorial Library is accepting submissions of original works of poetry. The theme of the walk is “Transitions.” All poems must be family friendly, a limit of two submissions per person. Submissions are open to all ages, but those under 18 must have parental consent. The 2026 Downtown Poetry Walk will be held in April, with poems displayed in the storefront windows of participating downtown St. Joseph locations. The poster-sized poems will include a QR Code for a “digital walk” as well. Deadline for Submissions: March 15, 2026. Visit the library website for details, including a downloadable submission form and instructions.
The 2026 Beach Book Festival Call for Entries will consider major publisher, independent publisher and self-published non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography/memoir, children’s books, young adult, how-to, science fiction, romance, poetry, spiritual, self-help, compilations/anthologies, photography/art, history, business, memoir, health-oriented and wild card books. Deadline for submissions is May 25, 2026. Click here for entry form.
The 2026 San Francisco Book Festival Call for entries will consider non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children’s books, memoir, compilations/anthologies, young adult, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, business, history, wild card, gay, photography/art, poetry, unpublished, technology, artificial intelligence, and spiritual/religious works. There is no date of publication restriction. Deadline for submissions is May 25, 2026. Click here for information and submission guidelines.
2026 New York Book Festival Call for Entries to its annual program. They will consider published, self-published, and independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, young adult, how-to, poetry, wild card (anything goes!), unpublished stories, self-help, science fiction, horror, photography, art, spiritual, business, romance, cookbooks, compilations, anthologies, and biography/autobiography/memoir works. Entries can be in English, Spanish, French, or Italian and must be published on or after January 1, 2022. Deadline for submissions: June 25, 2026. For more information and registration forms visit the New York Book Festival website.
2026 Hollywood Book Festival has issued a call for entries for its annual competition for books that deserve greater recognition from the film, television, game, and multimedia communities. The grand prize for the Author of the Year receives a $1,500 appearance fee for the Gala Awards Ceremony in Hollywood. The 2026 Hollywood Book Festival considers published, self-published and independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, young adult, how-to, spiritual, wild card (anything goes!), self-help, unpublished stories, science fiction, biography/autobiography, sequels, genre-based, business and history. Deadline for submissions: July 25, 2026. Visit the Hollywood Book Festival website for additional information and submission guidelines.
??? Question of the Month ???
January Question: What books or magazines do you read regularly? Which ones would you recommend to aspiring writers?
Email your response to: [email protected]
Deadline: February 14, 2026
Instructions: A question is posted in the newsletter each month. Members can respond by the deadline. Answers received will be shared in the next newsletter. The purpose is to provide a way for members to get to know each other and help other writers with your answers.
What happened in December? Unfortunately we did not receive any responses to the December question of the month. It is a busy month and easy to overlook. Don’t hesitate, answer January’s question now!
Read Around the USA
It is believed that the majority of successful writers are avid readers–they are passionate about reading, enjoy books from a variety of genres, and read for enjoyment, not out of obligation. Reading is imperative for learning the craft, understanding the market trends, and finding inspiration. Writers find reading helpful with vocabulary, style, and understanding how to create a good story.
I (Grace) stumbled upon a challenge by the Book Girls’ Guide. The Read Around the USA—2026 States Reading Challenge offers two options that allow you to armchair travel around the United States as you read. You can select a 50-state path or regional path. They provide free trackers and curated book lists for every state, DC, and the US territories. The website does mention that the regional path is only 12 books in a year, so easily achievable. The 50-state path you may want to stretch out longer than a year. They provide recommended books for each state, or you can select your own.
If you are looking for a new twist to pleasure reading, consider the Read Around the USA Challenge, or any of the other challenges they offer. There is no charge to participate.
Upcoming Author Events
Tucson Festival of Books
takes place Saturday, March 14, 2026, to Sunday, March 15, 2026, on the University of Arizona Mall, Tucson, Arizona. This is a long way from Michigan, but certainly worth considering if you will be in the area. This is a family friendly event with free admission, over 300 authors; 40+ are Hispanic/Latinx. The application for booths closed in November 21, 2025 due to high demand, but applications for the 2027 event will open in September 2026. For information about presenting authors, indie authors, and more Click here.
Lakeshore Art Festival Author Alley will take place Saturday June 27, 2026, to Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 9 am to 5 in Muskegon, Michigan. Booths are 10 x 10 inline outdoors. Authors must provide their own tent/table/chair (half booth option may have openings to share a tent if you do not have one). Pricing is $135 for a half booth with tent or $265 for a solo booth. Price includes festival sponsorship, which puts the event on the festival map as an attraction “author’s alley,” and includes the event in advertising and lists individual author web pages on their website. You can sell your books only, other items may not be offered for sale. Click here for additional information and to apply for a booth to sell your books.
The Columbus Book Festival takes place July 11-12, 2026 in Topiary Park, Columbus, Ohio. Marketplace applications are still open for Indie Authors, Exhibitors and Performers. To reserve an exhibit booth or to vend at the Columbus Book Festival you must either sell or promote books or book-related products/services, promote reading, or perform a literary or edutcational-based activity. Application and Event information is available here.
9th Annual Detroit Festival of Books will be held Sunday, July 19, 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Eastern Market, 2934 Russell Street, Detroit. The event features over 300 vendors selling books, records, creative arts and more. Free entry for attendees. Click here for general event information and here for vendor information.
Harbor Springs Festival of the Book Signature Event is held in Harbor Springs, Michigan. This three-day celebration of readers, writers, books, and the literary craft featuring 45 nationally published authors and illustrators in sessions including eight genres: fiction, nonfiction, mystery/thriller, poetry, cookbook, picture book/early reader, middle grade, and young adult. Festival does not consider books that are self-published or author-financed. For the 2026 festival hardcover or paperback releases published between October 2025 and September 2026 will be considered. Submission Window is January 1, 2026, to January 31, 2026 for the event taking place September 25-27, 2026. Presenter/book submission guidelines can be found here. Registration for the event opens to the public in mid-July. This is the only annual multi-day, multi-genre book festival in Michigan.
Indy Author Event takes place at the 502 East Event Centre, 502 East Carmel Drive, Carmel, Indiana on August 8, 2026 from 12 pm to 4 pm. The one-day event brings together a diverse linup of indie and hybrid authors across genres, including many types of romance. Attendees should be aware that some table displays, swag, book covers, and banners will include sexual content or imagery. Attendees under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The 2025 event had over 90 authors and a sold-out crowd of 375 attendees. Tickets for attendees start at $23.18 and must be purchased prior to the event, no at the door sales. Tables for the 2026 event are sold out, but you can sign up for their wait list.
Buckeye Book Fair takes place November 7, 2026, at the Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffel Road, in Wooster, Ohio from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. This beacon for promoting literacy, championing Ohio authors and illustrators, and nurturing a passion for reading books. Additional information is available here.
Looking for a different location? Writer’s Digest has a list of Book Fairs and Book Festivals by State.
19 Best Independent Michigan Bookstores
Independent
bookstores are valuable as community hubs. they provide personalized
curation, support local economies and authors, have knowledgeable staff,
promote literacy, and enrich local neighborhoods — not to mention they
usually carry books by local authors!
If you are looking for something more intimate than the big bookstores check out this article on the 19 Best Independent Bookstores in Michigan.
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Upcoming Writing Events
May 2, 2026 From 9:30 am to 5:00 pm – 2026 Michigan Writing Workshop, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, 19525 Victor Parkway, Livonia, Michigan. This in-person event is a one-day writer’s conference on “How to Get Published” with literary agent meetings, instructional classes, and optional critiques. If you cannot attend this event, or prefer online conferences, you can view a full list of 2026 Writing Day Workshops, Conferences & Retreats being held throughout the U.S. All conference attendees have an additional online opportunity to meet/pitch more agents during an August online event, with 30-40 agents participating.
October 4-10, 2026 – Writing retreat in Santorini, Greece. InsidersTours.com invited Writing Day Workshops to partner for a writing retreat on the isle of Santorini, Greece. Included are exrusions, classes, and group critiques. This event has limited seating, registration is open. For registration information, basic information on the event, the excursions, writing elements of the retreat, and pricing, visit the ChuckSambuchino website.
What is a Chapbook? + 12
Chapbook Publishers
If you are aren’t exactly sure what a Chapbook is, this article by Emily Harstone will provide you with some insight on this new, small format publication. This quick read that can help you decide whether chapbooks are something you may want to consider. Click here to read What is a Chapbook + 12 Chapbook Publishers.
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Save the Date and Register!
The next DWW Board Meeting is schedule March 19, 2026 at 7:00 pm. Click here to register for a zoom link to attend this meeting.
Thank you for reading!
Don’t forget your answer to the Question of the Month!
Grace Grogan
DWW Newsletter Editor
Detroit Working Writers
PO Box 2711, Farmington
United States of America
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