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.
(read less)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...
(read more)
