As a writer, it’s easy to get stuck in your house, spending lots of time alone. But, one of the most important things for your writing career is networking with other writers. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of Austin writers groups, and a few more in others areas of Texas. Please double check the information provided by contacting the group itself, as this info will change often.
Austin Film Meet Wordsmiths Writers Group
This is Austin Film Meet’s focus group for writers. We host lots of events including a monthly script swap feedback event.
Austin Film Meet Wordsmiths on Facebook
Austin Creative Writing Group
We are a long-standing critique group that focuses on improvement in both writing and critique. We meet on alternate Wednesdays from 7pm to around 9pm, generally critiquing three pieces each week, with file distribution via the website. Our current meeting location is The Monkey Nest in central Austin (5353 Burnet Rd Just south of Northland). We have frequent socializing after meetings and occasional Writing Marathons & guest speakers.
Austin Fiction, Writers Group
Meets 7 to 9 p.m. every other Wednesday at Barnes and Noble Arboretum coffee shop for coffee, discussion, and fellowship. Short story and novel writers welcome. Lectures and work shops scheduled for new writers. Small critique groups. This is an informal group of people who have an interest in all types of fiction and are interested in publication. Contact: dcharlesdunn@aol.com
Austin Poetry Slam
Mike Henry leads this group Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (open mic), 8 p.m. (slam) at Ego’s, 510 S. Congress, Austin. For more information, call (512) 474-7091 or visit their website.
Austin Poetry Slam Website
Austin Romance Writers
Austin Romance Writers Website
Austin Screenwriters Group
Great for narrative feature films. Script table reads and feedback. Meets twice a month.
Austin Screenwriters Group Website
Austin Screenwriters Group on Facebook
Austin Songwriters Group
Meets 1st Wednesday of every month at the Saxon Pub, 1326 S. Lamar.
Austin Songwriters Group Website
Austin Songwriters Group on Facebook
Austin Unbound Screenwriters
Screenwriters helping screenwriters since 2001. Austin Unbound. Meets twice monthly. Half of our members are competition finalists and/or produced screenwriters & film pros. For more info & the location of the next meeting, email: littlewriter50@yahoo.com.
The Austin Writers Meetup Group
The Austin Writers Meetup Group on Meetup.com
The Austin Writers Meetup Group on Facebook
Austin Writers Roulette
A community of writers, lyricists and poets.
Austin Writers Roulette Website
Austin Writers Roulette on Facebook
Austin Writers Workshop
Meets every Monday at Opal Divine’s Davenport.
Austin Writers Workshop on Facebook
American Christian Fiction Writers (Central Texas Chapter)
The Central Texas group for the ACFW. Meets monthly in Georgetown, TX.
American Christian Fiction Writers Central Texas Website
American Christian Fiction Writers on Facebook
Cedar Park Writers
Cedar Park Writers on Meetup.com
Lake Travis Fiction Writers
This group meets on the third Tuesday of every month. Programs include workshops and critique sessions. Sponsored by the Bee Cave Public Library. Contact Dale Gulick at Gulick@Flash.Net for upcoming dates, times and programs.
Lake Travis Fiction Writers on Facebook
Literary Soul
How to transfer your creativity to paper. First Wednesday of every month. Call (512) 201-9865 for more information.
Real Men Write
Screenwriters Workshop, first Friday of every month. Call (512) 201-9865 for more info.
Real Writers Workshop
Real Writers Workshop on Meetup.com
Romance Writers of America, Austin Chapter
2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Howson Library, Jan Bold: check out their website.
Romance Writers of America Austin Website
Round Rock Writers Guild
Round Rock Writers Guild on Meetup.com
Novel In Progress
An Austin critique group for fiction writers started in the 90’s. Meets twice a month.
Novel In Progress Website
Novel In Progress on Facebook
Novel in Progress Yahoo Group
SF/Fantasy/Horror
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., Hancock Recreation Center. Contact Wendy Wheeler, (512) 832-1925, email w2@wendy-wheeler.com.
SF/Fantasy/Horror Website
Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter
Men & women interested in mysteries welcome. Programs 2nd Sunday. Contact Joyce Arquette, (512) 266-6543. Click here for the Texas chapter.
Sisters in Crime Texas Chapter
Street Lit
Creative writing group meets every Saturday at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless.
http://streetlitauthors.org/ or call 512-305-4173
Society for Technical Communication (Austin Chapter)
For technical writers, editors, illustrators, Web designers, and others: if your job involves communicating technical information, the Society for Technical Communication has the resources you need to help you do your job better… and to move your career forward. Monthly meetings are 6 to 8 p.m. on fourth Tuesdays, in the first floor auditorium of the MCC building, 3925 West Braker Lane. For a map and more details, see their website.
Society for Technical Communication Austin Website
Texas Association of Authors
Texas Association of Authors is the only organization in Texas whose focus is to promote the authors within the great state of Texas itself. TAAuthors leverages the knowledge and expertise of many different authors to help promote others within the world of reading and writing.
Texas Association of Authors website
Texas Association of Authors on Facebook
Weird Austin Writers
Weird Austin Writers on Meetup.com
The Writer Also Rises Austin
The Writer Also Rises Austin on Meetup.com
Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) Austin Chapter
An excellent support organization for anyone making content for children.
SCBWI Austin Website
SCBWI Austin on Facebook
Writers’ League of Texas
Writers’ League of Texas Website
Writing Practice
Every Saturday, 10-noon, Mother’s Cafe. Sandi Heimsath, (512) 453-3446. Writing practice according to Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones.
Writers Groups in Other Areas of Texas
Dallas Fort Worth Writers’ Workshop
Writers who share info & critique each others’ work on a weekly basis. We also bring four to six editors/agents annually to Dallas to meet with us (including pitching work to them). Meetings on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM at the Simmons Center in Euless, TX.
Dallas Screenwriters Association
The premiere screenwriters organization of DFW. Impressive guest speaker events.
Dallas Screenwriters Association Website
Dallas Screenwriters Association on Facebook
Denton Writers’ League
Meets at 10:30am on the 2nd Saturday at the North Branch of the Denton Library located at 3020 N. Locust St in Denton, TX. For more information, e-mail Joni Latham at dentonwritersleague@verizon.net.
DWL Website
East Texas Writers Guild
In Tyler, Texas. Support, opportunity, & education for all East Texas writers.
East Texas Guild Website
Highland Lakes Writers
2nd Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Marble Falls Library, Joyce Minatra, (512) 715-8800
Horror Writers Association
Mentor Program. Book festivals. Blog. Scholarships. Monthly Newsletter. Awards.
Horror Writers Association Website
Horror Writers Association on Facebook
Lucky Dog Books
Lucky Dog Books hosts writers groups weekly in three locations: Bishop Arts (214-941-2665), East Dallas (214-827-4860), and Mesquite (972-285-8661). For additional details, you can call the number of your nearest location, email info@luckydogbooks.com
Lucky Dog Books Website
National League Of Pen Women (Dallas Chapter)
National League Of Pen Women (Dallas Chapter) meet on the 1st Sat. of month 10 a.m. at the Dallas Library Lakewood Branch Conference Room.
Natl League of Pen Women Dallas
Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization (NETWO)
NETWO meets the 3rd Friday of every month in Winfield at 2:00. Business meeting at 6:30, critique session at 7:00. Anyone interested in writing is invited. NETWO hosts a writers’ conference each April and a writers’ workshop each fall. NETWO, P.O. Box 411, Winfield, TX 75493 or contact: Georgia Henson, 903-856-6724 or e-mail to: jimcallan@winnsboro.com
NETWO Website
Poetry Society of Texas
Located in Dallas. Meets the 2nd Saturday of the month, January thru June, October, & December. Their annual awards are given in November, & their student awards made in May. Regular meetings are held at the Preston Royal Library at 5626 Royal Lane, Dallas at 2:30 p.m. Contact: Budd Mahan at bmahan@airmail.net for more info.
Red River Valley Writers Guild
Based in Paris, TX and open to all genres and experience levels. Meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:00 PM at the Paris Public Library (326 S. Main St.). Contact Ron Hervey at rhervey@rrvwriters.com
Red River Valley Writers Guild Website
San Antonio Meetup Group: Novel Writing and Publication
This meetup connects novelists who are talented, ambitious, and disciplined enough to aspire towards commercial success. Part workshop and part supportive community, we will critique work-in-progress as well as tag lines, synopsis, and query letters. We might travel to workshops and conferences together, or share information with the group pertaining to the craft or publication. Members in this group already know the basics of novel writing but look to the group to further hone their skills. In addition, we will focus on tasks and strategies for publishing, both traditional and self-publication. Contact: Chance Maree at cm@chancemaree.com.
San Antonio Romance Authors
San Antonio Romance Authors, a chapter of Romance Writers of America, meets on the third Wednesday at 6:30 PM at Bambino Huey’s Cafe, 606 Embassy Oaks, San Antonio. Speaker presentation begins at 7:30. Contact President Linda Carroll-Bradd at lindakcb@yahoo.com.
San Antonio Romance Authors
San Gabriel Writers League
1st Thursday, 7 p.m., Georgetown County Extension Bldg. Joan Upton Hall at JMUHall@aol.com. Visit the SGWL website.
San Gabriel Writers League Website
San Gabriel Writers League Nonfiction
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 6 pm. varying locations. Contact Deborah Weiss at deborahweiss@att.net or Ginnie Voelker at algin@igg-tx.net.
San Gabriel Writers League Nonfiction Website
San Gabriel Writers League Nonfiction Facebook Page
SCBWI Southwest (Southwest Texas Chapter, San Antonio)
Contact Jan Kilby, Publicity Coordinator, (210) 657-0171, or Laurie Brown, Regional Advisor, (210) 656-7710, for details on meetings times and locations.
SCBWI Southwest Website
SCBWI Southwest on Eventbrite
SCBWI Southwest on Facebook
SCBWI Southwest on Twitter
SCBWI North Texas
SCBWI North Texas Website
SCBWI North Texas Twitter
Short Mystery Fiction Society
Mystery authors and fans are encouraged to join a free email discussion group that focuses on short mystery and crime fiction. Brainstorm plot problems, post questions about crime scene technology or discuss other genre-related topics. To subscribe, send an email to: shortmystery-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Southwest Writers
Southwest Writers meet on the 1st Sat. of month 1 p.m.at the Dallas Library Lakewood Branch Conference Room. 913 Reverchon Dr., Dallas, TX 75211-2338. Contact Kaye-Rose Miller, (214) 339-5230 or Sammy Thompson, (972) 681-3271
Story Circle Network
For women interested in life-writing. Times, places, other information at their website.
Story Circle Network Website
Story Circle Network on Facebook
Trinity Writers’ Workshop
Meets Tuesdays, 6:30 pm at the Bedford Boy’s Ranch (Arts building), 2801 Forest Ridge Dr., Bedford, Texas 76095. Read and critique. Annual Sept conference (with Tarrant County College) features contest with cash prizes and speakers like Tom Sawyer, former head script writer for TV series “Murder She Wrote.”
Trinity Writers’ Workshop Website
Trinity Writers’ Workshop
Meets Tuesdays, 6:30 pm at the Bedford Boy’s Ranch (Arts building), 2801 Forest Ridge Dr., Bedford, Texas 76095. Read and critique. Annual Sept conference (with Tarrant County College) features contest with cash prizes and speakers like Tom Sawyer, former head script writer for TV series “Murder She Wrote.”
Trinity Writers’ Workshop Website
Trinity Writers Workshop on Facebook
West Texas Writers
West Texas Writers meets at 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month except for June, July, and August in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Midland County Public Library, 301 W. Missouri, Midland, TX 79705. All are welcome. Contact Tomwhite@cableone.net.
Write Club
A creative writing group that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month from 2 to 3 PM at the Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. this September through December. For more information, call (512) 974-9900 or click here.
Writer Club Website
Writers Club of Pasadena
Meets in the community room of the Fairmont Branch Pasadena Public Library on Fairmont Parkway at 1 PM. The objectives of the Writers Club of Pasadena are “to encourage members to WRITE and to share themselves and their thoughts with others without fear of hurtful criticism or misunderstandings. Members encourage each other to seek publication and give practical help regarding format and markets at every meeting.” Visit their website for more information. Writing From The Heart meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at the Writers’ League of Texas. For more information, contact Mindy Reed at MindyRed@aol.com.
Writers Club of Pasadena Website
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