Writer’s Guild hosts inaugural conference
■ Another conference is planned for 2018.
Siloam Springs Writers Guild held its inaugural writer’s conference at First Baptist Church over the weekend.
A total of 38 people attended the event, with guests traveling from as far as Wichita, Kan., to participate. A meal, catered by Rib Crib, kicked off the conference on Friday evening.
Gene Linzey, SSWG president, said the the conference was a resounding success, with great enthusiasm and camaraderie between the attendees.
Guest speakers included Colonel Paul Linzey, a retired U.S. Army Chaplian and the chair of the humanities department at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., Dennis Patton, president of the Poet’s Roundtable of
Many people want to become a writer, but they are either afraid to begin, or don’t know how to begin. The purpose of SSWG — and for that matter, the purpose of the writers’ conference — is to help people learn about writing, and understand how to begin . ... Writing can be intimidating, but once begun it is exciting and fulfilling. Gene Linzey President, Siloam Springs Writers Guild
Arkansas, and Traci Rae Manos, advisor and co-curricular coordinator of the honors program at John Brown University.
“Many people want to become a writer, but they are either afraid to begin, or don’t know how to begin,” said Gene Linzey, SSWG president. “The purpose of SSWG — and for that matter, the purpose of the writers’ conference — is to help people learn about writing, and understand how to begin. The purpose of a conference is to inspire and encourage veteran authors, new beginners, and all in between, in the field. Writing can be intimidating, but once begun it is exciting and fulfilling.”
The SSWG is a brand of the Poets Roundtable of Arkansas. While the PRA is specifically a poet’s organization, the SSWG includes all genres of writing, Linzey said.
Another conference is planned for 2018.
For more information about the Siloam Springs Writers Guild, email Gene Linzey at masters. servant@cox.net.