A celebration of Maryland writers

At the Maryland Independent, writing is constant for our staff. We make our living from it, sharing the news and stories of others in the Charles County community with our readers.

But journalism is just one form of writing. For the next year, the Independent is partnering with the Maryland Writers’ Association to recognize many other forms of writing as well as to encourage our readers to celebrate the art.

The MWA, a statewide 501(c)(3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland authors, poets, playwrights and other writers, was officially born in March 1988, but grew out of a writers’ support group started in 1984 by Irene Solovij and Susan Rivers. By December 1985, the group had grown to 20 members and called itself The Writers’ Association of Anne Arundel County. In 1988, it morphed from one regional club to a statewide organization with chapters in seven counties. It sponsors the Pen in Hand literary journal, hosts a writer’s conference yearly and is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council.

On March 24, the association turns 30. To celebrate this milestone, it has formed a 30th Anniversar y Writer’s Round Table program, which runs from this month through February 2019. The centerpiece of the anniversar y program is the Notable Mar yland Authors series, which we will publish in our community section the first week of ever y month through next February. These pieces will highlight a specific writer, describe them and their genre, give a short reading list of works and — here’s the fun part — contain a writing prompt for readers to attempt.

Look for the first article in the series, on popular romance author and Maryland’s own Nora Roberts, in today’s edition. Then tr y your hand at the “Fun with Words” challenge by writing part of a stor y, using the spotlighted author’s genre and limiting yourself to just 100 words.

Each month will contain a new writer and a new genre for readers to attempt, and each month’s submissions will be due by the 15th of the month for the writers’ association to review. All those who submit a piece will receive a certificate, and one will be chosen to be published in the Recorder along with the next month’s Notable Mar yland Authors spotlight.

Then, halfway through the program, the MWA will host a writing contest, the winners of which will be recognized at the association’s 2019 annual writers’ conference.

We encourage any writers or would-be writers in Charles to give these monthly prompts a shot and engage in tr ying a new craft or a new writing style and, through that participation, help celebrate the art of the written word here in Maryland.

If writing isn’t your thing, that’s OK. This feature will also challenge our readers to learn more about the highlighted Mar yland authors each month and read some of their work, and perhaps familiarize yourself with a new style or genre you wouldn’t normally choose otherwise.

Libraries are also encouraged to get involved with the MWA by assisting in encouraging and mentoring young writers, and this year’s 30th anniversary may be as good a time as any. In 2009, the association launched the Teen Writing Club program, which partners with local libraries to provide a constructive, mentoring relationship for groups of 13- to 18-year-olds who want to improve their writing skills. Led by a local association member and hosted by a local library, most clubs operate in a workshop format so teens can share their writing and get feedback from peers while leaders offer guidance, exercises and constructive criticism. Interested libraries can email TeenWriters@marylandwriters.org.

The MWA is always open to new ideas and welcomes new members and volunteers who wish to launch new clubs or help with community efforts. Its diverse membership ranges from professional freelancers and published authors to writers aspiring to be published, to those who write as a creative outlet. Anything goes.

Learn more about the association and its work to recognize, foster and unite writers in our state at www.marylandwriters.org.

And we hope some of you will take part in the monthly challenges and have some fun with writing.

You might even see your work published in these pages.