Arkansas Writing Resources
Posted by David Duhr in 
Continuing in our new series, State Writing Resources, today we present Arkansas, which was once known as “The Land of Opportunity,” but now goes by “The Natural State.” Which is all well and good, but perhaps you can’t help but wonder, what happened to the opportunity?
Well, I’ll give you ten opportunities right here. Presented in no particular order are ten Arkansas writing resources, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you live in Arkansas or are planning a move there, these are some organizations you might want to take a peek at.
1) The Northwest Arkansas Writers Workshop
A critique group comprised of people “who enjoy writing for fun and profit.” Meetings are in Fayetteville.
A LinkedIn networking group designed “to stimulate and grow the community of writers in the Natural State.”
A networking site for Arkansas-based writers, and the official site of the Writers’ Guild of Arkansas, a critique group serving professional writers in Northwest Arkansas.
4) White County Creative Writers
WCCW rotates monthly program planning, which includes local speakers, read-arounds, and critique sessions, all geared toward encouragement and improvement in writing.
5) Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas
A group of writers supporting each other, from the hobbyist to the published novelist. It holds workshops to build writing skills, guest speakers covering all aspects of writing, and critique sessions to present members’ works.
A gathering of writers from Hot Springs Village and surrounding areas who come together to encourage, nourish, and support one another as they strive to reach their individual writing goals.
7) Ozark Poets and Writers Collective
On the last Tuesday of each month, OPWC presents a featured reader and open mike. Headliners comprise writers of regional to national prominence, and admission is free. Events held in Fayetteville.
8) White County Nano
A dedicated group of NaNoWriMo-ers in Searcy.
Arkansas Review: A Journal of Delta Studies focuses on the seven-state Mississippi River Delta. Interdisciplinary in scope, it welcomes original contributions from all the humanities and social sciences. Articles should be aimed at a general academic audience.
10) Toad Suck Review
A national/international literary journal published by the University of Central Arkansas. Its mission is “to publish the most cutting-edge works of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translations and reviews in the Universe.”
Help us add to this list, Arkansans! Do you run a local writing group or a lit journal we should be aware of? Feel free to share info and links in the comments section below.
The White County Nano group no longer meets. (I was the ML, but moved to Garland Co.)
However in Searcy is the American Christian Fiction Writers, Arkansas Chapter they meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month at the White County Regional Library admin building at Spring Park in Searcy, AR. http://acfwarkansas.com/
[…] romance, paranormal, and Ozark history. Several other groups are listed on Arkansas Writers. Write By Night is another good […]
Hi!
Onstage Arkansas has just begun a Playwright Contest, and we are super excited about it!
http://onstagearkansas.org/playwright-contest/
Check it out, and get to writing!
Thanks for the tip, Theresa. And for stopping by. Good luck with the contest!
Conway Writers Group meets weekly on Friday afternoons, 2 to 4, at the Ola and John Hawks Center in Conway, Arkansas. Please list our group of about 15 writers (newbies, semi-pro, and seasoned men and women) who share their current work and invite comments to improve the art of creative writing. Some authors are regularly published in regional or national specialized magazines; however, most writers create work for their own enjoyment or for sharing with their families and friends. CWG activities are regularly reported in the local newspaper. Group members are now collaborating with a local art gallery to co-sponsor… Read more »