Georgia Writing Resources
The Peach State is up next in our State Writing Resources series. Georgia writing carries a rich history, especially when it comes to so-called Southern Gothic writers, such as late greats Carson McCullers (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter) and Flannery O’Connor (“Good Country People,” “A Good Man is Hard to Find”). Among contemporary authors born in Georgia are Z.Z. Packer, well-known to Austinites, the poet D.A. Powell, and the disgraced and disgraceful Paula Deen.
Presented below in no particular order are ten Georgia writing resources, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you live in Georgia or are planning a move there, these are some organizations you might want to take a peek at.
1) Georgia Writers Association
Works across the state to encourage and strengthen the proficiencies of writers in both the creative and the business aspects of the writing life, through an array of speakers and programs at regular meetings. GWA sponsors workshops, conferences, seminars and other events.
2) The Lit Center at the Margaret Mitchell House
Designed to honor and preserve the legacy of Margaret Mitchell, the award-winning Literary Center at Margaret Mitchell House offers annual creative writing classes for adults and youth, and community initiatives that engage younger generations in the process of writing, reading, and reciting literature, such as Poetry Out Loud.
3) Chattahoochee Valley Writers
Based in Columbus, this group offers meetings, workshops, networking events and an annual writers’ conference.
An organization which protects, promotes, fosters and advances the interest of the newspaper industry in Georgia.
5) Hambidge Creative Residency Program
Hambidge provides a residency program that empowers talented artists to explore, develop and express their creative voices. Situated on 600 acres in the mountains of north Georgia, Hambidge is a sanctuary of time and space that inspires artists working in a broad range of disciplines to create works of the highest caliber.
Welcomes members from anywhere, but quarterly meetings are held in various locations throughout the state of Georgia. The meetings are packed with poetry-related programming, including member readings, featured poets, poetry workshops and various talks on poetry-related topics.
7) Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference
An annual conference which provides a favorable environment to facilitate professional connections and friendly sharing of valuable information.
8) Writers Weekend at Summerville
An annual conference for emerging writers, hosted by Georgia Regents University, Augusta.
The purpose of this organization is to foster good writing through regular monthly meetings, annual competitions, conferences and the publication of anthologies.
Assisting and encouraging upcoming new writers since 1914.
Help us add to this list, Georgians! 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.
If you were serious about writing resources and not so insulting, I would add better ones from Georgia then listed so far.
Correct the state image, rewrite your opening, and get your head out of your ass.
Contemporary living authors born in the state of Georgia: Pat Conroy, Terry Kay, Mary Kay Andrews, Tina McElroy Ansa, Roy Blount, David Bottoms, Pearl Cleage, Melissa Fay Greene, Janisse Ray, Natasha Trethewey, Alice Walker, and Stuart Woods to name a few.
What a comment. “Correct the state image,” as if a reader needs a graphic of the state of Georgia. “Oh, so *that’s* what Georgia looks like!” And “rewrite the opening”? Because they made a Paula Deen joke, after naming four legit Georgia authors? Go away, Joyce Dixon, and don’t come back until you’ve found a sense of humor.
This comment does not reflect the usual tone of the Georgia writers I know (and am one of). I apologize for her lack of humor and rampant negativity.
We Georgians, in general, are quite likable, enjoyable people.
I like georgia so much…I wish to visit again, but a lot of animal abuse I can’t stand :, (