Maryland Writing Resources
Posted by David Duhr in 
Up next in our series of State Writing Resources is Maryland, sometimes known as “America in Miniature” (!), and whose motto, “Fatti maschii, parole femine,” means “manly deeds, womanly words” (!). Maryland was the seventh state admitted to the Union (1788), causing some to dub it “The Extra Point State.” (I made that up.) The history and present of Maryland writing boasts dozens of well-known names. Edgar Allan Poe, for one, whose Baltimore house just had a soft reopening after much fiscal trouble.
Other Maryland literary luminaries include: Helen DeWitt; H. L. Mencken (known as “The Sage of Baltimore”); Dashiell Hammett; Ann Brashares; James M. Cain; Frank O’Hara; and Nora Roberts. And so many more! James Wolcott. The recently deceased Tom Clancy. (Somebody stop me.) Leon Uris. John Barth. (Please!) Ann Beattie grew up on the Maryland/D.C. border. (Stop reading this for a moment and go reread her short story “Janus.”)
That’s enough. Point is, Maryland has spawned many dozens of our top writers. And it will continue to do so. And perhaps some of those future top writers are involved in these organizations listed below? Presented in no particular order, here are ten Maryland writing resources, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you live in America in Miniature or are planning a move there, these are some organizations you might want to take a peek at.
1) Maryland Writers’ Association
This volunteer, not-for-profit organization is dedicated to promoting the art, business and craft of writing.
An independent literary organization with a global reach, rooted in a dynamic community of writers. Cultivates the creation, publication, presentation and dissemination of literary work.
3) Creatures, Crimes and Creativity Literary Conference
Its purpose is to gather readers and writers of mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and steam punk.
4) Bay to Ocean Writers Conference
A one-day nonprofit conference that has attracted and motivated more than 1,500 writers over its history. Attendees come from surrounding states and the District of Columbia, as well as from throughout the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva region.
5) Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland, Inc.
The mission of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland, Inc. is to provide avenues of support and networking to Maryland’s African-American writers.
A community of multi-genre writers centered just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. The Guild exists to provide support for working writers in the Maryland, Virginia, D.C. and Pennsylvania area.
7) Mystery Loves Company Booksellers
A bookshop for scribes of the shore.
8) Broadneck Writers’ Workshop
Its mission is three-fold: to provide criticism in a supportive, honest and helpful manner; to receive criticism in order to improve and gain new insights into writers’ stories; to provide a community that encourages writers’ lives, through social and emotional support, publication and contest leads, and networking.
Potomac Review opens windows into the complexity of literature; in each issue, selections span the spectrum of voice and style. PR welcomes variety, and through it, creates an organic flow of ideas to contribute to the literary conversation.
10) Stylus
The undergraduate journal of poetry, prose and art at the University of Maryland.
Help us add to this list, Marylanders! 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.