Welcome Central Oregon Writers & Writing Enthusiasts!
CENTRAL OREGON WRITERS GUILD
Central Oregon Writers Guild's mission is to provide Central Oregon area writers a forum for mutual support and education through meetings, annual events, and workshops. Our goal is to advance growth and success for individual writers of all genres and skill levels. Founded in 2002, the Guild is a non-profit organization, run entirely by volunteers.
MEETINGS
Guild meetings take place on a monthly basis, where we feature guest speakers, panels, member readers and small group interaction, with topics of interest to writers at all skill levels. Meetings are free and open to the public. Visit the Upcoming Events & Meetings page often for details about speakers, topics, and locations.
WORKSHOPS
In line with our mission to advance growth and success of individual writers, COWG offers several workshops per year, typically on a Saturday for half or full day. Professional speakers impart their writing craft expertise, followed by the opportunity for participants to share their work in a small group critique session. Information about workshops will be posted on the Upcoming Events & Meetings page as they are offered.
MEMBER ANTHOLOGY
The annual Central Oregon Writers Guild Literary Collection offers Members an opportunity for publication, editorial feedback, and the engagement in creating an author platform through social media partnership. More details on the COWG Member Anthology page
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to writers and writer enthusiasts at all skill levels and genres. See the Join/Renew Contact Today! page for details about becoming a member. The Central Oregon Writers Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and 100% volunteer organization. We welcome your participation at any level - the more participation, the more programs and activities the Guild can offer. To see how you can help, read through the positions below and then send us an email at centraloregonwritersguild@gmail.com.
Central Oregon Writers Guild's mission is to provide Central Oregon area writers a forum for mutual support and education through meetings, annual events, and workshops. Our goal is to advance growth and success for individual writers of all genres and skill levels. Founded in 2002, the Guild is a non-profit organization, run entirely by volunteers.
MEETINGS
Guild meetings take place on a monthly basis, where we feature guest speakers, panels, member readers and small group interaction, with topics of interest to writers at all skill levels. Meetings are free and open to the public. Visit the Upcoming Events & Meetings page often for details about speakers, topics, and locations.
WORKSHOPS
In line with our mission to advance growth and success of individual writers, COWG offers several workshops per year, typically on a Saturday for half or full day. Professional speakers impart their writing craft expertise, followed by the opportunity for participants to share their work in a small group critique session. Information about workshops will be posted on the Upcoming Events & Meetings page as they are offered.
MEMBER ANTHOLOGY
The annual Central Oregon Writers Guild Literary Collection offers Members an opportunity for publication, editorial feedback, and the engagement in creating an author platform through social media partnership. More details on the COWG Member Anthology page
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to writers and writer enthusiasts at all skill levels and genres. See the Join/Renew Contact Today! page for details about becoming a member. The Central Oregon Writers Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and 100% volunteer organization. We welcome your participation at any level - the more participation, the more programs and activities the Guild can offer. To see how you can help, read through the positions below and then send us an email at centraloregonwritersguild@gmail.com.
2020 COWG Board of Directors
PRESIDENT: Mike Cooper
Mike holds an MFA from Oregon State University Cascades. He writes short and long fiction and teaches writing at OSU Cascades and Central Oregon Community College, along with creative writing workshops through The Forge, and at The Workhouse, the Deschutes Public Library, and COCC Community Learning.
www.theforgewriting.com www.blankpagesworkshops.com
VICE PRESIDENT: Amy Berlin
Amy is a project manager who leads the annual production of the Central Oregon Writers Guild Literary Collection. She mainly writes short fiction and enjoys exploring Central Oregon with her family.
Amy is a project manager who leads the annual production of the Central Oregon Writers Guild Literary Collection. She mainly writes short fiction and enjoys exploring Central Oregon with her family.
SECRETARY: Trish Wilkinson
Trish is co-author of Brain Stages: How to Raise Smart, Confident Kids and Have Fun Doing It, K—5 (Sandra Jonas Publishing spring 2018), a writing coach, editor, YA author of the Mind Touch series and executive editor of blog Tenacity to Triumph: The Bad Ass Code
A credentialed, mentor teacher of 23 years, Trish has helped numerous writers find their voices and move on to publication. www.write-to-win.com
Trish is co-author of Brain Stages: How to Raise Smart, Confident Kids and Have Fun Doing It, K—5 (Sandra Jonas Publishing spring 2018), a writing coach, editor, YA author of the Mind Touch series and executive editor of blog Tenacity to Triumph: The Bad Ass Code
A credentialed, mentor teacher of 23 years, Trish has helped numerous writers find their voices and move on to publication. www.write-to-win.com
TREASURER: Denice Hughes-Lewis
Denice is an award-winning, self-published author of books for kids and young adults specializing in fantasy. She is also a professional screenwriter. Denice loves the challenge of writing and formatting in many different forms: books, poetry, screenplays, and plays. Find her books at www.denicehugheslewis.com.
PUBLICITY DIRECTOR: Julie Swearingen
Julie is an editor and marketing coordinator living in beautiful Bend, Oregon. She previously lived in Portland, where she completed a master’s degree in book publishing from Portland State University and worked for several publishers, including Overcup Press. She enjoys reading in all genres, with a particular love of memoir, young adult, and new adult fiction. In addition to her editing work, she is the events manager at an indie bookstore in Bend and would happily live in the bookstore if they would let her. Visit her website: www.julieswearingen.com
HOSPITALITY DIRECTOR: Amanda Curley
Pen name: Amanda Rose, is a local YA, Fantasy author and entrepreneur. She has been a member of the Central Oregon Writer’s guild since 2011 and has studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature. She volunteers as the Director of Hospitality and enjoys leading critique groups at the local writer’s workshops.
Amanda started writing at a young age, mostly to entertain her friends and has always been a big dreamer. She grew up reading Tamora Pierce, Bryan Davis, and Tolkien among many other authors. Every trip to the library resulted in a three-foot tall stack of books.
When she isn’t buried in a book, Amanda enjoys art, horseback riding, making music, and of course crafting creative worlds which she hopes will entertain, surprise, and occasionally shock you.
You can find Amanda online at www.floweringfiction.blogspot.com or in person at your local COWG meeting.
Pen name: Amanda Rose, is a local YA, Fantasy author and entrepreneur. She has been a member of the Central Oregon Writer’s guild since 2011 and has studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature. She volunteers as the Director of Hospitality and enjoys leading critique groups at the local writer’s workshops.
Amanda started writing at a young age, mostly to entertain her friends and has always been a big dreamer. She grew up reading Tamora Pierce, Bryan Davis, and Tolkien among many other authors. Every trip to the library resulted in a three-foot tall stack of books.
When she isn’t buried in a book, Amanda enjoys art, horseback riding, making music, and of course crafting creative worlds which she hopes will entertain, surprise, and occasionally shock you.
You can find Amanda online at www.floweringfiction.blogspot.com or in person at your local COWG meeting.
FEATURED READER COORDINATOR: Mary Krakow
Mary Krakow is a writing nerd. Her favorite part of the school day, besides recess, was creative writing. She would sit and chew on her pencil until an idea hit and then she was off like a shot, scribbling scenes as fast as she could. When writing time ended, she was always at the very best part. The ideas were so hot, her pencil felt like it would ignite if she didn’t give them life on the page. But no, it was time to move on to Social Studies. Consequently, she still struggles with endings.
Mary retired in 2015 with the intent to realize her dream of becoming an author. So far, she has written three manuscripts for Middle Grade readers, a few magazine articles, and over two hundred flash fiction stories.
Visit Mary’s website for writers at www.findyourwritingnerd.com
Mary Krakow is a writing nerd. Her favorite part of the school day, besides recess, was creative writing. She would sit and chew on her pencil until an idea hit and then she was off like a shot, scribbling scenes as fast as she could. When writing time ended, she was always at the very best part. The ideas were so hot, her pencil felt like it would ignite if she didn’t give them life on the page. But no, it was time to move on to Social Studies. Consequently, she still struggles with endings.
Mary retired in 2015 with the intent to realize her dream of becoming an author. So far, she has written three manuscripts for Middle Grade readers, a few magazine articles, and over two hundred flash fiction stories.
Visit Mary’s website for writers at www.findyourwritingnerd.com