Put Writers in Your Community on the Map!

  • A qualifying group must have regularly scheduled meetings posted publicly on the Kansas Authors Club website. 
  • A designated, dues-paying member must be listed on the website as a contact (phone or email) for members and nonmembers looking to participate.
  • At least 4 gatherings must be scheduled each year.
  • An annual summary of the group’s activities must be submitted for the yearbook, including numbers of dues-paying members and numbers of non-members taking part in meetings. This summary must be submitted to the yearbook no later than January 15 of each year.
  • Groups are encouraged to submit news and announcements about their meetings for publication on our website.
Tips for starting a more formal local writing group:

Following are suggestions on how to start a group in your area as part of Kansas Authors Club.

  • Find and contact other Kansas Authors Club members and writers in your area. Use our directory to find members in your area. Send invitation emails. Tell them your writing story and that you want to share it with like-minded people.
 
  • Find a designated meeting location. This could be a coffee shop, restaurant, library, community building, church, etc. Set a specific date and time to meet. For example: The 1st Wednesday of each month at 5pm.

​At the first meeting: 
  • Spend time getting to know each other. What types of writing are members working on? What are their hobbies? Their day jobs? Establishing a connection with one another is important!
 
  • Electing officers could happen at a first meeting, but more likely it will be much later, maybe a year or more depending on the group membership/vitality. The person(s) starting the group will be KAC members and need to lead (train) the group in the activities, procedures, and inclusive attitudes of Kansas Authors Club. By the end of the first year of meetings, chapters are encouraged to elect officers. Suggested offices are Chair, Program Coordinator, Secretary/historian (optional as the chair can easily keep a notebook of attendance sign-in sheets and meeting minutes.)

  • Attendance records and a record of minutes or activities should be kept for historical purposes.

  • Verify with members that a specific day and time will work for the majority of the group as well as the location.
 
  • Discuss the goals of the group. What are you wanting to achieve at these meetings? Do you want to have presenters? Critique groups? Read arounds? Or just time to write? Maybe a little of all of those things! Start with a single focus and flexibility to grow.
 
  • After the first meeting, the program coordinator can work on organizing the types of activities  that will occur at each meeting. This may include asking individuals if they would be willing to present or come up with other activities that the group could do together. It is great if members are willing to present with the group. However, having a non-member presenter is always an option. 
 
  • Create a way for members to communicate with one another, whether that be sharing information about upcoming meetings, events, writing contests, etc. This could take the form of a Facebook group, an email distribution list, or some other way that is easily accessible for the group. If using a Facebook group, it is recommended that it be a private group, and members need approval by admins to join. This helps keep out things like bots and spam.
 
  • Groups might want to use the statewide program as an opportunity to gather and watch the program together in addition to their local meetings. This would give the members a chance to talk about their ideas while they are fresh.
 
  • Meetings do not need to be limited to KAC members.
 
  • Make sure that new members are made to feel welcome to keep the group growing. Acknowledge, introduce, ask questions, show interest, and share resources. Bring new members into leadership roles when they show an interest and have become familiar with KAC. Formal leadership positions should only be filled by KAC members. 


  • Once a group has become established, a Wild Apricot leader account may be requested in order to better facilitate communication with members. 

Remember your local group doesn’t have to do exactly the same thing other groups are doing! You can do your own thing and structure it in a way that best suits the members of the group. There is no right or wrong way to organize your gatherings as long as everyone is having fun!

If the above sounds a bit intimidating, consider getting started by simply inviting area writers to the coffee shop for a monthly check-in to get to know one another and to get to know what types of projects your neighbors are working on.

Member Thoughts on Writing Groups:
Tips for Taking Your Writing to the Next Level
by Tracy Million Simmons (Blogspot)

Should I Join a Writer's Group?
Writer Granny's World (Nancy Julien Kopp)

Thoughts on Writing Groups
Writer Granny's World (Nancy Julien Kopp)

Writers Need Writer Friends
Writer Granny's World (Nancy Julien Kopp)

Why Belong?
Ann Christine Fell​
Do you know of member essays that belong on this list? Send them to us!