Writers Guild of Texas

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Writers Guild of Texas

Our Mission

To provide a sociable environment that encourages, educates, and engages writers of any genre and of any experience level.

The Writers' Guild of Texas (WGT) is a nonprofit organization serving the writing community of Texas. The Writers' Guild of Texas provides peer support, information exchange, and formal and informal self-education opportunities for published and not-yet-published writers. Our meetings are full of interesting and informative presentations from various experts -- from authors to editors to publishers -- in the publishing industry.

02/05/2026

LYNN “ELIKQITIE” SMARGIS
HOW TO ORGANIZE BOOK CONTENT

February 16, 2026 at 7PM

Have you found yourself carrying around mounds of sticky notes while trying sort through ideas for book content?

Learn practical methods for organizing, outlining, structuring, and arranging content for your upcoming book. Improve your approach to managing data, planning, brainstorming and mapping by joining the Writers Guild of Texas for a session with

LYNN “ELIKQITIE” SMARGIS
HOW TO ORGANIZE BOOK CONTENT

February 16, 2026 at 7PM
Writers Guild of Texas
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd.
Richardson, TX

01/21/2026

*THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS*

KELLIE KATE – WORDSMITHING
January 26, 2026 @ 7PM
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd
Richardson, TX

If you’ve ever asked yourself what do I do once I finish my novel?
This talk is the place to start getting answers!

Wordsmithing will discuss the when, why, what, and how of five types of editing — self-edit, developmental edit, line edit, copy edit, and proofreading — and touch on alpha and beta reading. There will be a Q&A session at the end.

KELLIE KATE is a voracious reader of a wide variety of fiction. Her first editing gigs were thrust upon her by her friends because of her superior grammar skills and paid in pizza. In 2010, having completed a novel and in need of a critique group, she joined the Frisco Area Writers Network. There, she discovered a passion for helping other writers fine-tune their creations. She began her professional literary career as an alpha and beta reader and expanded into developmental and line editing.

Register here for a Zoom link. https://forms.gle/UJbF38sAaPi1P3Tu8

09/14/2025

Writers Guild of Texas www.writersguildtx.org

WENDY HINOTE LANIER

Income Streams for Writers

September 15, 2025
7:00 PM

Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Boulevard
Richardson, TX

Register here for Zoom - you will receive a link and a calendar invitation.
https://forms.gle/Yx4oGkEitxLFHMHE9

The average writer often makes less than $10,000 a year. The key to being a profitable writer is understanding the various ways to develop income streams. In this discussion we will talk about various ways writers can earn money and some strategies for incorporating them in your own career.

WENDY HINOTE LANIER is a former elementary teacher, award-winning author, Texan, and certified speaker who writes and speaks for children and adults. She has written more than 50 traditionally published books for a variety of publishers. Her most recent books include Paws-itive Inspirations: 90 Dog Devotions for Kids and Dog Lovers (co-authored with Michelle Medlock Adams, Iron Stream Media, 2024) an Illumination Enduring Light Gold Medal winner, The Dog That Gave My Brother Words (End Game Press, 2023) a Writers’ League of Texas Discovery Prize Award and Christopher Award winner, and Too Many Pigs in the Pool (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022) a Moonbeam Gold Medal and Selah Award winner.

Wendy’s educational background includes a B.S. in Speech Communications Disorders, an M.S. in Speech Language Pathology, and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education. As a teacher, Wendy spent more than 18 years in Texas public and private schools specializing in the areas of science, social studies, and language arts.

Visitors are welcome to attend.

08/17/2025

Writers Guild of Texas www.writersguildtx.org

BIRDIE CURRAN
AGENT HUNTING– HOW TO FIND A GOOD FIT

August 18, 2025 at 7PM
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Boulevard
Richardson, TX, 75082

Register here for Zoom: https://forms.gle/obeqgqG4XiPfE96w8.
A link will be sent to you.

Querying agents is rough and not for the faint of heart. Birdie Curran has taken a deep dive into tuning into the right agency and agent before they are added to the list to query. After the first few query letters, she realized that while so much time is spent writing and editing, a little bit of time spent researching agents closest to your genre and style of writing, plus your own lifestyle, morals, and values, can make a big difference, even between getting a canned “no” vs. a personal “no.”

In this session, you’ll learn how to search for agents that are a close match to who you would ask to represent you as an author, and how to take “no” for an answer and keep going.

BIRDIE CURRAN has been a member of WGT for almost two years and is serves on the board as the newsletter chair. She's currently writing a memoir, No Talking: An insider’s view of teaching in the public school system of Texas, seeking to be a catalyst for change.

Birdie lives in Allen with her husband, daughter, and two cats. She has an MBA in Management and Marketing, and taught high school for 20 years. Birdie (Feed the Birdies) owns an Etsy shop full of ephemera and she volunteers at the local library, leading a letter writing group and a small business group.

She is seeking representation for her debut memoir.

07/11/2025

AMBER ROYER: DYNAMIC SHORT STORIES

Writers Guild of Texas Writing Retreat

Saturday, July 12, 2025
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Richardson Woman's Club
2005 North Cliffe, Richardson, TX
Register here now! https://forms.gle/rgCQhi2AaRAkfSUD7
Walk-ins welcome!

NOTE: This is on a Saturday, deviating from our normal Third Monday night event.

To capture a reader’s attention, a short story needs to ask a question that demands an answer, provide immediate forward plot momentum, or promise interesting character change – or a combination of all three. In short, you need a dynamic element. Amber will discuss how to brainstorm and integrate this through the use of story structure (including intentional pacing using scene and sequel, character development, heightening stakes, and more. This is a hands-on session that includes group exercises. Participants will create an outline for their own short story.

Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach. Her workbook/textbook Story Like a Journalist and her Thoughtful Journal series allow her to connect with writers. Amber and her husband live in the DFW Area, where you can often find them at local coffee shops or taking landscape/architecture/wildlife photographs. They both love to travel, and Amber records her adventures on Instagram – along with pics of her pair of tuxedo cats. If you are very nice to Amber, she might make you cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, of course!

Amber Royer about creative writing techniques and all things chocolate at www.amberroyer.com.

06/13/2025

Writers Guild of Texas - www.writersguildtx.org

INDIE AUTHOR TO INDIE FILMMAKER:
A LONG STRANGE TRIP with DEBBI MACK

June 16, 2025, at 7PM

Richardson Public Library

2360 Campbell Creek Blvd, Richardson, TX

Sign up here to participate via Zoom:
https://forms.gle/L4gqQiWM5mdwSPDv6.

Zoom link will be provided to the email provided during sign-up.

As an indie author who saw her first novel make a brief appearance on the New York Timesbestseller list, Debbi Mack never anticipated that the first feature film script she wrote would make the quarterfinals of a major screenwriting contest. With words of encouragement from friends and family, she plunged into the world of screenwriting. Things became serious when she took a course on indie film production. From there, she threw herself into learning everything she could about the creation and sales of screenplays, as well as other aspects of the filmmaking business.

Debbi’s unfortunate tendency to learn through immersion in any activity led her to feel as if she’d been dropped into the ocean with only a paddleboard to keep her afloat. There are numerous moving parts involved in the filmmaking process. And so many opportunities. So many skillsets one can develop. Not to mention the many and varied ways of “breaking into” the business. And Debbi will be the first to tell you that the world of entertainment is a place where initiative tends to be rewarded, and it’s essential to be your own best advocate. So when the opportunity to direct her own short film came along, it seemed like an absolute no-brainer to take advantage. And it only took her 14 years to reach that point.

She’ll be happy to share her story and answer any of your questions!

–

DEBBI MACK is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sam McRae and Erica Jensen mystery series, along with two standalone novels and several short stories. Her podcast, the Crime Cafe, in which Debbi interviews other crime, suspense, and thriller authors, just finished its tenth season. Debbi also co-hosts Dark and Twisting Alleys: A Film Noir Podcast with author F.R. Jameson. She has written several short scripts, as well as two feature films adapted from her work, an original feature film screenplay, and pilots for a one-hour crime drama and two half-hour dramedies. She’s currently in pre-production on her first short film.

Learn more about Debbi Mack at

www.debbimack.com

FB:

IG: .

05/13/2025

Writers Guild of Texas www.writersguildtx.org

LIESE SHERWOOD-FABRE

Developing Compelling Characters: From First Draft to Emotional Impact

Great stories begin with great characters—those we root for, fear, or love to hate. Liese Sherwood-Fabre, PhD will dive into the heart of fictional character development, exploring how your characters drive plot, create emotional resonance, and keep readers hooked.

Based on Michael Hauge’s six-stage story structure, Dr. Sherwood-Fabre will explore how character transformation unfolds across a narrative arc to develop protagonists and antagonists with emotional depth. Using such internal forces such as wounds, fears, and desires, she will describe how these internal forces shape their journey.

Whether you're just starting your novel or polishing your final draft, this session will give you the tools to spark new ideas, strengthen your writing toolbox, and bring new life to your characters.

Join Liese Sherwood-Fabre, WGT, and fellow writers for

Developing Compelling Characters: From First Draft to Emotional Impact

May 19, 2025, at 7PM

Richardson Public Library

2360 Campbell Creek Blvd, Richardson, TX

Click the link below to sign up for Zoom access

https://forms.gle/PPcNBKcgSRpPwGwA6

Zoom link with be provided to the email provided during sign-up.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

LIESE SHERWOOD-FABRE

Award-winning author Liese Sherwood-Fabre knew she was destined to write when her teacher gave her an A+ in the second grade for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally's ruined picnic. A four-time CIBA award winner, other accolades include a Pushcart Prize nomination and a finalist in Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart competition. After obtaining her PhD from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years. Kirkus Reviews noted "The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife" is a "multifaceted and convincing addition to Sherlock-ian lore," and Publishers Weekly described her latest Sherlock Holmes short story collection, "Master of the Art of Detection," as a "solid collection of stories featuring Doyle's detective." She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and loves doting on her grandchildren.

04/19/2025

Writers Guild of Texas writersguildtx.org

ANGELA HENDERSON SMITH
Writing for Children

Angela will provide a candid look into her experiences as a children's book author, covering the craft, process, and market insights essential for aspiring writers. She’ll share "inside scoop" tips and valuable lessons from her journey to support your own writing and author-preneurial goals.

Join Angela Henderson Smith, WGT, and fellow writers for

Writing for Children
April 21, 2025, at 7PM

Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd
Richardson, TX

Sign up for Zoom access below.

https://forms.gle/1USaUZziWsJ6Uqyb8

Zoom link will be provided to the email provided during sign-up.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

ANGELA HENDERSON SMITH

Author Angela Henderson Smith, a published author of three children’s books, weaves tales of hope, friendship, and acceptance in her stories, beginning with Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree. After thirteen years of teaching English Language Arts, she transitioned into entrepreneurship as an author, speaker, and writing coach. Angela collaborates with librarians to provide students and communities with engaging author visits and writing workshops, as connecting with young people and helping them realize their own creative potential is her passion.

She’s a keynote speaker for educational and literacy conferences and leads workshops centered around the writing process. Coaching writing remains central to her work, particularly in guiding high school students through her College Prep Class: Writing Essays for College Applications. Being a mother of three is always her greatest inspiration, along with her faith. As the Assistant Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) North Texas, a newlywed after her single mom journey, and founder and president of a nonprofit for single moms, she spreads positivity and hope in her Dallas community.

angelahendersonsmith.com

Be sure to sign up for her newsletter!

03/14/2025

Writers Guild of Texas writersguildtx.org

ELIZABETH HOBBS

Toolkit for Character:
Using Character-themed Words to Power Up Your Manuscript

All authors want to create characters that ‘leap’ off the page and become vibrantly alive for their readers. But how?

Using examples from best-selling and award-winning Romance and other genres, mystery author Elizabeth Hobbs brings you her TOOLKIT FOR CHARACTER to help examine six different ways to bring characters out of the author’s head and vividly to life on the page. Elizabeth will demonstrate the difference between “describing a character” and “revealing character.”

Join Elizabeth Hobbs, WGT, and fellow writers on

March 17, 2025, at 7PM
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd
Richardson, TX

Sign up here to join via Zoom
https://forms.gle/5qFRFRypQNk44kmQ9.

––

ELIZABETH HOBBS is a New Englander born and bred, who spent her childhood roaming the woods, making up stories about characters who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn’t always so—long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in classics and art history, and then earned her MA in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University. While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing historical mysteries full of wit, wickedness, and adventure. Elizabeth writes wherever she is and loves to travel from her home in Texas, where she lives with her husband, the Indispensable Mr. Hobbs, and her darling dogs, Ghillie and Brogue, in an empty nest of an old house filled to the brim with bicycles and books.

Learn more about Elizabeth Hobbs at www.elizabethhobbsauthor.com.

02/17/2025

Writers Guild of Texas writersguildtx.org

Originally, we planned to unravel the madness of slam poetry with slam poetry artist, Jason Carney, but due to feeling under the weather, Jason will take us through the bold world of slam poetry when he feels his poetic best.

What are we doing tonight?

The Writers Guild of Texas is inviting you to bring any project you want to work on. Toss around ideas, help each other jump writing hurdles, and maybe spark new ideas for future writing projects.

Join us tonight.

February 17, 2025, at 7PM
Writers Guild of Texas (WGT)
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Blvd
Richardson, TX

Or

Click here to join us via Zoom: https://forms.gle/Bo896bJ7noDSg4GE8.

02/07/2025

Writers Guild of Texas www.writersguildtx.org

Four-time poetry slam finalist & Russell Simmon’s Def Poets artist…

JASON CARNEY

POETRY SLAM~
The Style, Method & Madness

Jason Carney, a performance poet from Dallas, Texas, is a four-time National Poetry Slam Finalist, honored as a Legend of the Slam in 2007. He appeared on three seasons of the HBO television series Russell Simmons’ Def Poets. Jason has performed and lectured at some of our nation’s finest colleges and universities as well as high schools and juvenile detention centers from California to Maine. A graduate of Wilkes University's MFA Program for Creative Writing, where he was an honored winner of the Etruscan Prize, the Bergman Foundation Scholarship, and the Norris Church-Mailer Scholarship. He is Co-founder and Artistic Director of the non-profit Young DFW Writers.
https://jasoncarney.wordpress.com/links/

Feb. 17, 2025 @ 7PM
Writers Guild of Texas
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Boulevard
Richardson, TX

Signing up here to participate via Zoom:
https://forms.gle/kCVLoScvQkYpBcKu8

01/22/2025

Writers Guild of Texas www.writersguildtx.org

You should know some basics about contracts and writing query letters.

Join the WGT president, Tiffany Seitz, and critique group leader, Ed Wooten, for a discussion to help writers ease their anxiety about understanding contracts and query letters.

What should I expect to see, and what are the red flags in contractual agreements presented to writers? What is a query letter, what does it include, and what does a listing agent or editor expect want to see?

Let’s discuss a few of these topics and more.

CONTRACTS & QUERY LETTERS with T.A. SEITZ & ED WOOTEN

January 27, 2025, at 7PM
Richardson Public Library
2360 Campbell Creek Boulevard
Richardson, TX

Join us in person or participate via Zoom by signing up on the form below.

https://forms.gle/oL7VpjKFQDoS8AHK7

Address

6009 W Parker Road
Plano, TX
75093

Website

http://writersguildtx.org/

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