May 2025 Newsletter
Hello Writers!
Welcome back to the newsletter!
This month we are highlighting several calls for submissions and opportunities for authors in the Driftless and wider Wisconsin area:
The Jade Ring Writing Contest
Deadline: June 1
Poetry (up to three poems per entry), Fiction, and Nonfiction (no more than 2000 words)
Prizes include a Jade Ring, cash, publication in Creative Wisconsin magazine, and a one-week residency at Write On Door County.
For more information go to www.wiwrite.org/Jade-Ring-2025
Off the Beaten Path
Poetry and short stories wanted for a travel guide for dirt road bicycles in the driftless area.
Contact Beth Erickson at bethatjobe@gmail.com for more information.
The Bookery
New bookstore in Balsam Lake, WI, launching this summer.
Looking for authors interested in showcasing their books!
Contact Christina at info@thebookerybl.com.
Motivation
This month’s motivation is from an article by Allison K. Williams, How to Get Your Writing Done When New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work (and They Usually Don’t)
Assemble your tools
If you sit down to work, and discover your laptop battery is dead, or your pen’s dry, or you really need a drink of water, or Scrivener hasn’t synced yet, solving those problems will interrupt your flow. Anywhere from the night before to an hour before, prepare your space and your tools as if you’re making a mini-retreat for a beloved writing friend. What would you set out for them to have the best possible writing experience? Would you adjust the lighting? Put fresh flowers on the desk? Make sure a snack is close at hand? Look online for how to properly adjust the chair? Treat your own work as worthy of that care.
Send your motivational memes, tips, tricks, and resources to mvwguild@gmail.com
Victory! News from the Guild
Amanda Zieba, MVWG President and member of Express-Oh, is releasing her new book, Life in the Passenger Seat, in June! The book is being published through Beaver’s Pond Press and is sponsored in part by the Ingold Family Foundation. Life in the Passenger Seat is full of resilience, finding your voice, and learning to take the wheel. Perfect for fans of coming-of-age stories, gymnastics fiction, and foster care advocacy.
Summary: Shelby Morris has spent her life bouncing between towns... until a broken-down Mustang, a balance beam, and a shot at stability change everything. Check out the book trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcM0-6ZE074, then pre-order your copy at https://amandazieba.com/lips and get a sneak peak at the first six chapters!
Interested in creating a book trailer of your own? Amanda is hosting a virtual workshop, From Page to Promo, on Sunday, May 18th at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, May 20th at 1 p.m. The cost is $29. Sign up at https://forms.gle/rj8GRU17bXA2zM1AA
We want to congratulate Jonathan Lamb for a successful run of Adventures Await at the Weber Center. Pictured are members of the Re-Writes group, who had the privilege of seeing Jonathan’s play go from first draft to staged reading to full production! He is currently working on cleaning up the script so he can send it to other theatres.
Have a victory you want to share? Let us know!
Writing Prompt
May is Mystery Month! Check out this prompt from Amanda Zieba!
Guild Events
ArtSpire 2025
Saturday, June 14th, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Riverside Park
The guild will be sponsoring a booth at Artspire this year. Sign up for a shift and help us encourage, experience, and share the written word. Authors are welcome to sell their books during their shift!
Stay tuned for a Social Media Workshop in June and a Member Social in August!
Not a Member? Join Here
Support us at ko-fi.com/mississippivalleywritersguild