My name is McKenzie. I have recently graduated from the University of West Florida with a master's in creative writing. I mainly read and write romance, especially dark, paranormal, and contemporary romance. I find that I am most in my element when writing about character relationships and interactions. I also really enjoy writing horror and poetry. I have published poems in a couple different places and am excited to continue submitting my work. I am excited to connect with writers!

I miss the days when I was in an MFA program, where everyone was absorbed in the writing culture and was also supportive of others' successes. Recreating that atmosphere would be so good for me and my mental health to spend time getting back into the craft I love and not working so much. I am looking for a group of supportive writers, preferrably in NYC (sorry!), who are also LGBTQIA+ friendly, and also take writing seriously. I love people who are out of the box, creative, empathetic, relatable, and most of all chill!

I am looking for a group where I can get some feedback on my writing that I hav done over the course of the week. I want to get exposed to diverse writing so as to be able to expand and grow creatively. I have been writing since past 6 months and have attended 2 workshops, (4 week and 8 week). I want to be able to break away from structural barriers that I tend to get stuck into, explore different themes through the writing pieces others have to share. 

Monthly feedback group writing and reading work set in or about the American South. Short fiction only (no novels-in-progress, sorry). Stories will be submitted to the group for feedback two weeks before meeting with comments/suggestions from fellow members provided via track changes. Group will then meet to give the writer an opportunity to ask fellow members specific questions they may have, either to clarify comments or in general. 

Y'all means all, so we're open to genres, but writing must be about the South or writer must be Southern. This group was started by a Kentuckian who moved to New York City, joined a writers' group, and got tired of explaining that yes, Southern characters can have extensive vocabularies or what a dry county is every time she shared a story. Not that we can't write for readers outside our region, but in receiving feedback from authors we are in partnership with, we should not have to constantly explain, apologize for, or adjudicate it. We write the South as it is, no apologies, and want feedback from others on how to make these stories better.

Interested in joining? We'd love to have you! Email Terena Elizabeth Bell at terenaebell [at] gmail.com, send her a Twitter direct message @TerenaBell, or flag her down this month at AWP.

Thanks, y'all.

My name is Heidi. I was born and raised in Queens, New York. The last year was tough, and I hit rock bottom, dealing with depression, anxiety, heartbreak, grief, and chronic pain. Through these heavy emotions, I gained a passion for poetry and writing. Writing has saved me from losing my mind so many times; it's saved me in many ways I never thought possible. To express my feelings, thoughts, and emotions is healing and therapeutic. I would love to be a part of a writing group that has no filter and is open to all kinds of topics, mainly about mental health, love, healing, spirituality, chronic pain, and all other relatable issues. I would also love to share some of my writings and gain more input, and meet people who love the same things I do.