Give to the Max 2020

Lake Superior Writers supports the artistic development of writers and fosters a vibrant literary arts community in northeastern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. During the pandemic, LSW feels it’s even more important to provide writers a strong connection to fellow writers and opportunities to improve their craft.

Through our website, Lake Superior Writers provides information about events and publishing opportunities. NorthWords, our monthly e-newsletter, provides news about local writers, publications, readings, events for writers, writing groups, contests, workshops and more.

Lake Superior Writers offers free panel presentations with question and answer sessions that are open to members and nonmembers. Some of the past Q & A sessions have included Start Your Writing Project, Outlining and Roadblocks, The Final Stages—Editing, Get It Write, How to Set Up a Writing Group, and Writing in Retirement.

Lake Superior Writers presents workshops taught by writers that are open to members and nonmembers. Some examples of workshops presented include Crafting Publishable Op-Ed Essays, Writing for Beginners, Writing Children’s Literature, The Art of Point of View, and Gymnastics for Memoir Writers.

Every year Lake Superior Writers sponsors a writing contest, giving monetary awards for poetry, creative nonfiction, short story, and short-short story. Winners and runners-up are announced on the Lake Superior Writers website, with the winners having their pieces published on the website. In addition, Lake Superior Writers hosts an annual meeting for its members. Contest winners are recognized and give a reading. 

In the fall Lake Superior Writers coordinates a manuscript swap for authors with unpublished, partial or full novel-length manuscripts who are willing to review someone else’s manuscript in exchange for feedback on their own. This program is designed to connect local authors with serious, positive feedback from another local writer on a manuscript. 

Starting in December, Lake Superior Writers will host Superior Shares, a free open mic opportunity via Zoom. Writers can read their work in front of a virtual audience.

Lake Superior Writers maintains a blog about writing on its website. Active members may submit posts about writing. The blog provides a platform for local writers to share their writing and the posts are shared on the Lake Superior Facebook page, giving writers an even wider audience.