I am frequently asked at author fairs about the writing groups I am involved with. Below are the organizations I am a member of. There are of course numerous other amazing organizations out there for you to find. These are just the ones I participate in.
[Note: None of these groups are affiliated with GertrudeDaly.com]
Writing Groups
The Writing Journey
The Writing Journey is a year-round writing group. The group has multiple “paths” (E.g. Critique, Editing, Technology, Poetry, Shut yer Trap). Writers can choose what paths to participate in. The group published an anthology each year, through their anthology path.
Based in: Greater Chicago Area, Illinois (Meetings often held on zoom)
Website: https://writingjourney.org/
Rochester Writers
Rochester Writer is a community of writers. The group holds a monthly zoom meeting on the “Business of Writing.” Rochester Writers holds a few in-person events each year, including a writer’s conference usually held in the fall.
Based in: South-East Michigan (Meeting often held on Zoom)
Website: https://rochesterwriters.com/
First Draft Detroit
First Draft Detroit is a non-profit that supports creatives of all types. It hosts local events throughout the Metro-Detroit area at coffee shops, libraries and community centers. Their main event is their First Draft Frenzy in November. Throughout the year, they host weekly in-person “scribbles” for people to quietly write or work on a creative project. This organization grew out of NaNoWriMotown (the Detroit based NaNoWriMo group).
Based in: Metro-Detroit, Michigan
Website: https://firstdraftdetroit.org/
Writing Organizations
NaNo 2.0
NaNo 2.0 is a group of NaNo 2.0 is a group of longtime NaNoWriMo volunteers and enthusiasts, educators, and founder Chris Baty. NaNo 2.0 provide resources and camaraderie for writers participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
The group was founded after the closure of the former non-profit that ran NaNoWriMo.
Based in: Global
Website: NaNo2.org
Writing Quests
Writing Quests is an association of writing groups and writers. The organization hosts Novel Quest a free, annual, motivational challenge for writers to complete their novel-writing-or-editing goal. Writing Quest hosts their Novel Quest in November each year. But other writing organizations may use their framework to host a Novel Quest anytime of the year. I serve as a volunteer and helped to create the Google Sheets progress tracker used during Novel Quest. And yes, I am the person who creates all the Hidden Easter Eggs. (Hidden Easter Egg #4 usually involves song lyrics.)
Based in: Global
Website: WritingQuests.org & NovelQuest.org
Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)
PLAIN is the leading international membership organization for plain language. I co-presented a talk on Plain English for Doctors at their conference in Graz, Austria in 2017.
Based in: Global
Website: PlainLanguageNetwork.org
Gertrude Daly 