“Collaborative workshops and writers’ peer groups […] are a wonderful invention. They put the writer into a community of people all working at the same art, the kind of group musicians and painters and dancers have always had.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin, Steering the Craft
About Us
Welcome!
We are a Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose purpose is to support, encourage, and promote writers and their craft in our community.
Our Columbia Chapter has served the writers of Central Missouri since 1959. Our membership is diverse, representing many literary genres and levels of both ambition and accomplishment – from writers who seek self-expression alone to writers who pursue publishing.
Funding
Our modest funding comes from generous donors, membership dues, and paid events. 100% of it goes to support writers like you.
What we do
Besides participating in local events such as Unbound Book Festival and Art In The Park, we organize our own writing contests and events:
“Well Versed” Publication
An anthology of prose and poetry! We receive submissions from both members and non-members. The works are judged and, if accepted, published.
Summer Flash Fiction
A contest for members! Each summer month, members receive a prompt and have five days to complete a flash piece of writing based on it.
“Spoken” at Café Berlin
Poetry and Open Mic, every 4th Thursday of the month! Co-sponsored by Nightjar, and generously hosted by Café Berlin.
Membership benefits
Guild members enjoy:
Monthly Meetings
Our monthly meetings feature guest speakers, mini workshops, networking, and more!
Opportunities for Guild Publication
Members can submit their writing to “Well Versed” and “Summer Flash Fiction” contests.
Quarterly Newsletter
Distributed by email, our quarterly newsletter keeps you informed about upcoming nearby writing events, conferences, contests and more.
Discord Access
[Under Construction]
Our Discord forum is a place for members who’ve attended at least one in-person meeting to share about writing, support each other and develop their craft.
Self-Promotion
Opportunities to sell your books, both online and in person at events
Info Emails
We forward info on writing-related events and opportunities nearby and online, so you don’t miss anything.
Ready to become a member?
You do not have to be published or have any experience to join us and learn alongside us.
Explore Our Latest Posts
[{"id":5905,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/new-site-hello\/","name":"new-site-hello","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ccmwg_siteScreenshot.png","alt":"ccmwg_siteScreenshot"},"title":"New site, hello!","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Guild Webmaster","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/guild-webmaster\/"},"date":"Feb 28, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-28 23:07:14","modifiedDate":"2026-02-28 19:48:11","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-01 01:48:11","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/announcements\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Announcements<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/announcements\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Announcements<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":31},"status":"publish","content":"As spring nears, this website sprouts new energy and color to better serve our"},{"id":5017,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/well-versed-2025-update\/","name":"well-versed-2025-update","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Well Versed 2025 Update!","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Debra Sutton","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/deb\/"},"date":"Jan 26, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-01-27 01:18:22","modifiedDate":"2025-01-26 19:18:22","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-01-27 01:18:22","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":42},"status":"publish","content":"REVIEWERS NEEDED! Volunteer at: wellversed.ccmwg@gmail.comPoetryFiction Nonfiction You may not review in any category in"},{"id":5004,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/change-to-january-2025-cwg-meeting\/","name":"change-to-january-2025-cwg-meeting","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"Change to January 2025 CWG Meeting","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Debra Sutton","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/deb\/"},"date":"Jan 5, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-01-05 17:10:45","modifiedDate":"2025-01-05 11:10:45","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-01-05 17:10:45","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":31},"status":"publish","content":"Due to the threat of snow and ice in Columbia and the surrounding areas"},{"id":4980,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/september-meeting-place-announced\/","name":"september-meeting-place-announced","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"September meeting place announced.","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Debra Sutton","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/deb\/"},"date":"Jul 29, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-07-29 14:59:23","modifiedDate":"2024-07-29 09:59:23","modifiedDateGMT":"2024-07-29 14:59:23","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":19},"status":"publish","content":"We attempted to reserve the library for our September meeting. It's not available, so"},{"id":4916,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/well-versed-2024-winners\/","name":"well-versed-2024-winners","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Depositphotos_419089910_sm-scaled.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Well Versed 2024 Winners","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Debra Sutton","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/deb\/"},"date":"Apr 12, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-04-13 01:47:05","modifiedDate":"2026-02-28 19:49:28","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-03-01 01:49:28","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":11},"status":"publish","content":"Congratulations to all our winners! Poetry - Judge Elijah Burrell 1st Place: Marcie McGuire"},{"id":4910,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/july-meeting-date-change\/","name":"july-meeting-date-change","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"July Meeting Date Change","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Debra Sutton","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/deb\/"},"date":"Feb 21, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-02-21 16:57:00","modifiedDate":"2024-02-21 10:57:00","modifiedDateGMT":"2024-02-21 16:57:00","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":25},"status":"publish","content":"Our July meeting has changed from July 7th to July 14th. This change is"},{"id":4901,"link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/february-cwg-meeting\/","name":"february-cwg-meeting","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"February CWG Meeting","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Debra Sutton","link":"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/author\/deb\/"},"date":"Feb 2, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-02-02 20:56:56","modifiedDate":"2024-02-02 14:56:56","modifiedDateGMT":"2024-02-02 20:56:56","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"open","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ccmwg.org\/category\/blog\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Blog<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":3},"status":"publish","content":"I hope you join us on Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 2 pm cst"}]