AWA is growing.  You are a part of a vibrant community of workshop leaders and writers.  Our community is international.  We have deep roots, over 30 years of commitment to the principle that everyone can create art using words.  We are looking forward to 2011, and beyond.

AWA offers exciting new benefits opportunities for Affiliates.

AWA Writers Retreats

AWA has added to its program schedule a Writers' Retreats for AWA affiliates who would like to have the opportunity to write in an AWA community of writers.  During AWA trainings, leaders encourage participants to care for their own writing as conscientiously as they care for the writing of others.  AWA will support its affiliates and members to maintain their writing practice. 

AWA is offering an exclusive writing retreat to Affiliates only:  Led by Pat Schneider, founder of AWA and author of Writing Alone & With Others, this retreat will take place at her home in Amherst, Massachusetts, October 7 - 10, 2011.

Other AWA Gatherings

AWA will offer other opportunities for Affiliates to come together either in-person or through the wonders of technology.  Stay in touch, and most importantly, let us hear from you.

Log into AWA

Affiliates who log-in at the AWA web site get exclusive access to programs and services not available to the general public.  Once logged-in, another  tab  becomes visible on the top menu bar - Resources.  Place your cursor over this tab and you will see the beginning of an on-line community.  You may submit a short article to the web site, review prompts and submit your favorites, or link to writing sites and resources.  Our on-line community will grow as you make your contributions and suggestions.

Paula Marshall writes about the "poets in the kitchen."  The poets are storytellers she remembers from childhood, who gathered at the kitchen table to share stories of the day's events.  Through the stories they told, she learned that she, too, could tell and write stories.  Many of you carried a copy of this article home as one of many hand-outs you received in the AWA workshop leadership training.

Think of Resources as the AWA community's online gathering place, our kitchen table.  Pull up a chair and tell your story!

Share Your Experiences in AWA

Always at the conclusion of each AWA training session or gathering of writers, participants want to continue sharing stories, news about workshops, or continue conversations with new friends.  As Affiliates, you can use the tools of our new on-line community to post writings where you can share prompts ideas, tips for marketing and managing workshops, and your thoughts on what it means to be part of the AWA community, for yourself and the writers you inspire.   Submit your experiences.

FREE Directory Listing on AWA

All paid Affiliates can be listed in our "Find-A-Workshop" directory. Check it today; if you are not there already, send us your information! If you are listed, please check it carefully, and let us know if your information is correct. By March 1st we will have added tools to this website that will make it possible to for you to directly update and add information to your directory listing.  

Writer's blogs and Workshop sites

We are offering dedicated Writer's blogs and Workshop Sites, at a special rate for Affiliates.  This is an exclusive affiliate offer for the AWA community.  You  will be able to choose a blog or workshop site with a configuration that suits your needs:

• Individual Site
  Simple Wordpress-based site, for individual writers and workshop leaders who want to promote their services. All the advantages of safe, secure, mature Wordpress technology, integrated into the AWA site network.
• Workshop Site
  Also built with Wordpress, this site adds multiple writer's blogs, so your workshop participants can post both private and public work.

Wordpress is expandable.  You will have the option to add web tools to keep your website responsive and dynamic as your needs expand.

Your URL will include the AWA domain name. For example, http://www.amherstwriters.com/members/JaneSmithSundayWritingWorkshop*. You will have private, secure access to the Back Office Administration of your unique Wordpress installation. You can add, edit, and delete writers, and give them tools and selective permission. All users of your site can comment publicly and privately on posts, based on how you want your unique site to work.

Customize your header, add images and links, format your posts with custom styles, and much more.

* exact URL format, and other service and offer details TBD.