Charlotte Writers Club upcoming events

April Meeting (April 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

David Radavich

Revising & Shaping Your Poem for Publication

Great poems are not born by autogenesis, or even by a talented muse. They are revised and polished into more perfect being by a craftsperson who takes care to utilize all the tools of the lyric trade to enhance the poem’s potential impact on the reader. In this presentation, we will pay close attention to the visual architecture of poems, their aural structures, effective use of punctuation, evocative imagery and metaphor, balance, proportion, and radiance, and creating a powerful overall impression.

David Radavich (www.davidradavich.org) has published a variety of poetry, drama, and essays, including two epics, America Bound and America Abroad, as well as Middle-East Mezze and The Countries We Live In. His plays have been performed across the U.S. and in Europe. David has served as president of the Thomas Wolfe Society, Charlotte Writers’ Club, and North Carolina Poetry Society, and currently serves as state-wide coordinator of the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series. His latest books are Here’s Plenty (Cervena Barva, 2023) and Unter der Sonne / Under the Sun: German Poems (Deutscher Lyrik, 2021) - yes, he writes poems also in German.

If you have questions or thoughts,
please contact membershipcwc@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you!

Open Mic Friday, April 24, 2026 at Mugs Coffee (April 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:45:00 GMT

CWC Open Mic Night

Step up, share your voice, and own the stage.

This month's theme is "People Watching & Other Observations."

Bring us your poems, stories, flash fiction, etc. to share!

In Partnership with MUGS Coffee - a LIVE event for CWC Members and non-members to read their work on the fourth Friday of the month from 6:45pm - 9pm. Registration is limited to 12 readers.

(You do not need to register to come to listen and support your fellow writers.)

If you register to read you must agree to the following:

You will purchase something - this is how we support Mugs.

You will respect this is a business and public place and part of the skill building experience is to block out distractions. You are not allowed to ask the staff or other customers to be quiet.

You agree to the considerations listed. If you are unsure if what you want to read is allowed, you will review it with your host before you read.

Reading at Open Mic Night affords club members and non-members an opportunity to share what they have written and gain experience reading in public. Please understand that this is NOT a publicity event for our authors. The goal is to support our members as they practice reading in public.

Before registering please read the following policy adopted by unanimous vote of the CWC executive board on February 5, 2024, A completed registration serves as your agreement to abide by these rules.

All work must be original and must be read by the author. All readers must be mindful that this event is open to a general audience, which may include minors, and we do not want anyone to feel excluded, offended, or attacked. Although some material may deal with mature or provocative subjects, it must be suitable for a general audience and appropriate for all ages. Open Mic Night is not a forum for religious or political debate, nor is it a place for stand-up comedy, pornography, obscenity, racism, sexism, or personal rants of any kind. We expect readers to provide a receptive, supportive audience for one another. While a writer’s material and point of view are open to different interpretations, please show respect to the writer and the work. Any violation of these guidelines whether as a reader or as a member of the audience will result in the offender being cleared from the stage or audience. Repeated offenses will result in the member being banned from future sessions and/or being dismissed as a member of CWC.

Workshop: Writing with Loss: Finding Light in Elegy (April 25, 2026)

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Writing with Loss: Finding Light in Elegy

Hosted by Irene Honeycutt

Join acclaimed poet and teacher Irene Blair Honeycutt for a two-hour workshop exploring elegy as a gift that can help us transcend, not “get over” grief. This session will focus on how the elegiac poem offers a place for us to not only mourn our losses— be they humans, pets, trees, relationships—but to also pay tribute to what has enriched our lives. With compassion and insight, Irene will draw from her own elegiac poems and those of others, classical and contemporary, as ways of encouraging participants to write an elegy about one of their own deep losses.

Writers will leave with insights into how the elegiac poem fosters healing, provides resilience, and shines some light on the path of grief. All levels welcome. Bring paper, pen and a small object that reminds you of a particular loss.

Learn more about Irene's latest book at https://charlottelit.org/press/mountains-of-the-moon/

If you have a copy of Irene’s book Mountains of the Moon, bring it with you.

Parking Notice: Parking will be limited after 8:00 AM due to an all member church meetings. Please plan to carpool, arrive early, or arrange a drop-off if possible.

Workshop Refund Policy:

If circumstances force the CWC to cancel a workshop or move it to an alternative date, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if asked to do so within 2 weeks. If a workshop is held according to schedule and an enrollee cannot attend, the CWC will issue a full refund or credit for a future workshop if notified 48 hours before the workshop begins. Any credit issued must be used within 12 months.

Workshop: The 3 Authors: The Path to Publication, a Candid Conversation (May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Path to Publication: A Candid Conversation with Three Authors

Hosted by Ann Campanella, Lisa Williams Kline, & Gilda Morina Syverson

In today’s evolving publishing world, writers have more options than ever—but which path is right for you and your particular project? In this dynamic and honest panel discussion and Q&A, three successful authors share their real-world experiences navigating the publishing landscape—from self-publishing to working with small presses to finding an agent and signing with the Big 5. You'll learn about the benefits and challenges of each path, how to evaluate your goals for each project, and what steps to take next. This workshop offers valuable insights and candid advice to help you make informed decisions about your publishing journey. Come with questions, leave with clarity.

Ann Campanella, a former magazine/newspaper editor, is an award-winning memoirist and poet. Her first memoir, Motherhood: Lost and Found, was named “One of the best Alzheimer’s books of all time” by BookAuthority. Her second memoir, Celiac Mom, was a 2024 silver medalist in the Readers' Favorite Awards. Her recent memoir is The Shoulder Season: A Memoir of Fracture and Grace. She has experience with independent presses and self-publishing. An advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness, celiac disease and other health issues, she serves as a director for AlzAuthors.

Lisa Williams Kline has published 14 books with publishers both large and small, for adults as well as children. Between the Sky and the Sea (Dragonblade) and Ladies’ Day (CamCat Books) are her most recent award-winning novels for adults. Her latest novel, The Bristlecone Writers’ Group, is just out from Harpeth Road Press. She lives in Davidson with her veterinarian husband, a cat who can open doors, and a sweet chihuahua who has played Bruiser Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical.

Gilda Morina Syverson, an award-winning author, poet, artist and teacher, has taught memoir-writing classes for over twenty-five years, including 15 years at Queens University of Charlotte. Her expertise has earned her recognition as one of LinkedIn’s top memoir instructors. She is also a Healing Touch Practitioner. Her first memoir, My Father’s Daughter, From Rome to Sicily, won numerous awards, and her second memoir, A Healing Journey, from 9/11 Beyond the Pandemic was recognized as a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She has had success working with independent publishers.

Workshop Refund Policy:

2nd Friday CWC's Virtual Writing Salon, conducted by Tiffany Grantham (May 08, 2026)

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

VirtualWriting Salon

Hosted by

Tiffany Grantham

Please Use the Link Below to Connect with Tiffany Grantham for her Social Write-Ins. on the 2nd Friday of the month from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Mark Your Calendar for this free-writing and share session via Zoom.

Take 75-minutes to write and share from the comfort of your own space. Bring your muse, your imagination and your favorite writing instrument.

Because writing presented in the Virtual Writing Salon deals with adult themes from time to time, we have set the age limit for participation at eighteen years of age.

Tiffany may spin instrumental music for your mind to riff on, offer pictures that take you down memory lane or set a scene for new character to play in. Following each prompt, there will be time for volunteers to read aloud.

Be inspired by the works your fellow travelers share. No pressure, no angst - just you, your writing, and your untamed creativity. Bring your own characters, write with a story in mind or let your thoughts dance across the page. Shake off the dust of the day and perhaps when you're done, Tiffany's prompts will help you create something that really jazzes you!

Tiffany Grantham is a Children’s Service Specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, a short story-fiction writer, and former secretary for CWC’s executive board. A native of Goldsboro, NC who has called Charlotte home for the past eight years, she has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from North Carolina A&T State University, and an MFA in Writing from Lindenwood University. In her spare time, Tiffany collects books to add to her in-home library.

Join the Meeting!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86791552115?pwd=FMFEysQmOyq8b4f7fqA2atWxhiKdbU.1

Meeting ID: 867 9155 2155

Passcode: 901006

We hope you'll make this virtual session a habit.

May Virtual Writers Studio (May 09, 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Writers Studio Saturdays

Led by Axel Dahlberg

A place for writers of all interests and genres to

gather to discuss the craft we love in all its joys and challenges.

The Studios will center around the elements of narrative

(i.e., plot, character, setting, theme, story structure, worldbuilding, POV) as we explore our own literary pursuits.

And we'll write!

Virtual Writers Studios are held at Noon the second Saturday each month.

The Studios are FREE for Charlotte Writers Club members. Not a member? Not in Charlotte? Not a problem. Membership is only $50 a year.

Join CWC: https://charlottewritersclub.org/membership/

Zoom link will be sent prior to each Studio.

Axel Dahlberg, MFA, has published fiction, non-fiction, and journalism. He taught all forms and genres of writing at Arizona State University, and is a professional ghostwriter.

Questions? Just drop us a note: membership@charlottewritersclub.org

The studios build on Charlotte Writers Club's commitment, since 1922, to educate, inspire, and foster community for writers everywhere across all genres and ages.

June Social (June 05, 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT