IWA! Chapters
Amarillo
Founded August 1992
Meets at 7 p.m. every 2nd Thursday
Kingswood United Methodist Church
4801 South Austin Street
Amarillo, TX 79110
Central Houston
Founded March 1993
Meets at 7 p.m. every 2nd Thursday
Houston’s First Baptist Church, Room 145
7401 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024
Northwest Houston
Founded March 2013
Meets at 1 & 7 p.m. every 2nd Tuesday
Copperfield Church—Room C-1
8350 Highway 6 North
Houston, TX 77095
Pasadena (Main Chapter)
Founded February 1990
Meets at 6:30 p.m. every 3rd Thursday
Sunset United Methodist Church
709 Allendale
Pasadena, TX 77502
IWA! Contacts
Maxine Holder, Founder
(Deeased:2017)
State Board
Officers
Martha Rogers, President
713-686-7209,
Patricia Vance, Treasurer
713-477-4968,
Wanda Shadle, Director
713-862-1115,
Chapters
Amarillo—Karl Smith
(, 806-336-5164)
Central Houston—Diana Battista (, 832-315-8430)
Northwest Houston—Martha Roddy
281-859-4208,
Pasadena—Bill Bage
(713) 946-0806
Inspirational
Writers Alive!
Promoting the Ministry of
Creative Inspirational Writing
to the Glory of God
Mission & History
Inspirational Writers Alive! (IWA!) is a Christian interdenominational writers’ club. IWA! promotes creative writing to glorify Christ by helping individuals advance their writing skills and find effective markets for their work. The club’s name conveys the excitement members feel about the special ministry entrusted to writers.
What Maxine E. Holder started in March 1990 with a group of fifteen individuals has grown into a non-profit organization registered in Texas and governed by a Board of Directors. Members of the various chapters across Texas include aspiring writers and published authors in every genre of Christian writing. IWA! invites anyone interested in writing to visit one of the existing chapters or to contact the IWA! State President for more information about chartering a new chapter in your area.
IWA!, a member of the Houston Council of Writers, is listed with the Children’s Writers and Illustrator’s Market Guide, The Christian Communicator magazine, TheChristian Writer’s Market Guide,
Membership
IWA! welcomes new members. Membership applications may be obtained from State Board members or chapter officers and returned to the respective chapter’s treasurer or president. Annual dues are determined by each chapter and collected each January:
·Full membership
·Associate membership
·Seniors over age 55 Full Membership
·Couples regardless of age
Membership benefits include:
·Attendance at any and all monthly meetings, which feature guest speakers, critique sessions, networking, and read-arounds.
·Discounted registration for the annual Texas Christian Writers’ Conference.
·Discounts on entries in the annual IWA! Open Writing Competition.
·Monthly state and chapter newsletters, which present chapter updates, devotionals, and information on writing conferences and contests.
·Eligibility to hold a state or chapter office after one year of membership.*
·Full voting rights.*
* Associate members are not eligible to hold office or vote.
Texas Christian
Writers’ Conference
Each year, IWA! sponsors the Texas Christian Writers’ Conference on the first Saturday in August. The conference features a keynote address, workshops, paid critiques, one-on-one sessions with authors, author book tables and signings, free publications, continental breakfast, an awards luncheon, door prizes, and fellowship with other writers. Conference fee discounts are available for IWA! members, couples, seniors, and volunteers. Details on the annual conference and writing competition are publicized each year in Inspiration...News.
Open Writing Competition
IWA! hosts an annual Open Writing Competition from January—May 15 each year. Individuals may submit a maximum of two entries in each of the following categories:
· Poetry
· Article,
· Book proposal (fiction or non-fiction)
· Devotional
· Drama,
· Short story for young adults/adults,
· Short story for children/teens.
Awards are presented to winners of the IWA! Open Writing Competition at the Texas Christian Writers’ Conference each fall. Contest guidelines and registration forms may be obtained www.centralhoustoniwa.com or Pat Vance at