Resources
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The mission of the original Federal Writers' Project under the WPA program was to provide a basic wage for unemployed clerks, writers, editors, lawyers, teachers, librarians, and archivists. It included the compilation of state, local, and specialized guidebooks, as well as anthologies of oral history, folklore, and music. It is our ambition, in today's rendition of the VWP, not only to portray the Virginia story, but also to promote excellent writing skills in poetry, prose, and accurate history telling.
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Writers' Resources
What is writing? The act or art of forming visible letters or characters, letters or characters that serve as visible signs of ideas, words, or symbols? An occupation or profession of authorship? A visit to a place somewhere inside us that no one commands? There are many paths leading to different goals. For many the goal is publication or vocation. For others it's the art. The Virginia Writers Project presents selected listings of writers' resources based on the experience of our editors and published authors that we hope will help you on your journey.
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Craft​
One Story
To keep the doors of One Story open to all, the co-founders set a policy that they would only publish an author one time. Since then, One Story has published over 300 stories by 300 different writers in an unfussy 5 x 7 chapbook format. While a copy of One Story might get wrinkled, dog-eared, and passed along, the story itself stays with the reader.
https://one-story.com/connect/community-corner/
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Catapult
Catapult is an innovative publishing venture created by the founders of Electric Literature and Black Balloon Publishing. The company includes a book publishing program of the highest literary caliber.
https://books.catapult.co/about-us/
James River Writers
Today, JRW has grown into multi-faceted non-profit organization based in Richmond, Virginia, that serves as central Virginia’s literary hub and a welcoming home for anyone who loves the written word. Aspiring and professional writers in all genres and at all levels of ability benefit from a variety of programs, services, and events, often presented in partnership with other cultural organizations.
https://jamesriverwriters.org/
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River City Poets
Poetry critique groups and workshops, in person or online, led by Richmond's Poet Laureate, Joanna Lee.
https://rivercitypoets.com/workshops-critique/
Grubstreet
GrubStreet is the place where writers from all backgrounds and ages develop their craft – and themselves – through the power of writing and sharing their work.
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WriterHouse
Writing has the power to heal and transform lives by deepening understanding and empathy. WriterHouse aspires to give everyone the most effective literary tools to tell their stories and find their audience.
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Krysta Winsheimer - Editorial Services, Content Development
"I have been an editor in some form or fashion for the past twelve years. Most of my prior editing experience focused on nonfiction work (primarily strategic intelligence assessments), but my true passion is working with fiction writers."
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reedsyprompts
Weekly writing contests from reedsyprompts
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/contests/
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Books About Writing
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Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry
From the beloved and acclaimed poet, an ultimate guide to writing and understanding poetry.
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/a-poetry-handbook-mary-oliver?variant=39939202056226
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The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers
The most widely used reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice.
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
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MLA Style
A set of standards for writing and documentation used by writers to find and evaluate information, alert their audience to the trustworthiness of their findings through citation, and shape the expression of their ideas in conversation with others. Often used by VWP for history essays.
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Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
A textbook for writers and a memoir of Stephen's life that will appeal even to those who are not aspiring writers.
https://stephenking.com/works/nonfiction/on-writing-a-memoir-of-the-craft.html
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Ernest Hemingway on Writing (Edited by Larry Phillips)
A collection of reflections on writing and the nature of the writer from one the greatest American writers of the 20th century.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Ernest-Hemingway-on-Writing/Larry-W-Phillips/9780684854298
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​Helping Writers Become Writers
K.M. Weiland, the award-winning and internationally published author of acclaimed writing guides, such as Structuring Your Novel and Creating Character Arcs, teaches story theory and technique. Weiland writes historical and speculative fiction and mentors authors.
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/about/
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​Publication
2024 Literary Magazine Rankings
​Author and editor Cliff Garstang's rankings based on the number of Pushcart Prizes and Pushcart Special Mentions the magazines have received over the past ten years. They are intended as a guide for determining where writers might submit their work for publication.
https://cliffordgarstang.com/2024-literary-magazine-rankings-overview/
Editors:
Ray Griffin (poetry)
Ruth Buys (short fiction)
Deidra Whitt Lovegren (short fiction)
J. Thomas Brown (associate editor, webmanager)
Diana Kincannon (poetry and short fiction)
John Nicolay (managing editor)
Krysta Winsheimer (style editor)
Research Staff:
Brian Lucas, Jennifer Wilson, Frank Guther, Jillian O'Conner​
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