The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word club as “an organization of people with a common purpose or interest, who meet regularly and take part in shared activities.” This definition applies perfectly to the Charlotte Writers Club (CWC). Since Adelia Kimball founded the club in 1922, the CWC has provided Charlotte-area writers with opportunities to meet regularly with other writers and to engage in writing-related activities. Like many cultural organizations, the CWC kicks off its season of programming in September. Curious about CWC’s upcoming programs, I contacted Barbara (Bay) Yager, CWC’s current president, and asked her about the club’s plans for its 2025-2026 season. Here is what she sent to me:
For over a century, the Charlotte Writers Club has welcomed storytellers at every stage of their writing journey—beginners to experts—and in every form—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and beyond. We are a community where writers share their expertise with the curious, where beginners and published authors learn side by side. This season, September through May, our programming reflects two central themes: honing your writing craft and navigating the path to publishing.
Our monthly meetings, held the third Tuesday of each month at Providence United Methodist Church, feature distinguished authors, editors, and literary professionals. Nationally recognized memoirist Judy Goldman opens the season in September with What’s the Big Idea?, followed by booksellers Sally Brewster of Park Road Books and Katie Mitchell of Trope Book Shop, who will share what authors should know from booksellers. Other months include novelist Kim Wright Wiley on story structure, Andrea Hurst and Lydia Caudill on what agents want, and poet David Radovich on shaping poems for publication.
Complementing the meetings are our Saturday workshops, where participants can roll up their sleeves and apply new tools directly to their work. Offerings include Melinda Ferguson on memoir, Misha Lazzara on the importance of setting, Sarah Archer on plotting versus pantsing, Barbara Presnell on the narrative arc, and Irene Honeycutt on writing with grief. Workshops conclude in May with a candid discussion of the publishing gamut featuring three accomplished authors, Lisa Williams Kline, Gilda Morina Syverson, and Ann Campanella.
Beyond meetings and workshops, CWC provides year-round connections. Writers can join critique groups by genre, participate in monthly virtual writing salons hosted by Tiffany Grantham, or test new work at our popular open mic nights at Mugs Coffee. In the Student Enrichment Program for middle and high school students, we offer monthly virtual writing salons, creative writing workshops, and student contests. Our annual contest series, including the Ruth Moose Flash Fiction opening on September 1st, Poetry, and Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story competitions, helps writers aim high.
Our new season begins on September 1. Let CWC be part of your journey. Visit the website for all our event details, whether you’re learning, publishing. or connecting, we look forward to meeting you and hearing your story. More information on these events can be found at https://charlottewritersclub.org/events/
I thank Bay for providing me with this information about CWC’s plans for its new season. I also commend the Charlotte Writers Club for playing such an important role in the history of Storied Charlotte over the past 103 years.