HWA LOWER MIDWEST CHAPTER

So what do a bunch of midwest horror writers do at these meetings?

The agenda usually goes like this:

• First we arrive at one or two in the afternoon and yak while we wait for everyone to arrive. Occasionally someone will bring a discussion question or a matter of business for us all to talk about.
• After which comes the Business - this is usually kept very short. We writers have short attention spans for political bullshit.
• We'll often do Readings of our own work. Sometimes we'll critique these readings, sometimes not. It depends on what the author reading would like. We do have more information available on the critique group.
• Sometimes an author will get stuck on a story, so we'll all brainstorm about his/her novel or story idea. Many of us have benefitted quite a lot from these sessions.
• About this time, most of us are getting hungry, so we'll order or go out for dinner.
• If there are more readings, critiques, discussions, or questions, they will take place after dinner.
• Sometimes at this point, some or all of us will retire to a person's house in the area for further discussion and/or work.

The meetings are always enjoyable, and it's good to see old friends and make new ones. And I have never left a meeting without going home ready to write, and that alone is worth the cost of the drive.

Our job is to reduce the tears.

Where do your meetings generally take place?

Since we have people driving from all over the map, we rotate our meetings among Jefferson City, Missouri; Columbia, Missouri, and St. Louis, Missouri. Upcoming rotations may take place elsewhere, such as Wentzville or Kansas City, as well.

How do I find out when and where?

Good question! Capital question!. Go to the calendar page. This contains all the info you need.

How often do you meet?

We try hard to meet monthly, and so far, we've been trying to meet on the second Saturday. Get this info off the calendar page too.

Are there dues?

Yes. Right now there are dues of $20.00 per year.

What do you do with the dues?

Well, since lining my pockets with twenty bucks a head isn't going to make me rich anytime soon, we use the money bring in guest speakers and do field trips.

Is there free food?

Sometimes. But usually it's every person for themselves in that department. But we have found that eating and occasionally drinking together is almost as good.

Do I have to be a member of the national organization to be a member of the Lower Midwest Chapter?

No. We welcome any writer.

Do I have to write horror to be a member?

No. As mentioned above, we welcome any writers. But you probably won't have as much fun as the rest of us if you don't at least write the occasional horror piece.

Have you ever asked anyone to leave?

No. But that doesn't mean we won't if a member is more set on creating problems than on promoting writing.

Can I be an author wannabe and still get into your club?

In the first place, HWA Lower Midwest is not a "club." It is a professional organization for serious writers who want to perfect their craft.

In the second place, what is an author wannabe?

Can I send you an idea and have you write it for me?

In the words of our friend Chris Tucker: "Oh, hell no!" Most of us have too many stories and characters of our own floating around in our heads to deal with yours too. There's only one solution to such an idea: go get a pencil and paper, or a typewriter, or even a computer, see, and...

Can I send you a manuscript/script/story and have you publish it?

>You can send it to us, but we won't do squat with it. We aren't a publishing agency. We try to advance our own and each other's writing by workshopping and sharing information. Once in a while we release an anthology of members who have paid their dues and attend meetings, but that's a different story altogether.

Are you Satan worshippers?

Well, I'm not, but I'm not guaranteeing we'd turn one away. We have several Christians, a pagan or two, and a collection of atheists and agnostics. Getting together to discuss the different aspects of writing horror has little to do with our religion, outlook on life, or whether we are good or evil.

"It's the only job where you can sit around in your underwear all day and make stuff up."
                   --Dean Wesley Smith

Connected to the organization is a LMC and friends list. You don't have to be in the MWH to join the list, but please be aware, joining the list does not constitute formally joining the organization.

The MWH is not an internet-only group. While we may discuss association business on the list, no formal decisions will be made there. All this is done in person at the monthly meetings.

But it's a great way to network and make new friends! Come join us.

If you have a yahoo ID, click on the icon below:

If you don't have a Yahoo ID and don't feel like going through the time-consuming baloney of signing in, you can send an email to Mark containing your request, and he'll put you on the list with a minimum of hassle.