What is the London Writers Society (LWS)? And what does the LWS offer Canadian authors?
If you’re an author in London, Ontario, Canada, and haven’t considered joining the London Writers Society (LWS), why not? The London Writers Society (LWS) is an active community of local Canadian authors who collaborate, promote each other’s books, and work together on projects, including their recently released anthology, Out of the Woods: Voices from the Forest City.
Being an author often appears to be the perfect lifestyle. Relaxing in cafes, writing in the park, working from home, or wherever you feel like writing that day, but as a writer and author, I can tell you that the truth is it’s far from that. Writing can be a lonely occupation, so the opportunity to join other writers from around your community is a fantastic way to boost your mood, manage mental health and wellness, and socialize with other people who share the same interests.
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Of course, there are a lot of reasons why we all do what we do, and don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of great things about being a writer, but there’s also a lot of hard work that goes into it, especially if you’re a self-published author.
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Part of that involves networking with other writers while you navigate the tricky path of publishing your book. So often, we don’t learn what we need to know until it’s too late. We learn a lot of that information by asking other authors or industry experts, such as the London Writers Society.
Who Is the London Writers Society?
The London Writers Society (LWS) was founded in 2007 to provide information and exposure to authors within a community setting, catering to new, experienced, and up-and-coming authors in and around London, Ontario, Canada. London, Ontario, is a thriving hub for artists and writers, boasting a rapidly growing author community.
The LWS recognizes the challenges authors face and aims to foster a safe and supportive community where Canadian authors can learn from and support one another as they navigate the publishing world.
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How Does the LWS Support London, Ontario, Authors?
One of the biggest things the LWS offers Canadian authors is a community. Writing a book is just the first small step in the publishing journey. What comes after you write those magic words, the end? A whole lot, actually.
From editing, proofing, formatting, and cover design through to publishing and marketing, there’s a lot that goes on once you write the last word, and it’s as part of a community that you’ll learn a lot of this information.
Writing can be an extremely isolated existence, but it doesn’t have to be. At the LWS, they offer the following benefits to their members:
- Membership Meetings – Regular membership meetings on the third Tuesday of each month are a great way to connect and network with other authors and writers. Meetings regularly feature guest speakers and mini-workshops designed to help authors and writers.
- Manuscript Critique Groups – Members of the LWS can participate in online critique groups, which bring together writers and their peers for face-to-face commentary and suggestions on their work-in-progress (WIP).
- Writing Events – From field trips to author days, the LWS offers a variety of engaging events that are designed to entertain, inform, and provide members with a platform for their work.
How Much Does It Cost to Join the LWS?
Becoming a member of the London Writers Society is not only easy, but it’s also very affordable. For only $40 a year, you’ll be able to join a diverse, creative, and inspiring community whose goal is to support and build up writers and authors.
You can join the LWS either in person at one of their General Membership Meetings, by mailing a cheque, or by purchasing a membership online via the website.
If you have any questions about joining the LWS, feel free to contact them directly. You can also connect with them on social media on the LWS Facebook page or on the LWS Instagram page.
Introducing the London Writers Society – Conclusion
There you go! Everything you wanted to know about the London Writers Society and what it offers its members. If you’re a Canadian author who lives in London, Ontario, then joining the London Writers Society will help you not only build connections with other authors but also learn valuable insight into the publishing industry.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below, and we’ll do our best to answer them or point you in the right direction.
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Indie Publishing Group is not affiliated with the London Writers Society, and this post is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. Please verify all information with the organizers before purchasing your membership, and contact the organizers with any questions.
3 Responses
It’s always a great idea to connect with local authors in your area. Not only is it nice to able to get feedback from experienced authors and writers, but you can also share your knowledge with others that are just getting started in the self-publishing world.
I just stumbled upon this blog, Chrissy! And I agree, the LWS is a fantastic organization. The monthly meetings are always interesting (and fun), and the community support is amazing. The critique group I’m in has given me the courage to write (more) and share my work. Their constructive feedback has helped me grow as a writer. The author events they’ve held have included speakers like Terry Fallis and Douglas Gibson. And membership has introduced me to over 100 local authors. But the highlight (so far) was having two of my poems selected by Emma Donoghue to be published in the LWS inaugural anthology, Out of the Woods: Voices from the Forest City. It’s my first official publishing credit (woot)! And thanks to the great team at Indie Publishing Group, the book looks fantastic. You made the steps to publishing effortless. Thank you!
We couldn’t agree more, Bee. It was a pleasure working on the anthology, and we’re genuinely grateful to be part of a fantastic local author organization.