Come to think of it,
writing is both a personal journey and a shared experience.
While many authors agree with Ernest Hemingway’s observation that “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life,” members of the Gulf Coast Writers Association may not concur with Papa’s conclusion. “Organizations for writers palliate the writer’s loneliness, but I doubt if they improve his writing.”
In defining itself as where writers belong, GCWA encourages inspiration, camaraderie, and success for writers of all backgrounds, skill levels, and genres.
Founded in 1995, it is the largest—and liveliest—writing community in Southwest Florida. While monthly meetings feature real speakers, real snacks, and really passionate writers, Zoom is also available for members who cannot attend in person.
Membership is $60 per year. Meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church, Browning Hall, 5011 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, Florida. Non-members can check out a meeting at no charge.
GCWA also sponsors an annual writing contest. First-, second-, and third-place cash prizes are awarded in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The 2026 contest is accepting submissions through February 28, 2026. Learn more and submit here.
The organization also participates in the annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival, programs at Alliance for the Arts, storytelling events with the Tamiami Tale Tellers, programs at Florida Gulf Coast University, and other events that amplify the voices of writers.
Unlike Hemingway, GCWA recognizes writing as both a personal journey and a shared experience. So, if the New Year is tugging at you to start writing, then GCWA is where you belong.
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