South Florida Writers Association

The South Florida Writers Association, www.southfloridawriters.org, conducts programs, activities and special events that are in accordance with its mission and purpose. Our monthly Hybrid meetings are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC with educational presentations about writing, publishing, marketing or award-winning or best-selling authors, agents or publishers. They’re held on the first Saturday of the month, 10:30 A.M.to 12:30 noon, in-person at the Pinecrest Library, 5835 SW 111 Street, Pinecrest, FL 33156 and online through video conferencing on Zoom. SFWA co-sponsors the annual Junior Orange Bowl Creative Writing Competition among 8th Graders in partnership with the Junior Orange Bowl Committee and Miami Dade County Public Schools, through cash prizes and judging to foster writing excellence among our youth. We donate Cash and Book Prizes for winning students who excelled in writing in selected schools. Virtual Authors Showcase (YouTube). 

8 MAJOR PROGRAMS 

1. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND NETWORKING: Presentations about writing, publishing, book marketing, best-sellers, etc.in-person at the Pinecrest Library and online on Zoom. Public readings, Open Mic, Poetry Slam, workshops, etc. 
2. FINANCIAL GRANTS ASSISTANCE: $500 for Book Publishing and $500 for Author Marketing Financial Grants for members (selected at the December meeting and June meeting).
3. EXHIBITOR BOOTH FOR MEMBERS AT THE MIAMI BOOK FAIR: SFWA participates as a Booth Exhobitor at the Miami Book Fair and members can sell/sign their books at the booth.
4. ANNUAL MANGO WRITERS CONFERENCE: brings members and the literary/artistic public together for a day of learning with a focus on a selected theme featuring workshops, breakout sessions, panel discussion, networking, marketing of books and fellowship. 
5. MONTHLY WRITING CONTESTS: Competitions in various genres raise the bar for creativity and the expectation of recognition by peers for outstanding accomplishments, add value to standards of excellence in the art and craft of writing. 
6. CRITIQUE GROUPS: facilitate the sharing of works in progress (Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry Groups) and help hone one's craft through constructive feedback/suggestions for improvement. 
7. AUTHORS SHOWCASE SERIES: SFWA members/authors discuss their books at the Authors Showcase Series in collaboration with Books & Books - Pinecrest or through a pre-recorded video (Authors Showcase Series-A Virtual Experience) and presented at the SFWA YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcl-Zf1T5TsDZTJtvPyb1Pg
8. PRIZES FOR WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG STUDENTS:: To encourage development of writing skills among the youth and to recognize the best as encouragement to all, SFWA donates prizes for student writing contests and recognition of excellence in  writing, e.g. Junior Orange Bowl Creative Writing Competition, Writing Award at Southridge High School, and Book Awards at the New World School of Arts.