In March of 1994, the United States celebrated the thirteenth annual Women’s History Month. The presidential proclamation stated, “On this occasion, we celebrate the lives of women too long missing from our history books. We listen to the voices of women too long absent from our national memory. Most important, we look forward to a day when society need not remind itself to note the extraordinary accomplishments of women.”

In that same year, a group of writers and friends, who understood how long women had been missing from western literature and history, got together in El Paso, Texas. They formed what would become Women Writing the West, and within a year held the new group’s first annual conference.

They talked about the importance of women to the history, culture, and promise of the American West, and had a simple goal: to create an organization to uplift and encourage western women writers, and amplify the stories they needed to tell.

Nearly thirty years later, we are the beneficiaries of this vision.

Women Writing the West helps members connect with other writers, with editors and agents, teachers, publishers, and mentors. And we offer many benefits:  

-Prestigious awards for books, short fiction, and journalism
-Monthly email updates about members and events
-A blog
-Critique groups
-Social media
-An email discussion group
-An online bookshelf called the Book Corral
-A high school writing contest
-WWW merchandise such as clothing, stationery, mugs, and more

We hold a conference every October, and present online educational events and talks throughout the year.

Women Writing the West is also something else: fun! Whether we get together in person or virtually, WWW members are a joyful group, and form friendships which last for decades. If you want to hear these stories from members themselves, take a look at the video on our website called, “Why Women Writing the West?”

I am pleased to announce that the 2023 Women Writing the West conference will be held virtually, October 12-14, and our theme is Look to the Horizon: The Promise of the West. For updates, keep checking the website and look for future communications.

Whether we write fiction or non-fiction, whether we write about ancestors, historical figures, or the characters who come to the page from our minds and hearts, we create the women’s West with our words. We write the West every day with our lives, our relationships, our work, and our service to others. There would be no West without women.

Share your story with us, and join Women Writing the West!

Lynn Downey
2022-2023 WWW President