Howard County Chapter
Meetings
Howard County Meetings are typically at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month, but we adjust for key holidays.
When meeting is online, a Zoom link will be posted.
When meeting in person, the Howard County Chapter meets at The Owen Brown Community Center (6800 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045) unless otherwise noted in the meeting announcements.
Officers
Chapter President: Bellamy Angelise, [email protected]
Chapter Vice President: Position Vacant [email protected]
Chapter Treasurer: Suzanne Forest, [email protected]
Chapter Secretary: Susan Wright, [email protected]
Upcoming Meeting Information
Annual HoCo Summer Happy Hour
August 20, 2026
4:00 PM EDT - 6:00 PM EDT
Frisco Tap House
6695 Dobbin Rd, Suite 1A
Columbia, MD 21045
Click here for Venue Website / Zoom Link

Please join us at an earlier time (4 - 6:00) for a Happy Hour in the Back Dining area at Frisco's in Columbia. Time to share your adventures and misadventures in writing during the past year and show off your latest works. We will provide seating, appetizers, and a few extra tables to display a few of your most recent works. Drinks will be available at happy hour prices. Looking forward to seeing you there!
For more information visit the MWA Howard County Chapter Page or email: [email protected]
Critique Groups
Crickets
- Genre: All fiction genres of novel writing
- Leader: Rick Cotter, [email protected]
- Contact: Kimberly Schreder, [email protected]
- Description: We welcome any genre of novel writing. Applicants must have a novel in process and commit to monthly participation via Zoom. Submissions are limited to twenty pages. Members read and critique submissions to discuss them at meetings. Our goal is actionable criticism to improve our writing. For consideration, please submit twenty pages double-spaced, 12-point font, 1 inch margins (standard publishing format) to [email protected]. The next step will be participation in one of our meetings.
- Status: Currently open to new members
Our Lives and Beyond
- Genre / Genres: ALL; memoir, legacy, poetry, creative non-fiction and fiction
- Group Leader: Phyllis Jovich
- Group Contact Email: [email protected]
- MWA Member Contact Name: Phyllis Jovich
- MWA Member Contact Email: [email protected]
- Additional Contact Information: Kay Armstrong Baker, [email protected]
- Listing: We meet online twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Fridays, from 10:00am -12:00pm. Our goal is to encourage the art of writing no matter your experience with supportive, positive feedback as well as constructive criticism.
- Status: Currently open to new members in Howard County and beyond.
MWA Howard County Multi-Genre
- Genre: All
- Contact: Steve Lubs, [email protected]
- Description: Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at members’ homes
- Status: Limited openings
MWA Novel Development Group
- Contact: Suzanne Forest, [email protected]
to check on openings, wait list. - Description: Meets on alternate Wednesdays at 1:00 at a member's home or local cafe, by agreement at the previous meeting. Note: Members are all in some stage of working on a novel.
Maryland Dream Weavers
- Genre: Primarily science fiction and fantasy
- Contact: Amy Kaplan, [email protected]
- Description: Maryland Dream Weavers meets once a month at a member’s house
- Status: Currently has no openings
Weird and Wonderous Writers
- Meets the third Tuesday of the month at BJ’s Restaurant and Brew House, Columbia
- Genres: Mainly Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror
- Visit https://www.meetup.com/Weird-Wondrous-Writing/ or write [email protected] for more details. Currently full, waitlist available.
And finally, our Writing Hangout for Writers with Non-Traditional Schedules:
Writers and Coffee – 9:30 AM every TUESDAY
This is an informal drop-in group at Mad City Coffee, 10801 Hickory Ridge Rd, Columbia (but actually easier to access off of Cedar Lane) where MWA writers can meet, write, share their questions, and connect to find critique or beta reading partners. Come and join us!
Suzanne Forest, [email protected], is the POC
Ali Parson's Project (2025)
- Genre: Any
- Leader: Jack Campbell, [email protected]
- Description: The focus of the group is on supportive critiques and suggestions. This group usually meets once a month.
- This group is for both Howard and Montgomery County participants
Latest News
Time Sensitive!! Reader's Night at Sky Stage

Open to all MWA members! Reader's Night at Sky Stage
07/27/2026 | @communications | 0
Read More
New Chapter Announcement!

The Maryland Writers Association announces the establishment of a new chapter!
07/11/2026 | @communications | 0
Read More
Annual Membership Meeting and Board Elections
06/07/2026 | @marylandwriters | 0
Read More
Annual HoCo Summer Happy Hour
This is our annual opportunity to share good food and drink while sharing our writing experiences for the past year.

