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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
HoCo: No Meeting this Month, But...
October 15, 2026
7:00 PM EDT - 9:00 PM EDT
Owen Brown Community Center
6800 Cradle Rock Way
Columbia, MD 21045-4809
Click here for Venue Website / Zoom Link
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DirectionsThe Howard Co. chapter will not be meeting this month because we will all be recovering from the MWA Convention the previous weekend, where we hope to see all of you! Meanwhile, there are still drop-in (no registration!) activities for authors to get together throughout the month:
- Tuesday mornings at Mad City Coffee in Columbia from approximately 9:30 - 11:30 (it's very loosy-goosy) writers gather to chat, guzzle coffee and write;
- Thursday evenings at La Madeleine in Columbia writers gather at 5:00-ish in a similar loosy-goosy fashion to write, eat dinner, and exchange tradecraft tips (or gossip);
- One Saturday afternoon a month writers gather on a Saturday afternoon in Frisco's Back Room to write and swill beer (or iced tea). Contact Ed Swing ( [email protected] ) to get on the mailing list for this write-in so you'll know the exact dates and he'll know how big a table to reserve.
- And finally, check out our chapter page to find a critique group where you can meet with a small group of writers regularly to keep your skills sharp and brainstorm ideas. If you happen to be a speculative writer (Fantasy/SciFi/Horror) I have it on good authority that the Weird-and-Wonderous group has openings right now.
So Happy October and Happy Writing!
For more information visit the MWA Howard County Chapter Page
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
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HoCo: No Meeting this Month, But...
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