August 2025

View this email in your browser Inspire. Promote. Collaborate.                      August (Summer Fun) 2025                                   * Some e-mail users might need to click "view entire message" at the bottom of the Newsletter to enjoy the entire Newsletter. *   Image by Ronile from Pixabay Submitting from dictionary.com verb (used without object) submitted, submitting  to yield oneself to the power or authority of another. to submit to a conqueror. to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment. to submit to chemotherapy. to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.. I submit to your superior judgment.   Our juried show, “Rise”, our new anthology, “Resilience”, and our July WiVLA member meeting, “Submitting Work to Literary Publications,” have me focusing on submitting. No matter how much time and effort I put into writing or painting, I resist the urge to submit my work. In fact, it is what I am learning about myself through the practice of writing and painting that makes me most resistant to submitting to anything or anyone on my life’s journey. Personally, this is a great indicator of growth. I mostly write and paint to work through my greatest challenges as a spiritual being on a human journey. The deeper I get into this practice, the more I realize that what I seek is to trust my inner guide, my own authority. I am challenged at greater levels to value my own opinions and decisions more than I value others. My creative practice delivers insights into my personality type and its temptations and hooks that exist in my defense mechanisms and patterns of behavior. One of my enneagram personality type’s greatest temptations is to seek authority outside oneself. By working through story by story, poem by poem, emotionally expressive abstract painting after painting, I am staring at my own existential questions. Who am I? What matters to me? How do I feel? How do I interpret the events of my life? What am I choosing to believe? It is ironic to me that the process of submitting our work, of putting the fruits of our creative labor up to the judgment and authority of others, is a rich practice of believing in our own opinions and authority enough to rise above the rejections and the scrutiny, to level up our craft and our courage. In our latest member meeting the invitation to set a clear intention was brought up, “Ask yourself, ‘Why am I submitting this piece?’” I have asked myself this question every time I’ve submitted my work. Sometimes my answer isn’t compelling enough for me to carry through with the submission. When it is compelling enough, the answer is usually because folks who see or hear my work, tell me that my expressions inspired them to seek their own expressions and to examine their own stories with equal curiosity and creativity. I look at my submission again and discern whether the invitation is aligned with the readership and compelling enough to serve its purpose to inspire self-reflection. I submit with the hope that putting my work “out there” will inspire others to “go in there,” to find creative practices that compel them to listen and love and consciously create a life that successfully answers their questions and serves their longings. Whether we receive welcomes or rejections, we keep creating, we keep going deeper, we keep practicing. I love doing this in a wonderfully supportive community. Regardless of the responses from those we submit our work to, we are swimming in a sea with fellow sojourners who, at any given time, are navigating the waves. We are submitting to the ups and downs; celebrating our triumphs and encouraging each other through the challenges of rejections or blocks to our expressive processes. We are invited to notice the waves and the subsequent thoughts and feelings as more tales to tell about our adventures at sea.    ~ Brooke Summers-Perry  This edition of the newsletter contains: News: Rise Exhibition Reception Winners, Artist in Residence at Writespace opportunities Program Opportunities: WiVLA Book Club in August, Ekphrastic Poetry workshop Aug 2nd, Writing Haiku and Haiga Poetry workshop Aug 10th, The Organ-ic Variety Show with Margo Stutts Toombs 2 dates in Aug, Monthly Open Mic Poetry Readings around town Member meeting: Mary Fehr "Quilt Art" for August and Meeting Highlights of our July Literary Panel on Submitting Work Member Highlight: with Kay McStay, Visual Artist Member News: lots of reasons to celebrate with our members Submissions: for literary and visual artists Opportunities to learn through classes and workshops Save the dates! News RISE Exhibition Reception draws a great crowd! Awards given for top four art pieces The exhibit is on view at Sabine Street Studio (1907 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007) until August 31st, 2025. Sabine Street Studios is open 9-5 daily, except Sunday. See the RISE Awards presentation on YouTube! Rise first place winner: Kristen Ferguson, Quiet Uprising, Acrylic on Canvas Rise second place winner: Nina Benedetto, Raising Up a Black Woman, Acrylic on Canvas Rise third place winner: Katherine McDaniel, Raised Incorruptible, Photograph Rise honorable mention: Jamie Frontiera, The Courage To Stand, Wood Carving and Pryography in Bass Wood. WiVLA Artists in Residence at Writespace! Where: Writespace @ Sabine Street Studios When: September 1 through December 31.   Opportunities: 1. Second Saturday Open Studios 12 PM – 5 PM. Artists whose work is on view to show their work and to promote WiVLA and Writespace to Second Saturday traffic. Exhibiting artists must be present for these events. 2. Art Openings – scheduled around Writespace program calendar, resident WiVLA artists could host an opening reception. 3. Readings and Book Launch Celebrations – scheduled around Writespace program calendar Direct questions and concerns to Susan Salter, the Gallery Director, at susansalterarts@gmail.com. Sign up to be an Artist in Residence WiVLA on YouTube... Subscribe to the WiVLA YouTube Channel for recordings of member meetings and other exciting events! Click to Subscribe Opportunities WiVLA Book Club The Wonderous Readers Please RSVP to wivlabookclub@gmail.com Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with Rise Artwork with Katherine McDaniel Join WiVLA member, Katherine McDaniel, at our RISE Exhibit for a morning of ekphrastic poetry, inspired by our biennial juried exhibition. An ekphrastic poem is a poem that describes or responds to a work of visual art, often a painting or sculpture. It's more than just a description; it involves interpretation and reflection on the artwork, expanding its meaning through the poet's voice. Date: Sat Aug 2, 2025 10:00 AM -12 PM Cost: $30 for non-members or $25 for WiVLA Members Location: Sabine Street Studios, 1907 Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007 Bio: Katherine is the editor and founder of Synkroniciti, an online literary and visual arts magazine and artistic incubator. She is a twenty-year member of the Houston Grand Opera Chorus, a poet (published in Gleam: Journal of the Cadralor and commissioned by Houston Grand Opera for Houston Artists Respond), writer, and painter (shown at Art on the Avenue and The Hardy & Nance Studios). Register Here Haiku & Haiga Poetry Writing Workshop with Denise Bossarte Have you ever wondered if you could write haiku poetry? Here is your chance to dip your toe (or pen) into this short and charming poetry form! We'll also explore Haiga. The traditional form of haiga consisted of an ink brush painting, haiku and calligraphy. The haiga or photo haiku (shahai) is a modern alternative, comprising a digitally captured image to which the poem is added. Denise will guide us on our Haiku/Haiga journey into the art of noticing and observing things in nature that perks our six senses. Participants will explore the area around Sabine Street Studios and then practice writing poetry based on their observations. Participants can also write haiku poems and haiga based on photographs of their choosing. An optional poetry sharing will conclude the workshop. Date: Sunday Aug 10, 2025 1 - 4 PM Cost: $30 for non-members or $25 for WiVLA Members Location: Sabine Street Studios, 1907 Sabine St, Houston, TX 7700 Register Here Join Margo Stutts Toombs & Nicole McNeal at The Organ-ic Variety Show Margo Stutts Toombs has teamed up with dancer/choreographer, Nicole McNeil to create a vaudevillian type of performance with stories, songs, dance, videos, and “audience” games. Prepare for a wacky evening or afternoon. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll say, "What was that?"  Dates: Saturday Aug 30 @7 PM and Sunday Aug 31 @2 PM. Location: Deluxe Theatre, 3303 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX 77020 Get your tickets here! This show is partially funded, by the City of Houston through a grant from the Houston Arts Alliance. #theorganicvarietyshow #houstonartsalliance See more info on Margo's website. Monthly Open Mic Poetry Readings Inprint First Fridays Reading Series & Open Mic First Fridays will present a monthly featured presenter, a poet of distinction and accomplishment, followed by one of Houston's premier and most attentive open mic forums. First Fridays take place every first Friday of the month, 12 times a year, at Inprint House, 1520 West Main Street, 77006. We throw the doors open at 7:30 PM; the featured readers share wisdom and words with us at 8:00 PM, and then the open mic gets rolling at 8:30 PM, whether you're ready or not. (Sign up to read when you arrive.) Writespace Last Friday Readings and Socials Featured readers, member readers, and an open mic for YOU to participate! Join us in the South gallery of Sabine Street Studios with local literary and craft vendors, 7 PM til we run out of words (Sign up to read when you arrive.) Brazos Bookstore Friday Night Poetry Open Mic Night  Sign-ups for readers will be taken at the door starting at 6 PM and drawn from a hat starting at 6:15 PM. The rules are simple: 5 minutes or three pieces, whichever comes first! If there is spare time, we happily invite poets with more material to try out to come back and share it with us! The reading is free and open to all: young, old, first timers, veterans, and you!  Public Poetry Second Saturday Reading Series with the Houston Public Library. Poetry comes alive the first Saturday of each month at 2 PM with readings performed by a creative mix of artists. Participants are invited to read a piece for Open Mic during featured poets intermission​. Poetry readings alternate between Zoom and in-person events at various Houston libraries. FRIENDSWOOD POETS First Saturday Readings at the Friendswood Library 11 AM. Community Room Friendswood Library 416 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood TX.   Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay Writing Critique Groups Houston Writers Guild Critique Groups - in person and virtual WRITESPACE Write Practice subscriptions - virtual only HerStry Critique Groups - Virtual, 2 sessions starting in March with more throughout the year. Member Meeting August Member Meeting Mary Fehr Quilt Art Dr. Mary Fehr will present Quilt Art, sharing the rich history and artistic depth of this creative process. Topics will include the origins of quilting, significant quilting movements such as the Quilters of Gee's Bend and Quilts of the Underground Railroad, artistic decisions in the quilting process, traditional quilts, narrative quilts, modern quilts, and art quilts. The talk is accompanied by many, many images to enjoy and learn from! Bio: Mary Fehr, Ph.D. is a lifelong learner, sewist, maker, and a former art teacher. An educator by profession, she has taught in a variety of settings, including K-12, university, and corporate training. After retirement from her academic career, she continues to teach creative processes such as SoulCollage(r) and quilting. Mary is also a mandala artist, studying under a teacher in Scotland. Mary and her husband Dennis have a big beautiful blended family with 6 children and 12 grandchildren, with one more on the way! Mary is also owner of Quilt Beauty, a longarm quilting service.  Check out the WiVLA Calendar for details and updates.   Tuesday, August 19th 6:00-8:00 PM Zoom Meeting Highlight Submitting Work to Literary Publications A Panel Sharing of Experience We had great fun and learned a lot about the writing process, finding literary magazines to submit to, and what editors are looking for (and hoping to avoid) in literary submissions. Recording available on WIVLA's YouTube channel. Member Highlight Kay McStay I tell the story of how I started writing plays and monologues always the same way. I was an empty nester, working at Rice University, and settling into the new phase of life. My husband Andrew went on a short work trip, and one evening when he was gone, I sat down with a glass of wine (or two) and an empty notebook. I wrote a ten-minute play. I felt pretty good about that play, but I realized that I had been thinking about the play and its characters for over 10 years. Writing was a huge component of each of my jobs, and I had written several newsletters for Rice and other organizations and minutes of far too many meetings. I had the crazy thought that I might want to write creatively. Right before the turn of the century, I started attending meetings of Scriptwriters/Houston and from that group I found out about the playwriting and production classes at University of Houston taught by the distinguished American playwright Edward Albee. That first short 10-minute play was my submission to Albee and UH. I was invited and I arranged my work schedule to attend. In class, I met Loueva Smith and many other exceptional writers. I also met donna e perkins through Loueva, and those two fantastic writers invited me to the WiVLA monthly meetings at the Museum of Printing History. I demurred. I made excuses. Finally, I attended a meeting as a guest and then I attended again the next month. I was hooked. I was so grateful to have found a wonderful group of talented women who had a clear mission to support creative endeavors and, under excellent volunteer leadership, ran fascinating monthly meetings and myriad events. I volunteered for the hospitality committee, and I attended almost every event. I started to write and read my work at WiVLA readings and exhibitions. Then, my out-of-state parents became ill, and I had a demanding job at Rice U. I stopped participating in WiVLA for a few years. I came back “into the fold” in 2007/2008, and I was eager to focus on my own creative projects and especially glad to be able to assist by volunteering. I served on the Board for several years and was newsletter editor for three years. Meanwhile, WiVLA continued to “blow my mind” with learned workshops, enticing exhibition themes, and a steady stream of joyful and moving events and meetings. I was the happy recipient of an ECO Grant in 2018 and used the money to research a longer play and to buy a printer. Thank you to WiVLA for such an amazing award! My writing covers diverse themes and topics, but I’ve written mostly about womanly body issues and the power of memory and mysticism in one’s life to understand the mysteries of “why are we here” – in the philosophical sense and within religious traditions. Here are two short samples from my writing both taken from monologues spoken by an older woman. I forgot to mention that one great wish of mine is to act – act upon the stage. To that end, I have been able to act (when I’m brave enough to audition and I get picked) in the Houston Fringe Festival and with Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company and in student productions at Rice University. Also, I especially appreciate and enjoy participating in literary readings of all scope and sizes. Sample one:  JOINING, a woman’s voice toward the end of the work. Anyway, here’s the strange part. (slowly) You know when you cross that bridge outside of Philly? I was there, up front, looking out the windshield across to the industrial plants on the other side. Is it New Jersey? (more slowly) Any…way, at that moment, I thought about God – God the Father – you know, a nine-year old’s God, and I had this vision…this clear, clear vision of God way up high looking down on that industrial scene and looking down on us in our station wagon on the bridge. And I turned and I looked at you on Mom’s lap in the back seat. And your eyes were big too.   Sample two: EARTH GODDESS ON CAMPUS, a woman’s voice talking to friends. I calm my secret “ankle fear” by dreaming of the goddess immersed in water or in a streambed, ... lying on her side on a mossy, green hill, … buried deep on her back in a grave, … or maybe nestled among the rocks and pebbles. I’ve tried to imagine her dangling, hung from a necklace or a branch, … even flying … but I can’t. She’s too solidly real – feet or no feet – she’s got to be ON or IN the earth. She was formed for life. She was – IS – life. Like I was formed, … I mean, I am. Connect with Kay Who will WiVLA highlight next? Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay; Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay Each month, a WiVLA member is highlighted in the Newsletter. This is a fun way for us to get to know each other. Contact the Literary Art Chair or the Visual Art Chair, if you would like your time in the spotlight. Literary Art Chair Visual Art Chair Member News Donna Carnahan Donna curated the “Essence of Elements” group tenant exhibit at Sabine Street Studios. “Essence of Elements” invites you on a journey through nature’s most captivating forms. Including 28 artists who created 62 new works of art, this group exhibition explores the raw power, delicate beauty, and intricate balance of Earth’s elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Each artist presents a unique interpretation, from serene landscapes to abstract representations, capturing the essence of the natural world in every brushstroke, sculpture, design, and photograph. Step into a space where art breathes with the rhythm of the wild, offering a chance to reconnect with the world around us and experience the profound impact of nature’s artistry. Come and immerse yourself in the elemental forces that shape our existence.  Experience the hottest summertime themed exhibit “Essence of Elements”  With the 4 elements in mind, the Sabine Street Studio artists and guest artists, have created paintings, jewelry, sculptures, fused glass, fashion, photography and mixed media artwork.    Under the strength of sky  The light of the sun The beauty of the moon  The glory of fire The wildness of wind The depth of the ocean  The firmness of earth  And the hardness of rock. ~Donna Carnahan   Donna's website Sandi Stromberg Sandi Stromberg's light-hearted poem, My Husband's Therapist Gives Him Permission, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of online journal, MockingHeart Review.  Also in a lighter vein, her poem On Being Found Out which was accepted by The Orchards Poetry Journal for their summer 2025 issue.  On a heavier note, her poem There Once Was a Mother, was posted in The Ekphrastic Review's challenge responses to Transmographication by Donna-Lee Smith. It appears midway, amidst some very interesting takes on this evocative piece of art.   More news to share in the near future about her newest collection. In the meantime, a book trailer on YouTube features her reading two poems from her full-length collection, Frogs Don't Sing Read, released by Kelsay Books in 2023. Mildred J. Mills What’s more rewarding than publishing your Bestselling memoir? You guessed it! Having book clubs choose your book and then, inviting you to join them for a discussion. Thank you, Janet Miller Fields, for an evening of real talk about real subjects like resilience, surviving domestic and sexual violence, and the joy of rising above it all. Reflecting on topics that impact our everyday lives with your book club, Kusoma, was refreshing, rewarding, and invigorating. Mildred's website Katherine McDaniel Katherine had eight little paintings in the The Hardy & Nance Studios show Pretty Darn Small: A tiny art, art show. Katherine's website Kathi Crawford Kathi had several pieces published: The Ekphrastic Review: The Day After the Desert Burned (Poetry) – published 7/9/25 Public Poetry 2025 Anthology, Unbroken: Listening to Lou Reed Sing “I Heard Her Call My Name” With Moe Tucker on the Drums (Poetry)   The Argyle Literary Magazine: Versions of My Mother (CNF) – will publish 9/15/25 You can also pre-order Kathi's chapbook: consider the light – through 7/25/25 at a discounted price!   Recording link for Zoom book launch:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEpWKW79XyM Passcode: u8u+d9E@ Kathi's website Rona Lesser Rona has works in several locations this month in Houston as well as a piece in an exhibit in N.Y. at Bernard Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College. The N.Y exhibit will be up until December.  Work in Houston includes two pieces at Silver St. in Wholeness Is  a Myth, three pieces at the Tejas Brewery on the second floor dining area, one piece in WilVA's Rise exhibit at Sabine St. studios, and one framed piece and two in the rack at Archway's second annual figure drawing group exhibit.   Rona's website Denise Bossarte Denise's flash fiction piece, The Dishes, was selected as a finalist in WOW!'s SPRING 2025 FLASH FICTION CONTEST.  Winners will be announced soon! Her poem, When Kali Came to Tea, was selected for the CENTRAL TEXAS WRITER'S SOCIETY's Gods and Religion Anthology, coming to Amazon soon! Melody Lock On Saturday, August 9, at 12:40 PM, Melody will give a short artist talk on Lilies and Canterbury Bells, one of her lumen prints in the Wholeness is a Myth exhibition at Sawyer Yards. The exhibit runs until September 21, 2025. Submissions Equinox Volume 9 (fall 2025) Call for Entry hotpoet has launched Equinox, a biannual digital multimedia journal that showcases poets and artists. The theme for Equinox Volume 9 (fall 2025) is “Wide Open.” As always, this theme is open-ended—wide open. You might think of wide-open spaces like prairies, plains, deserts, ocean, sky. Or wide-open possibilities like love, adventure, success, disaster, loss. Maybe your poems or images will be wide open to interpretation. Or maybe they will be wide open with white space as you play with form and arrangements that let the light in. Perhaps you will give the theme a darker twist, as in “Open Wide,” whether referring to dentists with their cold instruments or politicians with their cold agendas and ideologies that are hard to swallow. We, the editors of Equinox, are wide open to your responses and can’t wait to see what you send us this time. Theme: "Wide Open" Reading Period: Submit by August 5th, 2025 Reading Fee: $5/submission Length: 3 pieces in any one genre (poetry and image) Publication Date: September 22nd, 2025 A $100 “best in show” prize is given for each category of work (poetry and image). Click Here for Submission Information Synkroniciti is Open for Written and Visual Art Submissions Synkroniciti is a quarterly online arts journal. They accept work in a variety of media across the visual, literary and performing arts spectrum. Issue Vol. 7, No. 4, Patterns, will debut this fall. Patterns are etched across nature and stitched through our memories. They are the rhythms of life, the habits we inherit or establish, cycles we long to create or break. From personal and cultural history to the motifs of our dreams and imagination, they shape who we are, how we see our world and how we act. Marked by geometric precision or chaotic abandon, wild colors or monochromatic tones, they are the models, forms, and languages that help us express and organize our inner creative chaos, as well as those that limit and imprison our growth. Synkroniciti invites you to share the patterns you perceive and the patterns you create. Submissions for their Patterns issue are now open. Contests will be held in poetry ($75), flash fiction ($75) and for the cover ($100).  Theme: "Patterns" Deadline: 10/15/2025 Fee: $3 per submission Submissions should be emailed to magazine@synkroniciti.com Want to know now what they look for in a submission? Check out this interview with editor Katherine McDaniel by Jim Harrington over at Six Questions For Katherine McDaniel, Founder/Editor, Synkroniciti Magazine Click Here for Submission Information ARDEST GALLERY Call for Entry: MODERN  MIRRORS Theme: "Modern Mirrors" Deadline: Friday, August 1st by 11:59 PM. Fee: $30 (USD) non-refundable/non-transferable fee for up to six (6) images. Location: Ardest Gallery in The Woodlands, Texas Show Dates: September 3rd - 27th Portraits can be literal, interpretive, symbolic and/or realistic representations. "Modern Mirrors" aims to exhibit works that explore a shift in portraiture away from solely representing a person's likeness.  Example prompts could include, but are not limited to: Exploring their inner world Exploring their identity Exploring the complexities of human experience Abstract and non-representational Embracing complexities Diverse media Self portraits The Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, September 6th from 5-8 PM with a presentation by the Juror at 7 PM. Click Here to Submit Dutch Art Gallery Call for Entry FRESH OFF THE EASEL Theme: Open theme Accepted media include: Two dimensional artwork: oil, acrylic, colored pencil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal and/or mixed media. Deadline: Sunday, August 31st by Midnight CST Fee: Fee of $55.00 USD covers up to three entries. Artwork must have been produced in 2024-2025 calendar years Location: The Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, 10233 Northwest Hwy #420, Dallas, TX 75238 Show Dates: Saturday, October 4th, 2025 through Saturday, November 22nd, 2025 Top Prize $1,000 WORK IS JUDGED ON Originality – Creativity and originality of the work Overall Composition – Quality of artistic composition and overall design Overall impression of the artwork Our juried show still consist of 2 parts. In addition to the actual artwork, we require a written statement about the work that gives insight into the piece. It can be about your creation process or the meaning behind the work. Submit here The Ekphrastic Review Submissions: Dates: Submissions are open August 1, 2025 and close August 30, 2025. Submit to the editors at theekphrasticreview@gmail.com.  What to Send: -short fiction including microfiction and flash fiction -poetry, all kinds- we love prose poetry- please note, experimental spacing is tough to replicate online -creative nonfiction  -translations of ekphrastic work from other languages (with permission of original author or public domain) -ekphrastic book reviews (please query) -author interviews (please query) -sequences of poetry, CNF, or fiction (about one artist, one style, one artwork, or other link) Length: Prose 50 to 4000 words. We have a strong preference for work in the 100-1000 range. Poetry can be any length, but please query about any that are unusually long. EKPHRASTIC WORK ONLY!!!!  We define "ekphrasis" or "ekphrastic" as "creative writing inspired by visual art." Wherever the art takes you is fine, whether it is "about" the art or artist, or about something else. We love all the arts, but only consider ekphrasis after visual arts such as painting, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and photography. Performative, musical, or moving picture arts, such as symphonies, cinema, or dance are amazing, but outside of our niche. $2000 Bob Hicok Fellowship for Poets The Bob Hicok Poetry Fellowship is a year-long invitation to write with funding, education, mentorship and a community that cares.  We welcome poets at any stage of their practice who are writing in English. One poet will be selected for the 2025 Fellowship. Five finalists will also be recognized. In its inaugural year, this fellowship offers a $1000 cash prize, $1000 in workshop credits, a 1:1 conversation with Bob Hicok (our most favorite poet!) and a full year to develop a new portfolio of poems. You’ll also receive a lifetime membership to ONLY POEMS, along with space to share your work and process through a quarterly column, an in-depth post-fellowship interview, and a featured portfolio on our website and socials. In addition to the fellow, five finalists will receive $200 in workshop credits, and lifetime membership to ONLY POEMS. Theme: Open Reading Period: Submit by August 30th, 2025 Your submission comes with a 1-year ONLY POEMS membership. Entry Fee: $18/submission (with opportunity to subsidize other poet's entries) Length: 5-10 pages of poetry. Each poem starts on a new page.  At least one poem must be recent and unpublished.  Response Time: We will respond to everyone in November. The first ever Bob Hicok Fellow will work with us throughout 2026! Click Here to Submit Writing Contests, Grants & Awards The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere. Click here to search contest database Literary Magazines Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff and listed in the Literary Magazines database. Here you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, and contact information—everything you need to determine which publications match your vision for your writing and your writing life. Click here to search literary magazine database According to their website, "Duotrope is an established, award-winning resource for writers and artists. We help you save time finding publishers or literary agents, so you can focus on creating. Our publication and agent listings are up to date and full of information you won't find elsewhere. We also offer submission trackers, custom searches, deadline calendars, statistical reports, and extensive interviews."  Click Here for More Information According to their website, "For writers, getting your work published and recognized is a step toward realizing your goals as an author. However, finding the right contests or publications can be a challenging and time consuming. Authors now have the opportunity to find and submit their writing to magazines, publishers, and contests through a website called Submittable." Click Here for More Information According to their website, "CaFÉ strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply. CaFÉ  has an open call for everyone, from competitions to public art calls, to art contests and more. Artists can create an artist portfolio for free and apply to various call listings. CaFÉ also hosts its own call for entry." Click Here for More Information According to their website, "Since established in 2003, Smarter Entry has evolved to become one of the most comprehensive competition and call for entry management systems. Used by art groups and organizations of all sizes, this intuitive, affordable web-based software makes it easy for organizations to run regional to worldwide events. Smarter Entry is a perfect choice for sculpture and other 3D media, as well as photography and painting competitions." According to their website, "For the Artist, Maker and (Forever) Inspired. Artists Network is with you every step of your art journey. Artists Network produces anywhere from three to five major events for visual art enthusiasts each year. We plan and produce different art-making getaways and retreats, art competitions, pop-up learn-ins, Paint Alongs, art talks and tours, and more in locations worldwide." Click Here for More Information Workshops - Classes Visual Art Opportunities Art League Houston Summer 2025 Classes & Workshops — Art League Houston Ceramics, Metalsmithing, & Sculpture | Fiber & Textiles | Watercolor | Mixed Media | Drawing | Painting Check out this class and more at Art League Houston! Check out these classes and more at WAS-H! Location: WAS-H at 1601 West Alabama at Mandell, Houston, TX 77006. Register here. The Woodlands Art League Portrait Painting from the Live Model with Robin Williamson  Mini Workshop During this Mini Workshop, Robin will refine the portrait from the demonstration from the Monthly Meeting earlier in the morning with the same live model. Robin Williamson is an award-winning artist living and working in Texas. She is also the founder of the DaVinci Studios in Sugar Land. She is best known for her refined, delicate, and realistic style of painting in oils. Painting people is Robin’s first love. She is intrigued by people of all walks of life and is endlessly inspired by the beauty and uniqueness of the human form. She particularly enjoys painting people in the arts, such as dance and music.   WHEN: Sat, August 09, 2025, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM WHERE: TWAL Studio 701 Sawdust Rd, The Woodlands, TX 77380 COST: Non-Members – $100.00, TWAL Members – $75.00  Register Here The Conroe Art League Dynamic Still Life with Pastels with Carolina Dalmas  Join Argentinian artist Carolina Dalmas for an engaging and liberating artistic experience where you'll harness the power of spontaneity and intention to create compelling pastel artworks. This workshop offers both structured learning and creative freedom, ensuring a rewarding journey into the world of soft pastels. During this workshop, we will paint a still life "alla prima" (completing it in one session).  In this way, you will achieve freshness and joy. Instruction will cover composition and lighting of a still life, shapes, value, edges, color harmony, and movement.   Carolina creates art with a deep connection to nature.  She encourages her students to observe the world as if they are seeing it for the first time.  Acrylics and pastels are her favorite mediums. Recently, one of her pastel still lifes was awarded first place in the Pastel 100 Competition, hosted by Pastel Journal.  WHEN: September 20-21, 2025. 9:00 to 4:30 both days, with a 1-hour break for lunch WHERE: Conroe Art League Studio. 127 Simonton St., Conroe, TX 77301. COST: $290 for CAL Members, $330 for non-members. Register here Houston Center for Photography WHEN: Classes start throughout August WHERE: Houston Center for Photography 1441 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77006. COST: Varies per class Register for Classes here WHEN: Classes start throughout August WHERE: Ardest Gallery, 25200 Grogan's Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380. COST: Varies per class Check out these classes and more here! Find out more on these classes here! Literary Opportunities WRITESPACE is Houston's writing center. Founded in April of 2014, we are a grassroots literary arts organization founded by writers, for writers. At WRITESPACE, we support writers of all genres, including writers of literary fiction, poetry, science-fiction, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and other genres. We offer weekly writing workshops, manuscript consultations, write-ins, open mics, socials, and more. In the spring of each year, we host a national literary festival, Writefest.  August Offerings Happy Hour: Making Yourself and Your Creative Practice a Priority (Online Zoom) The Amherst Way with Jessica Cole (Online Zoom) Writespace Lecture: Getting a Literary Agent (Online Zoom) Art in the AM: Josh Pazda Hiram Butler Gallery & Garden Writespace Lecture: What is Autofiction? (Online Zoom) Writing Inspired by the Tarot and Oracle Cards (Online Zoom) Writing from the Senses: Sound & Voice (Online Zoom) Click for more info or to register for classes, workshops and other offerings The Houston Writers Guild is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization working to create a community of writers of all skill levels. Together we strive to improve our writing craft and help each other build successful careers through education, collaborative marketing efforts, and camaraderie. The Guild offers a myriad of programs for both published and unpublished writers. It creates opportunities to build careers through networking, as well as, opportunities for author book sales throughout the Greater Houston area and neighboring communities. The Guild is also a place for hobbyist authors to enjoy writing in a relaxed and fun environment. Critique Group Writer's Room - several offerings   Click for more information Inprint envisions Houston, Texas as a city where the literary arts are a defining resource. Thousands of Houstonians, recognizing the value and impact of the written word, join in Inprint programs to write, read, and support the literary arts. The community is enriched by some of the nation’s top emerging writers, who study at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program and teach at Inprint and various local community centers, schools, and universities. August Offerings Publishing/In-Person 2526-106 Poetry/In-Person 2526-107 Poetry/In-Person 2526-108 The Ekphrastic Review August Offerings Click for more info or to register for classes & workshops The WRITER'S LEAGUE of TEXAS (WLT) is the largest literary arts organization in Texas, a statewide nonprofit offering programs and services to writers at all stages of their writing careers, from just getting started to publication and beyond.  Founded in 1981, the organization’s mission is to provide a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers; to help writers improve their craft and understand the business of publishing; to promote the interests of writers from diverse cultural, economic, sexual identity and orientation, ethnic, and religious backgrounds; and to elevate the art and enterprise of writing, including supporting and growing the Texas literary community at large. August Offerings Click for more info or to register for classes & workshops WOW! is a global magazine designed to support women's creativity, energy, blood, sweat, and tears throughout all stages of the writing process. We envision Wow! being a favorite watering hole for professionals, the up-and-coming, and the recipients of our labors--the avid readers. Our concept is unique, as it fills in the missing gap between writing websites and women's magazines. We are dedicated to raising the overall standards within the writing community, and devote an active profile within writing industry associations, organizations and websites. August Offerings STRENGTHENING YOUR FICTION with Dawn Rachel Carrington EMPOWER YOUR MUSE, EMPOWER YOUR WRITING SELF by Kelly L. Stone NEVER AGAIN THE SAME: A POETRY CLASS with Melanie Faith NOT WHAT BUT HOW: Improving Essays With a Focus on Craft, Not Content with Chelsey Clammer Click here to see the full list of classes August Offerings Reawakening the Past: How to Use Historical Research in Fiction with Katie Gutierrez Open Writer’s Labs with Kevin Ramos Click here to see the full list of classes International Women’s Writing Guild The International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) is dedicated to building a worldwide community where storytelling connects, inspires, and uplifts voices across cultures. We celebrate the richness of diverse traditions, histories, and perspectives, recognizing that every writer contributes to the shared human experience. All IWWG workshops are listed in ET (Eastern Time). TWO SYLVIAS PRESS TWO SYLVIAS PRESS is an independent press located in the Seattle area. We publish poetry, memoir, essays, books on the craft of writing, and creativity tools, such as The Poet Tarot, The Daily Poet, Everything is Writable, PR for Poets, Demystifying the Manuscript, and the bestselling resource for poets, The Weekly Muse. * Collaboration Catalogs Available! * You can purchase copies of the REFLECTION catalog from the 2022 Collaboration for $5. Stop by Studio 320 at Silver Street Studios to purchase additional copies of either catalog. Silver Street Studios is located in the Main Yard of Sawyer Yards. Call ahead at 713-851-0134 to ensure that she’ll be in the studio when you arrive. (We are sold out of ENTANGLED catalogs!) Calendars ~ WiVLA Calendar ~ Remember to check the WiVLA Calendar for exciting events, such as field trips, studio visits, workshops, and other fun activities.   WiVLA Calendar Other Revelant Calendars:   https://inprinthouston.org/calendar/ https://www.artleaguehouston.org/classes https://writersleague.org/calendar/ https://woodlandsartleague.org/Calendar https://conroeartleague.com/Calendar https://www.houstonartsociety.com/calendar.html   Save the Dates Save the Date(s)   WiLVA "Rise" Exhibit: Through August 31st, 2025, at Sabine Street Gallery.  September 16th Member Meeting Wellness Through Art: Creative Process and Practice with Helen Spaw  LUMENessence Opening Reception with Melody Locke's Photography, Thu Oct 2, 2025, 5pm - 7pm at the Cloister Gallery October Member Meeting - Martha Serpas Oct 21, 2025 November Member Meeting - Literary Readings: Resilience theme, Nov 18, 2025 WiVLA Needs Your Expertise Do you have special skills, talents or knowledge to share with other WiVLA members? Now is a good time to volunteer ~ Serve on a committee Speak at a monthly meeting Lead a workshop. Be creative Don't be shy. We have a lot to learn from each other. Click here to connect with a board member We'd love to celebrate your good news. If you are interested in sharing, please send your items to newsletter@wivla.org. The deadline for inclusion in the next month's newsletter is the 20th. Thank you. Submit News Items Here Thank you to our Sponsors~   Ruby R Scott (WiVLA Member) Arts a Daisy Gallery Rosario Solis (WiVLA Member) Fine Arts and Crafts Beth Crews Rommel (WiVLA Member) Gail Dentler (WiVLA Member) Ann O. Knauth (WiVLA Member) Carissa Barcus (WiVLA Member) Billie Duncan (WiVLA Member) Holli May Thomas (WiVLA Member)   Grackle & Grackle https://grackleandgrackle.com <><><><> The following companies offer discounts to WiVLA. Show your appreciation by extending your patronage. Art Supply on Almeda Road 5301 Almeda Road Houston, TX 77004 713-652-5028 https://artsupplyonline.com/defaultframe.asp   Frame Destination https://www.framedestination.com/     Copyright © 2025 Women in the Visual and Literary Arts, All rights reserved. You are a current or former WiVLA member. Our mailing address is: Women in the Visual and Literary Arts 712 Wilcrest Dr # 2107 Houston, TX 77042-1348 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.