LA PLUME
Official Newsletter of the Writers Guild of Acadiana
September-October 2026
Septmeber WGA Meeting Details
The next meeting on Tuesday, September 29th at 6PM is to take place at the Lafayette South Regional Library in the auditorium. For any questions, call John @ 337-257-8665.
“I don’t always like writing, but I very much like having written.”
-William Gibson
A note on the WGA’s stance on generative AI
While AI can be a useful tool, its use for producing writing for any competitions related to the WGA will not be accepted. Visit the WGA website for more information or talk to the board members should you have further questions.
A Treasury of Louisiana Writers and Artist Vol 3 submission deadline extension!
Submission deadline has been moved to October 1, 2026, so there is still plenty of time to get your works into the guild and get published! The list of rules and application form can be found on the WGA website. If you have any questions, contact a board member or, better yet, come and ask in person at our next meeting!
Meeting Agenda
September WGA Spearker
Dr. Thomas S. Smith Sr.
Topic: How I Wrote My Historical Fiction Using Real Events, Locations, and Persons
This month’s WGA meeting on September 29th will have Dr. Thomas S. Smith Sr. speaking followed by a Q&A. Dr. Thomas S. Smith, Sr., is a retired educator who served 33 years in Avoyelles Parish as a teacher of English and social studies, assistant principal at three schools, principal at two schools, and in the district office as a grant writer and English/social studies resource teacher. He was an adjunct for Northwestern State University, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Macomb Community College (MI), University of Phoenix (Metro Detroit), and Baker College (MI). He worked as a full-time faculty member at Baker College of Auburn Hills (MI). In retirement he is the independent author of 13 books (including the seven-book Civil War historical fiction series Just a Piece of Red String), a tutor of English and social studies, and a grant writing consultant. He holds a BA from ULM, a MEd from LSU, a MA from LSU, and a PhD from UNO. He writes historical fiction, science fiction, 10-minute plays, supernatural suspense, poetry, and various other genres.
Upcoming Events
DFW Writers Conference, October 2nd, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst, TX
Over 300 attendees, 90+ classes, 13 agents and editors, and a full weekend of networking. DFW Writers Conference is a chance for you to take that next step, make connections, or simply deepen your knowledge of the literary industry. Visit the link below to find out more, including a list of featured guests, how to purchase tickets, and recommended places to stay if needed.
Home26
Mistletoe Market, October 17th @ 9am-4pm, Heymann Performing Arts Center, Lafayette
An upscale Christmas (though a bit early!) market right here in Lafayette at the beautiful Heymann center. Over 80 vendors all in one place bringing tons of holiday shoppers for a great marketing opportunity. WGA will be looking to book spaces for all who are interested. More information can be found at the site below, or to link up with other members of the guild who are interested in participating contact Jade Landry by email @ jwlandry@excaliberpublishing.com.
Louisiana Book Festival, October 31st, Downtown Baton Rouge
This will be the 22nd annual (wow!) celebration of readers, writers, and their books in Louisiana. It’s one of the biggest literary festivals down here, with huge swaths of downtown Baton Rouge being taken over by tents filled to the brim with crisp paperbacks and shiny hardbacks. Guest speakers are scattered throughout the day, and many WGA members will be there either for marketing or love of the craft. Find out more information at the link below, and make sure you mark the date. You won’t want to miss this one!
July Nutcracker Market, November 7th, Cajundome Convention Center
Now is the time to BOOK 2026 Events!
All events are located indoors with VIP outdoor booths available for select locations. Agreements are now ready so email now to grab your space early!
There are many dates for many different spots around Louisiana, so check out their social media sites to see if any of the events sound right for you. Email now to grab a spot!
Holidayextravaganza@yahoo.com
Vendor Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1954411648221743
Instagram Page – https://www.instagram.com/loripreislerproductions
Creative Minds Writers Group, November 20th – 21st, Rosaryville Retreat Center
Write, connect, recharge. This event will include workshops, writing sessions, networking opportunities, and speaker Sophia Hanson. Overnight and single day prices available, which include accommodations and meals. Non-member vendor table pricing is also available.
For more information contact Mary Faust Smith @ 9855177034
2027 Writing Workshops New Orleans, February 21st – 26th, Pontchartrain Hotel
In February 2027, WritingWorkshops.com is taking thirty writers there for five nights at the Pontchartrain Hotel, where Tennessee Williams worked as a guest in 1945 and where a draft page from Streetcar now hangs framed in the lobby.
The program is small by design. Two fiction cohorts and one nonfiction cohort, ten writers each, selected by application. Each writer submits two pieces of work before arrival. One is workshopped by the cohort. The second is reserved for a private one-on-one conference with the faculty leader. Daily craft seminars sit alongside walking tours of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery, dinner with your cohort, and a sunset cruise down the Mississippi on the Steamboat Natchez. The final reading is on Thursday night.
Applications to be selected for this event are still open, so apply before then if you wish to attend.
Find information on the application process, a list of the faculty members, and testimonials on the site below.
Writing Competitions
SASFest and TWFest
NEW ORLEANS—The annual writing contests for the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival (TWFest) and the Saints + Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival (SASFest) are open to submissions until this October in fiction, poetry, and one-act plays.
TWFest contest details include the following:
One-Act Play – Judge: Justin Maxwell. Prize: $1,500, professional staged reading at the 2027 festival, publication in Bayou Magazine, and a 2027 festival pass. Deadline: October 15.
Fiction – Judge: Bernice L. McFadden. Prize: $1,500, domestic airfare (up to $500) and accommodations to attend the 2027 Festival, publication in French Quarter Journal, a 2027 festival pass, and a public reading at the 2027 festival. Deadline: October 15.
Poetry – Judge: Gina Ferrara. Prize: $1,000, public reading at the 2027 festival, publication in French Quarter Journal, and a 2027 festival pass. Deadline: October 15.
Very Short Fiction – Judge: Marguerite Sheffer. Prize: $500, a 2026 festival pass, publication in French Quarter Journal, and a public reading at the 2027 festival. Deadline: October 15.
Finalists for all categories will have their photos and bios published on our website, newsletter, and social media, and will receive a literary discussion pass ($100 value) to the 2027 festival.
SASFest contest details include the following:
Fiction – Judge: Margot Douaihy. Prize: $750 to the winner and two runner-up prizes of a SAS weekend pass ($200 value). Deadline: October 15.
Poetry – Judge: Ruben Quesada. Prize: $500 to the winner and two runner-up prizes of a SAS weekend pass ($200 value).
Poetry – Judge: Denne Michele Norris. Prize: $500 to the winner and two runner-up prizes of a SAS weekend pass ($200 value).
Winners and Finalists for all three SAS contests will have their pieces published in our SASFest anthologies to be released at the 2027 SASFest. They will also have their photos and bios published on our website, newsletter, and social media.
Full details for all 7 writing contests are on Submittable at: https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
The 2027 Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival will be held March 17 – 21, 2027 and Saints + Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival will be held March 19 – 21, 2027.
Follow the festivals on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram @TWFestNOLA and @SASFest.
WGA Opportunities
Member Profiles
The WGA website has a spot just for you! A dedicated Member Profiles page, where your works and accomplishments can be showcased to any who visit the site. If you would like to add your profile to the website, or update your profile if you already have one, contact John via email @ jpcoman9@gmail.com
Moncus Park Saturday Market
Worried about the summer heat? The Paul A. Doerle Sr. Pavillion at Moncus Park is OPEN! Sell your books in the shade.Writer’s Guild is inviting members AND non-members to participate in vending at Moncus Park (paid members have preference). The requested fee is $10 for members and $15 for non-members per sales day. We hold a sales booth on the 2nd and last Saturday of each month. The fee is to defray the cost that the Writer’s Guild has to pay for the vending booth location. Text our secretary Ed Gauthier @ (337-945-5718) if you’re interested in taking part. The next market opportunity is January 31st, so if you would like to join don’t hesitate to reach out for further rules and information.
Lafayette Downtown Artwalk
The Lafayette City Art Walk always occurs on the second Saturday of the month, every month, weather permitting. If you wish to vend your books at Art Walk, free space is available. This occurs on Jefferson Street, from around 4:00 pm and goes to 8:30 or 9:00 pm. Text Ed and for more questions (337-945-5718) or stroll on by the evening of as he’s usually seen there.
WGA Critique Group
WGAcadiana Critique meets online using Google groups and Google Meet on the second and fourth Thursday evening of each month at 7:00 pm. Our purpose is to assist our writers in discovering the strong and weak points of their writing styles. Critique groups usually follow a careful format to develop trust amongst its members. If interested, contact our secretary by text (337-945-5718) or email at eggchess@gmail.com. Joining this group will require that you have an active Google account, which is free.
MORE Critique Groups!
WGA has recently began expanding our available critique groups for more specific topics and themes of writing. These groups are run by various WGA members, and anyone is open to start one! If you wish to start your own, or if you are looking for others who might be interested in starting a group with you, contact a board member or, even better, come to our next meeting and we’ll try and help you find your team.
Links and Articles
6 Steps to Get Your Book on Holiday Gift Lists
IngramSpark offers some insight on the best ways to get people buying your books this holiday season for their loved ones. Steps are pretty general, with my favorite being Step 6: Say Yes to Every Small Win. Wars are won through battles won, after all.
https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/6-steps-to-get-your-book-on-holiday-gift-lists
WGA Website and Facebook
If not viewing this on the website, please check out our new and improved site here: http://www.writersguildacadiana.org
Like and follow us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/writersguildacadiana