LA PLUME
Official Newsletter of the Writers Guild of Acadiana
July-August 2026
July WGA Meeting Details
The next meeting on Tuesday, July 28th at 6PM is to take place at the Lafayette South Regional Library in the auditorium. For any questions, call John @ 337-257-8665.
“A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.”
-Franz Kafka
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 is accepting applications!
Volume 3 is in the works, with a goal at allowing even more local authors and artist an accessible avenue to get their works published. The list of accepted categories has expanded as we aim to include anyone that might be interested. Applications are open until September 1, 2026, and 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
July WGA Writing Competition
Prompt: Summer’s Dream
Category: Poetry
This is a fun competition for members. Non-members may also read their entries but won’t be eligible for the token prize. The prompt MUST APPEAR somewhere within the work, and entries must be no longer than 500 words. The author must be present but may allow another to read the piece aloud. All entries must be typed and double-spaced. Writing prompt competitors must present “original human creative writing” that was not created utilizing Generative AI Tools. The story must have the word count, category, title, author’s name, and date of the competition written at the top of the first page, and a paper copy of the winner and runner-up is to be handed in to the vice-president after the judging. An email to eggchess@gmail.com with the entry will help ensure accuracy. Check your finished work for accuracy, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You may be the one to be published!
August WGA Spearker
Sharon LaCour on Point of View (POV)
Next month’s WGA meeting on August 25th will have author Sharon LaCour giving a presentation on Point of View (POV). Born and raised in New Orleans, Sharon writes about the deep south, the human need to create, and about the complicated relationships that people tend to form. Her debut novel released in 2024, The Meeting of Air and Water, is a set of three intertwined love stories set in south Louisiana that spans generations. For more information and links to purchase her book, click on the link below.
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
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
Central Texas Writers Society Anthology
CTWS has opened up submissions for their 9th annual anthology. This years chosen theme is “unspoken truths beneath the surface of things.” 2000 word limit and stories must pertain entirely or in part to the theme. Submissions are free, though as a non-profit there is no prize money to be given out. Submissions are accepted until August 1st. Visit the website provided below for more information.
CENTRAL TEXAS WRITER’S SOCIETY – Central Texas Writers Society
Stage The Vote Playwright Competition
The Power Coalition is looking for submissions for its inaugural ten minute, one act play competition, including both youth and adult. Plays should include one of the following themes: the importance of voting, the history of voting, and/or voter disenfranchisement; the importance of civic engagement and/or what civic engagement contributes to society. For more information, contact them via email @ shannon@midcitycivic.org.
CENTRAL TEXAS WRITER’S SOCIETY – Central Texas Writers Society
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.
Writing Workshops (In Progress!)
Interested in learning from some local wordsmiths, but dread forking out the dough in exchange for homework? The WGA is working on putting together some writing workshops led by experienced members of the literary community. Potential workshops could be:
- Self-editing
- Character voice
- How to publish
And many more! If you have any specific topics you would like a workshop to be built around, don’t hesitate to bring it up to one of the board members either at a meeting or by email/phone. Once a workshop topic is decided on, a sign-up sheet will be generated and a date and time decided upon if enough interest is shown.
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