Member Newsletter — December 2025

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

Hello Writers!

What are You Thankful For?

With the holidays comes anxiety over giant cooking and equal overeating and its pleasant and not-so-pleasant expectations for family gatherings. We rarely ask ourselves, “What am I grateful for?”

Since I don’t have a big family to see over the holidays, I have time to reflect on that question. I spent half of my life in another world, in a different culture. But my home is here, in this beautiful part of the country. I especially feel it when I go abroad for vacation. We usually travel far away, sometimes in rather unsafe areas. I enjoy a change of scenery, but by the end of the first week, I nudge my husband to go home.

“Are you kidding me?” he would say, “We spent twenty hours on the plane to get here, and you want to go home in one week?”

Yes, I want. I miss my home. I miss my walks on cool autumn mornings when the first sun gently touches the crowns of old pines and the bitter smell of dry leaves makes you drunk like you tried an exotic potion. I enjoy the quietness of the morning, the breath of awakening nature. We breathe together, becoming one soul, and nothing can break us apart.

I often listen to audiobooks. There are a couple of women writers whom I really like. They write about us, our troubles, our relationships with our men, our frustrations and losses, and of course, love. Who are we without love? The language is universal. Yes, I’ve been there, done that. I dive into the magic of the words and am thankful to these women for bringing back my memories.

As we age, we start valuing the simple things. I am thankful to God for opening this door for me. The outside world, with its troubles, negativity, politics, and constant social media competition, fades away, leaving me with my soul and nature. This door opens a large room inside of me with many tunnels to explore. I need to take my light and choose which tunnel to go through first. Thank you, God, for showing me the way!

~ Irene Sulyevich

UPCOMING MEETINGS

On December 9, 2025, in lieu of a member meeting, we plan to gather at The Bristol Bar & Grill at 1321 Bardstown Road for our annual Holiday Party and Book Exchange. We’ve reserved a private room upstairs from 6:30 – 9:30pm where we’ll order from the menu and exchange our favorite books.

If you have not registered for the party, please do so ASAP, so we can provide an accurate headcount.

Photo by Nicolas Messifet on Unsplash

WRITING PROMPT

Looking back on Thanksgiving, write about what you are thankful for. Is that your family, your kids, your significant other, or just simple things in life we take for granted?

~ Irene Sulyevich

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Members, WWW wants to highlight the creative voices of our community. Send a short biography, headshot, and links to your author/poet accounts and website (if applicable) to . Additionally, share a favorite resource of yours for writing tips (like a podcast or social media account) and your most recent favorite read. We may spotlight you in a future newsletter!

WWW BLOG

Women Who Write has a blog on our website to showcase our community’s talent. We want to publish your writing or republish a recent publication of yours (given that reprints are permitted). Please send us your short stories, poems, and essays! No more than 2,000 words.

Browse our web blog now! Publishing on our blog will expand your writing platform. For more information, email and pitch your story or poem—the one you’ve written or the one you want to write! We may provide suggested edits, for flow and clarity.

Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES & LOCAL EVENTS

Kentucky Monthly’s Penned Literary Contest: Kentucky Monthly is seeking high-quality poetry, fiction and nonfiction prose by Kentucky writers for its annual literary issue in February 2026. Their definition of a Kentucky writer is anyone who currently lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky or uses Kentucky as subject matter. Deadline for entries is December 5, 2025. More info here.

One of our favorite retreat locations, Valaterra in LaGrange, has begun hosting regular Work From Valaterra days and Lazy Sundays, among other unique activities designed to recharge your mind and body.

Kentucky’s Poet Laureate, Kathleen Driskell, is now hosting a monthly podcast called Kentucky Writer’s Notebook. Have a listen!

Regular local events:

• ‘Zine Lunch with Sarabrande Books, monthly on Fridays at noon
• Carmichael’s regularly hosts authors and poets in the evenings

Submission directories:

• Submittable
• Duotrope
• Poets and Writers’ list of literary magazines
• NewPages

Women’s publications seeking women writers:

• Landslide Lit(erary) (by WWW members Kimberly Crum and Bonnie Omer Johnson)
• HerStry, literary essay/memoir blog
• Ashes, an online magazine of personal essays
• Brown Sugar, online magazine for women of color
• Bi Women Quarterly, bisexual+ women’s publication
• Literary Mama, journal dedicated to motherhood
• Persimmon Tree, online magazine for women older than 60
• So To Speak, an intersectional feminist journal

SUPPORT OUR WRITING COMMUNITY!

Become a member or renew your membership—As a community, WWW strives to nurture your writing life. We hope you choose to join or renew as a member and participate in our monthly meetings, author talks, retreats, and workshops. Our membership coordinator will notify anyone due to renew. Regular annual membership is $50. Student annual membership is $25. Scholarships are available. Membership entitles you to discounts on workshops and retreats.

Attend our monthly member meetings on the second Tuesday of each month for a brief program, peer critiques, and conversations about the writing life. Not currently a member? You can attend two meetings before deciding to join.

Visit our webpage WomenWhoWrite.com.

Visit our Facebook Page—@womenwhowriteky. Don’t forget to like us and follow us.

Thank you, WWW members, for joining our nonprofit group, for sharing your unique voices, and for supporting each other with open hearts and minds.

Your Leadership Team

Megan, Erin, Holly, Colleen, Liz, Irene, and Nancy