Member Newsletter — October 2026

Photo reprinted with permission of Elizabeth Holtsclaw

 

Hello Writers!

I had to repeat first grade and spent almost 20 years believing what my public school experience reinforced, which was that I was no smarter than a common garden slug. As you can imagine, this has had a profound impact on me. I reflect on it often now that I finally have the courage to say out loud that I’m a writer. Such audacity in that statement! Yet, I actually think this formative experience has made me a better writer. But, I’ll get to that. I assume I have to back up and add some context after such an inflammatory opening.

I’m every GenX stereotype you can imagine with all that hose drinking, wandering around my neighborhood unaccounted for until the streetlights came on, and healthy skepticism for authority. It also meant that I have a pretty significant learning disability that has never been clearly defined and, at the time, was seen as an administrative problem. I was dragging down their standardized tests, you see. There were no supports or accommodations offered. When I still wasn’t reading by third grade, the district wanted me removed from the traditional classroom and put in a school for kids living with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. This wasn’t a good fit for me either.

I don’t remember much of this time, outside of hating school with every fiber of my being. To my parents’ credit, they saw the potential in me, fought for years, and eventually moved to a new district to give me a fresh start. Things were still a struggle but I clawed my way through.

Despite having a high school English teacher tell me not to bother, I did go to college and even grad school at the University of Chicago. What’s funny, when I tell people that fact, they think I’m a smarty nerd and stuff. I didn’t even read for pleasure until I was almost in my 30s. I could go on and on but I’d rather get to my point.

Here’s the thing about me and this relationship with writing: I’ve observed that a lot of the demons other writers wrestle with aren’t really a thing for me. As a solid B and C student, I’m never expecting perfection. I make mistakes, laugh them off, and get on with it. I’m great at critical feedback. I’ve never gotten a gushing, glowing response from any educators, so I take it all with a grain of salt. I create for my own enjoyment and pleasure, rather than for anyone’s approval.

How did I get through all of that, even grad school? I’m a work horse who doesn’t need oversight. A pretty handy thing when writing a novel no one asked for. I have doubts–of course I do–but I have the ability to brush them off because my whole life has been shrouded in them. Not much intimidates me and I’ve never felt like I fit in, so why would now be any different? I also don’t get embarrassed, but that’s another essay I think. Even as I write this, I know that you aren’t getting the elegant prose the others write. I shrug and move on. This is my style and that’s OK.

I realized in my 30s that maybe I wasn’t a dumb-dumb after all, but by that time I had already accepted my weird off-kilter thoughts and trusted them. I turned to humor and I have a wild imagination that is allowed to run free. I don’t compare myself to others because what’s the point? I’ve never fit into a box, why start trying now? Finally, if one day, you stumble upon one of my novels in the airport, I promise you it’s absolutely impossible for me to get a big head. And if that day doesn’t come? Ah well, it’s been a fun ride.

Although so hard and painful at the time, my unique way of seeing the world, and language, has freed me. Everything I spent so much time seeing as what was “wrong” with me I’ve come to embrace and am grateful for.

I know all of this has been about me, but could it apply to you too? Is there an aspect of yourself or your writing that you see as a problem but perhaps is your strength? Are there doubts or internal negative thoughts you can let go of? Give it a go–I promise, it’s quite delightful on the other side!

~Elizabeth Holtsclaw

 

Photo by Aleyna Catak on Unsplash

 

WRITING PROMPT

Flip the script, perceived weakness is actually a strength:

What does the world look like if you free yourself from negative intrusive thoughts?

What is overlooked but should be seen?

~Elizabeth Holtsclaw

 

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

 

UPCOMING WWW MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Our next regular member meeting will be on October 13th from 6:00 to 7:30pm at the Northeast Branch of the Louisville Public Library at 15 Bellevoir Circle. For our November 10 meeting, we will return to the St. Matthews Branch at 3940 Grandview Ave.

If you would like a peer critique, email us () by October 13th at noon. Please bring 15 printed copies of the manuscript you want us to read. No more than 1300 words (4 to 4.5 pages double-spaced) for prose (excerpts of longer pieces welcome), or two pages of poetry. To give all members an opportunity to read, priority for peer critique will be given to those who email us ahead of time and who have not read at a recent meeting.

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A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE TOGETHER

Elizabeth Holtsclaw is helping coordinate some writing meet-up events and invites you to join in on the fun! No writing prompts, no readings, just a dedicated time to work with (mostly) silent companionship.

Text Elizabeth at 610-203-6802 or better yet, join the GroupMe conversation https://groupme.com/join_group/117963278/jH0LDrgf

A few times a month she will coordinate meet-ups at various locations (Bernheim, a library, coffee shops) but also welcomes anyone to join the GroupMe and share where they might be working and when for some organic connection times. If these days/times don’t work for you then set up your own!

Here are the dates for the next few months:

Tues Oct 27th 10am-3pm
Bernheim Forest (there is a membership or entry fee)
If cruddy weather we will find an alternative location

 

Fri Oct 16th 9am-12:30
Hotel Marty https://www.thehotelmarty.com/

 

Tues Nov 17th 10am-3pm
Bernheim Forest (there is a membership or entry fee)
If cruddy weather we will find an alternative location

 

Photo by Swello on Unsplash

 

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES & LOCAL EVENTS

The 20th annual Kentucky Women’s Book Festival will be held at the Louisville Book Festival on October 24th from 10:00am – 5:00pm at the Kentucky International Convention Center. This combined event will examine women’s influence on stories, books, and literary culture. Expect authors, panel discussions, literary workshops, and readings. There will also be a pitch event – information here. And author Roxane Gay will be the headline speaker!

Kentucky State Parks is hosting Poems at Pine Mountain State Resort Park, an opportunity to workshop your poems with Kentucky Poet Laureate Kathleen Driskell, on October 30-November 1. More information here.

The Kentucky State Poetry Society’s 2026 Poetry Conference takes place by Zoom on October 31, 2026 from 8:45am to 5:30pm, with workshops, readings, and a keynote by Ricardo Nazario y Colon. Details here.

Regular local events:

Submission directories:

Women’s publications seeking women writers:

 

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, Holly, Liz, Irene, Nancy, Elizabeth, Leah, and Paulette

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