Support MWC on Giving Tuesday! You can help us write more light.

Dear Friends of MWC,

I hope this finds you safe and well as we prepare to close the book on 2021. As we look back and reflect on all of the challenges and successes we’ve experienced this year, the moments that stand out most all center around community, of having more opportunities to be around one another, to share writing in the same space, and how important community is for our writing and for all of our endeavors. So, in the spirit of community, I thought I would share a handful of quotes from the MWC community, to share more about the importance of our work and the impact it has on people’s lives:
 


Back in the summer of 2017, I attended your conference with my friend and colleague Felicia Schneiderhan. The classes I took—namely a novel editing class taught by Kali Van Baale (now Kali White) and a [literary] agent class taught by Abby Saul—were instrumental in my process.

I finished editing my novel The Net Beneath Us and pitched Abby Saul. I signed with her and in 2019 we went out to editors in NY. This January we signed a two-book deal with Forge/MacMillan. My novel, a work of literary fiction set in the woods of northern Wisconsin, will debut in the fall of 2022. This is a dream come true for me and the David R. Collins conference was such a big part of it.

– Carol Dunbar, author
 

MWC has gotten me through the hardest points in my life so far and gave me some of my closest friends. My confidence has also completely increased thanks to YEW.
– Janey Locander, YEW Intern 2019-21
 

My daughter’s new favorite book is How Little Billy Learned to Play! She loves it so much! …My kids try to play their hands on the book! As soon as they see the playground page they get all excited…
– Christa Mesplay, patron
 

MWC brings together friendly people and tons of support with really talented people. The Conference is really professional and excellent. It always has great instructors of the highest caliber. Always top notch. It’s vivacious, exciting, and fun…
– Terry Giglio Voss, MWC member
 

Because of MWC, I was able to meet a wonderful group of people who I am more than happy to call my family. MWC helped me learn to communicate and express myself and I will forever be grateful for the home I found within it. – Micki Guyton, YEW Intern 2019-20



Without the support of our community—our members, patrons, volunteers, Board of Directors, and staff—none of these things would be possible. We hope you will continue to support MWC, as we are kicking off our year-end giving campaign on November 30, Giving Tuesday. All funds received between now and the end of the year will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000, so your contribution will go twice as far. Any donation $25 or more will receive a one-year MWC membership or renewal, donations of $50 or more will receive a copy of the anthology These Interesting Times: Surviving 2020 in the Quad Cities. Memberships also make great gifts for the writers and readers in your family, so there are plenty of reasons to give.

We hope that writing will be a source of peace and light for you and yours, this and every year. Please stay safe and have a terrific holiday season…

Sincerely,

Ryan Collins
Executive Director