A Southwest Florida Writing Community
Gulf Coast Writers Association, serving Southwest Florida and beyond, is the largest and liveliest writing community in Southwest Florida. We’ve been gathering since 1995, long before Zoom was a thing, and we’re still showing up in person every month in Fort Myers, Florida, with real speakers, real snacks, and really passionate writers.
Whether you are writing your first poem, finishing a novel, publishing nonfiction, building an author platform, or looking for a supportive writing community, GCWA welcomes writers at every stage.
Gulf Coast Writers Association, serving Southwest Florida and beyond, is the largest and liveliest writing community in Southwest Florida. We’ve been gathering since 1995, long before Zoom was a thing, and we’re still showing up in person every month in Fort Myers, Florida, with real speakers, real snacks, and really passionate writers.
October 17th Meeting
We’re excited to welcome author and marketer Keith Newhouse as our featured speaker in October for a closer look at how authors can maximize their marketing for increased visibility to boost royalties.
In his presentation title – Most Authors HATE Marketing… But You Won’t! – he’ll talk about every excuse authors have for not wanting to market. Spoiler alert, they are all valid. But whether it’s too much work, too hard to learn, or you just plain hate social media (a boat he floats in), marketing is usually the bane of an author’s existence. So how do you change that? Well, you’ll just have to attend this interactive participation-filled session to find out!
Keith Newhouse is the founder of Newhouse Creative Group, a family-owned publishing company helping authors turn their manuscripts into published realities since 2017. With over 40 books and 20+ award-winning authors in his catalog, Keith brings real-world publishing experience to every conversation — from traditional publishing to self-publishing services and personalized author coaching.
We hope you’ll join us. The meeting will be held on Saturday, October 17 at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church in Fort Myers from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Meeting Schedule
The Gulf Coast Writers Association meets the third Saturday of every month. From aspiring authors to award-winning novelists, all are welcome. Our meetings are designed to support fellow writers, share best practices and foster networking within our community.
Meetings are held at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church in Fort Myers from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The remaining dates for 2026 are below.
October 17
November 21
Member Spotlight:
Joe Diorio
Joe Diorio is the author of two books, A Few Words About Words. A common-sense look at writing and grammar, and Crisis Communications and the art of making nothing happen. Both were published by Beaufort Books in New York. He’s working on two more manuscripts and hopes to finish them before the next total solar eclipse. He and Susan, his wife of 40-plus years, live in Southwest Florida.
GCWA 2026 Writing Contest Winners
The results are in for our Poetry, Fiction, and Non-fiction writing contest winners. Congratulations to everyone for their dedication to writing and creative ability.
We are proud to announce three winners in each category.
Poetry:
FIRST PLACE: My Bowl, My Bowl, Lara Anderson
SECOND PLACE: Jericho Walls, Orrin Ladd
THIRD PLACE: Pulse, Teresa Hiatt
Fiction:
FIRST PLACE: When Death Knocks, Richard Drummer (Allen)
SECOND PLACE: From Flat to Forever, Deborah Garofano
THIRD PLACE: Mine, Bradley Burt
Non-Fiction:
FIRST PLACE: The Letters, Linda Saether
SECOND PLACE: The Taste of Dreams, Cheryl Lynn Dratler
THIRD PLACE: Choices, Christie Zarria
Honorable Mentions
Poetry: In my Lifetime, John Robilotta, I Turn Away, J B Nicholson Hunt, And Now We Are Old, Bradley Burt
Fiction: Notes from a Platform: A Study in the Art of Waiting, Tanny Davidson, Shoes for All, Mary Charles, The Holy Grail of Sanibel, April Lauseng
Non-Fiction: The Man at the Bridge, Joseph Doolin, To Catch a Thief, Ed Sessa, Bucket List, Jeanne Meeks
Becoming a GCWA member is your opportunity to
grow your brand and drive traffic to your book.
Don’t miss your chance to shine.
Join today!
