December 2025 News
Holiday Giving Campaign, social media preferences, final 2025 Challenge.
Message from the Prez
As this is my last newsletter in this position, I want to take a minute to say THANK YOU! I am in awe of the many volunteers that make this organization possible.
In 2025, we had 23 meetings and 11 workshops with speakers. This means that someone suggested the speaker, followed up with the speaker, did the publicity so that folks knew about it, and hosted the zoom. Thanks to everyone involved in this process! We have also had 8 readings for Unbreaking the Circle. Again, this involved a huge amount of work starting with collecting the stories, editing the anthology, and organizing the readings. Thanks to these folks, too. Thanks also to everyone involved in the contest — entrants, judges, the committee, and especially Kim Rose, our wonderful chairperson. Thanks also for the many suggestions to do something social. The result is the Writer’s Coffee on the last Saturday of each month. Thanks to Laura Beltemacchi and volunteers for the fundraiser at Barnes & Noble. We raised $875 and let the public know about SouthWest Writers. A double win!
Many more of you have contributed to SouthWest Writers this year. A big thank you to everyone who has attended a meeting, encouraged the board, and supported SouthWest Writers.
As the year comes to a close, please continue supporting your organization with your presence and your help. Another way to contribute is by giving to our annual fund drive called Celebrate SWW (more details below).
Thank you for the honor of being your president this year!
Judy
Holiday Giving Campaign—Celebrate SWW!
Award-winning books. Opportunities to be published. Quality speakers, presentations and workshops. A talented creative community. These are some of the reasons SWW is great and deserves to be celebrated.
We plan to grow our offerings in 2026 with more networking, mentoring, and events. To do this, we need support, including financial support. Our fortune lies in the generosity of our members who support us with their time and money. Your contributions in 2024 allowed us to purchase new computers for the office.
Like most non-profits this time of year, we are asking you to consider donating to SWW’s 2025 Holiday Giving Campaign—Celebrate SWW—as part of your end of the year tax deductible donations. Your donation to SWW (a nonprofit, tax exempt 501 (c)(3) organization) allows us to continue to provide the information and encouragement authors are seeking.
Ways to Donate:
Visit the Holiday Giving Campaign on our website to donate online.
Mail your check to the SWW office (3200 Carlisle Blvd NE, Suite 114, Albuquerque, NM 87110).
Call the office Mon-Thurs 9 a.m. to noon to donate over the phone, (505) 830-6034.
However you donate, whatever you give, know that SWW is extremely grateful for your support. Our members and supporters have the ripple effect of increasing our impact to the writing and reading community. We celebrate you!
Feedback Requested! Social Media Preferences
SWW Board Member Nancy McGuire is still looking for feedback about your preferred social media platforms. This information will help us better reach our members and potential members. From Nancy:
We want to hear from everyone. If you haven’t taken the survey, scan the QR code below or click on https://tinyurl.com/SWWsocmed2025 -- one survey form per person, please. (It’s a short survey, it won’t take much time.) In 2026, we want to keep you informed by posting where you’re looking. If you’re not active on social media, we’d like to know that too.
Upcoming SWW Events
You can find information about upcoming events on the SWW website here. Here’s what’s on tap this month and next.
Saturday December 13: Presentation (in-person or Zoom) from 10:00 until 11:45 a.m. Social Media Marketing for Authors (Who Would Rather Be Writing) will be presented by Saleema Ishq. More information here.
Saturday December 13: Workshop (in-person or Zoom) from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Flying Solo: Launching a Freelance Writing Business will be presented by Ruth E. Thaler-Carter. More information here and register here.
Saturday, December 27: Writers’ Coffee from 10:00–11:00 am, at Books on the Bosque. Socialize with other writers, no speaker/no program.
Last Month’s Writing Challenge - The Results
Last month we challenged you to share vacation and travel advice. Four SWW members contributed to last month’s Challenge including Brandon Caudle, Kira Córdova, Carol Hall, Cynthia Mclean, C.L. Nemeth, Eva Newman/S. Moorman, Donna Pedace, and Mike Whelan. Check out the submissions here.
This Month’s Writing Challenge for SWW Members
The monthly challenge is a terrific opportunity to write and submit short pieces based on a prompt. Entries we select for publication will appear on the SouthWest Writers Sage Challenge webpage and will be eligible for inclusion in upcoming anthologies. For more information and our submission guidelines, click here. Email your entry in MS Word or TXT format to info@swwriters.com by the 20th of the month.
This month’s challenge: Astronomical Inspiration
The December Writing Challenge simply asks you to look up! Stars, Moons, Galaxies, Planets, Auroras, Comets, …the sky is full of beautiful and oft dangerous things. Have you every gazed up and been inspired to create a poem or story? As the year ends, we challenge you to tell a story or create a poem with mystery, awe, or wonder inspired by an astronomical event. Send up to 1,000 words to info@swwriters.com by December 20 and put SAGE CHALLENGE in the subject line.
Regional and Online Literary Happenings
Local grant opportunities! Are you a New Mexico-based writer or a member of the greater Navajo Nation? The New Mexico Writers organization is now accepting applications for their 2026 grant program. Submission deadline is March 6, 2026. Find details about available grants and the application process here.
Welcome to SouthWest Writers!
The following writers joined our community last month. We hope to see you at one of our events in person or online. Write on!
Steven Brown , Robert Delaney, Kevin Getchell, Sarah Leamy, Victoria McAnallen, Ben Nikkel, Teri Segura, and John White.
If you’re not yet a member, learn more about the benefits here.
We have resources for writers across our platforms and additional content on our members-only section of the website. Visit our website, ask to join our Facebook Group, check out our blog, see what we’re saying on X (Twitter), check out the session recordings on our YouTube channel, or find our page on Goodreads.