March 2026 News
A New Book Fiesta, Route 66 Writing Prompt, Contests and Events, AI Caution
Message from the Prez
How are we already in March? I guess the inevitable march of time led February straight through the front door and out the back before I got the chance to sit down and savor it.
Okay, put down the tomatoes and pick up your calendars instead. SouthWest Writers has some wonderful things coming up, about which I shall refrain from making puns.
First up on our list we have information about the upcoming SWW annual contest, the submission period of which will run from May 1st through June 7th. Our theme will be “By Human Hands” to celebrate writing made by humans for humans.
Let me be honest: We weren’t sure that the contest would happen this year because, after receiving feedback from entrants and judges last year, we’ve identified some changes that need to be made with our judging criteria and some judging processes. We decided to go forth with this contest because of the value it offers our members, but with a call to action for help in reworking how it’ll run next year. We need help—from poets in particular, who have more than once expressed discontent at the criteria by which we judge all entries—from anyone who is willing to help us figure out how to improve the contest to best suit our writers’ needs. Please, if you are interested in helping us in any capacity, contact me at president@swwriters.com or Allen at contest@swwriters.com.
Beyond that, I’m excited to share that we are hosting Libros of Enchantment: The 2026 SouthWest Writers Book Fiesta at the UNM Continuing Education Center on October 31st. This will be an all-day event celebrating books and the people who love them most—authors and readers!
Keep your eyes open for more information about these events as the months fly by!
Happy March,
Kimberly Rose
Upcoming SWW Events
You can find information about upcoming events on the SWW website here. Here’s what’s on tap this month.
MARCH 14, 2026: Monthly Meeting (in-person and zoom) from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. What’s Your Genre? will be presented by Suzanne Stauffer Suzanne Stauffer . More information here.
MARCH 21, 2026: Workshop (In-person only) from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. How to Speak in Public and Live to Tell the Tale! will be presented by Brenda Cole. More information here and register here.
MARCH 25, 2026: Meeting presentation (zoom only) from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Writing from Trauma: How to Write and Publish Your Story of Abuse and Healing will be presented by Cait West. More information here.
Last Month’s Writing Challenge - The Results
The February Sage Challenge for our members centered around an item we use every day, but which will soon begin to disappear from our lives....the Penny. We got some very interesting perspectives on the lowly penny... from practical to “Centimental” to very amusing. The SWW members who submitted material in February are:
Mark Fleisher “Common Cents”
Dita Dow “Centimental Journey”
C.L. Nemeth “One Penny, Two Penny, Three Penny, Four...”
Thelma Giomi “Planted in Pennies”
Larry Kilham “A Penny Saved”
Elaine Montague “Penny 2026”
Sam Moorman “Junior Fashion”
AND here is the correct link to the page on the website:
Click here to read their submissions.
Source: Freepik.com
This Month’s Writing Challenge for SWW Members—Historic Route 66
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.
MARCH is now upon us, and with it comes a new SAGE CHALLENGE. The city of Albuquerque is joining the nation in recognizing the historic and well...fun...aspects of old Route 66. The kick off to the event nationally is April 30, 2026. Low Riders, artwork and events are popping up from Illinois to California.
SAGE CHALLENGE: Write a poem or story – fiction or non-fiction - less than 800 words, that ties into the history and culture surrounding Route 66. For more information, click here.
Let’s Learn From Each Other
We’re excited to share your sage perspectives about how to hone our craft, cultivate a fruitful writing life, protect yourself from literary predators. or work with publishers and vendors.
Hook, Line...and AI
By Rose Marie Kern
Have you gotten an email from someone recently who starts by complimenting you on a book you published a few years ago? Perhaps it begins with a quote from your book or a description of the plot, which makes you think the sender has read it. The “person” who sent the email gives you a name and tells you how they really think your book needs to be seen by more people. This continues for several paragraphs, but usually winds up with them offering to “help” you with your book promotions.
These emails are really slick—they never mention a company upfront...just a person who really admires your work. Odds are very high these emails are AI generated and the “person” sending them is part of a marketing team.
I’ve recently received several myself, and a few of my clients have asked me to review some that have been sent to them. The emails are always for books that have been on the market for more than a year (usually longer). The emails are always made to look personal rather than corporate.
Many writers are hungry for someone to help them promote their books and wonder where to turn. You may feel that the person or company behind the AI campaign could be good for your book publicity. As someone who has received at least six of these emails—most on books I wrote a decade ago—I’d recommend that you not be drawn in. If their offer looks too good to refuse, then go ahead and contact them, but don’t send a dime until you know exactly what they are going to do and what it will cost. Ask them:
A. Are they working alone or as part of a group?
B. What other books have they promoted and can you contact those authors for recommendations?
C. Do they charge by the hour? (If so, how much?) Or do they charge by the job?
D. Is this ongoing, or a specific, one-time push?
We are all proud of our work and feel that everyone will really want to read it if they just know it exists, so it is very tempting to dream that this “mysterious person who loved it” will solve all our problems. I’m not saying don’t hire a marketing agent...but get the facts first...and don’t just fall for an AI come-on.
If you’ve recently written and posted a piece on your blog, website, Facebook Page, or other social media platform that fits this section, email a link to the piece along with a two-sentence introduction to sage@swwriters.com.
Regional and Online Literary Happenings
Looking for Help?
The SouthWest Writers Mentorship program is now active. If you need help with any form of story planning or creation, writing, editing, or publishing, please contact Lynn Doxon at lynndoxon@hotmail.com. She can match you up with a mentor. The cost is $30 per hour, and the times and format are to be arranged between you and the mentor.
New Mexico Writers Grant Applications Closing Soon! New Mexico and Diné writers may now apply for NM Writers annual writing grants, supporting new projects and works in progress.
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Applications are accepted in the following genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, journalism, playwriting, and screenwriting. Grants are typically between $500 and $2,000. Click here for more information.
Email sage@swwriters.com with links to anything you think we should share with Sage subscribers.
Welcome to SouthWest Writers!
The following writers joined our community in January and February. We hope to see you at one of our events in person or online. Write on!
January:
Mark Prior, Lessa Kennedy, Christine Trujillo, Elizabeth Terhune, Moya McGill, Katherine F Jones, Lee Sloan
February:
Andres Armijo, Billie Stanton, Stanley Ray, Ric Aragon, Richard Chavez, Jack Yerby, Nicole Coleman-Lee, Katy Lowry, Susan Hodges, John Thompson
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.