Life Between the Lines is a new writing class specifically for veterans and their family members, developed in partnership between novelist and VCU creative writing instructor (and one of JRW's founders!) David L. Robbins and Dr. Jared C. Schultz, Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, and part of a grant supported by the Virginia Division of Veteran Services. It's a trauma-informed, culturally responsive initiative designed to support veterans and their caregivers in processing life experiences, building resilience, and fostering connection through guided creative writing. Participants will engage in structured writing groups facilitated via Zoom. Through autobiographical or fictional storytelling, participants explore meaningful experiences in a safe, supportive environment, receive instruction, and participate in workshop critiques to hone their craft and develop their voice. The workshop runs for ten weeks on Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 pm , starting June 1, and ending August 3. Any veterans or family members of veterans with an interest in writing are encouraged to register HERE.  

Submission Dates Announced for Col. Darron L. Write Contest Announced - Jun. 1 - July 31, 2026

https://www.patreon.com/posts/2026-submission-158088495

In continued collaboration with the Veterans Breakfast Club, MWSA Vice President Valerie Ormond and MWSA Past President Bob Doerr spoke with VBC’s Shaun Hall on the organization’s VBC Connects podcast. Topics ranged from MWSA’s history to a discussion of current programs, membership, upcoming programs, and the 2026 conference or Orlando, FL, Oct. 22 – 24.

To tune in, please see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXZt8KXBN3g

Thank you to VBC for allowing MWSA to share its mission with the VBC membership and audience.

By Valerie Ormond

Congratulations to MWSA, its 31 contributing authors, and volunteer editors, for winning Third Place in the Anthologies category of The BookFest® Awards. The BookFest announced Reflections: Service to our Country as a winner in its Spring 2026 contest during its awards presentation on Sunday, April 12.

Contributors wishing to celebrate their status as either new or seasoned award-winning authors may download this award certificate here.

And authors and poets may download the Award Winner graphic here, to be displayed on websites, social media, or wherever you wish.

Well done, MWSA members, for your professional, winning work!

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/dispatches/spring-2026

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Streamed live on December 22, 2025, Todd DePastino, Executive Director of the Veteran’s Breakfast Club (VBC), hosted one of MWSA’s authors, Steven Woelk, in an engaging interview telling the story of one of the USS Pueblo survivors. The essence of that conversation follows below.

One week before the Tet Offensive of 1968, a small, unarmed Navy intelligence ship called the USS Pueblo was attacked and captured by North Korea. The seizure of the Pueblo became its own crisis running parallel to Tet, trapping 83 American sailors in a struggle for survival that lasted nearly a year.

One of those sailors was 19-year-old Steven Woelk from Kansas. On this VBC livestream, Steven shared his remarkable firsthand story, also recounted in full in his memoir, Pig Fat Soup: Surviving My Pueblo Prisoner of War Journey.

Follow the link to the interview:  https://veteransbreakfastclub.org/uss-pueblo-veteran-and-north-korean-pow-steven-woelk/

Pig Fat Soup is one of the books in this year’s MWSA Book Awards contest.

Code Blue Publishing announced opportunities for Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) to submit to Code Blue Publishing’s upcoming anthology—Shadows from the Frontline. There is no fee to submit. Submissions are not paid, but reprints are authorized. Submissions are due May 31, 2026, with publication in late fall 2026.

Please see the submissions guidelines and use this opportunity to have your work published.

https://www.codebluepublishing.com/submissions-guidelines

The Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) occassionally informs members about writing opportunities and contests from other writing organizations. Here is one for short story writers from the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) for its short story competition. Submitters must be NAIWE members.

Annual Short Story Competition 2027

Good luck!

Copyright for Authors: 5 Essential Things You Should Know

The above-titled article, written by Lauren Emerson, is worth a read for MWSA authors.

https://insights.bookbub.com/copyright-for-authors-5-essential-things-you-should-know

News

2026 Conference Update and Speaking Proposals

We are all set with the hotel for our MWSA 2026 conference and are continuing our planning for an interesting and informative agenda:

• When: Thursday through Saturday, October 22-24, 2026

• City: Orlando, FL

• Hotel: Rosen Plaza 

If you want to participate in a panel or would like to make a presentation, please let our Events Committee know, using our Event Contact Form or email our Conference Chair, Bob Doerr, directly at events@mwsa.co.

Visit our conference page for further details.

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events/2026-conference 

2026 Awards Season

Our 2026 season kicked off on January 2, and we’re off to another record-breaking season.Our window will remain open until June 1. As of Jan. 22, due to unprecedented demand for MWSA reviews, we will place all provisional book submissions in an "Awaiting backlog" status until we have assigned reviewers to all our normal submissions. At the moment, we cannot provide an estimate regarding the length of time required to assign reviewers to our first batch of books. To familiarize yourself with our review and awards procedures, please visit our main awards page: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/awards 

As always, remember to “pay it forward” by helping out a fellow MWSA author by becoming a reviewer. If you’re interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mwsa-reviewer-signup 

Candidates Sought for MWSA Board of Directors

MWSA will be holding elections for the upcoming board of directors this summer. Board members serve two-year terms in the following positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and four At-Large Directors. The Past President serves in an advisory capacity, and the Founder is a perpetual board member. If you would like to run for the MWSA board of directors, please see these documents for more details, and contact info@mwsa.co. The Nominating Committee will reach out to you to discuss. 

Call for 2026 MWSA Writer of the Year Candidates

Each year, MWSA recognizes one of our members as the Mike Mullins Memorial Writer of the Year. This award is a great honor and a way to recognize your fellow members’ writing. Please submit your candidates by May 31, 2026. Please see the criteria and instructions here:https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mike-mullins-woy.

Writers, Editors, Poets - Passing the Torch

Veterans’ Voices Writing Project (VVWP) Calls for New Editorial Leadership: Shaping the Future of Veterans’ Literature

For over seventy years, the Veterans’ Voices Writing Project (VVWP) has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those who served. United by a singular mission, we provide a vital platform for the powerful, lived experiences of our nation’s veterans—helping them craft poetry and prose and, most importantly, seeing their work through to publication.

Veterans’ Voices Magazine has been the "Point of the Spear" for veteran storytelling since the Korean War. For many veterans, seeing their story in print is a transformative milestone, and our program of small monetary awards provides an extra incentive to keep the ink flowing.

A Strategic Partnership for the Future. The Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) is proud to partner with VVWP. Our missions are deeply aligned, and we are now at a pivotal moment in our shared history. VVWP’s long-time Poetry and Prose editors are preparing to step back, offering a rare opportunity for "new blood" to take the helm.

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help manage this transition and continue the vital work of mentoring veteran writers. If you have an eye for prose, a heart for poetry, and a steadfast commitment to the veteran community, we invite you to help us build the next chapter of this legacy.

Your Commitment. This is a volunteer opportunity requiring just a few hours a month. By joining the VVWP editorial team, you ensure that the voices of those who served are never silenced.

Take Action. Reach out to MWSA board member Rob Lofthouse (rob.lofthouse@storytellerpublishing.us) for more information and a personal introduction to the leadership at VVWP.

Benefit Spotlight

Writers Education

Have you taken advantage of the many educational resources available via our former Writers Education programs? Peruse our offerings to learn more about the basic tools every author should have in his or her toolbox. See these programs here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/writers-education.

Thank you to past volunteer leaders Jack London and Jim Tritten for managing this program for the past five years. MWSA is seeking a new Writers Education Committee Chair, a position that requires only a few hours per month. If you are interested in taking on this important duty, please contact MWSA Vice President Valerie Ormond at vp@mwsa.co.

Friendly Reminders

MWSA Merch Store 

Are you a proud MWSA award-winning author and want to show your support for MWSA by wearing an MWSA hat, t-shirt, or sweater? Now you can!

You’ll find the link to the store under the “Resources” tab on our website at MERCH STORE. The link to the store–which is operated by an outside vendor–is also located at the bottom of our website’s main or index page https://www.mwsadispatches.com/ 

Part of the profits from your purchases will go to MWSA.

Show your MWSA pride!

Girls Write Now, a nationally award-winning writing and mentoring nonprofit, media incubator, and multi-generational community of writers and leaders, is accepting applications for the Spring Cycle, March - May, 2026. We harness the power of stories to shape culture, impact industries, and bridge divides. Mentors are aged 25+ and Mentees ages 14-24.  Please note that the previous deadline of Dec. 31, 2025, has now been extended to Jan. 15, 2026!

Girls Write Now has a high demand for Journey Mentors. As a Mentor, you will not only change the trajectory of a young writer's life and career, your life will change too. Mentors also benefit by:

· Networking with Girls Write Now’s talented, multigenerational community

· Connecting with peers in unique community experiences

· Accessing a wide selection of publishing and writing opportunities, as well as creative and professional skill building

· Rebooting, starting, or committing to a writing/creative practice

· Gaining insight into the publishing industry, and making connections

Select a Journey at girlswritenow.org/journeys and apply by January 15, 2026! If you have any questions, please email communty@girlswritenow.org.

Click here or the cover above to read this or any past issue of our magazine.

If the above links don't work, you can paste the following into your web browser: 

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/dispatches/winter-2026

Your MWSA Communications Team

Click here to contact the Dispatches editorial staff

Girls Write Now, a nationally award-winning writing and mentoring nonprofit, media incubator, and multi-generational community of writers and leaders, is accepting applications for the Spring Cycle, March - May, 2026. We harness the power of stories to shape culture, impact industries, and bridge divides. Mentors are aged 25+ and Mentees ages 14-24.  

We currently have a high demand for Journey Mentors. As a Mentor, you will not only change the trajectory of a young writer's life and career, your life will change too. Mentors also benefit by:

· Networking with Girls Write Now’s talented, multigenerational community

· Connecting with peers in unique community experiences

· Accessing a wide selection of publishing and writing opportunities, as well as creative and professional skill building

· Rebooting, starting, or committing to a writing/creative practice

· Gaining insight into the publishing industry, and making connections

Select a Journey at girlswritenow.org/journeys and apply by December 31, 2025! If you have any questions, please email communty@girlswritenow.org.

News

2026 Conference Update

We continue to make progress in setting up our 2026 conference. Although we don’t yet have a contract with the hotel, we are confident in sharing the following details so everyone can mark their calendars:

●       When: Thursday through Saturday, October 22-24, 2026

●       City: Orlando, FL

●       Tentative Hotel: Rosen Plaza

Visit our conference page for details.

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events/2026-conference

2026 Awards Season

Our 2026 season will kick off on January 2. If you’re planning on submitting your book next season, you can expect the submission form to be available on that date. As usual, our window will remain open until June 1. To familiarize yourself with our review and awards procedures, please visit our main awards page: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/awards

As always, remember to “pay it forward” by helping out a fellow MWSA author by becoming a reviewer. If you’re interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mwsa-reviewer-signup

Author Interview Videos

In case you missed them, we now have two video interviews available on our website. Take a few minutes to hear what our 2024 MWSA Writer of the Year, Kathleen Rodgers, had to say. Our most recent interview was with MWSA best-selling author, James Bultema. You’ll find both interviews here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/author-interviews#videos

Meet “Ask MWSA”—your new 24/7 help on all things MWSA

We’ve added a new way to get quick answers from the Military Writers Society of America. Ask MWSA is a site-wide chatbot that helps members and authors find what they need at any time of day.

What it does

Answers common questions about membership, awards, events, and all things MWSA

Points you to forms, deadlines, and page links on our website

Explains how to order extra medals or stickers

Helps prospective reviewers and authors find the right next step

If it doesn’t know, it will route you to the proper contact or form

Where to find it

Look for the floating “Ask MWSA” bubble at the bottom-right corner of any page on our website [mwsadispatches.com]. Click it to start a conversation (no login required).

Try asking:

“How do I join MWSA?”

“Where do I submit my book for awards?”

“When are the next events?”

“How do I volunteer to become a reviewer?”

“How do I register for this year’s conference?”

A note on privacy & accuracy

Ask MWSA only knows what’s on our public pages and the information you share in the chat. It won’t access your private data. For questions about your membership record or an individual submission, we'll direct you to a human so we can assist you securely.

We want your feedback

This is a living tool—we’ll keep training it based on real questions from members. If you spot a wrong answer or want the bot to learn a new topic, please tell us via the site’s Contact page or email president@mwsa.co.

Give it a try today—click Ask MWSA on any page and get instant answers. If the bot doesn’t have the answer, or you prefer the human touch, visit our main contact page and find the email or form you need.

Dispatches Magazine

For those who may have missed it, we released the fall issue of Dispatches magazine in October. See highlights from our 2025 conference as well as award winners and other MWSA news here.

The deadline for articles and advertisements for the winter issue remains Dec. 15.

Benefit Spotlight

Tips and Tricks

In case you haven’t found this valuable resource, visit the Tips and Tricks section of our website. We’ve recently revamped this page, grouping the articles by topic to make them easier to find.

https://www.mwsadispatches.com/tips-tricks-1

If you’ve got any tips and/or tricks to share with your fellow MWSA members, please let us know. Just email us at info@mwsa.co.

Friendly Reminders

And finally, a happy Thanksgiving to all our members and their families!

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning author and MWSA member James Bultema—a military veteran and retired LAPD officer whose career has spanned both combat zones and city streets. His experiences lend authenticity and power to his writing, from his Sea of Red thriller series to his police histories such as The Protectors and Guardians of Angels. A six-time award-winning novelist, James combines real-world insight with gripping storytelling to explore patriotism, duty, and the challenges faced by those who serve.

Join us as James talks about his path from service to storytelling, the research and discipline behind his novels, and the role MWSA has played in his writing journey.

Excellent resources for writers. Many are free.

• Create your author page

• Offer books at a discount, or for free

• Interesting, informative articles

  • Book Launch article

• On their main website (https://www.bookbub.com/), sign up for newsletters containing book bargains.

We’ve added a new way to get quick answers from the Military Writers Society of America. Ask MWSA is a site-wide chatbot that helps members and authors find what they need at any time of day.

What it does

• Answers common questions about membership, awards, events, and all things MWSA

• Points you to forms, deadlines, and page links on our website

• Explains how to order extra medals or stickers

• Helps prospective reviewers and authors find the right next step

• If it doesn’t know, it will route you to the proper contact or form

Where to find it
Look for the floating “Ask MWSA” bubble at the bottom-right corner of any page on our website [mwsadispatches.com]. Click it to start a conversation (no login required).

Try asking:

• “How do I join MWSA?”

• “Where do I submit my book for awards?”

• “When are the next events?”

• “How do I volunteer to become a reviewer?”

• “How do I register for this year’s conference?”

A note on privacy & accuracy
Ask MWSA only knows what’s on our public pages and the information you share in the chat. It won’t access your private data. For questions about your membership record or an individual submission, we'll direct you to a human so we can assist you securely.

We want your feedback
This is a living tool—we’ll keep training it based on real questions from members. If you spot a wrong answer or want the bot to learn a new topic, please tell us via the site’s Contact page or email president@mwsa.co.

Give it a try today—click Ask MWSA on any page and get instant answers. If the bot doesn’t have the answer, or you prefer the human touch, visit our main contact page and find the email or form you need.

As a service to our members, the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) offers the following press release template to help writers spread the word about their work being published in the 2025 MWSA anthology. Simply fill in the [brackets] and share with your local media, online outlets, social media, and wherever you would like to tell your story.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: [Name]

[Email]

[Phone]

[Attach anthology book cover and author head shot if possible]

[Member Name] Published in Military Anthology

[Member Name] of [city, state] was recently published in the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) anthology Reflections: Service to our Country. [His/her] story was titled [X] and discussed [X].

MWSA publishes an anthology every two years with member submissions. Stories include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and artwork. Reflections: Service to our Country currently sits at an Amazon a five-star rating!

The anthology is available in paperback and eBook at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBS26BXK.

Proceeds support MWSA’s missions of helping the military, veterans, and their families to tell their stories.

About [Member Name]

[50-word biography]

About the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)

MWSA’s tagline is “Saving history one story at a time,” and its mission is to help military, veterans, and their families tell their stories. The 501(c)3 non-profit encourages writing and provides writing opportunities through programs include book awards and reviews, writers education, publishing venues, and in-person and virtual events. For more information, please visit https://www.mwsadispatches.com/.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Bob Doerr, writeyourstory@mwsa.co | 210-827-1309

Write Your Story Workshop

On September 25, 2025, members of the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) will host a free Write Your Story workshop for local military, veterans, and their families in Kansas City, MO. This workshop is geared to storytelling, whether attendees may be working on a novel, a memoir, a short story, a poem, or an article, both fiction and nonfiction.

MWSA will hold the event at the Westin Kansas City Crown Center, Washington Park 1, 1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO. It will take place from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM.

Award-winning writers from MWSA have conducted these veteran-focused workshops coast-to-coast since 2015. When asked at last year’s event, “What was the most valuable part of the workshop?” attendees said:

o   Each one was important

o   All of it, since I’m not a writer but would like to be

o   All valuable!

o   Meeting other veteran writers

o   Being with other writers

o   Exercises

o   Story arc

This event is geared toward newer writers who want to tell their stories and may not know where to begin, but the sessions have also proven beneficial for more seasoned writers who share in the camaraderie with other veterans and families. Please email writeyourstory@mwsa.co if interested. Registration is required by Sep. 15, and MWSA will provide a free lunch to all attendees. MWSA hopes you will join this event to help tell your story.

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