The Georgia Writers’ Registry – GWR

About GWR

The Georgia Writers’ Registry (GWR) is a program of Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), and is under contract to the Center for Southern Literature (CSL). The purpose of this program is to provide Georgia readers, teachers, librarians, students, citizens, corporate and public entities, community organizations, nonprofits, and others with an adjudicated listing of professional writers who are available for commissions, readings, and consideration in other projects.

Who Should Apply

Literary artists considered for listing in the GWR include Poets, Playwrights, and Writers of Creative Non-Fiction and Fiction, including Young Adult Fiction and Children’s Literature.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to the GWR must be residents of Georgia, and also earn a minimum of 12 Publication Points based on the following point system:

12 Points:

Each book of Poetry, Fiction or Creative Non-fiction

Each Play produced by a professional theatre (Equity contract)

6 Points:

Each Chapbook

Staged readings of Plays by professional theatres or professional playwright’s organizations

3 Points: Each work of Fiction or Creative Non-fiction published in a literary journal, anthology or edited Web publication

2 Points: Each Poem published in a literary journal, anthology, or edited Web publication

Ineligible publications include:

Journalism or scholarly texts

Publications from vanity presses

Self-published work

Work from presses that do not offer authors standard book contracts

Work published by a journal or anthology for which one makes editorial decisions

Translations

Application Process

Upon submission of an application, GCA and CSL staff will conduct an eligibility review. A Peer Review Panel, made up of experts, will then adjudicate the applicant’s credentials based on the criteria listed below and writing samples. If accepted to the GWR, the nominee will be asked to submit additional information for the GWR web site.

Criteria and Scoring Process

The quality of an applicant’s credentials will be evaluated by a Peer Review
Panel based on a writing sample and the following criteria:

Artistic Merit: (50 Points)
The writer is recognized regionally, nationally, or internationally, having been published by recognized independent presses, magazines or publishing houses. Honors and Awards from respected journals and/or competitions as well as Services, such as commissions and presentations, are also considered. At least twelve of these points must be earned through publication credentials.

Artistic Excellence: (50 Points)
The writing demonstrates a high-level of skill, knowledge of the form/genre, and unique stylistic vision.

Deadlines

You can download the application form in PDF or Microsoft Word format. Applications must be postmarked or emailed by May 31, 2008 to be eligible.

Please Note: you will be unable to save your information on the pdf form, so you must either fill out the pdf and immediately print, or print a blank copy and handwrite or type your information.

Please send completed applications to:

The Margaret Mitchell House
Attn: Georgia Writers’ Registry
990 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia
30309

Or email to: diane.lewis@gwtw.org

If approved, nominees will be required to submit additional materials for the GWR Web site, including:

Photo
Artistic Statement

Once appointed to GWR, authors must respond to a reassessment by GCA and CSL to maintain their appointment every three years.