“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the play and the opera, and grace before the concert and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing; And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”
G.K. Chesterton

When I was a new writer many years ago, I sought out a local secular writers group. While I learned a few writing skills, I always felt like an outsider, like I wasn’t quite “one of the crowd.” It didn’t help when I stood up and introduced myself as the mother of five children. There were gasps, as if I said I had 20 children. It also didn’t help when I mentioned I was writing a religious fiction novel.

After only about six months, I left that group and discovered the Catholic Writers Online Yahoo group, which eventually transitioned into the Catholic Writers Guild. There, during chats or in online discussions, I felt like “one of the crowd.” Even though it would be a few years before we would meet, I felt like I had “come home.”

The beauty of this group is that we are all each other’s cheerleaders. We help each other with writing skills, yes, but we also genuinely care about each other because of our shared faith. Since 2010, when I joined the CWG Board as vice president, our membership has grown from just under 200 to 500 members.

As my time as president winds down, I truly look forward to watching another member take the helm and lead the Guild for the next few years.

World Meeting of Families
If you are attending the World Meeting of Families this week in Philadelphia, the Guild is here with a booth (Booth #747). Please stop by and say hello!

Catholic Writers Retreat Have you thought about attending the upcoming Catholic Writers Retreat? If you haven’t, please consider doing so. I’m looking forward to a time of spiritual renewal and an opportunity to write. Here’s the information:
Catholic Writers Retreat: Your Word is my Delight. October 25-29, 2015. St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 E. Main Street, DeWitt, Michigan 48820. Register online at this link, click on ‘Other Offerings,’ or call 866-669-8321. $490 for five days.

If you have any other comments, concerns or questions, please feel free to email me: president(at)catholicwritersguild(dot)(com)

In Jesus and Mary,

Ellen