With more than a century of history, the Atlanta Writers Club stands as a beacon for writers in Atlanta, often flying under the radar.
Established in 1914, the Club has continuously operated as a hub for writers and storytelling enthusiasts from the local community and beyond.
“Every year we get more people who come to us and say, ‘I’ve lived here forever and never heard of you,’” remarked George Weinstein, who serves as the Club’s executive director and is its longest-serving member.
The Atlanta Writers Club is known for providing a variety of resources for its members, including online writing workshops, book groups, and biannual writers conferences.
Additionally, it hosts a self-publishing conference, retreats to St. Simons Island, and monthly in-person meetings that attract an enthusiastic crowd.
At these monthly gatherings, around 100 aspiring and professional writers come together at Georgia State Perimeter College, or during the summer months, they meet at the Lilburn public library.
There, they indulge in discussions about character development, plot twists, and creative story endings, accompanied by cups of coffee and snacks.
As a local literary nonprofit, the Atlanta Writers Club also manages the prestigious Townsend Prize, which is awarded biennially to a significant work of literary fiction by a Georgia author.
Now celebrating its 111th anniversary, the Atlanta Writers Club is recognized as the third-oldest writing organization in the United States.
It trails only the California Writers Club, initiated in 1912, and the Boston Authors Club, which was founded in 1899.
Within the Southeastern region, it proudly holds the title of the oldest and most active writing organization.
In August, the organization welcomed its 60th president, Dr. Tisha Carter, often referred to as Dr. T, marking a historic moment as she is the first Black woman to lead the club.
“Fifty-nine other presidents — that’s a little daunting, a little intimidating, but inspiring at the same time,” stated Dr. Carter.
She moved to Atlanta from Cleveland two years ago, bringing her rich experience in community engagement and outreach.
“I was a huge part of the literary community in Cleveland, doing programs, events, and partnering with the local library and public school systems,” she added.
“I wanted to bring that same energy and experience to Georgia.”
While Dr. Carter focuses on leadership and direction, Weinstein handles the programming aspect of the Club, as the only paid position in the small nonprofit.
Currently, he is preparing for the Club’s largest event, the biannual Writers Conference, set to take place at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel on October 24 and 25.
This notable event will feature agent/editor critiques, pitch meetings, a workshop on AI and publishing, Q&A panels, and various talks.
More than 60 authors have launched their careers through this conference, including Becky Albertalli, a young adult fiction sensation known for her debut novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which later became the film Love, Simon.
Weinstein recalled, “She launched her career through the Atlanta Writers Club about ten years ago. She got her agent through the conference, and then the agent got her a book and a movie deal. And the rest is history for her.”
However, the Writers Conference is not merely the highlight of the calendar; it also played a vital role in revitalizing the club nearly 20 years ago, when membership numbers reached an all-time low.
Weinstein reflected on those struggling days, stating, “I was there in the bad old days. When I assumed the presidency in 2004, we had 48 paying members, and we were lucky to get 10 people at a meeting.”
Those times were starkly different from the Club’s illustrious inception as an exclusive group for published authors.
It was founded by Mary Peters and Lollie Belle Wylie, who was Georgia’s first paid woman journalist, and early members included editors from significant newspapers and established literary figures such as Frank Lebby Stanton, Georgia’s first Poet Laureate.
In 1923, the Club began meeting regularly at Wimbish House, a beautiful venue resembling a chateau, where members typically dressed in tuxedos and formal attire to network and engage in literary discussions.
The landscape changed drastically in 1990 when a fire damaged part of the Wimbish property, forcing the Club to relocate.
As a result, the organization found itself meeting in various unconventional locations, including church basements and retirement homes.
Moreover, the membership numbers continued to decline despite previous efforts to amend strict publication requirements and other exclusivity measures.
During this pivotal period, Weinstein introduced several key changes to help revive the Club’s fortunes, such as moving the monthly meetings from Thursdays to Saturdays and relocating them from Midtown to a more accessible area along the perimeter.
As a result, these adjustments attracted a new generation of writers who sought community and collaboration while managing busy week schedules.
By 2008, when he established the Atlanta Writers Conference, membership had swelled to several hundred individuals from diverse writing backgrounds.
It was a transformative journey, but not without resistance. Weinstein recounted receiving angry letters from former presidents in the ’80s voicing discontent over the changes he implemented.
“I would get angry letters from previous presidents in the ’80s, telling me I was ruining the club and how dare I,” said Weinstein.
“Looking back, it’s laughable just how wrong they were.”
Today’s Atlanta Writers Club proudly boasts a membership of around 1,500 individuals.
Dr. Carter expressed aspirations to engage with younger writers, mentioning, “We could branch into different markets to bring in younger members. I’ve worked in higher education, and I’m hoping to collaborate with many Georgia Colleges to draw more of those young folks in here.”
For Weinstein, the Atlanta Writers Club has become more than just an organization; it is intertwined with his personal life.
“All my best friends are people I’ve met through the club,” he shared.
“My wife is someone who joined my critique group in 2008. We’d been friends for a decade before we got together. I owe this club everything, and I guess that’s why I give it everything. I don’t know where I’d be without it.”
This rich, storied legacy solidifies the Atlanta Writers Club as a vital component of Atlanta’s literary community, poised to inspire future generations of writers through its continued commitment to fostering creativity and connection.
The Atlanta Writers Club Conference will take place on October 24 and 25 at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel, with tickets available for individual events.
image source from：artsatl
