Gulf Coast Writers Association:
A Southwest Florida Writing Community
Whether you are writing your first poem, finishing a novel, publishing nonfiction, building an author platform, or looking for a supportive writing community, GCWA welcomes writers at every stage.
Gulf Coast Writers Association, serving Southwest Florida and beyond,
is the largest and liveliest writing community in Southwest Florida.
We’ve been gathering since 1995, long before Zoom was a thing,
and we’re still showing up in person every month in
Fort Myers, Florida, with real speakers, real snacks,
and really passionate writers.
GCWA’s August Meeting
The Gulf Coast Writers Association is excited to celebrate the winners of the its 2026 Writing Contest at the August 15, 2026 meeting. GCWA Vice President of Special Projects Claudia Gegan will honor the winning writers in the Poetry, Fiction and Non-Fiction categories. The winners will be reading their entries to the group, which is always thrilling for the writers and the audience. We hope you’ll join us. The meeting will be held at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church in Fort Myers from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
2026 Meeting Schedule
The Gulf Coast Writers Association meets the third Saturday of every month. From aspiring authors to award-winning novelists, all are welcome. Our meetings are designed to support fellow writers, share best practices and foster networking within our community.
Meetings are held at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church in Fort Myers from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The remaining dates for this year are below.
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21
Spotlight
August – Member Spotlight: Sharon Wagner
Sharon Wagner is the award-winning author of Chorus of Crows, (March 2026) which has already received a starred review from Independent Book Review. The Levitation Game, won an INDIES Book of the Year Award for Science Fiction, and her short story, Default 666, received an honorable mention from Writer’s Digest. Sharon is a former children’s book illustrator and travel blogger who never stops imagining magical worlds to unravel with words. You’ll also find her walking the beach, observing the waves, listening to birds, or curling a stiff drink.
GCWA 2026 Writing Contest Winners
The results are in for our Poetry, Fiction, and Non-fiction writing contest winners.
Congratulations to everyone for their dedication to writing and creative ability.
We are proud to announce three winners in each category.
Poetry:
FIRST PLACE: My Bowl, My Bowl, Lara Anderson
SECOND PLACE: Jericho Walls, Orrin Ladd
THIRD PLACE: Pulse, Teresa Hiatt
Fiction:
FIRST PLACE: When Death Knocks, Richard Drummer (Allen)
SECOND PLACE: From Flat to Forever, Deborah Garofano
THIRD PLACE: Mine, Bradley Burt
Non-Fiction:
FIRST PLACE: The Letters, Linda Saether
SECOND PLACE: The Taste of Dreams, Cheryl Lynn Dratler
THIRD PLACE: Choices, Christie Zarria
Honorable Mentions
Poetry: In my Lifetime, John Robilotta, I Turn Away, J B Nicholson Hunt, And Now We Are Old, Bradley Burt
Fiction: Notes from a Platform: A Study in the Art of Waiting, Tanny Davidson, Shoes for All, Mary Charles, The Holy Grail of Sanibel, April Lauseng
Non-Fiction: The Man at the Bridge, Joseph Doolin, To Catch a Thief, Ed Sessa, Bucket List, Jeanne Meeks
Becoming a GCWA member is your opportunity to
grow your brand and drive traffic to your book.
Don’t miss your chance to shine.
Join today!
