The Palm Springs Writers Guild was established in 1977 by a small group of writers—and has now been dedicated to nurturing and supporting writers in the Coachella Valley for 4 1/2 decades.
With a current active membership of 254 individuals, the guild plays a vital role in fostering the growth and development of established and aspiring writers.
“We are writers helping writers,” said Kristina Hoffman, the guild’s director of member engagement.
The Palm Springs Writers Guild believes in acknowledging and supporting young talent in writing. To that end, the guild recently awarded a total of $5,000 in scholarships to two outstanding high school seniors, because of their exceptional writing abilities and dedication.
As part of its third annual scholarship program, the guild presented the funds to Marielle Lazaro from Cathedral City High School, and Haley Meberg from Rancho Mirage High School. The applicants each submitted two essays; the guild doesn’t require a certain GPA level or attendance record, and the only prerequisite is what these young writers reveal about their passion for writing, and how it influences their lives. The scholarship funds awarded by the Palm Springs Writers Guild will assist these students as they embark on their college careers.
“Our passionate belief in the future of young talent supports this scholarship, and (the scholarships) are some of the largest that are provided by a small local group,” said Judalon Manes, the guild’s director of education.
The guild also sponsored the prize money for the second annual Slam Poetry Contest at Indio High School. This event, held on April 28, showcased the poetic prowess of 23 young poets. Students, their families and faculty members gathered to support the participants. The contest winners—Melissa Ramirez (first place), Ashley Garcia (second) and Lucas Maduena (third)—captivated the audience with their powerful spoken-word performances.
The Palm Springs Writers Guild supports writers at all experience levels. The diverse membership offers numerous programs and resources to help writers advance their craft, offering a nurturing environment that fosters growth, creativity and collaboration through writing workshops, mentoring groups, writing contests, critique sessions and guest speaker events.
“Writing can be a lonely profession; our programs provide not only support and engagement, but help foster a sense of community for the writers of the Coachella Valley,” Hoffman said.
For more information, visit palmspringswritersguild.org.