News
2026 Conference Update and Speaking Proposals
We are all set with the hotel for our MWSA 2026 conference and are continuing our planning for an interesting and informative agenda:
When: Thursday through Saturday, October 22-24, 2026
City: Orlando, FL
Hotel: Rosen Plaza
If you want to participate in a panel or would like to make a presentation, please let our Events Committee know, using our Event Contact Form or email our Conference Chair, Bob Doerr, directly at events@mwsa.co.
Visit our conference page for further details.
https://www.mwsadispatches.com/events/2026-conference
2026 Awards Season
Our 2026 season kicked off on January 2, and we’re off to another record-breaking season.Our window will remain open until June 1. As of Jan. 22, due to unprecedented demand for MWSA reviews, we will place all provisional book submissions in an "Awaiting backlog" status until we have assigned reviewers to all our normal submissions. At the moment, we cannot provide an estimate regarding the length of time required to assign reviewers to our first batch of books. To familiarize yourself with our review and awards procedures, please visit our main awards page: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/awards
As always, remember to “pay it forward” by helping out a fellow MWSA author by becoming a reviewer. If you’re interested, you can sign up here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mwsa-reviewer-signup
Candidates Sought for MWSA Board of Directors
MWSA will be holding elections for the upcoming board of directors this summer. Board members serve two-year terms in the following positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and four At-Large Directors. The Past President serves in an advisory capacity, and the Founder is a perpetual board member. If you would like to run for the MWSA board of directors, please see these documents for more details, and contact info@mwsa.co. The Nominating Committee will reach out to you to discuss.
Call for 2026 MWSA Writer of the Year Candidates
Each year, MWSA recognizes one of our members as the Mike Mullins Memorial Writer of the Year. This award is a great honor and a way to recognize your fellow members’ writing. Please submit your candidates by May 31, 2026. Please see the criteria and instructions here:https://www.mwsadispatches.com/mike-mullins-woy.
Writers, Editors, Poets - Passing the Torch
Veterans’ Voices Writing Project (VVWP) Calls for New Editorial Leadership: Shaping the Future of Veterans’ Literature
For over seventy years, the Veterans’ Voices Writing Project (VVWP) has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those who served. United by a singular mission, we provide a vital platform for the powerful, lived experiences of our nation’s veterans—helping them craft poetry and prose and, most importantly, seeing their work through to publication.
Veterans’ Voices Magazine has been the "Point of the Spear" for veteran storytelling since the Korean War. For many veterans, seeing their story in print is a transformative milestone, and our program of small monetary awards provides an extra incentive to keep the ink flowing.
A Strategic Partnership for the Future. The Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) is proud to partner with VVWP. Our missions are deeply aligned, and we are now at a pivotal moment in our shared history. VVWP’s long-time Poetry and Prose editors are preparing to step back, offering a rare opportunity for "new blood" to take the helm.
We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help manage this transition and continue the vital work of mentoring veteran writers. If you have an eye for prose, a heart for poetry, and a steadfast commitment to the veteran community, we invite you to help us build the next chapter of this legacy.
Your Commitment. This is a volunteer opportunity requiring just a few hours a month. By joining the VVWP editorial team, you ensure that the voices of those who served are never silenced.
Take Action. Reach out to MWSA board member Rob Lofthouse (rob.lofthouse@storytellerpublishing.us) for more information and a personal introduction to the leadership at VVWP.
Benefit Spotlight
Writers Education
Have you taken advantage of the many educational resources available via our former Writers Education programs? Peruse our offerings to learn more about the basic tools every author should have in his or her toolbox. See these programs here: https://www.mwsadispatches.com/writers-education.
Thank you to past volunteer leaders Jack London and Jim Tritten for managing this program for the past five years. MWSA is seeking a new Writers Education Committee Chair, a position that requires only a few hours per month. If you are interested in taking on this important duty, please contact MWSA Vice President Valerie Ormond at vp@mwsa.co.
Friendly Reminders
MWSA Merch Store
Are you a proud MWSA award-winning author and want to show your support for MWSA by wearing an MWSA hat, t-shirt, or sweater? Now you can!
You’ll find the link to the store under the “Resources” tab on our website at MERCH STORE. The link to the store–which is operated by an outside vendor–is also located at the bottom of our website’s main or index page https://www.mwsadispatches.com/
Part of the profits from your purchases will go to MWSA.
Show your MWSA pride!
