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I have been asked a few times recently about what CWA is, how it started, what is its purpose, what are its plans for the future. As we transform from what we once were into what we will become, I thought I’d take a minute to give you all a brief history of CWA and perhaps
enlighten any of you who haven’t had the pleasure (at least I hope it
is) of hearing me blab on and on (yes, I’ve been rather quiet on the
list lately), the founder of CWA.

My name is Diana Laskaris and I moved to Chicago 3 years ago from the
East Coast. My original roots are in the West Coast though, so you
might say I have found a nice place to settle in the middle. My
background includes much writing, including starting out as a
playwright, then writing for film and television, advertising and
marketing, and eventually 2 books. I am currently both a practicing
attorney and business consultant, but I have never lost my love for the
written word or those who feel it is their destiny to build their life
around the pursuit of sharing it with others.

When I lived in New York and Connecticut, I was actively writing and
formed a small group consisting of writers of different ages and
interests. We would go to libraries, bookstores and other friendly
venues to talk to other writers (or those thinking of writing) about
publishing, writing, learning the craft, dealing with publishing,
marketing, agents, editors…in short, all the things that one does
when pursuing writing in a professional sense or as a career. Since we
ranged in age from 25 to 80, I think we captured a lot of people’s
imaginations. “If those lunatics can do it, what are we waiting for?”
At least, that’s what I’d like to think was crossing their minds!

Upon moving to Chicago, I wanted to create a community for writers that
would provide a similar avenue for the kinds of discussions and
activities I had experienced previously. So I started a Yahoo! email
list. I put up a notice on Craig’s List and handed out some notices at
the Printer’s Row Book Fair, which was the first weekend after I had
moved to Chicago. A few people joined the email list, then a few more,
then they told some writer friends of theirs, and before I knew it
there were over a hundred writers chatting about everything. I loved
it!

As the group grew, diverse interests came as well. Some people wanted
to have a website for the group. Others wanted to meet in person. Some
wanted to be given a writing challenge or a deadline. Others wanted to
find ways to get their work critiqued. Still others longed for words of
wisdom from published authors, agents or editors. So, over time,
members of the email list took on responsibilities associated with
making those things happen.

Today, we have a beautiful website that is becoming even more
impressive and functional, we have in-person events, challenges such as
D-Day, speakers from the industry, critique groups, and many other
wonderful things for which I, unfortunately, can take absolutely no
personal credit.

A few months ago, I realized that, like many entrepreneurs in the
professional world, I might be getting in the way of my own idea. So I
enlisted the aid of some long-time and enthusiastic members to explore
whether CWA could be more than just an email list with some interesting
activities. We held a sort of summit with about 25 members. There it
was decided that CWA could be much more, and that it should be. It was
decided that we should become a bona fide not-for-profit corporation,
seek the legal status which allows for tax deductions of membership
dues, etc. (501(c)3 for those of you with an interest) and begin to
shape the organization as just that - a nonprofit, membership
organization advancing not only the supportive community of writers
that I had originally envisioned, but also the education and career
advancement of that community.

We have come a very long way since my little note on Craig’s List
announcing a free Yahoo! group for writers. And, my hat’s off to the
many of you who have participated in the thinking, planning, and doing
along the way that have moved us so very far ahead. We are preparing to
transition from this fun little email list of over 225 people, to a
nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation with a board of directors, bylaws,
strategic partners, benefits, and all kinds of plans for the future.

I am so proud to be associated with everyone who has worked so hard to
make this big dream out of my little one. You are all to be commended.
Take a moment to think how rare it is to create something this
wonderful out of nothing. It takes the dedication, creativity,
communication and persistence of many people. And, we have it.

The future is very exciting, and I’m sure the other members of the
board, currently Jen Wilding, Adam Woodworth, Paul Neilan and of
course, Randy Richardson, who is also the CWA president, will be
filling you in on developments as they occur.

As always, we welcome input from the current list members, and we hope
very much that you will want to stay with us as we transition to a more
formal association in the months ahead.

Thank you for making this a most amazing experience for me, and for
sharing the early days of what I think will become a significant
contribution to the literary scene.

Keep on writing!

Diana