Western Writers of America, Inc., was founded in 1953
to promote the literature of the American West and bestow Spur
Awards for distinguished writing in the western field. The founders
were largely authors who wrote traditional western fiction, but the
organization swiftly expanded to include historians and other
nonfiction authors, young adult and romance writers, and writers
interested in regional history.
Today it has over 500 members who write
everything from mainstream fiction to local history. Its annual
convention occurs during the last week of June in a western city. At
that time, members, guests, editors, and agents gather together to
renew friendships, do business, attend panels, go on field trips,
and conduct the organization's business. Each convention concludes
with the Spur Awards banquet, the moment when the WWA honors those
who win the coveted awards.
WWA actively helps its members
promote their books and articles, and aggressively promotes the
literature of the American west, which it considers this country's
unique contribution to world literature.
Literature of the West for the World ®
Literature of the West for the World describes the collective
product of WWA members. Western literature ranges far and wide
across Western America. From traditional western fiction to
penetrating historical analysis, from yesterday to today, from
mysteries to biographies, from romance to short stories, from screen
writing to documentary writing, from poems to songs.
Western literature is of the spirit, our spirit, the spirit of
America. It is unique, ever developing and ever changing, as
we uncover new facts, deal with new issues, seek more understanding,
and offer more and more for readers to enjoy.
The
“western” – as a term -- is, in and of itself, misleading to some.
Western literature is today as well as yesterday. Western
literature is the motivation of people to succeed in lands greater
than themselves. The “western” is full of souls filled with
concern, fear, joy and desire.
The
“western” is history, adventure, mystery, romance and more. It is
yesterday, today and tomorrow. In a phrase, it is the literature of
America’s soul. In fact, the “western” is America’s only unique
brand of literature, now enjoyed throughout the world.
Readers
enjoy stories set in the West, whether they are about the challenges
of today or the confrontations of yesteryear. They like the great
tests brought by the land itself, vital and grand. They like
memorable characters dealing with real life brought by some of
America’s finest storytellers. They like the absorption into
intrigue and adventure, into learning and love, into twists of plot
and personality.
Readers like the west as it really was – and really is. Making
western literature profitable for you as a writer – and a member of
Western Writers of America.
WWA
Presidents: