Our History

In 1980 or 1981 Lois Cecil-Bisset and John Lawson hosted a monthly writing group  with a handful of writers in a little cottage near City Hall.  After some time Lois moved away and Sharon Owen, along with others in the group, helped John continue the group, then called the Redding Writing Club.  The growing group switched locations several times to accommodate for their increasing numbers.  The membership voted to change the name to Writers Forum.  In 1996 several dedicated members made the group an official nonprofit organization.

Special thanks to Sharon Owen for her input on this abbreviated history of the Writers Forum. Writers Forum has met in a variety of locations, and has thrived over the years with a remaining handful of charter members and many talented, enthusiastic new folks who bring vitality and new ideas. Writers Forum has served its members well, and its future can only grow brighter as more and more writers join, bringing with them the kind of innovative thinking that inspired Lois Cecil-Bissett and a few others many years ago to organize the area’s writers into one remarkable organization.

To hear more about Writers Forum, listen to the podcast of Enjoy Exceptional Living posted on our FaceBook page.  The podcast features an interview with President Larry Watters, author/illustrator Linda Boyden and member Peter Wright.

Monthly Meetings

Monthly meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month from 10:30am-12:30pm at All Saints Episcopal Church in the Memorial Hall.  Doors open at 10:00am so that we can get started promptly at 10:30am.  All Saints Episcopal Church is located at 2150 Benton Drive, Redding, CA.  The Writers Forum does not meet in July or August.  For more details about monthly featured programs and other Writers Forum events, please visit our Calendar of Events.

Membership

We’re proud to have a thriving membership of professional and recreational writers.  To become a member, please submit a membership application along with your $25 annual membership fee.  The annual student membership fee is $10.

Authors Fair

Every November the Writers Forum proudly sponsors the Northern California Authors Fair in the Mt. Shasta Mall in Redding, California.  Our Authors Fair predominantly features published Northern California authors. Click for upcoming Fair Application.

Awards for Students

The Writers Forum is committed to supporting young writers and offers an annual award to High School students.  This award is made possible through ticket sales to the annual Writers Forum ticket buy out of a local play performed at the Riverfront Playhouse.  Click here for more information and the award application.

Writers Forum Bylaws

Click the following attachment to learn more about the Writers Forum Bylaws.