IMPORTANT INFORMATION

WORD WEAVERS ORLANDO meets the 2nd Saturday of every month. Networking starts at 9:30am. (see complete "Timeline Schedule" below.) WE MEET AT CALVARY CHAPEL ORLANDO, 5015 GODDARD AVE, ORLANDO, FL 32804

NOTE: Our Alternative Meeting Location is:

Reach Orlando Church (3580 Aloma Ave. #7, Winter Park, FL 32792 in the back of the Winter Park Commerce Center) when we cannot meet at Calvary Chapel Orlando. Currently Reach Orlando is scheduled for our meetings on December 13, 2025 (includes our Annual Christmas Party), and March 14, 2026 (includes our annual "Kingdom Creatives" Event, including Song Writers, Authors, Artists, and Vendor Tables. The Florida Tapestry Awards Presentations will follow the event.

What Defines a Word Weavers Critique Group?

Ø Our meetings are Christ-centered. Not all work submitted is for the Christian market, but the attitude is always for the glory of Christ.

Ø We behave thusly in our work and in our attitudes and behavior.

Ø We are professional. With our unique process and format, we show our industry that we take our craft seriously.

Ø We encourage others. We believe that having been blessed, we are to be a blessing to others.

Member Benefits Include:

• Attending 12 critique sessions throughout the year. Part of membership benefits is not only giving critique to others (this helps with self-editing) but also receiving critique (this helps with working with publishers, editors, etc.). In order to receive all benefits from Word Weavers membership, we require that you bring work in for critique a minimum of one out of every four visits to group meetings. Additionally, we find it unfair to give critique without the experience of receiving critique. Our goal is to help you grow as a writer; this is part of that process. 
• You are allowed to attend other Word Weaver Chapters after your membership is confirmed with your home chapter. Contact the president of the chapter you want to visit first. Their contact info is found at word-weavers.com under "locate a chapter."

Guests are allowed to visit up to two times before they are encouraged to join. Guests are allowed to sit in on critiques, and critique an author on paper but not verbally. 

We use the Sandwich Method that says, when critiquing, give a compliment, critique, and end with a compliment.

TIMELINE SCHEDULE:

9:30 Networking Starts  

By 9:45 Members who want to be critiqued, MUST sign up 

or ask a friend ahead of time to sign you up if you are running late. 

(NOTE: Do NOT text the Leadership Team the morning of our meeting to ask 

them to sign you up. They are too busy setting up, having a leadership meeting, 

and praying prior to the meeting. In general, their phones are on silent.)

10 am Our General Meeting starts. 

10:30 Critiquing starts.

 We generally finish up by 12:30. 

Some members will meet for lunch after the meeting. Guests are welcome to join.

Monthly critique submission requirements for members include:  (Bring 6 copies) At the top of page put: a Line for NAME and EMAIL,  Total Word count, follow with 1500 word limit of continuous story OR up to (3) individual devotions. (see additional guidelines further below for Poetry)  Formatting Guidelines for manuscripts to be critiqued include: 

o double-spaced

o black, Times New Roman font  use12-point

o Numbered pages

o Continuous line numbering

o 1 inch margins

o designated as cold read by person on the right

Critiquing Poetry The overarching genre of "poetry" will include spoken word, haiku, free verse, prose, ballad, sonnet, and other poetry forms. During the meeting, members will be asked to choose to either read their own poetry submission to the group OR allow another member to read their poem.  (Bring 6 copies) Top of page put a Line for NAME and EMAIL / Total Word count  / Submit up to three poems, not to exceed 1500 total words.  Submissions guidelines for Poetry manuscripts to be critiqued: 

o double-spaced

o black, Times New Roman font use 12-point

o Numbered pages

o Continuous line numbering

o 1 inch margins

o designated as self-read or other-read

Musicians and Poetry Writers also meet the 4th Saturday monthly at Reach Church (address 3580 Aloma Ave. #7, Winter Park, FL 32792) You do NOT need to be a musician or song writer to attend! Guests are welcome. Questions or for more info contact William Castaldi at wmcastaldimdivmsw@gmail.com

WRITING PROMPTS
We have launched a fun way to learn, hone, and grow in your craft! Write a piece that is 

NO MORE THAN 100 WORDS based on the writing prompt. Bring it to our next meeting and we will read some of them! Upcoming prompts are below: 

November- You're antique shopping and find an old chest of drawers. Write about the owner. Did they sell it or give it away? Why?

December- Write about your day. If you could change one thing about it, what would it be?

January- Write 100 words on the first thing that comes to mind.

February:  You receive a letter in the mail with no return address. The handwriting looks familiar. Write the story behind it.

March:  Ecclesiastes tells us there is a season for everything. What season are you in right now?  

April: You plant a seed that grows overnight—but it’s not a normal plant. Describe what appears and how it affects your world.

May: Write a conversation between two people who used to be close but haven’t spoken in years. Let what’s not said carry the most weight.

June: A child finds an old photograph tucked inside a library book. Who are the people in the picture, and what secret does it reveal?

July:  Write about a place that feels like home—but you’ve never actually lived there.

August: You overhear a single line of conversation in a crowded café that changes everything. What was said, and how does it impact your character?

September: Describe a storm—not just the weather, but the emotional storm happening in the scene.

October: You’re given one hour to relive any moment of your life. Which do you choose, and what do you do differently?

November: What is one thing you are most grateful to God for today?

December: Describe a simple object (a key, a teacup, a scarf) as if it were the most important thing in the world. Why does it matter?

 Word Weavers T-shirts in assorted colors are available from Taryn Souders. They are another great way to promote Word Weavers! Email the size and color: taryn@tarynsouders.com.  They are $18 (includes shipping).

Statement of Faith and Values

We believe …

  · We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as inspired by God, and that it is the supreme and final authority in faith and life. 

· We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

· We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary as true God and true man. 

· We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed. 

· We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood. 

· We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven, and His present life there for us as a High Priest and Advocate. 

· We believe that all who receive by repentance and faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit and become children of God. 

· We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost. 

· We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

· We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps. 139).

· We believe God ordained and created marriage to exist between one man and one woman, with absolute marital fidelity. We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man (as assigned at birth by chromosomes) and one woman (as assigned at birth by chromosomes) in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18–25). 

· We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or use of pornography) or sex alteration (changing one’s sex) is a perversion of God’s gift and is to be summarily avoided (Matt. 15:18–20; 1 Cor. 6:9–10).  

· We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19–21; Rom. 10:9–10; 1 Cor. 6:9­–­11). 

· We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28–31; Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Word Weavers International.
 

We require that all who hold recognized leadership positions in Word Weavers International agree to and abide by these values in their service to and representation of Word Weavers International. Members must recognize the position of the organization and, in submitting to membership, agree that they will not propose, either in submitted materials, critique, or conversation, any viewpoint that would conflict with these values.
 

Inasmuch as it is understandable that our writings will sometimes deal with these controversial issues, the resultant intent of the writing will be to recognize the reflected values as contrary to sound biblical doctrine when they are such, and to uphold the biblical values as rightful and authoritative.

FAQS

Q: Does Word Weavers International allow members of all faiths and beliefs to join and participate in the organization?
A: We do. However, we do not allow any member to bring work for critique that promotes anything against our Statement of Faith & Values or encourages engagement in behavior that goes against our Statement of Faith & Values. Content submitted should always fall within this as well as what is accepted within the inspirational market including that written for the secular market.

Q: How is the inspirational market defined according to Word Weavers International?
A: Publishers who follow and publish within the same parameters as our Statement of Faith & Values (above).

Q: Can a member’s work brought for critique be refused?
A: Yes, if it does not fall within the Statement of Faith & Values.

Q: Can I bring work for the secular market?
A: Yes, as long as it does not go against the Statement of Faith & Values, does not promote anti-Christian values (according to our Statement of Faith & Values), and/or does not promote violence or aggressive behavior toward anyone with differing beliefs.

Q: Can membership to a traditional chapter or online page be refused or suspended/ended?
A: Yes. We do have a code of ethics (which can be found in our welcome email to you after joining). But, of course, we also seek reconciliation. Also, if a chapter or online page president feels that a prospective member or current member is or may become toxic or impair the chapter or page as a whole from their ability to function, then the president can request that the member either not be accepted into the group or be released from the group. However, this is not done without a lot of prayer, consideration, evidence/testimony, and without following biblical instruction for issues such as these.

Additional Praise for Word Weavers International

“WW is an abundant blessing of accountability, insight, encouragement, and knowledge. I’ve branched out and tried new things as I saw others step in new directions. The conferences have been most helpful in approaching writing as a professional rather than a dabbler.”

“WW offers me accountability, encouragement, and confidence as a writer. I’ve yet to walk away from a meeting feeling that I have not grown as an author.”

“WW is a tremendous blessing. I’ve met and befriended a diverse group of people who share a love for Jesus and a desire to write well for Him. I’ve learned much about what to look for in good writing and I'm motivated to keep the stories flowing because of this community.”

“Within a few months of joining WW, my writing skills improved as I incorporated what I heard during the critiques. It helped me evaluate what I learned from craft books and conferences too. I've made life-long friends in WW and helped other writers improve their craft. The ability to learn and then teach helps me feel successful as a writer.”

“Listening to my fellow WW members’ advice gave me hope that I could achieve publication. The grace-filled critiques are helpful, never hurtful, and done in such a way that I believe my writing is valuable.”

“Writing can often be lonely. WW keeps me from isolating and feeding my writing fears. My WW friends encourage me to push past obstacles and deliver God's message. I was more of a public speaker and lacked writing skills. By listening to critiques, I was instructed to improve my craft and ignite interest in readers. This groups understanding motivated me to not give up and press through to victory.”