Our Story

In 2023, a group of West Texas writers came together to foster a writing community in the Permian Basin. We support writers of all skill levels. If you’re willing to take the chance on writing that novel you’ve always wanted to write, then you’re welcome here!

In 2024, we decided to do our own take on a writing challenge — write a 60,000 word novel draft in the summer. In addition, in July we host an affordable writing retreat. If you’ve ever looked up writing retreats and balked at the thousands of dollars they cost, we proudly host it for less than $300.

We also founded the Odessa Silent Book Club, a book club themed solely around reading, and meet every Sunday afternoon to work on our novels. The magic of coworking cannot be replicated alone!

2024 Board of Directors

President – Crystal Sosa
Vice President — Autumn Perales
Treasurer –
Brance Davis
Secretary –
Brianna Dunston
At large –
Roger Manning

The West Texas Wordsmiths are incorporated under the Texas Nonprofit Corporation Act, with a 501 C(3) IRS nonprofit classification.

“Sometimes, we write.”

— Unofficial slogan

Sometimes our talks about our stories and inspirations take over our writer meetings. It’s still all good fun! Wordsmith Amber coined the catchphrase to describe these meetings.

“Not all of it is that.”

— Unofficial slogan

Sometimes, not all of it is that. What is that? That is that. It means something and nothing. Absurdity is part of being a creator, let’s lean into it.

Become a Wordsmith

Bring your ideas to life

Build your confidence

Meet and mingle with other writers