Greetings!

Whatever you write about makes it stronger whether you are a professional writer, a journalist, a historian, a poet, an essayist, or a fiction writer. Even if you write mostly in your journal, write letters to the editor, take notes for an organization, or scribble on the back of envelopes, we welcome you to the Minnesota chapter of Writers for Democratic Action. Your voice is so important, and we are glad that you are here!

We live in trying times. We are witnessing events that make most of us despair and fear for our democracy. There is much misinformation, censorship, book bans, removal of information on government websites, and denial of access to data. There is much spectacle that distracts the populace.

Writers need to fight back. Thank goodness for investigative journalism, for independent journalism, and for all writers who take up the tools of their trade and get to work.

You've probably heard of poetry of witness. This phrase was coined by Carolyn Forché. She is on the steering committee for WDA National. Her poetry is heart-rending and beautiful, and it also a searing documentation of violations of human rights. She has edited a collection of other writers who have lived through atrocity. Testimony, witnessing, recording and relaying the voices of others who are being silenced — this documentation ensures cultural memory and enlarges the story that goes down in history.

As George Orwell knew, people in power or people seeking power have been known to twist words or to even drain words of their true meanings. Writing and critical thinking are a necessary antidote to that corrosive political rhetoric. All genres of writing can illuminate personal experience and issues. Writing can return meaning to words that political rhetoric has warped. Creative writing (nonfiction and fiction) and poetry can refresh the language.

You don't have to be a poet to do this work. Most writers learn how to wield their craft to make work that is compelling. Writing amplifies your voice.

— Sheila Packa, MN WDA Steering Committee

Democracy

Ilya Kaminsky

"Democracy is a space where speaking out is possible, one which shows: our world is various, and that, perhaps, is the final argument in its defense."

There are other works for you to enjoy on our online journal, This section of our website is a forum for our members.

Town Hall: Reclaiming Patriotism

from the National WDA

When:

July 2, 6:30pm CDT

Where:

Online

Open forum discussion with guest speakers Ilya Kaminsky, Jericho Brown, Isaiah Grays, and Elisa Troncoso-Cabello in preparation for the 249th US Independence Day.

Call for Submissions

The Minnesota chapter of the Writers for Democratic Action invites Minnesota writers to submit a piece of writing to be considered for publication on our website's Journal page. Please send up to a 200 word piece. It could be an essay, an op-ed, a story, or a poem that is a response to the question: "What Is Democracy?" We are looking for inspiration and engaging writing. Along with your submission, please include your full name and contact information. Send via email:
hello@writersfordemocraticactionmn.org

United We Write

Lost Lake Folk Opera

Deadline:

August 1, 2025

Where:

Submittable

Lost Lake Folk Opera is proud to announce that Submissions are Open for its fifteenth issue, Volume 10, with the special theme, United We Write. LLFO v10 will feature a guest editorial team led by Joshua Davies Managing Editor, assisted by editors Drelandra Larkins and Michael Moore.

SUBMISSIONS via Submittable will be accepted through July 2025. Send up to 5 poems or maximum of 2500 words of fiction, an essay, or a short play.

LLFO V10 will feature poetry, fiction, short plays and essays responding to the socio-economic and political realities in the United States, writing that identifies political crises, societal grief, economic shocks, social injustice. We are not looking for political writing per se, but rather literary art that addresses the struggle we individuals face collectively to maintain a grip on reality and a firm foothold safe from the sinkholes, ruptures, and buried ordnance littering the landscape of our lives.

Suffering is endemic to human existence. It is shaped by the times, by race and culture, by politics, war, economics—and by each person's experience. The ancient Hebrew concept of Tikkun Olam captures this reality: that this world is made by brokenness, by disconnections. To witness the sacredness each being carries, to honor the interconnection in life, and art, and one's conduct is to aid in mending of the world. With this in mind, please submit up to five poems or maximum 2500 words of fiction, essay or short play. Rough maximum of ten pages.

Line by line, word by word, at Lost Lake Folk Opera, we aim to stitch each torn seam together. Voice by voice and ear by ear, we seek to honor all that's most precious in each other. In our own small way, we work towards repair and healing, in community: United, We Write.

Our Opportunities Page

We will keep an evolving list of opportunities on our website. We welcome your suggestions.

Minnesota Newspaper Directory

So many things to write about!

There is a database of MN newspapers from small to large. Send your letters to the editor to them.

Run on Vision, Not Just Resistance:
Mamdani's NYC strategy

From FrameLab

"Mamdani's main selling point is that he gave New Yorkers a positive vision of a future in which their government cares for them and seeks to directly improve their lives. “Vote for you,” he told New Yorkers—a simple message that framed the entire campaign around the common good.

"The lesson for Democrats: It's important to run for something, not just against something. And it's crucial to put forth a positive vision that emphasizes government as a force that serves the public good. When you give people a concrete vision of how government can improve their daily lives, you create a frame that opponents can only attack by sounding like they're against helping families."

Independent Journalists

Thanks to the tireless writers

In turbulent times writers of all genres step up.

Today we celebrate the tireless work of independent journalists on the front lines who bring us news and analysis every day.

We list some of these through our resource page. take a look and add your suggestions.

Write to us!

We want to hear from you. Send us an email and let us know about your projects. Please respond to hello@writersfordemocraticactionmn.org. We want to grow our list of resources on the WDA-MN website, so send us the names of your favorite news sources, reading lists, podcasts, subscriptions, and other resources.

Thank you for being a part of Writers for Democratic Action.