Aloha Kakou!
November 2025
Welcome to Hawaii Writers Guild’s new website! It’s been a long time coming. We signed a contract with our web designer, Carolyn Jakielski Design, in October 2024, so it’s been a year-long project of gathering information, building the site, reviewing it and making adjustments to make it as user-friendly as possible.
If you are on this page, you know by now that, to reach our new website, you should go to hawaiiwritersguild.org. This is a change from our old website address. Because we are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization—and proud of it!—we changed the ending from “.com” to “.org”.
Now that you are in the site, here are some tips to help you explore. Let’s take a look at each of the links at the top of the page.
HOME
First of all, the Home page will welcome you. You can: Become a member (click on “Apply Now”); Get involved (click on “Learn More”); or even Make an impact (click on “Donate Today”). (NOTE: Because we are a 501(c)(3) organization, your donations are tax deductible.) Some “Member perks” are listed on the Home page and there is also a link that allows you to subscribe to our YouTube Channel (more about this later.)
At the bottom of the Home page, on a blue background, you will find a listing of links to all aspects of the website. This listing is on every page, so you can get anywhere you want to go from anywhere you are by clicking on the appropriate link—with one exception! If you are on a page that is not the Home page and you want to go back to it, go to the top of the page and either click on “Home” or on the blue-and-white Hawaii Writers Guild logo on the top left.
MEMBERSHIP
The next heading at the top of the page after Home is Membership. If you rest your cursor on Membership, you will see a drop down menu with two entries: “New Membership” and “Student Membership”.
Clicking on “New Membership” takes you to a page with information about the benefits of membership and our annual dues. It also has a Membership Application, which can be completed and submitted online. Be sure to submit a sample of your writing by clicking on “+” and uploading a file of your work.
Clicking on “Student Membership” in the drop-down menu opens a page with information and an application appropriate to use if you are a high school or college student. The student application asks what school or institution you attend, when you will graduate and for a written recommendation from a teacher or writing mentor.
ABOUT
The next heading at the top of the page after Membership is About. If you rest your cursor on About, you will see a drop-down menu with four entries: “About Us”, “Our Authors”, “Guild Business”, and “Board of Directors”.
Clicking on “About Us” takes you to a page with information about the Guild, our mission, our history and the members we intend to serve.
Clicking on “Our Authors” takes you to our Author Pages. Here you will find a directory of many of our current members, listed alphabetically by first name. (We are awaiting information from some members, so this listing will grow as we receive their information.) Every member is entitled to a free listing in the directory as a benefit of membership. You can find out more about each one by clicking on the member’s picture in the directory. You can also search by clicking on the topics listed. For example, clicking on “Sci Fi” will show you the pictures of our members with an Author Page who write in that genre. You can then click on their pictures to find out more about them.
For example, clicking on the picture of Carol Prescott, our current president, takes you to her Author Page. The top line shows where she resides (Hawaii Island) and the genres she writes in (Memoir, Psychology, Science/Nature and Poetry). You will also see a brief bio about her and a link to her personal website. A list of Carol’s published books includes an image of each cover and a brief description. If you want more information about a particular book, click on the “More Info” box and a new window will open (outside of the HWG website) where you can access more about the book. Closing this window returns you to the HWG website. Then you can scroll to the top or bottom of the page and click on the next topic you’d like to explore. For example, click on “Our Authors” to see Author Pages of other members who interest you.
The “Guild Business” option in the drop-down menu for About will take you to a page where the Guild’s Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and other documents may be accessed. Clicking on the “Download” button opens a new window from which you can read or download a pdf of the document. Closing this window returns you to the HWG website.
The last topic in the drop-down menu for About is “Board of Directors”. Clicking here takes you to a page with the titles, pictures and links to the bios of our current officers and other board members.
RESOURCES
The next heading at the top of the page after About is Resources. Resting your cursor on Resources opens a drop-down menu with three entries: “Get Involved”, “Writing Resources” and “Writer Support Groups”.
Clicking on “Get Involved” takes you to a page that describes some ways to become involved with Hawaii Writers Guild, including: becoming a member, joining a support group; organizing a community event; volunteering to help with existing Guild activities; and making a donation. Each topic has a link to click on for more information or to communicate your interest to our Board.
Clicking on “Writing Resources” takes you to a list of current and former Guild members who offer assistance or coaching to other writers on a private pay basis. Their services include editing, coaching, and help with eBook publishing.
The Resources page also has a button to subscribe to the Guild’s YouTube channel where you can have free access to our many writing-related videos. Clicking on “Subscribe” will take you to a window outside of the HWG website. When you want to return to the website, just close that window.
The third category under Resources is “Writer Support Groups.” Many writers find it beneficial to belong to such a group where they can read work-in-progress and receive constructive feedback from other writers. In return, they provide feedback to other members of the group. This page lists six such groups in which Guild members participate. Many of the groups are online and can be accessed remotely. Details about the groups are listed and contact information of the host or facilitator is provided.
NEWS
The next heading at the top of the page after Resources is News. Resting your cursor on News opens a drop-down menu with two entries: “Guild News” and “Member News”.
“Guild News” consists of stories about Hawaii Writers Guild sponsored events, such as public readings and announcements about the Guild itself, such as the Annual Meeting and Election of Officers, or important events, such as the launch of our new website. Over time, these stories form the basis for an ongoing history of the Guild, its growth and changes. The Guild News entries from our old website will be preserved in some form, but will not appear on our new website.
“Member News” is a semiannual publication focusing on the activities and achievements of our members. It is primarily a way for our members to remain informed about the accomplishments of their fellow members at a time when there are fewer opportunities for in-person contact than there used to be, pre-Covid. This page also informs the public about our members’ recent writing activities and achievements. The News includes features about our members who have recently joined the Guild. Up to two years of Members News issues will appear on the Guild website at any given time.
CONTACT
The next heading at the top of the page after News is Contact. Clicking here takes you to a form where you can send messages to the Board. Once you have filled out the form, click the “Submit” button and your message will be sent to our Web Administrator who will respond or relay your message to the appropriate person on the Board.
DONATE
At the far right top of the page is a button labeled DONATE. Clicking here takes you to a page that allows you to donate to the Guild using PayPal. There are also instructions on making a donation by mail. There is detailed information about how our 501(c)(3) status allows you to take a charitable deduction on your income tax for donations to the Guild. And, finally, a big Mahalo for your support.
We hope this overview will help you use our website more easily. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions, comments or suggestions.
