Apex-Writers Alliance is entering a new chapter—one that carries forward David Farland’s legacy while creating new opportunities for writers to learn, connect, collaborate, and grow.
Carrying Forward David Farland’s Legacy
For many writers, the name David Farland needs little introduction. He was a New York Times bestselling author, teacher, mentor, and longtime Writers of the Future coordinating judge. Dave also dedicated an enormous part of his life helping other writers succeed.
He created Apex with that same purpose: to help writers by giving them access to knowledge, resources, and community that could shorten an otherwise very long learning curve. His legacy matters deeply to me, and it remains at the heart of where Apex goes from here.
A New Era for Apex-Writers Alliance
I’m incredibly excited to finally share that Apex-Writers is entering its next era as Apex-Writers Alliance (AWA), and I have the honor of helping lead that change as its CEO. We’re carrying forward what Dave created while opening the door to new ways for writers to learn, connect, collaborate, and grow together.
Why This Next Chapter Is Personal
I was one of Dave’s students, which makes leading Apex-Writers Alliance today especially meaningful to me. I’m the author of the Heart of the Worlds series, whose first book reached Amazon’s Top 100 in Teen & YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and I’ve earned multiple Silver Honorable Mentions in the Writers of the Future Contest. I’ve also served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. On the business side, I hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, a foundation that complements my experience as a writer, journalist, and community leader.
All of these experiences, including my connection to this community, shape what I hope to bring to AWA as its CEO: respect for what Dave built, an understanding of the writer’s journey, and a vision for where we can take Apex next.
What Apex-Writers Alliance Offers Writers
AWA will continue to be a place where writers at every stage can grow their craft, build their careers, make meaningful connections, and learn alongside people who understand just how challenging—and rewarding—this path can be.
Members will continue to have access to an extensive library of workshops, presentations, trainings, and courses covering the craft of writing, publishing, marketing, career development, and more. But Apex has never been just about a library of information. It’s about writers helping writers.
Beyond the library, our live online gatherings bring members together throughout the week for presentations, craft discussions, strategy, accountability, feedback, genre conversations, and more.
Why “Alliance” Matters
As we look ahead, I want to create even more opportunities for growth, collaboration, and community. Currently, we’re working on new ways to tap into the incredible talent already within this community—and share the knowledge and experience of the authors, presenters, and industry friends connected to it.
That idea is behind the addition of one important word to our name: Alliance.
Because I want Apex to be more than a place writers come to learn. I want it to be a place where writers come together. A place where members learn from presenters, presenters learn from members, discoveries are shared, connections become collaborations, and one writer’s experience can help another writer take their next step.
An alliance is stronger because of what each person brings to it.
Introducing Writer’s Ascent
Our upcoming Writer’s Ascent blog will feature writing tips and insights from AWA members, presenters, and friends of the community, with each new post highlighted on our redesigned homepage. Through practical articles on writing craft, publishing, the industry, marketing, building a writing career, and more, I’m hoping Writer’s Ascent will become a valuable resource for the writing community at large while also giving the people contributing to it another platform to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise.
Blazing the Writer’s Trail: The AWA Interview Podcast
And I don’t want to stop with the written word. We’ll also be shining a brighter spotlight on the people behind that knowledge and experience through our upcoming Blazing the Writer’s Trail. This new interview podcast will feature published AWA members, presenters, and industry guests.
We’ll talk about the breakthroughs and wrong turns, challenges and successes, lessons learned, opportunities discovered, and people who made a difference along the way. Most importantly, our guests will have a place to pass along some of the hard-earned wisdom they’ve gained to the writers coming behind them.
The Next Chapter Is Just Beginning
There is still work underway, and there are plenty of things I’m excited to share as they develop. But the heart of Apex remains the same: Writers helping writers grow so no one has to climb alone.
If you’ve been part of Apex in the past, I hope you’ll come see what we’re building. If you’ve never been part of Apex, I’d love to welcome you.
Tammy Burke
CEO, Apex-Writers Alliance
Grow your craft. Build your career. Find your writing community.
One response
Kudos and a big thanks for your determination to carry out David Farland’s vision, your generosity as a fellow writer, and for this beautiful (and navigable!) new website. All the best … Lou