What It Is

The Writers' Bridge has been built for two-way traffic.

The world is full of stories that haven't been told and writers who haven't been heard. The world -- or, at least, the World Wide Web -- is also full of freelance writers' groups.

Which is a good thing. In a profession that tends to isolate and discourage those who attempt to practice it, a certain degree of support is critical.

The Writers' Bridge is also designed to offer that support. We're set up for marketing help, peer editing and collaboration among members. We've developed an "Idea Bank" with thousands of potential jumping-off points for articles and essays.

But this isn't just about writers. Editors, too, have been burned, aggravated and frustrated by the freelance marketplace as it currently exists. I know, having edited a magazine myself. I've also heard editorial horror stories of freelancers not completing assignments, turning in copy that had to be virtually rewritten, not submitting the same story that was agreed upon. Moreover, the proliferation of writers on the planet today has left many magazines and Websites overwhelmed by the barrage of queries and submissions.

As a result, a barrier of mistrust has been created, often virtually impenetrable to freelancers. Not surprisingly, editors are reluctant to take a chance on a writer unfamiliar to them, no matter how good his or her clips might be. At its worst, this attitude leads to a small "club" of contributors, or to warmed-over articles that have been done a hundred times before.

The Writers' Bridge is designed to overarch that barrier. It is the result of years of thought about how to make the system work better. It is intended to serve talented but beginning writers, published freelancers who would like to be more successful, and writers who have already carved out a profitable career. Each member is treated individually, in accordance with his or her unique experience and aspirations. Our membership is drawn from almost every U.S. state and more than a dozen other countries.

Our goals are to create a fundamental change in the way freelance writing is conducted, to bring forth fresh voices and stories, and to ultimately serve the people we all profess to serve -- the readers.

Founders

Darrell Laurant, the founder of The Writers' Bridge, is a veteran journalist currently living and working in Lynchburg, VA. Besides producing a three-times-weekly column and serving as the writing coach for The News & Advance, a 40,000 daily, he has also been a freelance writer for more than two decades. His credits range from Vietnam Magazine to The Sporting News to Quilting Today. He was the editor and co-founder of South Carolina Sport magazine. He has written for Doll Reader and Tennis, Notre Dame and Presbyterians Today. There is almost nothing that does not intrigue him. He has also taught journalism at three Virginia colleges, published five books (more than 15,000 total copies sold) and earned 27 writing awards from the Virginia Press Association. You can see his work at www.newsadvance.com, blog7hills.blogspot.com, or by searching the Internet under his name.

Gail B. Laurant is a studio artist and art teacher who graduated from Lynchburg College with a degree in psychology. She has also worked as a Consumer Credit counselor, which gives her the expertise needed to track the finances of The Writers' Bridge. In addition, Gail practices Reikki, a form of energy healing (helpful when her husband/partner feels overwhelmed).