The Feminist Writers' Guild was an American feminist organization from Berkeley, California, founded by

Mary Mackey Mary Lou Mackey (born 1945) is an American novelist, poet, and academic. She is the author of eight collections of poetry and fourteen novels, including the ''New York Times'' best-seller ''A Grand Passion'' and ''The Village of Bones'', ''The Y ...

, Adrienne Rich,

Susan Griffin Susan Griffin (born January 26, 1943) is a radical feminist philosopher, essayist and playwright particularly known for her innovative, hybrid-form ecofeminist works. Life Griffin was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1943 and has resided in ...

, Charlene Spretnak, and

Valerie Miner Valerie Miner (born in New York City) is an American novelist, journalist, and professor. A dual US/UK citizen, she lives in San Francisco and Mendocino, California with her partner. Biography Miner is the award-winning author of fifteen books. ' ...

. Established in 1978, the group was primarily known for their national newsletter. They aimed to augment the

feminist movement The feminist movement (also known as the women's movement, or feminism) refers to a series of social movements and political campaigns for Radical politics, radical and Liberalism, liberal reforms on women's issues created by the inequality b ...

of the late 1970s by creating a strong network for women writers to communicate and support each other. They promoted works by women regardless of their age, class, race and sexual preference. ''The FWG'' published three times a year through a subscription service and accommodated their prices for unemployed or low-income women. According to an interview with

Dodie Bellamy Dodie Bellamy (born 1951) is an American novelist, nonfiction author, journalist, educator and editor. Her book, ''Cunt-Ups'' (2001) won the 2002 Firecracker Alternative Book Award. Her work is frequently associated with that of the New Narrativ ...

, who was once involved with the Guild, many of the members were made up of both poor and rich women—much like a "Marxist community". Bellamy also said that she found herself standing in rooms with many notable women such as

because of the Guild. The Guild often partnered with other feminist publications such as '' 13th Moon''—whose editor, Ellen Marie Bissert, was also a member of the Guild.Dubois, Rochelle H. “The Feminist Writer’s Guild.” Women’s Studies Quarterly, Fall 1981. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1649&context=wsq

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feminist Writers' Guild Feminist organizations in the United States History of women in California