Literary Arts
The Hampshire County Arts Council was originally formed in 1994, inspired by members of the Ice Mountain Writers group. Recognizing, celebrating, and encouraging local writers remains an on-going, core goal of the HCAC.
Writers Groups & More
There are a growing number of opportunities for writers in our area to connect, attend workshops, meet fellow wordsmiths, participate in readings, and showcase their work.
Words of Love with Cookies
Celebrated every year near Valentine’s Day, this sweet event honors love through original poetry, prose, or personal favorite readings shared aloud by the public.
Look out for next year’s date announcement!
The River House Writers Club
Located in Capon Bridge, WV, The River House hosts a wonderful community Writers Club along with various regional literary events and open mic nights.
Local Book Clubs
Our local public libraries host wonderful recurring book clubs, as does the Romney Brew Station Book Club. Do you know of others meeting in the county? Let us know!
Coming This Fall: Hampshire County Book Fair
We are currently hard at work planning a spectacular Book Fair (targeted for Fall 2026) to actively celebrate our local writers and directly benefit our two county public libraries.
Would you like to participate as a featured regional writer, or join our planning committee as a volunteer?
Written Word Resources
Explore helpful regional and global organizations offering resources, contests, and tools for writers. If you have an excellent resource to share that is not listed here, please drop us a line!
West Virginia Writers, Inc.
The largest all-volunteer writers’ resource and service organization serving literary interests across West Virginia. They host a massive annual writing contest across multiple genres, an annual summer conference, and maintain local group directories. (In the past, at least two of our local HCAC writers have brought home Honorable Mentions!)
Beyond NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)
With the structural closing of traditional NaNoWriMo networks, a vibrant new collaborative writing group has formed to continue the famous November 50k-word novel-writing challenge and support long-form narrative accountability.
Hemingway Short Story Competition
Just for fun (and cash prizes!!)—this esteemed short story writing contest takes place each year, highlighting brief, powerful fiction inspired by legendary, minimalist prose styles.
Stay Connected with HCAC
Join our email newsletter list, volunteer at upcoming literary events, or follow our community updates on Facebook.
Literary Arts
Celebrating the written and spoken word across Hampshire County and the surrounding Potomac Highlands.
The Hampshire County Arts Council supports a vibrant community of readers, poets, authors, and spoken-word enthusiasts. From regional book clubs to public readings and creative writing circles, we invite you to find your community and share your voice.
Have a literary event or local writers group to feature? Contact us at info@HampshireArts.org to get it listed!
Community Book Clubs & Groups
“Books & Beyond” Reading Group
Location: Hampshire County Public Library (Main Branch — Romney, WV)
Join fellow readers for lively monthly discussions hosted at the public library in Romney. New members are always welcome to pull up a chair, share their reflections, and explore a diverse range of historical fiction, memoir, and contemporary drama.
Upcoming 2026 Reading Roadmap:
| July | Home Before Morning by Linda Van Devanter |
| August | Canada by Richard Ford |
| September | The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian |
| October | Anxious People by Fredrik Backman |
| November | The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab |
Note: Copies of the upcoming month’s book selection are typically made available for pickup directly behind the library front circulation desk. Contact library staff to secure your loaner copy.
Potomac Highlands Writers Circle
Local Peer Critique & Creative Workshops
An independent group of local novelists, poets, and memoirists meeting regularly to share dynamic prompts, workshop drafts, and discuss independent publishing avenues. Perfect for writers seeking accountability and supportive constructive peer feedback.
Meetings take place bimonthly. For scheduling adjustments and meeting venue locations, reach out to regional group organizers or contact HCAC support.
Our Library Partners
Be sure to check our exceptional local community libraries for seasonal reading programs, genealogical research archives, children’s story hours, and digital media access:
- Hampshire County Public Library: 153 W Main St, Romney, WV — (304) 822-3185
- Capon Bridge Public Library: 29875 Northwestern Pike, Capon Bridge, WV — (304) 856-3777
Stay Connected
Sign up for our monthly ArtScene email newsletter to monitor upcoming literary presentations, local book catalog launches, and live storytelling coordinates.