It always seems that there is something special about the first edition, the first picture, the first whatever of a new year. Spring represents a new beginning, new opportunities. And, let’s face it, another year seeing the grass from this side sure beats the alternative.

So it bothers me just a little that I start this promising new year with a complaint. That’s right, a COMPLAINT! You folks out there in WRWA land haven’t lived up to my high expectations for you as writers.

Since I made the first announcement—in the Summer 2007 edition—that The Wisconsin Regional Writer would be accepting and publishing members’ creative writing, I have received only 23 submissions (actually a few more than that because a few involved multiple poems). That’s right, 23 submissions from just 12 people. As of the end of February, we had 474 members. I think I’m justified in being disappointed in getting submissions from just one out of every 40 members (OK, 39.5 if you’re into math).

Come on, folks, you can do better than that. I can’t promise that every submission will be printed. I’m deliberately being picky. After all, we want to put our best foot forward to the world of readers, so some submissions won’t make the cut. Some are just too long. Some are sitting in the pile waiting for adequate space. And I am trying to maintain a balance between poetry and prose. But there is a very good chance that your submission will get published here. After all, this is the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association, where all the men are strong, all the women are beautiful, and all our writing is above average, Right?

So, everyone take a look at pages 20-24 and 27, where you’ll find this edition’s Members’ Writing. Note the submission guidelines on page 20. Fire up the computer or typewriter. Have the courage to SUBMIT! You claim to be writers, after all. Real writers submit. In fact, I think that’s going to be a slogan for this year. You’ll see it often from now on. Real writers submit!

OK. I know we can make jokes about that, but I’ll pass. Give me some feedback. I’ll drop the slogan if enough people don’t like it. I’ll replace it if someone gives me a better idea to get the same point across.

I did get some feedback from people who objected to my failure to print the contest rules in the winter edition. I left them out to save space for more members’ creative writing. The rules are available online at the WRWA Web site (www.wrwa.net) and haven’t changed since the last time I printed them. But people want them, so I’ll put ‘em back in. You’ll find the Jade Ring rules on page 12.

Speaking of submitting, don’t forget to send in your entries for this year’s Jade Ring Contest. The contest opens March 15th and closes (entries postmarked by) June 15th. Remember that old saying, “You can catch any fish if you don’t get your line wet”? It goes just as well for writing. You can’t win any prizes if you don’t submit entries. Remember, Real Writers Submit! Oh, I’ve said that already.

I hope to see a bunch of you at the Spring Conference in Manitowoc. Hope you arrive Friday and participate in the Writers’ Roundtable Friday evening. It’s a little like Open Mic in that we bring things to share. But we also give a little feedback (not serious critique, though) and we discuss writing issues. It’s fun! Join us.

WRWA members whose writing is published in The Wisconsin Regional Writer retain the copyright to their work. Submission of your work grants one-time rights for publication by TWRW. Items printed here should be regarded as “published” and authors should make this known when declaring “prior publication” when submitting the work elsewhere. Because of our limited distribution, most editors probably will not regard that as an issue. Finally, the editor will do his best to uphold high standards of quality in the selection of what is printed here so authors may be proud of having their writing presented to the full WRWA membership.