Each year, those who enter the Writing Awards Program build points toward becoming Master Writers. This program allows a writer to gauge professional development by means other than category wins.
How are merits awarded?
One “judge’s merit” is awarded to any writer placing first, second or third in a category, or when a judge marks a non-placing entry as deserving of merit recognition.
How many levels are there?
There are six Master Writer levels, with Level 6 being the top honor of Writer of Merit.
Level One- Level One is earned with one judge’s merit in any category.
Level Two- Level Two is earned with 2 judge’s merits in two different categories OR a first-place win in a category.
Level Three- Level Three is earned with three judge’s merits in 3 different categories, OR by winning first place in a category and earning a judge’s merit in a different category.
Level Four- Level Four is earned with four judge’s merits in four different categories, OR by winning first place in a category and earning two judge’s merits in different categories, OR by earning the AAEA Writer of the Year Award.
Level Five – Master Writer- Level 5 Master Writer is earned with five judge’s merits in five different categories, OR by winning a place in three different categories, OR winning AAEA Writer of the Year and three judge’s merits in different categories.
Level 6 – Writer of Merit
Level 6 Writer of Merit is earned by receiving judge’s merits in ten of the eleven categories.
Questions about your current level or standing in the Master Writer program? Contact Carly Byrd at [email protected] or by calling 706-407-2550.
Click here to enter the awards contests now! (Deadline extended to May 10, 2019!)
Writers of Merit
- Jeanne Bernick
- Joe Dan Boyd
- Larry Dreiling
- Betsy Freese
- Gil Gullickson
- Gregg Hillyer
- Dean Houghton
- Charles Johnson
- Jennifer Kiel
- Jim Patrico
- Pamela Smith
- Holly Spangler
- John Vogel
- Michael Wilson
Roll of Master Writers
- Crystal Albers
- JoAnn Alumbaugh
- Barb Baylor Anderson
- Cheryl Anderson
- Dan Anderson
- Richard Banks
- Laurie (Potter) Bedford
- Jeanne Bernick
- Karen Bernick
- Kacey Birchmier
- Kim Bower-Spence
- Joe Dan Boyd
- Andrew Burchett
- John Byrnes
- Jennifer Carrico
- Chris Clayton
- Sherry Collins
- Dan Crummett
- Susan Davis
- Joseph Degnan
- Del Deterling
- Jim Dickrell
- Tom Dodge
- Larry Dreiling
- Bill Eftink
- Tanner Ehmke
- Jacqui Fatka
- Rich Fee
- Rod Fee
- Charlene Finck
- Bill Fleming
- Betsy Freese
- Karen Freiberg
- Meg Gaige
- Tharran Gaines
- Aine Gianoli
- Barb Glen
- Dee Goerge
- P.J. Griekspoor
- Alan Guebert
- Gil Gullickson
- John Harrington
- Virginia Harris
- Greg Henderson
- Shauna Rose Hermel
- David Hest
- Nancy Dorman Hickson
- Gregg Hillyer
- Robin Hoffman
- Greg Horstmeier
- Dean Houghton
- Deborah Huso
- Paul Jackson
- Charles Johnson
- Jerilyn Johnson
- Gene Johnston
- Gail Keck
- Des Keller
- Boyd Kidwell
- Jennifer Kiel (Vincent)
- Patricia Peak Klintberg
- Bryce Knorr
- Greg Lamp
- Jennifer Latzke
- Kurt Lawton
- Chuck Lay
- Linda Leake
- Urban Lehner
- Dick Lehnert
- Frank Lessiter
- Joe Link
- Jill Loehr
- Dan Looker
- Mary MacArthur
- John Maday
- Syl Marking
- Andy Markwart
- Holly Martin
- Don McCabe
- Lorne McClinton
- Dale McDonald
- Karen McMahon
- Catherine Merlo
- Katie Micik
- Dale Miller
- Dan Miller
- Marlys Miller
- Martha Mintz
- Paula Mohr
- Rick Mooney
- Mark Moore
- Liz Morrison
- Dave Mowitz
- Victoria (Greer) Myers
- Todd Neeley
- Alan Newport
- Fran O’Leary
- Brent Olson
- John Otte
- Jim Patrico
- Clint Peck
- Jim Phillips
- John Phipps
- Ben Potter
- Sean Pratt
- Russ Quinn
- Michael Raine
- Tim Reeves
- Larry Reichenberger
- Doug Rich
- Joe Roybal
- John Russnogle
- Laura Sands
- Jessie Scott
- Elaine Shein
- Darrell Smith
- Pamela Smith
- Holly Spangler
- Bill Spiegel
- Cherry Stout
- Marcia Zarley Taylor
- Cheryl Tevis
- Mace Thornton
- Lon Tonneson
- Emily Unglesbee
- Joe Vansickle
- Claire Vath
- Greg Vincent
- John Vogel
- Willie Vogt
- John Walter
- Mindy Ward
- Jodie Wehrspann
- Joanne Welsh
- Steve Werblow
- Ed White
- Tim White
- Matthew Wilde
- Michael Wilson
- Susan Winsor
- Karl Wolfshohl
- Dan Zinkand