NAIWE encourages those with a love of the word to be active within the community.
During the first full week of March, NAIWE sponsors Words Matter Week, a holiday that delights in honoring the importance of words. During this week, libraries and other community locations have sponsored events related to the importance of words for people to gather, learn, and have fun.
In the summer, NAIWE leads a summer challenge, incentivizing people to complete those resolutions, piles of paperwork, and outreach projects that have been on their to-do list for too long.
In December, NAIWE announces the winners of that year’s Book Awards contest, promoting well-written books that have been written in the last five years in categories, such as children’s books, coffee table books, genre fiction, graphic novels, informational nonfiction, literary fiction, middle grade books, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and young adult books. Participating in a book award contest allows writers to connect with one another and promote their hard work.
April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.
She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.
Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).
April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published four books.