Writers' Group
Has God put a book on your heart but you don't know where to start? Maybe you just love writing and want to explore the avenues for God to use your writing to minister to others or to help you leave a legacy for those you love. Newim’s Writers’ Group provides inspiration and resources for Christian women who want to write.
Writers’ Group for Christian Women
Help and Encouragement for Writers
Regardless of your stage or goals in the writing process, NEWIM is here to help!
Writers Group
Join Luann Budd on the First Saturday of the month (except for some holiday weekends) from 9-10 a.m. (via zoom) for an hour of conversation with other writers. Each meeting has a specific focus and resources are shared. You’ll leave the meeting inspired to keep writing. Email us for more information: Info@newim.org
Luann Budd resides in San Jose, California. She is the President of NEWIM. She also holds a master’s degree in English Composition, a degree specifically focused on Teaching Writing K-Univ. She has taught freshman comp at CSULB and SJSU. She was also a fellow and worked for the California Writing Project at Long Beach State before becoming a career administrator at San Jose State. She is a published author with InterVarsity Press (Journal Keeping—Writing for Spiritual Growth) and a few years ago self-published All Creation Sings (a book of short devotional pieces exploring the theology of our Creator God and Joy). She is called to help women flourish in Christian ministry. Luann and Kevin have five children and ten grandchildren. She loves to write, watercolor and take photographs, and bike ride.
While serving as a young pastor’s wife in southern California, she was invited to the second meeting of what would become NEWIM. She has served on the Board of Directors, co-facilitates the Springs Retreats, and has found NEWIM to be a lifeline.
Publications by NEWIM’s Writers
Several women who have attended NEWIM’s Writers’ Getaway, or who meet monthly as part of the Writers’ Group, have successfully published articles and books. Read Betsy’s article “When you Need a Christmas Miracle” - her article was born at the 2018 Writers’ Getaway and published by Crosswalk.com a month later!
Get to know NEWIM’s Writers and find links to their publications HERE.
Get to Know the Co-Leader: Cindi
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning writer and national speaker who helps women strengthen their relationship with God and with others. She has authored 19 books, all from Harvest House Publishers, including When Women Walk Alone (more than 160,000 copies sold), When Women Long for Rest, When a Woman Discovers Her Dream, and When God Sees Your Tears. Cindi and her husband, Hugh, co-authored When Couples Walk Together: 31 Days to a Closer Connection and Cindi's daughter, Dana, collaborated with her to write When a Mom Inspires Her Daughter. Cindi’s newest book, which will release in 2025, is called The New Loneliness: Nurturing Meaningful Connections When You Feel Isolated. Cindi writes regularly for Crosswalk.com and other online sites and continues to speak across the country for women’s conferences and retreats. Cindi has also appeared on numerous national television and radio shows, including James Dobson's Family Talk and Moody Broadcasting Network. Cindi is the founder and former president of NEWIM's Inland Empire chapter, a CLASS-trained speaker, and an AWSA-certified Writing Coach and Communications Specialist, who has helped writers become published authors for the past 20 years. You can learn more about Cindi's ministry, books, and coaching services at www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.
Writers’ Getaway Fall 2026
WATCH NOW. Thinking about publishing your writing? Get inspired at NEWIM's Writers Getaway with Cindi McMenamin.
Writers' Getaway, Fall 2026, in Three Rivers, CA.
Jonelle shares her testimony of the value of attending NEWIM’s Writers’ Getaway.
Longtime author and NEWIM member Cindi McMenamin and Monica Brislawn team up to provide resources, encouragement. They will be offering encouragement, instruction and one-on-one coaching just prior to The Springs retreat in Three Rivers, CA.
Cindi and Monica look forward to interacting with you on NEWIM’s Facebook Page for Writers.
A Writer's Resource
Kathy Collard Miller has made "Writing as a Ministry for God's Glory" available as a free downloadable resource. You’ll find in the eight chapters information about writing articles, personal experiences, devotionals, Christian Living books, and fiction. You also learn about basic editing, marketing, and balancing non-writing duties. Kathy is the author of over 50 books and will walk you through this information in a practical and understandable way.
Submission Guidelines for Articles
Interested in submitting an article for publication in the Newim Newsletter? We are accepting articles for next year. Please see the Submission Guidelines for more information.