This past weekend, the League of Utah Writers marked its 90th year with a four-day writing conference. With keynote speakers like Travis Baldree (Legends and Latte), Courtney Milan (USA Today bestselling historical romance author), and Sammi Walker (internationally ranked slam poet), we were set for an inspiring event. Add in agents from Tor, Baen, and others, and it was a writer’s dream come true.
I joined the League in 2015, the same year my first short story was accepted for an anthology. Those two events are absolutely connected. At the time, I had been working on a book idea for years, but it was not until I became part of the Oquirrh Writers’ Chapter and was surrounded by a community full of other authors that I began learning how to take the next crucial steps.
Not long after joining, I heard from another member about an open call for short stories. I had a flash of inspiration, sent in my piece, and waited, unsure if it was even worth reading, let alone publishing. Months later, not only was my story accepted, but it was chosen to open the anthology.
That was the moment I truly believed I could achieve great things with my writing. Since then, I have published a complete fantasy trilogy, appeared in eight anthologies, co-written a middle-grade novel, and regularly taught at conferences across Utah.
Giving back to the community that helped me grow felt natural. Before long, I became president of Oquirrh Writers, where one of my first big projects was organizing the Spring into Books mass author signing event for two years and mentoring the event for a third.
My involvement deepened when I began attending League board meetings, where I made fast friends with other board members and took on the role of Webchair. At first, it sounded simple. How much work could a website need? As it turns out, a lot. The site manages membership dues, hosts information on nearly 30 chapters, promotes events, and more.
Once I started, I could not resist improving it. I streamlined processes, learned new skills, and found ways to make the site more efficient. One of my proudest achievements was automating the membership management process, saving our membership chair several hours each month and freeing her to focus on more important tasks.
Today, after several years as Webchair, I am still brimming with ideas for the site. Between that role, running a chapter, and tackling other League projects, I volunteer over 100 hours most years.
Which brings me to a moment I will never forget: receiving the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award. Ever since the award was introduced, I have watched it go to people I deeply admire, the ones who keep this amazing organization thriving.
Hearing my name called this year was both humbling and exhilarating. To me, this award reflects a stubborn streak wider than the Great Salt Lake and deeper than Bill Gates’ pockets. I refuse to give up, and I refuse to let things fail when there is still hope.
The League has been one of the biggest reasons I have achieved my author goals, and I look forward to many more years of service to this extraordinary community.
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With Spring into Books (Utah’s Awesome-st Author signing and workshop) at the beginning of the month, paired with end of school craziness for my kiddos, June has been a wild ride – and it’s getting wilder.
I’ll admit, one of the coolest perks of being a writer is having access to books before their official release. I received a copy of Alyson Grauer’s novel On the Isle of Sound and Wonder in exchange for a fair and honest review here on this blog and on other book review sites.
Jodi L. Milner, Author 