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Emerald Coast Writers, formerly known as West Florida Literary Federation, traces its roots to twelve cultural groups which formed the organization in 1986.
West Florida Literary Federation (WFLF) , now known as Emerald Coast Writers, was founded 1986 in Pensacola as an all-volunteer organization with a nonprofit (501c-3) status. WFLF is focused on the literary arts, and partners with and assists other community organizations to promote literary efforts through frequent programs, workshops, awards and other related activities. The community organization has an office and library on the second floor of the [[Pensacola Cultural Center]].
For nearly three decades, WFLF has sponsored literary programs for Northwest Florida. Early on, in 1989, Ron Cannon and Leonard Temme, who was later named poet laureate, conceived of and carried out a 24-hour poetry reading marathon in Seville Square. Poets and poetry lovers from across the region read their favorite work or their own poems through the night and into late afternoon the following day. The event, held over the Fourth of July Weekend, was covered by CNN.
In 2020, during the pandemic, WFLF launched its second catharsis writing project, "[https://wflf.org/LifeIntheTimeofCorona Life in the Time of Corona.]" In 2010, when the Deep Water Horizon oil spill threatened life as Floridians knew it, WFLF introduced its first online publication, The Spill. The [https://wflf.org/TheSpill literary site] features prose, poetry and photographs submitted by artists seeking a venue for expressing concern of the ecological disaster.
WFLF provided financial assistance in the inaugural year of the international event, 100,000 Poets for Change, assists other groups with like interests, hosts book signings and occasionally participates in the Downtown Development Board’s Gallery Night in Pensacola. In 2022, WFLF rebranded as Emerald Coast Writers and in 2023 organized Pensacola's first outdoor book festival, Books By the Bay, held at historic Museum Plaza in downtown Pensacola.
'''Sources:''' Archives, West Florida Literary Federation. Interview Ora Wills.[http://www.wflf.org]Walker, Andrea, Pensacola News Journal, Sept. 21, 2014.
