(From the April 2004 issue)
Writing in company:
A short look at local writing groupsBy Karen Edwards
Members of The Workshop, seated l to r:
Becky Fuse Homing, Renee K. Nicholson, Matt Betts, Lorence Gutterman, Amanda Vallo.
Back row l to r: Thomas Wilcox, Tim Dougherty, Ink, Rebecca Seum, Paul von Hippel,
Sydney Schardt, Lynn Bartels, Derek Rimelspach.
Writing is a lonely profession. After all, most writing is simply a reflection of one's unique view of the world, and it doesn't take colleagues, co-workers or consultants to arrive at that. Writing, instead, is an introspective journey traveled solo.
That doesn't mean that writers are anti-social, however. Most writers thrive on life and the people who create it, otherwise, they would have nothing to write about.
Besides, ultimately, writers need readers, and that's where writing groups come in. Most, but not all, writing groups serve as stand-ins for those elusive readers. The groups read and/or listen to the writer's work, ask questions, and provide input. But there is so much more to writing groups than that. The group is where writers go for support, for nurturing, for companionship, for assurances that they are not alone in their preoccupation with words. A writing group is more family than formality, more comforting than critical. It's a place where writers go for hope - and where writers go to dream.
Each of the groups listed here is easily accessible to Short North writers and representative of the types of writing groups you'll find all over the city if you look. All but one of the groups mentioned here is open to new members, and that holds true whether you're a beginning writer or a published author.
So go ahead, reach out to other writers. You, and your writing, will be better for it (and the profession will seem a lot less lonely).
The Writers' Bloc
MEETING LOCATION: Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Avenue.
MEETING DAYS: Meets every other month, on the third Thursday. The next scheduled meetings are May 20 and July 15.
MEETING TIME: 6:30 p.m., networking; 7 p.m., program.
Purpose: "The group's main purpose is to develop professionally, share resources, and provide fellowship with other writers," says Wayne Rapp, program chair and member of the group's steering committee. Hour-long programs are presented at each meeting, and cover all varieties of writing - from screenwriting to poetry and everything in between. "The programs offer ways to improve your craft or to try a new one," says Rapp. Flash fiction was the program topic in March. Speakers are frequently drawn from members of the group who are also outside professionals in a specific writing craft. However, guest speakers have included columnists Mike Harden and Joe Blundo, publisher Robert Greer, and literary agent Oscar Collier.
About the Group: The Writers' Bloc is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The group was started by Thurber House, which was eager to facilitate a meeting for writers who wanted to be part of a writing group. Once the group was up and running, Thurber House turned facilitation duties over to the group itself. Now Thurber House's primary connection to the group is providing meeting space.
About the Members: The group has "several hundred" members on its mailing list, says Rapp, but typically 20 to 30 writers will be present at any one meeting. Not all of those will be members, he continues. "Some writers come simply for the program topic." Members are drawn from a wide demographic, and include all socioeconomic groups. The membership core is older (40s and up), but all ages are welcome to join.
Annual Events: The group hosts an annual holiday party, which includes an "Open Mic" night. Members are asked to bring along a children's book to donate to a needy school or hospital, as well as any writing they would like to share with the group. The writer reads his or her work, or a work written by someone else which they have found meaningful. There is no critique. The reading is simply for sharing.
Unique Feature: Although the general group does not have read-and-critique sessions, Rapp says there are sub-groups that have formed within the Writers' Bloc membership that focus on specific writing or genres and which do read and critique. The only way to learn more about the sub-groups is to attend a meeting during the half-hour networking portion, and ask other members what's available. These groups form their own rules, meeting dates, etc., but Rapp says the Thurber House space is made available for half-an-hour following each program for sub-groups to meet.
How to Join: Potential members can simply show up at any planned program. For $5, you may attend the program, or pay $15 for a year's membership.
For More Information: Contact Wayne Rapp, (614) 861-3394, e-mail: wrapp@prodigy.net
Sequentially Speaking
MEETING LOCATION: The Write Place, at the St. Joseph Montessori School, 933 Hamlet Street in Italian Village.
MEETING DAYS: 3rd Sunday every month.
MEETING TIME: 2 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Purpose: This is a group that focuses on a specific kind of writing - in this case, visual storytelling, or, as founder and executive director Max Ink puts it, the "sequential art medium." If you're still wondering what the group is about, think comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels. The group is more roundtable than critique group, says Ink. "For the first hour, we talk about what we've been up to, what we've seen on the comic book shelves, and industry news," he says. Members are also welcome to share their recent creative work. The second hour, "We turn on some music, break out the pens and paper and go to town, jamming together on comics," says Ink. Each person will write and/or draw a panel on their own page, then they place their work on a table, and take a panel that's been drawn by someone else. "That person draws the next panel, improvising the story," says Ink.
About the Group: Sequentially Speaking held its first meeting in January 2003. In addition to supporting the artists, the group also supports the art form itself, which, according to Ink, is often misunderstood. "Sequential art is an American art form," says Ink, but North Americans' perception of comic book art, unlike that of Europeans and Asians, leaves something to be desired. Ink is hoping that comic exhibits in respected galleries, like the recent "Splat! Boom! Pow!" exhibit at the Wexner Center, will help to convince more Americans that sequential art is worth a second look, and certainly worth trying your hand at if this kind of visual storytelling appeals to you.
About the Members: The group consists of more than a dozen active members - and most show up for the monthly meetings. "Sequentially Speaking is an inclusive group," says Ink. "Any artist, writer, or curious individual is welcome to attend." Members include college students, college graduates, and "We also have people who have avoided college," quips Ink. Struggling artists work alongside "slightly" well-off homeowners. In other words, the group is a broad mix of gender, age, race, and economic levels.
Annual Event: Sequentially Speaking regularly sponsors an exhibit at the annual Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (www.backporchcomics.com). This year's expo was scheduled for April 3. The group is also in the process of collecting work for an anthology of its works.
Unique Feature: The unique feature of this group has to be founder Max Ink. In the mid-'90s, Ink teamed up with author Nik Dirga and collaborated on Dirga's creation Amoeba Adventures. While Ink is no longer drawing that particular comic, he continues to be one of the art form's most vocal champions. "I love the sequential art medium and want to see the art form flourish creatively and its audiences expand," he says. In order to bring the art to a wider public, Ink devotes much of his time to lecturing on the topic, holding workshops, coffees, and speaking in schools and libraries.
How to Join: Like the other groups, the best way is to simply show up at a meeting. There is no charge.
For More Information: Contact Max Ink at 275-4764 and onward2112@yahoo.com
The Open Critique Group
MEETING LOCATION: The Write Place, at the St. Joseph Montessori School, 933 Hamlet Street in Italian Village.
MEETING DAYS: Every Tuesday evening.
MEETING TIMES: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Purpose: This group is only six months old, so its format is still flexible. It currently operates as a review-and-critique group, but members also work on in-class writing exercises, provided by facilitator Matt Betts. If you're the kind of writer who frequently encounters writer's block, or who wants to write but somehow always finds a reason not to, this is probably the best group for you. The writing exercises assure you that you will be writing at least once during the week and chances are, once you start, you'll keep on going.
About the Group: The Open Critique group formed last October when it became obvious that the Write Place would need another writing group to accommodate the growing interest among area writers. At a typical meeting, you'll begin with some social interaction, and learn about contests, conferences and market news from Betts as well as other members. Then, you'll be presented with a writing exercise, after which you'll have an opportunity to read what you've written that evening, or what you've worked on during the week, and receive feedback. "The feedback is positive as well as negative," says Betts. "If it was all negative, you wouldn't be back."
About the Members: Because the group is still fairly new, it currently consists of five or six members, most of whom are there every week. They represent the entire range of writing, from poetry and short-story writers to novelists and screenwriters, and all levels of experiences - from beginners to more advanced writers. Betts says he enjoys the mix. "I think getting feedback from writers outside your genre gives you views you might not have thought of otherwise. It helps you think out of the box." Members also cover the gamut of socioeconomic levels and ages. Betts says he's eager to see the group expand its membership. "I'd like to cater to an even wider group of writers," he says.
Unique Feature: Other than the in-class writing assignments, one of the few groups to offer them, the Open Critique Group also participates in goal setting. The goal is personal. It can be to complete the story you started or to write two or three pages. Part of each week's meeting is to report on how you're meeting your goals. "It doesn't matter whether you meet them or not," says Betts. You will learn something about yourself and your writing habits.
How to Join: The best way is to simply walk in on a Tuesday night and join the group, says Betts. There is no fee involved, and writers of all genres and experience levels are welcome.
For More Information: Contact Matt Betts, (614) 291-2585, e-mail writeplacecolumbus@yahoo.com
The Wordshop
MEETING LOCATION: The Write Place, at the St. Joseph Montessori School, 933 Hamlet Street in Italian Village.
MEETING DAYS: Every Monday evening
MEETING TIMES: 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Purpose: This is a traditional read-and-critique group, although socializing, networking, and continuing education (occasionally through outside speakers but also through the members themselves) are also a part of the mix.
About the Group: The Wordshop is actually an extension of a group that began at Wild Oats market about three years ago, then partially dissolved when its facilitator left. A few core members remained, however, and Matt Betts took over facilitation duties. The group moved to the Write Place, and has been meeting there ever since, growing to about 15 or 16 members, 12 to 13 of whom attend meetings regularly. As a result, Betts says, the group has had to temporarily close its membership, which is why the Open Critique group was formed. "The group was becoming too large to let everyone have a turn at having their work read," says Betts. The Wordshop operates similarly to the Open Critique group, but because there are two to four critiques a week, there are no writing exercises (except online), and a running list is kept of members who still have work that needs review. Membership to the Wordshop will open when current members drop out.
About the Members: Like the Open Critique group, you'll find a wide variety of writers here, from poets to essayists, from college students to retired physicians. One young mother recently won a $5,000 Ohio Arts Council grant for a story she wrote during her baby's naps. Most of this group has known each other for three years, so there is more social interaction than in the Open Critique group where writers are still learning about each other.
Annual Event: Members attend the Write Place's annual holiday parties, occasionally enjoy a visit from an outside speaker, and participate in a charity event like "Operation Paperback" (which provides books to troops overseas). Betts says there are two new events on the drawing board for 2004: the compilation of a literary journal, featuring the work of the Write Place writers, and a spring retreat where members can spend a weekend working on their current project, or start something new.
Unique Feature: Betts and members of Wordshop host the monthly Open Mic nights at the Upper Arlington library. Members have, but not always, served as the night's featured reader.
For More Information: Contact Matt Betts at the Write Place (see Open Critique Group for contact information.)
Writers' Ink
MEETING LOCATION: 404 Thurber Drive, West, Apt. 6 (in the Tivoli Apartment complex)
MEETING DAYS: 3rd Sunday each month.
MEETING TIME: 5 p.m.
Purpose: Writers' Ink is a writing critique group although the group's founder, Nora Holt, says guest speakers do occasionally appear to talk about agents, publishing and all genres of writing. During a typical meeting, members are encouraged to share their work. "Our slogan, is 'Writers helping writers,'" says Holt.
About the Group: Holt says she founded Writers' Ink shortly after moving to Columbus from Kentucky four years ago. "I wanted to reach out and meet other writers," she says. She placed an ad in a local newspaper and received enough responses to form the group.
About the Members: Writers' Ink members come from a wide demographic background, and range in age from 20-something to 70-something. "We even have children who are honorary members," says Holt. She says her group now has about 80 members from all over the U.S.; 30 of whom live in and around the Columbus area. On a typical meeting night, six to 12 members are usually present. "We are always welcoming new members," says Holt.
Unique Feature: Writers' Ink distributes a monthly newsletter by the same name. "Members are encouraged to share their work at meetings and to contribute to the monthly newsletter in the form of articles, essays, poems, or short stories - anything pertaining to writing is most welcome," says Holt.
How to Join: Contact Holt to express your interest. She'll invite you to a meeting and send you a copy of the group's newsletter as well. If you decide to join, the cost is $15 a year (which includes future copies of their newsletter.) You may also send a check to their location.
For More Information: Contact Nora Holt, (614) 227-0319, e-mail: inkcreativity@sbcgobal.net
Bonus resources
Downtown writer's networkIf you haven't yet logged on to this virtual reality resource, then don't waste another minute. The Web site address is www.downtownwriters.com and it is full of information for Columbus writers, no matter what type of writing you do. The network, located at 764 Oak Street in Old Towne East, sponsors occasional workshops. Check online for the latest news.
Central Ohio Writers of Literature for ChildrenFormerly known as "Writing for Children: A conference for parents, teachers, illustrators, and writers," this conference has been a landmark for Ohio writers for the last six years. It is co-sponsored by the St. Joseph Montessori School and Second Avenue Elementary School, and will be held this year on April 24 at the Fawcett Center at the Ohio State University. The one-day conference features keynotes speakers, including Arthur Dorros, Raymond Bial and Patricia Hermes, and four concurrent sessions. For the first time, attendees will also have an opportunity to participate in writing and illustrating workshops led by published professionals. Manuscripts and portfolios are accepted for review and evaluation. For more information, or to register, contact (614) 291-8644, e-mail: cowriters@mail.com, or visit www.sjms.net/conf.
