Denver Writers Forum/Book Club

It’s time to shift gears to the "Master of Macabre" himself. We’re gathering to break down the essential wisdom from Stephen King’s On Writing.

Whether you’re a fan of his novels or just a fan of his no-nonsense approach to the craft, this forum is about sharpening our tools and getting back to the "basics" that make a story move.

The Agenda:

• The Toolbox: Why King thinks vocabulary and grammar are the foundations of every writer’s kit. 🧰
• The "Kill Your Darlings" Mentality: Discussing the brutal necessity of the second draft. ✂️
• The Situation over the Plot: King’s belief in letting characters find their own way out of a "box."
• The 2,000-Word Rule: Can we actually maintain that kind of daily momentum?

The Vibe:
"Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s."

Bring your coffee, your latest drafts, and your strongest opinions on the use of adverbs. This isn't a lecture; it's a workshop for those of us actually doing the work.
Our forum meets every fourth Thursday. In addition to the main meeting topic, it’s an open discussion of writing, editing, and publishing issues that participants bring to the table.

Note: The Walnut Room has free adjacent parking.

Also, be sure to join the Denver Writers Workshop on Meetup and Facebook for more information on the following activities:

WORKSHOP
4/9 Jeff
4/23 Alan
5/7 Vanessa
5/21 Nicky

FORUM/BOOK CLUB
4/16 Joyce Carol Oates' Rules of Writing
4/30 The Tenant by Freida McFadden
5/14 Ernest Hemingway's Rules of Writing

It’s time to dive deep into the world of postmodern paranoia and the legacy of literary puzzles. We will be discussing a heavy hitter of the counterculture, The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon.

Whether you’re here for the secret underground postal systems, the labyrinthine conspiracies of 1960s California, or just to see if Oedipa Maas ever actually finds out what "Trystero" is, this is going to be a terrific session.

The Vibe: Brain-bending, conspiratorial, and slightly manic—just like Thomas.

***

### Discussion Points:

• The Nature of Paranoia: Is Oedipa uncovering a global conspiracy or simply losing her mind?
• Entropy and Information: How Pynchon uses scientific concepts to describe a crumbling society.
• High Art vs. Low Culture: The jarring mix of Jacobean revenge plays and cartoonish puns.
• "Shall I project a world?" The struggle to find meaning in a world overflowing with signs and symbols.

***

If you haven't finished the book yet, don't worry—there’s a chance the book doesn't actually exist, and we’re all just part of a complex hoax orchestrated by a defunct postal service. We'll see you there! 📯

Note: The Walnut Room has free adjacent parking (unless the spots have been redistributed by a secret society).

Our book club meets every fourth Thursday. New attendees will be eligible to select our next book.

Also, be sure to join the Denver Writers Workshop on Meetup and Facebook for more information on the following activities:

WORKSHOP
5/7 Vanessa
5/21 Nicky
6/4 Jeff

FORUM
5/14 Ernest Hemingway's Rules of Writing
6/11 Stephen King's Rules of Writing
7/9 Henry Miller's Rules of Writing

BOOK CLUB
5/28 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
7/23 Normal People by Sally Rooney

"The first thing you have to do is to learn to trust yourself. You have to believe that you are the only one who can write the story you have to tell." — Henry Miller

Join us for an immersive exploration of the raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal writing philosophy of Henry Miller. Known for his "stream of consciousness" style and his refusal to bow to convention, Miller’s approach to the craft is a masterclass in creative liberation and staying true to one's own voice.

Miller’s rules weren’t about rigid structure; they were about the rhythm of work and the courage to be "always yourself." We’ll be breaking down his legendary "11 Commandments"—developed during the creation of Tropic of Cancer—and discussing how his defiant spontaneity can help modern writers break through creative barriers.

What We’ll Discuss:

• The 11 Commandments:Analyzing his personal work habits, from "Work on one thing at a time until finished" to "Don’t be a draught-horse."
• Creative Abandon: How to stop over-editing and let the "inner man" speak on the page.
• Painting with Words: Discussing Miller’s transition between watercolor and prose, and how different art forms can feed your narrative.
• The Discipline of Enthusiasm: Why Miller believed you should "Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers."

Whether you’re navigating a sprawling manuscript or looking to inject more life into your prose, come ready to discuss how to "write first and always" until your own unique truth emerges.

Our forum meets every fourth Thursday. It’s an open discussion of writing, editing, and publishing issues that participants bring to the table. We are currently scheduled to meet at The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut Street, but our location may change. Please check this posting for our venue before attending.

Note: The Walnut Room has a free adjacent parking lot.
(Be sure to join the Denver Writers Workshop on Meetup and Facebook for more information on those activities.)

WRITERS WORKSHOP
5/7 Vanessa
5/21 Nicky
6/4 Jeff

FORUM
5/14 Ernest Hemingway's Rules of Writing
6/11 Stephen King's Rules of Writing

BOOK CLUB
5/28 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
6/25 The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
7/23 Normal People by Sally Rooney