What we’re about
I just finished reading Chuck Palahniuk's Consider This -- and one of the things he suggests is starting a writers' group. So here we go in my Big Voice -- the first rule of Writer's Group is...
This is what I envision. This group encourages people to write and share their writing. People who never have anyone else read their words are just journaling. If you want to be a writer, then write, and then have people read your writing. This is about discussion and ideas. What works, what doesn't. This isn't about what you necessarily like or dislike, but about storytelling -- and good storytelling is often collaborative. I want to leave time for people to also offer book suggestions, tips, and, who knows, maybe some exercises.
New writers are welcome. Old vets are welcome. Playing around with a screenplay? Bring a scene and share it. Writing poetry? See how people react. Ultimately, I would like to try and build a community of writers in St. Pete. I know there are other groups as well, and I intend to attend some of those.
As for who am I? I'm Scott. I was a journalist for 20 years, where I worked for big newspapers, small newspapers, and magazines, writing about everything from fast cars to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, before going back to graduate school and getting a doctorate and becoming a journalism professor, where I've worked in Dubai and Almaty for the past five years. (Apparently, I'm also big on long-winded sentences.) Now I'm working on a few ideas. I think being part of a group would help keep me motivated. I have no connections to get your work published, but I do know how to write.
OK -- I'm thinking of holding the first meeting on at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 1. And then every 14 days after that. I have not selected a location but if people have suggestions I'm happy to hear them. I'll do a little research on conducting good workshops -- it should have some structure -- and we can figure the rest out as we go.
Let's do this and create something bigger than ourselves.
