SLC Writer’s Block – Overcoming the Blank Page @ Calvin S. Smith Library

We will be holding our first meeting in the large study room at the Calvin S Smith Library. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be trying out a few different locations before deciding on a permanent home for our meetings. Suggestions for possible venues are always welcome.

You’re encouraged to bring your ideas, experiences, and questions as well as some writing to work on. The first half of the meeting is an exploratory discussion. The send half is a focused writing session.

Our format

10 minutes of introductions.
50 minutes of group discussion on the selected topic.
1 hour of focused writing on your project(s).

Meeting Discussion Topic: Overcoming the Blank Page
What inspires you to write?
What’s your process for deciding what to write?
How do you begin to tackle the blank page in front of you?
What’s your value system for deciding what to keep and what to scrap?
Your tips and tricks for narrowing down to the writing in front of you?

Some Ground Rules
We wish they weren’t needed, but they usually are.

Be civil and demonstrate some fundamental social grace.

Leave your politics at home - don’t bring politics into this group unless it’s an explicit part of your writing project.

Recognize that writers in this group write about a broad spectrum of topics and from diverse viewpoints. Much of that writing could be controversial, adult-themed, or otherwise geared for a more mature audience. This is a safe place for the exploration and discussion of the craft of writing. It’s not a “safe space” or “trigger free zone” for ideologies.