Memoir Writing

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Join us for the **launch party** for ***Emptiness*, our latest one-shot anthology**! We will have: \- Copies of the gorgeous trade paperback for sale \- Signings \- Speeches \- Readings \- Annnnnd\.\.\. prizes\! *Emptiness: A One-Shot Anthology of Speculative Fiction* features 48 stories from your fellow Toronto SFF Writers, all written in a single day. It is our longest one-shot anthology to date, clocking in at nearly 120,000 words. It is also a **#1 Amazon Bestseller** in: Canadian Short Stories, Science Fiction Short Stories, Fantasy Anthologies, and Genre Fiction Anthologies. **Vote for your favourite stories:** [Go here for the voting link.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1vRL2WAx-RRwg-umEEAzyEQDtMMYY2aomEayi2wUV6p65dA/viewform) Voting closes Sat. May 23, 2026 at 11am EST. **Book sales:** [Get your paperback](https://www.amazon.ca/Emptiness-One-Shot-Anthology-Speculative-Fiction/dp/1069418846) [Get your ebook](https://www.amazon.ca/Emptiness-One-Shot-Anthology-Speculative-Fiction-ebook/dp/B0GL42LJJZ/) You will be also be able to purchase the paperback during the launch party. Cash, card, and e-transfer accepted.

Come join us at the lovely, well-lit, and cozy Theatre Centre Cafe for an hour and a half of silent writing (on whatever writing projects you will)! After silent writing is done, feel free to stay and chat or go as you please. If you are late you are welcome to join us (quietly and not disruptively). Please note this is a casual event, and we will NOT be critiquing each other's work. Other Important Details: WiFi name/password: #TheTheatreCentre (no password, open access) Travel / Parking info: There is paid street parking as well as Green P underground parking located at 45 Abell St (2 mins walk from the venue) Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Elizabeth Simcoe named the area now known as Mimico for the thousands of pigeons that blackened the sky at the western end of the settlement. Mimico was originally located at the confluence of Mimico Creek and Dundas Street. William Gamble, opened a sawmill and built a settlement for the workers nearby. Etobicoke's first church, Christ Church was opened on Church Street which became Royal York Road. Mimico is a walkable neighbourhood and a great place to stroll and discover our amazing history. The Lakeshore Hospital was built in 1888 as the Mimico Asylum, its doors opened on January 21, 1889. The original idea for the hospital was a series of cottages designed by Doctor Joseph Workman who wanted a resort type feel to the hospital. The architect was Kivas Tully, who worked with gardener Samuel Matheson. Most of the buildings were built by the patients themselves, and helped with laundry duties, and tended to the vast gardens. But a different story emerged that most Canadians had no idea about. And that was the story of Camp M - Mimico. In 1887, the Victoria Industrial School for Boys opened on old Horner Avenue in Mimico, just blocks from the site of the new Mimico Hospital for the Insane (Humber College.) The school, which was a juvenile reformatory, hoped to break the bad boys through moral and academic education and old fashioned hard work. I hope there was a positive outcome. In 1927, the school changed its name to the Mimico Reform School. But it was the war years 1939-1945 that really surprised me as a Torontonian. It was known as Camp M or Internment Camp 22, the largest camp for POWs in the centre of a large Canadian city. Most camps were constructed in rural areas, and the camp provided space for more than 520 German nationals. The history of this camp is fascinating and had links to the Toronto Central Prison on Strachan Avenue and the Mimico Hospital directly to the south on lakeshore where we begin this tour. This walking tour is for all levels and walkers. The tour begins at the New Toronto Public Library Branch at 110 Eleventh Street just south of Lakeshore. We end this tour at Kipling and Horner Avenue, just a few blocks to the north of the old hospital! This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

It's better when we're together. Come and experience the power of the WHM with a wonderful group of people. We breathe, we go into the cold and we teach our bodies to heat up properly. We develop resilience and the mindset to use these powerful healing tools over and over again, all year round. This gathering is fully guided by Wim Hof instructor Steve Beattie. If you are new to this, come on down, enjoy the support and practice in a safe way with us. If you already have a WHM practice this meetup is a great way to take it to the next level, and make lots of new friends. There will be a fire, snacks and drinks shared by other attendees. We have been doing this 6 for years! **What to bring?** * Yoga mat * Weather-appropriate clothing (better to dress too warm!) * Bathing suite, towel * Water shoes (optional) In extreme weather being prepared is very important. Especially if it's your first time, please read up on how to come prepared [here.](https://www.breathinginnature.com/wim-hof-method-meetup/) Learn more about our Wim Hof meetups, workshops, breath classes, wilderness trips, medicine work and special events at **[Breathing in Nature](https://breathinginnature.com/)**. Join the "**[Wim Hof Toronto](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1714218015474146/)**" group on Facebook to see all of our local events. This is a free event made possible by our Gift Economy. You can learn more about the Gift Economy [here](https://breathinginnature.com/gift-economy/).

**Note:** Online attendance for this event is expected from around the world, so register early to reserve your spot before the Zoom attendance capacity is reached. New to Eckankar? Register for a **Complimentary Pass** to the May 23-24 seminar! **WHAT IS AN ECKANKAR SOUL ADVENTURE SEMINAR?** An ECK Soul Adventure Seminar is always a spiritual occasion. A celebration of like-hearted people, each inspiring talk, workshop, and presentation offers secrets to spiritual living that can help you take another step on your individual journey home to God. Above all, the heart of the seminar experience is about discovering more about the divine love that already lies within you. **This is a hybrid (online AND in-person) 2-day seminar:** * Saturday, May 23rd from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET * Sunday, May 24th from 9:30 am -11:00 am ET * FREE for guests who are not formal students of Eckankar **Link to view the program and to register online or in person:** [https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-soul-adventure-seminar.html](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-soul-adventure-seminar.html) **THEME:** ***HOW TO SURVIVE SPIRITUALLY IN OUR TIMES*** “Yet life is a mystery until we begin to understand that we can be the creators of our own world. In truth, what we are today is a creation of that which we have made from the past. There is a way to change the future. “ *\~ ECK Master Harold Klemp, Sound of Soul pg 37* **FEATURES** * **Interactive Spiritual Discussion, Talks, Panels, Youth and Young Adult Program,** * **​Music, Art, Fellowship!** * **Address: North York Central Library and Concourse Event Space, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M2N 5N9** * **Link to view the program and to register online or in person:** [https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-soul-adventure-seminar.html](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-soul-adventure-seminar.html) **FEATURED SPEAKER - DEBBIE BRYK-SERVA** Debbie Bryk-Serva has been a student of Eckankar for over 45 years and is a retired pediatric cardiologist, wife, mother, and grandmother. She has one adorable fur baby, a golden doodle named Georgia. She is grateful for the spiritual insights and inner guidance that have developed through her active practice of the spiritual exercises of Eckankar. She loves the ECK teachings and spiritual exercises because they work! Life has its challenges, but she looks for the silver lining and blessing that is waiting to be realized in each experience. Soul equals Soul, and you, too, can open your heart to the blessings of love all around. Join us at the Ontario ECK Regional Seminar to discover how to survive and thrive spiritually in our times! **To view the program and to register online or in person, [click here](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html)** **\*INTERNATIONAL GUESTS:** This event is not intended for anyone who is barred by the laws of their country from attending. Please follow the laws of your home country. Sponsored by Eckankar Canada in Ontario. Illustration Courtesy of [Eckankar, The Path of Spiritual Freedom](http://www.eckankar.org/)

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

We are now at **Yonge Sheppard Centre** in the **food court** near **Dazzle Mi**. We start a bit past 1pm, so if you're late, please find a seat and start writing -- we'd love to hear about your story or your day -- afterwards. :) **Coworking for writers in your area!** Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com) **Travel / Parking info:** Public Transit: 1. Take the TTC subway to Sheppard-Yonge Station. 2. Use the Yonge St. Sheppard Ave exit **Driving & Parking:** Parking Entrance to Yonge Sheppard Centre is located on Greenfield Avenue and Doris Avenue. Accessible parking is available on P1, P3 and Concourse. Be sure to check for parking limits or fees. **Location:** We gather around the tables in the food court near **Dazzel Mi**. If you spot a group of people with laptops out, that’s probably us! **RSVP:** Please do RSVP. But be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. **SCHEDULE:** 12:45 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in -- come in early if you want to get lunch. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about red-nosed reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Hello everyone, Please join us for a fabulous and unique evening as we get to experience all the great, powerful and inspiring music I have written over the years; now live in person! These are songs that I have written for well over 30 years. (I'll be playing many of my more recent songs and personal favorites) I trust you will truly love what you hear! \*Joined by my other groups too; so we can anticipate a wonderful evening! **Location:** Smoke Show - 747 Mt. Pleasant Rd. https://www.smokeshowbbqandbrew.com/ **Date:** Sunday May 24th, 2026 **Time:** Arrive between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm (if you can) \*Arrive a bit early if you like to get settled in :) **Event Fee:** 10 dollar at the door or e transfer in advance to steveflemming11@gmail.com Event Details below: Sincerely, Steve Flemming (Songwriter, Lyricist and Host) Event Details: **Steve Flemming's Stories and Songs for Humanity (Dinner and Listening Party)** \*Original Lyrics and Songs by Songwriter and Producer Steve Flemming \*Story songs about love, nature, spirituality, life, loss and everything in between! I'll be playing a mix of songs using a fusion of mixed genres like, Folk, Traditional Folk, Country, Bluegrass, Soft Rock, Rock, Love Ballads, Easy Listening, Soul, R & B, Gospel, Pop, Adult Contemporary, Indie Rock; and many others genres too. **About Steve Flemming (Lyricist and Songwriter)** Highly influenced by the great singer songwriters of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Steve has been writing his own songs since 1990. Songs about life, love, loss, hope, faith, joy, romance, memories, spirituality and redemption. Songs that are universal, heartfelt and often relevant to the lives we lead. **-Arrive any time between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm inside the Restaurant (reserved seating is provided for the group :)** \*Arrive a bit early if you like to get settled in :) **Event Fee:** 10 dollars (cash only) when you arrive (HST is included) or e transfer in advance to [Steveflemming11@gmail.com](http://Steveflemming11@gmail.com/) (One Beverage or Appetizer minimum please to support the venue and staff) (Plan to come for dinner if you can) \*If attending the 3:00 pm Nature Walk that day there will be no additional entrance fee for this Listening Party event :) (1 minute walk from the new Mt. Pleasant & Eglinton station)

This is the second walk in a new series of small meetups in Toronto — feel free to join, whether this is your first time or you came to the previous one. **If you are on a Waitlist** Please feel free to still join. I have a free meet-up account, which limits me to 10 people sign up. **Meeting Plan** We’ll meet just outside the main entrance of Rosedale Subway Station at street level (I’ll be standing near the exit and easy to spot), and walk & chat through Rosedale onto the ravine trails toward Evergreen Brick Works, finishing with a coffee or a stroll through the farmer's market (happens every Saturday at Brick Works until 1pm). Having done the first event, I might bring a very light structure or conversation prompts for our walk & chat part. The main idea behind these mini-series of walks is to be outdoors, be active, meet new people, and start your weekend on a positive note. **At Brick Works** Once we get to the Brick Works, some people might want to sit down together for a coffee, while others want to stroll around the farmer's market and get some food, and some want to do their own thing. This is very flexible. You might want to bring your own tea/coffee/drink as there are plenty of spaces to sit, sip and enjoy the day. The farmer's market is very nice, but the queues were quite long, and the options are somewhat limited. I might bring my own tea in a thermos this time. **Timing** • Meet: 11:00–11:10am at Rosedale Station (we will start walking at 11.10am) • Walk: \~40 minutes at an easy pace • Coffee or farmer's market: around midday at Brick Works If it rains heavily, I might have to cancel the walk. We can bring umbrellas if it sprinkles lightly and still enjoy the outdoors. If it rains heavily, I will update the invite in the morning of the event. I’ll be there to welcome everyone. Looking forward to meeting you.

**Laughter Yoga, Sound Healing & Breathwork Experience (Toronto/GTA)** By **[Lynn Himmelman, Life Transformation Mentor](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/laughter-yoga-sound-healing-breathwork-experience-torontogta-registration-1972773377277?aff=erellivmlt#organizer-card)** [The Redwood Studios: 3rd floor (stairs)Toronto, ON](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/laughter-yoga-sound-healing-breathwork-experience-torontogta-registration-1972773377277?aff=erellivmlt#location) Sunday, May 24 • 10 AM - 4 PM **Overview** An embodied experience of laughter, breath, movement, and vocal sound play - where voice and expression are felt - not performed. **Remembering Who We Are: A Day of Radical Joy through Laughter Yoga & Vocal Sound Play** Join us **in person** for an uplifting and interactive experience - a **one-time** unique intertwining of the expertise from two well-seasoned workshop facilitators: Lynn Himmelman, Champion of Laughter & Play and Ann-Marie Boudreau, Vocal Sound Play Specialist Extraordinaire! **“Before the world told you who you should be, who were you?”** Most of us have spent years perfecting a "mask"—a version of ourselves that is quiet, composed, and compliant. But behind that mask lies a version of you that is ***loud, rhythmic, and wildly alive.*** In a world that often asks us to "dampen down" our inner spark to fit into boxes and meet societal expectations, it’s easy to lose the melody of our own spirit. ***This workshop is an invitation to strip away the "shoulds" and step back into the vibrant, uninhibited version of yourself.*** This full-day intensive is ***a sanctuary for the unmasked version of you to come out and play***. By weaving together the breathwork of **Laughter Yoga** with the resonance of **Vocal Sound Play**, we create a safe container to dissolve the "cloak" of adulthood and remember our original state: ***pure, uninhibited connection.*** **What to Expect** This isn't a choir rehearsal or a gym class—it’s a journey of reconnection. We use movement, rhythm, and sound to bypass the analytical mind and tap into the wisdom of the body. * **Laughter Yoga:** We utilize intentional laughter as a form of exercise. No jokes are required! Through playful movement and eye contact, "fake" laughter quickly transforms into the genuine, contagious, belly-aching variety. * **Vocal Sound Play:** We move beyond lyrics and "good singing" to explore the raw power of the voice. Through toning, chanting, and melodic improvisation, we release stored tension and reclaim our unique frequency. * **Childlike Play:** We revisit the freedom of childhood - before life lured you into a box of limitations - to rediscover a sense of wonder and curiosity. **The Journey Back to "You"** The goal of this workshop is a profound **"Remembering."** Together, we will: 1. **Shed the Armor:** Use movement to shake off the weight of societal expectations. 2. **Open the Heart:** Use laughter to break down emotional barriers and foster deep connection. 3. **Find Your Frequency:** Use vocal play to express the truths that words often fail to capture. 4. **Reclaim Play:** Remember that joy is your birthright, not a luxury. ***"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people, and song is the bridge between the human and the divine."*** **Who This Is For** **This space is for those who feel:** * A longing to express more fully, but something holds them back * A sense that their voice—literal or metaphorical—has been muted * A desire to reconnect with joy in a way that feels real, not forced You do not need to be "funny," and you certainly do not need to be a "singer." You only need a willingness to listen inwardly…and allow something to shift. If you have a heartbeat and a voice you are perfectly qualified to attend. Come as you are . . . and leave as who you ***really*** are. **What You Will Reclaim** * **The Freedom to Play:** Reconnect with your "Inner Child"- the one who laughed without a punchline and sang without a stage. * **Somatic Release:** Use the combination of sound and laughter to flush cortisol out of your system and replace it with a "cocktail" of endorphins and oxytocin. * **Vocal Empowerment:** Stop "dampening down" your soul. Learn to take up space with your breath and your sound. * **Heart-Centered Connection:** Experience the profound bond that forms when a group of people drops their guards and meets in a space of shared vulnerability. **What You Will Leave With** Not just an experience - but a felt sense you can return to. * The memory of your unfiltered voice * A body that knows how to release, not just hold on * A deeper trust in your natural expression And perhaps most importantly: **the recognition that what you’ve been seeking…** **has been within you the entire time.** **Facilitators' Note** *This is a "no-talent" zone. You don’t need a singing voice, and you don’t need to be in a good mood. We don't use jokes; we use the body. All you need is the desire to be seen and heard in your most authentic form. This workshop provides you with the “How”.* **Participant Checklist** * **Comfortable Clothing:** Wear something you can move, dance, and lie down in. Dress in layers to accommodate periods of heating up and cooling down. * **Relaxation Props:** Bring a yoga mat, 1-2 pillows for under your neck and knees, a blanket or towel to cover yourself * **An Open Mind:** Leave the "adult" at the door; they can pick you up at 5:00 PM. * **Water Bottle:** Laughter and toning are thirsty work! * **Brown Bag Lunch:** Bring food for yourself (Lean towards, fresh, organic, vegetarian choices in order to align with The Redwood Studios vegetarian policy)and (optional)food to share. Get to know your workshop playmates, socializing and breaking bread together, between our morning and afternoon workshop sessions, in our community gathering spot, The Redwood Green Room, 3rd floor. If you prefer to break away on your own for lunch, be aware that there are limited "eating out" options close enough to the venue to be back within the hour. ***Reconnect with your true self through fun, community, and joyful expression.*** **How to Claim Your Spot in the Workshop** Please note that this event can be attended **in-person only**. **Pre-registration is required.** Registration closes at 10pm May 23. Register using this link: [https://yourlifetransformed.coachesconsole.com/laughter-sound-play-immersion](https://yourlifetransformed.coachesconsole.com/laughter-sound-play-immersion)

À travers 13 textes couvrant plus de 300 ans, revisitez des faits divers et des événements aussi savoureux qu’étonnants de l’histoire du Québec. Le maniaque au rasoir de Montréal; la momie d'un célèbre pharaon à Niagara; le naufrage du Granicus; les draveurs canadiens en sauvetage sur le Nil; l'extraordinaire "fausse médium" Ann Odelia Diss Debar; le scandale financier de Bre-X; l'expédition de Cavelier de La Salle; Conrad Labelle le Capone du Québec; Marcel Ouimet le témoin de la chute d'Hitler; le KKK et les feux de 1922; quand le Canada a tenté de voler une île à la Russie; l'arrestation du meurtrier Hawley Harvey Crippen; et finalement le vrai visage de Grey Owl.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 11 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.