[Publib] writers' groups

[Meghan Miller Brawley]

Hi,
I started a women's memoir writing group at our library about 15
months ago. We're a member of the Story Circle Network, a national
women's memoir organization based near us in Austin, TX, and we
started the group by inviting a speaker for a 3-hour workshop. We meet
monthly, and I'm the facilitator, and we have a membership that ranges
from 4 core members to as many as 7 or 8 participants. Story Circle
provides a lot of support, and we use mainly their publications and
have several books on writing. I chose the memoir angle rather than
fiction or anything else because it's more accessible to those who
want to write but are intimidated or unsure of their abilities. I have
two serious writers in the group who use the memoir thing as a way to
relax, work in a positive, supportive environment, and as a way to
flex writing muscles when they're blocked on their other writing.

I am interested in growing this program to include a men's group and a
more critical/serious mixed writing group, but for now I have my hands
full.

Meghan Brawley
Reference Librarian
Harker Heights Public Library
Harker Heights, TX

On Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 12:56 PM, Shank, Beverly<bshank at watertown-ma.gov> wrote:
> I'm interested in other libraries' experiences with writers' groups and
> have some questions to start the discussion.  Thanks ahead of time for
> all responses.
>
> If your library has a writers' group, what part does the library play in
> sponsorship, support, deriving author programs, etc?  What do you see as
> the more intangible enhancement of the library location for such a
> group? What publications have come from groups your library has held?
> What difference is there, if any, in having a group that writes for
> children vs. one that writes for adults?  Do both types of authors mix
> in your group? How often do your groups meet and how much library staff
> is involved?
>
> Beverly Shank
> Assistant Director
> Watertown Free Public Library
> 123 Main St.
> Watertown, MA 02472
> phone: 617-972-6434
> fax; 617-926-4375
> www.watertownlib.org
>
>
>
>
>
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>



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