All writers need
support and encouragement. If we want to continue growing as writers, we also need
to have our work read by critical eyes. Not critical in the sense of finding
fault, but rather an unbiased, realistic assessment of the work designed to
help the writer improve. These results are what a writer receives from a good writing
community.
Writers’
Critique Groups
Writers’ critique
groups are one type of writing community. Here is a list of some of the groups
in Northwest Indiana that are open to new members.
Blank Slate Writers’ Group
The
Blank Slate Writers Group is primarily
a critique group for writers and poets of all types, genres, and skill levels.
The group is completely open to the public—it has no dues or membership fees.
All writers are welcome. In the past it has had members as young as 10 and as
old as 90.
Meetings are currently being
held in the conference room at The South Bend Chocolate Company, which is
located at 57 Franklin Street, Valparaiso, Indiana. Meetings are held on the
first and third Tuesday of each month. They start at 6:00 and go till 8:00 pm.
The Blank Slate Writers’
Group publishes a newsletter twice a month, 3 or 4 days before each meeting.
The newsletter contains information about writing (reprints of interesting
Internet articles on writing) and a writing prompt exercise. Each member is
encouraged (although not required) to write a short story using aspects of the
writing prompt as inspiration and to bring it to the meeting for critique.
Those interested in
attending a meeting should contact Tom Saine at tomsaine@juno.com and he will add your e-mail address to the newsletter
mailing list. The newsletter has information as to dates and location of
meetings.
Highland
Writers’ Group
Highland
Writers Group is a group of Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland region
professional writers who meet on First Saturdays at Grindhouse Cafe, 146 N.
Broad St., Griffith, IN, and Second Saturdays at Blackbird Cafe, 114
Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN, both at 3:30 p.m. For more information, email us at writershighland@gmail.com and visit us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/highlandwritersgroup/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/Buzz_from_HWG?lang=en).
Keep on writing!
Magic
Hour Writers
Magic
Hour Writers provides information, support, and critique for those who write
for children. It meets the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at
Rosati’s in Schererville, Indiana. Dues are $10 a year.
For
information, check out http://magichourwriters.blogspot.com or email Jacqueline Huppenthal at jackie.hupp@gmail.com.
Write-On,
Hoosiers, Inc.
The Mission of Write-On, Hoosiers, Inc. is to offer
education, friendship, and assistance to fellow writers, and to promote the
excellence of writing in all its forms.
The Purpose of this organization is to provide support,
education, information, and friendship to fellow writers. Our
Goal is to encourage as many Indiana men, women and children as we can
to strive to reach their full writing potential.
In addition, through our website, blog, and special programs and speakers
we strive to expose the talents of our Indiana writers.
We meet from 6 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. the 1st and 3rd
Thursday at the Merrillville branch of the Lake County Library from January through
November.
Contact: Sharon Palmeri - writeonhoosiers@comcast.net
Conferences
Writing conferences are another
place to connect with other writers. You can make new friends who provide
encouragement and support, or you may connect with an established critique
group or form your own. The networking that occurs at conferences can be
invaluable.
If you are looking for a conference
to attend, check out the 2018 Steel Pen Creative Writers’ Conference, which will
be held on October 27 at Fair Oaks Farms just north of Rensselaer, Indiana. The
conference offers lunch with keynote speaker Michael Poore, a full day of
writing workshops, and multiple opportunities to connect with other writers.
You can find more information and register at this link: www.steelpenconference.org.
But whatever means you use, we wish
you luck in finding the perfect writing community.
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