My Writing Groups

The Wheaton Writers’ Guild

On most Sunday evenings, my roommate Wendy, my cousin TJ, my friend Lana, and I meet to share with one another our writing life. Wendy is a life coach working on her master’s degree in systems analysis, and she shares all kinds of writing from her papers to her blogs to her mystery novel ideas. TJ is a graduate student at Wheaton College studying biblical exegesis. Recently, he completed a creative writing course with my friend Nicole Mazzarella, so he has been sharing short stories and poems. Lana is an extraordinary Ukrainian-American, currently a college student at the College of DuPage, and she is working on a beautiful memoir of her life. As for me, I’ve been sharing poetry and the beginning of a historical novel (or two!).

Sometimes our group watches movies that have some connection to writing or have been adapted from novels or stories. That’s made things lively.

One of the most helpful strategies we have developed for helping each other in group is called “writer on the couch.” What is this? It’s the opportunity for one writer to talk about writing problems that he or she is currently facing. The process of talking it through allows the writer to sort things out. After explaining everything at issue, the other writers in the group offer their advice, and the wisdom shared by the group helps the “writer on the couch” to make decisions about writing.

It’s great.

I recommend the strategy to other writers and other writers’ groups.

Melody and Jeannine

Once a month or so, I meet with two extraordinary women, Jeannine and Melody, and we read whatever we’ve managed to write. We listen to one another. We encourage one another. We pray. (Yes, prayer and poetry go together very well, as the psalmists would agree!)

I value these two friends so much, and I honor them as writers. Jeannine is presently writing memoir, and Melody is writing poetry. Melody has been making me think about haiku sequences and about Basho and about this poem in particular:

It looks as if iris flowers
had bloomed on my feet—
sandals laced in blue

We all have to admit that it is beautiful.

The Live Poets’ of Alexandria

In 1999-2000, I lived in Alexandria, Virginia while working in Washington, D.C.. At the local library, a group of poets met once a month or so. I joined them while I was there, listening to their poetry and sharing mine. It was a good experience, and I wrote many of the poems later included in Sanctuary. When I returned to California, I gave a small reading for other graduate students in Davis, California, and I called it, “Alexandria Poems.”

Jennifer

I read Jennifer’s poems before I ever met her. I was in the seventh grade, and I was reading collections of poetry “published” by my English teacher. I thought most of the poetry was terrible, but one poet in those pages knew how to write, a girl named Jennifer Eve Franet. I wanted to meet her, but as mine was not exactly a small junior high, I didn’t know how that was going to work out.

Then one day, at lunch time, I noticed a hula hoop contest in the school courtyard. The winner was announced: Jennifer Franet! I went right up to her to introduce myself. When I held out my hand to shake hers, she poured M&Ms into it!

That was how I met Jenn, my best friend for many years, who listened to so much of my poetry when I wouldn’t share it with anyone else.

Thank you, Jenn!