Part of the reason I moved to the Quad Cities almost a year ago was to take a more active part in the Midwest Writing Center, located in the Rock Island Library. I had been a member for several years and participated in a couple of book fairs but none of the regular events.
I am now delighted to be a part of the Writer's Studio, a feedback group the meets twice a month with about 10 to 12 regular members ranging in age from about 20 to 80s. Genres represented include poetry, fantasy, memoir, mysteries. and thrillers. We bring short selections to share and give feedback on. Members also bring other writing opportunities to the groups' attention.
Several members also belong to WOTA, Writers on the Avenue, a Muscatine group. Through that connection, I was asked to help with some publication chores for the Pearl City Press, and arm of WOTA. So I have been attending their meetings as well.
A couple of weeks ago, an invitation to participate in WriteNow, sponsored by the U of Iowa, was announced at Writer's Studio. The format is that we receive 2 prompts by email, have a week to write a piece of 1000 words or less on one of them, and then a week or so later, participate in a Zoom feedback meeting. The first two prompts were an adventure involving a wedding planner and a dog collar, or a fantasy about a news anchor and a VCR. I chose the latter and my Zoom group consisted of four others--two from Iowa, one from Minneapolis, and one from LA. It was a lot of fun to see what everyone did with those prompts.
Last fall, I also joined CASI, the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. in Davenport They offer a wide variety of classes on fitness, health, arts and crafts, and other topics. They were short an instructor for their writing class so I volunteered. We meet once a week and are working mostly on memoir.
I am now delighted to be a part of the Writer's Studio, a feedback group the meets twice a month with about 10 to 12 regular members ranging in age from about 20 to 80s. Genres represented include poetry, fantasy, memoir, mysteries. and thrillers. We bring short selections to share and give feedback on. Members also bring other writing opportunities to the groups' attention.
Several members also belong to WOTA, Writers on the Avenue, a Muscatine group. Through that connection, I was asked to help with some publication chores for the Pearl City Press, and arm of WOTA. So I have been attending their meetings as well.
A couple of weeks ago, an invitation to participate in WriteNow, sponsored by the U of Iowa, was announced at Writer's Studio. The format is that we receive 2 prompts by email, have a week to write a piece of 1000 words or less on one of them, and then a week or so later, participate in a Zoom feedback meeting. The first two prompts were an adventure involving a wedding planner and a dog collar, or a fantasy about a news anchor and a VCR. I chose the latter and my Zoom group consisted of four others--two from Iowa, one from Minneapolis, and one from LA. It was a lot of fun to see what everyone did with those prompts.
Last fall, I also joined CASI, the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. in Davenport They offer a wide variety of classes on fitness, health, arts and crafts, and other topics. They were short an instructor for their writing class so I volunteered. We meet once a week and are working mostly on memoir.
So, I'm progressing, although not rapidly, on my latest project, Trailer in the Dust. It will be book 4 in that series. And I have plans for another Mystery Sisters book, Wright or Wrong. Meanwhile, it's camping season and Agatha and I will be off on our first adventure next week.
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