To the editor:
To mark the 10th anniversary of “Write Stuff,” a writers’ group in Lincoln, there will be a public reading by several members in the Tarbell Room of the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. As a “Write Stuffer,” I thought it’d be interesting to talk to a few of the people who have made the group what it is today.
Barbara Myles, director of the Lincoln Library, reflects back on how it all began: “Jeanne Bracken, our reference librarian at the time, was a very talented published author. I thought that it would be a good idea if she started a writers’ group at the library, so I asked her to do it.” Jeanne agreed and the group took off running. “She did a fabulous job,” says Myles.
Betty Smith, publisher of the Lincoln Review, is a strong supporter of “Write Stuff.” Always in search of new material from Lincoln writers, she felt that a critique group could help both beginning and seasoned writers produce new work.
“Hardly an issue of the Lincoln Review sees the light of day without a contribution from one or more Write Stuff members,” says Neil O’Hara, who has been Write Stuff’s facilitator since the fall of 2006. “Being part of this group has given me an even deeper grounding in the basics of good writing.”
I’ve listened to the pieces of my fellow “Write Stuffers,” made my comments and read my own pieces, and after each meeting I leave with more confidence. “One of the rules was that we were not to be critical,” says Palmer Faran. “Not to have anyone say, ‘Oh, this is terrible’ but to always say something positive. What we’re trying to do is to help and not shut the person down.”
“After listening to all of the supportive comments, this group gave me the confidence to write more,” says Joyce Quelch.
I believe that my writing has improved, but I continue to be puzzled as to why it’s so difficult, so I asked Neil O’Hara. “I think one of the great quotes that encapsulates the problem of why it’s so hard to write is by Mark Twain: ‘I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.’ And it’s just fabulous, because that’s the essence of it.”
“Write Stuffers”Anita Harris, Rick Wiggen, Jean Risley, Susan Coppock and Bracken have all tackled the difficulties of writing and are now published authors. Advice for writers from Bracken: “My BFF (best friend forever) in Maine and I say this all the time, it’s my mantra: ‘Stay on the bus. If you’re not on the bus, you’re not going to end the journey’.’”
If you’re a writer or would like to write, consider becoming a “Write Stuffer.” We’ll help you stay on that bus, and believe me, it’s well worth it.
Sincerely,
Debbie Dorsey
17 Bedford Lane
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
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