Nita Sweeney

  • WRITE NOW NEWSLETER: ONGOING WRITING GROUPS

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    The following Writing Groups are Open to New Members.

    Tell them Nita sent you! And if you know of a writing group that’s not on this list, please email me so I can add it.

    1. NORTH COLUMBUS FANTASY SCI/FI
    2. 1st and 3rd Sundays
      Worthington Area

      A new writer’s group that focuses on genre fiction. All levels of talent are accepted. Easy to join. Contact moderator at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NCFSWriters/

    3. SEQUENTIALLY SPEAKING Art Critique/Workshop
      VISUAL NARRATIVE WORKSHOP
    4. Third Sundays from 2 PM to 4 PM
      Upper Arlington Library (Main Branch)
      2800 Tremont Road
      Free event
      Space is limited, please email or call ahead to confirm vacancy.

      There is no question about it – Columbus and the surrounding Central Ohio area is a melting pot of comic book creators. Here’s your chance to meet, talk with and share your talents with experience and novice writers and artists alike in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Bring copies of your latest comic strips or graphic novel in progress to get valuable feedback! Open to all genres and abilities.

      Contact: Max Ink at 614-275-4764 or
      max.ink@gmail.com
      or visit: Sequentially Speaking at Yahoo Groups

    5. WRITERS’ INK
    6. Third Sundays at 5 PM
      Columbus State Community College
      Columbus State’s Workforce Development Building – Room 415
      315 Cleveland Avenue (Discovery District)

      Writers’ Ink has a monthly newsletter and periodically has speakers. They welcome new members.

      For more information, contact Nora Holt at 614-493-3298
      or noraholt85@yahoo.com.

    7. WRITESHOP
    8. Third Sundays – 7PM
      Meets in Columbus

      Writeshop is a writers’ workshop group which meets to discuss and critique members’ work. While we are involved in all types of writing, our members’ specialties are fiction, particularly science fiction and horror.

      See http://www.sff.net/people/lucy-snyder/writeshop/ for membership and location details.

      See also http://groups.yahoo.com/writeshop/

    9. PERIPATETIC POETS
    10. Fourth Sundays at 7PM
      Galleria Evangelina
      4269 North Nigh Street (Clintonville)

      Monthly featured readers. For more information contact 614-769-4851 or 614-915-3139.

    11. FOOLE’S GOLD PROSE & POETRY WORKSHOP
    12. Mondays from 8PM to 11 PM
      Kafe Kerouac
      2250 N. High Street

      This is an ongoing group of limited membership. Call Kafe Kerouac at 299-2672 to confirm date and time.

    13. WILD GOOSE WRITER’S GROUP
    14. First Mondays – 7PM
      Wild Goose Creative
      2491 Summit Street (north campus/south Clintonville)

      The writer’s group is a place for writers from beginner to experienced to share their works and receive feedback from others. Bring your most recent work, either complete or in-progress, and talk about where it has been, is, and where it could be.

      For more information see the Wild Goose Creative website.

    15. PSALM 45.1
    16. Third Mondays – 7:30-9:30PM
      Vineyard Columbus

      “A place for writers to fellowship together, develop their gifting, and consider how writing may be used to glorify God through serving the church and engaging the community.”

      Typical group format is to write for the first 15 minutes (one member provides a prompt) and then either share for the next 45 minutes and then have a teaching/discussion OR spend the entire evening sharing what we’ve written and providing feedback and encouragement. Group includes a wide variety of abilities and genres represented, and the pieces written are not exclusively Christian in nature, although it is a faith based group and members do talk from time to time about what it means to be “a Christian who happens to write.”

      For more information, contact Lorie Rees at lorie.rees@vineyardcolumbus.org.

    17. SONGWRITERS’ CIRCLE
    18. Third Mondays
      Wild Goose Creative
      2491 Summit Street (north campus/south Clintonville)

      The Songwriter’s group seeks to link songwriters who want to share their work with others for the purpose of feedback and encouragement. We encourage everyone to share their most recent song at each meeting. This serves to both give songwriters an audience to try out new material and to encourage each other to compose on at least a monthly basis. Let’s face it: a lot of creative types can get discouraged and lazy. The songwriter’s group will challenge you to write a new song every month. Bring a song and be prepared to talk about it along with your practices and philosophies of songwriting.

      For more information visit the Wild Goose Creative website.

    19. THE WESTERVILLE POETRY GROUP
    20. Third Tuesdays at 7 PM
      Westerville Library
      126 S. State Street (Westerville)

      Do you like to discuss poetry? Do you want to know how to market your work to magazines and book publishers? Would you like to help edit a literary magazine? If all of these things sound interesting and fun to you, then come join us!

      Groups meetings are open to the public and there is no membership fee.

      For more information see http://www.wpl.lib.oh.us
      or Call the Westerville library at 614-882-7277 ext. 159.

    21. CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITERS GROUP
    22. Second Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
      OCALI Building, 470 Glenmont Ave. in Clintonville in Room 104

      This unique writers group specializes in creative nonfiction, but is open to all who are interested in improving their craft. Each month two people read 5 – 6 pages of their work aloud to the group. If you are reading, bring 5 – 8 copies for members to read.

      Contact Donna Owens at dowens06@gmail.com for more information.

    23. WRITING AND MEDITATION PRACTICE GROUP in Yellow Springs
    24. Wednesday mornings from 7AM to 9 AM
      Rockford Chapel on President St., south of E. Whiteman, Yellow Springs, Ohio
      No fee.
      Drop-ins welcome.

      This blend of meditation and writing (and this group) was developed by Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones, Wild Mind) as a method of unleashing the creative muse. Periods of meditation are mixed with intervals of writing and reading. No previous experience at either meditation or writing is necessary.

      Contact Barbara at lotuspetal@pobox.com or 937-322-2341

    25. WRITERS READ, a 60+ group
    26. Second Wednesdays from 1:30PM to 3:30PM
      Panera Bread – Community Room
      4915 N. High Street – Clintonville
      No fee.

      There is a waiting list for this group. To join the waiting list, please contact lavink@columbus.rr.com

      Writers are voracious readers. Participants read aloud a passage from a favored writer’s work that has influenced their writing. A “How and Why” discussion follows.

      Perhaps we will eventually compile a list of these books or a book exchange for participants. Please join with us for a wise, sometimes wiseacre, meeting with other writers 60+ (or not). The meeting is FREE.

    27. COLUMBUS WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS
    28. Second and fourth Wednesdays – evenings
      Downtown or Bexley

      Part of the Columbus Creative Cooperative. Our writers’ workshops meet twice a month in Columbus, Ohio. The purpose is to provide peer feedback for writers of all skill levels.

      Currently, the writers’ workshops meet on the second and fourth Wednesday evening of each month. The location changes from time to time, but we typically meet at a coffee shop, restaurant or library in the downtown Columbus or Bexley area.

      Normally, we request that all pieces that you’d like feedback on be submitted by midnight on the Sunday before the workshop. This gives everyone time to read that week’s work and formulate some thoughts before we arrive.

      The co-op is available to provide feedback on short stories, essays, poetry, novels and more. However, our current focus is on original short stories. If you’d like feedback on a longer work, please consider breaking it into chapters or groups of 5,000 to 8,000 words.

      So far, our group has a diversity of skill and experience levels, from beginners to published academians. This provides a fantastic spectrum of insight, and all of the feedback has been incredibly useful.

      Although our group is open to writers of all ages, our members are primarily adults. Some subject matter might not be suitable for writers under 16.

      You do not need to be a paid co-op member to participate in our workshops, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

      For more information on our writers’ workshops, please contact Columbus Creative Cooperative, or consider becoming a member of the co-op.

    29. The Ohio Writers’ Guild
    30. Wednesdays 1-3 PM
      (sessions held September through July)
      Cultural Arts Center
      139 West Main Street
      Third Floor A/V Room

      The Ohio Writer’s Guild is a supportive group of aspiring and published authors. Writers share works-in-progress, finished and unfinished manuscripts for critiquing and networking. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, free lance articles and essays are presented for comments and suggestions. Come join us. We do not meet in August. Novice and seasoned writers can bring work to read, discuss, or critique in a relaxed setting. These meetings are free and open to the public.

      For questions contact phanna@columbus.rr.com or find out more on their website: http://www.ohiowritersguild.org

    31. COLUMBUS WRITERS’ NETWORK – A LINKEDIN GROUP
    32. third Wednesdays from 6 to 8PM
      Via Vecchia Winery 485 South Front Street (German Village)

      Our meetings include freelance writers, novelists, storytellers, and editors. These networking evenings provide an encouraging atmosphere for talking about the publishing business, troubleshooting, and your writing path.

      Come chat about your work, exchange email addresses, swap stories, and enjoy the venue. The winery will be able to serve light snacks if you’re coming straight from work. You can also explore the building, built in the 1800s, and ask questions about the barrel room.

      Please Mapquest the winery, capture my phone number (614-579-3479) or take down the following directions. The winery isn’t on most GPS services, and you can go around in circles. If you park in the alley, parking is free, otherwise you will pay the lot attendant $3.00.

      DIRECTIONS: From South Front Street, turn into Liberty Street and pass the Eiffel Tower at Outland. Turn right into the parking lots. Go straight through the first lot, head into the second lot, and make for the alley. The winery is the pale green brick building with dark green trim. Call if you get lost.

      Contact: Cynthia Rosi 614-579-3479 or visit website at: http://www.cynthiarosi.com

    33. PEN & QUILL WRITER’S GROUP
    34. Third Wednesdays – 7PM
      Heritage Hall
      Main Street – Crooksville

      Pen & Quill currently has members from Newark, New Lexington, Buckeye Lake, Roseville and Crooksville. It is open to any writer seeking inspiration, editing assistance, or the company of other writers.

      For more information, contact director Kathy Campbell at katonhottin2001@yahoo.com

    35. PAGING COLUMBUS!
    36. First Thursdays – 6 to 8PM
      Urban Arts Space
      50 W. Town Street (downtown)

      Join poet, writer and instructor Hannah Stephenson along with some of Columbus’ best writers and bloggers the first Thursday of each month for Paging Columbus!, a poetry reading and literary arts event at the Urban Arts Space. This month’s readers have yet to be announced… stay tuned!

      Free and open to all. Light refreshments provided.

      Questions, comments or ideas? Contact Hannah Stephenson (hannahjstephenson [at] gmail [dot] com) or follow Paging Columbus! on Facebook.

    37. REYKALAMOS CHRISTIAN WRITERS
    38. 1st and 3rd Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00PM
      (June, July, August & December – meets 1st only).

      New Song Community Church at 13873 E. Main Street in Reynoldsburg.

      A Chapter of American Christian Writers with a focus on improving the writing craft through critiques, fellowship, and encouragement.

      Contact is Paul Marshall at calleydog@hotmail.com

    39. ALEX WRITES
    40. First Thursdays – 7PM
      Alexandria Public Library
      10 Maple Drive – Alexandria

      Open to all aspiring or published authors. Write, critique, learn, support, encourage.

      Contact Betsy Young 740-924-0305 byoung@columbus.rr.com for information.

    41. 55+ WRITERS CIRCLE
    42. Last Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
      Jewish Community Center
      1125 College Avenue (Bexley)
      No Fee
      RSVP required

      Open to women and men writers, 55+ who wish to enjoy a lively, supportive, interesting, and informational exchange on writing and the writer’s life. Group encourages writers to bring any writing for listening and gentle critique (optional). Fiction or non-fiction, published or unpublished.

      To RSVP or ask question please contact ingrid062@netzero.net.

      Visit our website at: http://www.freewebs.com/55writerscircle/

    43. INKWELL FORUM
    44. every other Thursday
      North Columbus
      No fee.

      This group discusses and critiques members’ works of short fiction or nonfiction prose. Meets in a member’s home in the Bethel Road area. For more information, contact Rich at rwarren212@aol.com.

    45. MAC Writers Group
    46. formerly the Writers Workshop of McDowell Senior Center

      every other Friday – 10AM to 12:30
      McConnell Arts Center – Worthington

      This Worthington centric group, led by David Bell, meets at the MAC every other Friday to write, read, share and offer feedback. The group began October 8, 2010. Come and enjoy the art of writing and share your work with others in the group. For more information contact David Bell at bell.tony84@yahoo.com or 614-409-9211. po box 77463, Columbus OH, 43207

    47. FRANKLINTON WRITERS GROUP
    48. every other Friday from 11 am – 1 pm
      Franklinton branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library
      1061 W. Town St.
      No fees or reservations required.
      Members are welcome to bring a brown-bag lunch.

      We are a casual group of writers, with diverse styles and interests. Some writers have been published or have the goal of publishing, and some just enjoy sharing their work and stretching their creative muscles. The group shares a blog with the MAC Writers Group at http://mcconnellwriters.blogspot.com/ Writers will find our schedule posted there as well as samples of our work and links of interest. For more information, contact Naomi Johnson at beauvallet@aol.com.

    49. SONGWRITERS & POETS CRITIQUE
    50. Second and Fourth Fridays at 7:30 PM
      Jackson Township Building
      3756 Hoover Road (Grove City)

      Call 614-777-0326 for more information or check the website at http://www.timothysklugh.com/spc/events.asp

    51. POET’S & WRITERS GUILD
    52. Fourth Fridays from 7:30PM
      Galleria Evangelina
      4269 North Nigh Street (Clintonville)

      Call Dottie Turner at 614-263-9346 or Elizabeth Ann James at 614-267-3085 for more information

    53. SANCTUARY FOR THE ARTS – SUNDAY GATHERINGS
    54. 2013: May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept 1, Oct 6 from 12n-6pm

      First Sundays from May through October – open with meeting room and porch, garden/labyrinth/woods available for contemplating, strolling, writing, noodling. Tea, refrigerator, WIFI. Donations appreciated.

      For special retreats, group events or individual time on days other than first Sundays, call 740-513-9038 or visit http://www.Sanctuary-for-The-Arts.com.

    55. FICTION FLURRY – MARYSVILLE WRITER’S GROUP
    56. every other Saturday at 9:30AM (beginning 1/8/11)
      Goodies N More
      205 E. 8th Street (Marysville)

      We are just a short drive from Dublin, Hilliard, and NW Columbus. We invite anyone interested in writing to join us! In addition, folks may get a glimpse of who we are by visiting our blog: http://www.fictionflurry.blogspot.com
      Anyone who has additional questions may contact Rachel Dilley at racheldilley@yahoo.com

    57. SALON Sponsored by Pudding House Publications led by ROSE M. SMITH
    58. First Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
      MCL Cafeteria, East Main Street, Columbus/Whitehall area
      Cost: $65/year

      Currently considering new enrollments. To apply, send 6 poems, letter of interest, $10 application fee that applies to registration if accepted. Or email Rose Smith at conversant2@aol.com to arrange 10 minute preliminary free phone interview.

      Salon, sponsored by Pudding Magazine, led by Rose M. Smith, associate editor at Pudding House is a writing, reading, and critiquing group especially for intermediate through advanced poets and writers with a mix of writing experience and interests.

    59. CONSTRUCTION ZONE – Poetry Workshop
    60. Second Saturdays at 6:30 PM
      310 E. Innis Ave.

      Call 614-372-0453 for more information.

    61. CENTRAL OHIO FICTION WRITERS
    62. Monthly meetings held monthly on the “teen” Saturday
      - see website for schedule
      University Hotel
      3110 Olentangy River Road

      See http://www.cofw.org for additional information
      or call 614-539-9131 for details.

    63. COMPANY of WRITERS – WRITING GROUP
    64. First and Third Saturdays from 10AM to Noon

      Fiction and Nonfiction. Emphasis on revision and critique. Call 614-889-4857 for more information.

    65. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WRITING GUILD
    66. Third Saturdays – 10AM to 1PM
      Columbus Public Library
      96 S. Grant Ave. – 3rd Floor Board Room
      (microwave available – bring food if you wish)

      Fourth Saturdays – Noon to 1:30PM
      JungHaus
      59 W. Third Ave.

      Open to writers of all ability levels. The Central Ohio community of the IWWG invites writers to gather at our monthly meetings for writing, reading and gentle critiquing in a safe, supportive environment. Each meeting includes “The Circle,” which gives participants an opportunity to share information about their writing and other work. Monthly meetings are open to all. You may bring work you’d like to have critiqued. Please bring copies of the work you wish to have critiqued.

      PLEASE NOTE: IWWG meeting dates and times may vary. Please call or email to confirm.

      For more information contact Jeanne Marlowe at 614-476-8802 or jamarlowe@juno.com, or visit the Guild’s website at http://www.iwwg.org.

    67. COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN WRITER’S ASSOCIATION
    68. Third Saturdays from 10AM to Noon
      Hilliard Public Library
      4772 Cemetary Road (Hilliard)

      This group is open to new writers, accepts all genres of Christian writing including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, books, articles, essays. The group meets and shares information on conferences and writing resources then has a critique session. Some of the writers are full time and others do it for a hobby. Some are published and others are very new. The group is a chapter of the American Christian Writers. If interested, please contact Mina R. Raulston by calling 614-507-7893 or at m_raulston@hotmail.com. For more information, visit http://www.minaraulston.com/columbus_christian_writers_association

    69. CREATIVE MINDS COLLECTIVE
    70. Saturdays beginning at 10:00 AM
      Location disclosed upon joining group
      Check their homepage at http://www.creativemindscollective.com

      Creative Minds Collective is a group of fiction writers dedicated to honing our talents and improving our skills through networking and interaction with others. We are based in Central Ohio, but have one long-distance member in Kansas City, Missouri as well. Our members work in a variety of genres, and at experience levels ranging from beginner to published authors.

      CMC is a private group, but often open to new membership. Check the home page to see if we are accepting new members at this time, or feel free to email us at query@creativemindscollective.com and ask whatever’s on your mind. We also plan to grow our website to include many resources for writers.

    71. SISTERS IN CRIME COLUMBUS, OHIO
    72. (men welcome too)
      last Saturday of the month – specified months only – 12PM to 4PM

      SICCO, a local chapter of Sisters in Crime, meets in February, April, June, August, October and December. As a member of SICCO you would be joining a group of over 3,500 authors, readers, fans, librarians, booksellers, editors, and agents actively seeking to promote and strengthen the presence and voice of women mystery writers. And yes, we encourage active membership and particpation by men and women alike.

      Check out the SICCO website at http://www.siccowriters.org or email siccowriters@gmail.com

      Membership in the national organization ($40) is required for membership in the local chapter ($20).

    73. DRAMA FOUNDRY
    74. Monthly – Saturday 1:45 – 4:45PM
      Upper Arlington Public Library Conference Room B.

      Writing group for actors and script writers. For more information email thedramafoundry@yahoo.com. Visit thedramafoundry.blogspot.com for specifics on meeting dates.

    75. The Mustard Seed Retreat
    76. various Wednesdays and Saturdays – check the website.
      See website for fees.

      This is not a writing group, but a place for writers to either share space or be alone for a day of writing. WiFi, computer, coffee, tea, water, fruit, candy, and camaraderie included in the fee. Check out the options at http://www.themustardseedretreat.com

    77. African American Literary Writing Group Phase II
    78. contact group facilitator (see below) for time and place

      Okay so here it is. This is how it started, we are calling this Phase II because phase I, at least in its current fashion is phasing out. Initially this group targeted and was restricted to African American females only. Ages 30-43. The goal was to attract those interested in reading and writing, only one person was writing. The rest, maybe read the assigned books. As much as we would like to still target African Americans, sorry, can’t do it. Already tried it. A group dies without participation. This time no one is restricted (minus age requirement– must be an adult). We will still target African American’s but won’t exclude anyone. No Restriction on Gender or Age if 18 and Up. All Adults Are Welcomed.

      For this group, we are only interested in attracting people who know they are Ready To Write. We already have the meeting spots reserved. We just need to agree to make a commitment to meet bi-weekly or monthly to write for 2-3 hours! This way no one has any excuses for not writing and getting that great novel done! We will bring our laptops or pin and paper to our already reserve venue, greet each other drink coffee, tea, latte’s and write.

      The goal is for each participant to finish one manuscript within the first year of the first meet. We will only read books to get ideas. NO MORE BOOK CLUBS. The goal here is to become a writer, so only those interested in becoming so need participate. Its ok to be scared or have a blank idea, we can get around that just so long as you know you want to write. We can refer you to several book clubs if that’s what you’re interested in. But this will be a literal/writers group. As you can tell we are very sincere about attracting would be WRITERS this time. Looking forward to seeing the level of interest.

      Email for details at eblg@yahoo.com or VSnipes921@readytowriteaa.ning.com. Surf to http://www.blackplanet.com/SFV111 or http://readytowriteaa.ning.com

     

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    Last modified: April 1, 2013 @ 12:59 pm