Creative Works In Progress Public Workshop Series

I have loved living in the sparsely-populated coastal hills of Western Sonoma County, but I’ve missed joining with other writers to discuss our work and to benefit from their constructive feedback.

Last Sunday that changed!

In Los Angeles, I was part of a writing group which met every couple of weeks and moved from home to home like a floating crap game to read, critique, eat and drink. One member was working on a novel informed by his years as a medical student in the 1960's; another was finishing a detective novel set in the San Fernando Valley; a third was working on a coming-of-age novel set in rural Santa Barbara county; a fourth was working on a romantic novel set in Nepal. I was the only short-story writer. Many of the stories published in Gone to Ground were developed and improved thanks to this group.

The process was simple. One of us would read from her or his work and the others would comment. Sometimes a few pages would be handed out to be reviewed at the next meeting. I liked that. It gave me a chance to think and reflect on my comments.

There is a different process for playwrights; after all, it's a medium meant to be seen and heard, not to be read in silence. Because playwrights need to hear their work, when a piece has been developed to the point that you don't feel embarrassed asking others to commit some of their time, a "table reading" is held. If you're lucky, some of the readers are actors; if not, willing friends will do. You pass out scripts, assign parts and go for it.

But back to Sunday: With the help and encouragement of a local non-profit (the Coastal Hills Community Project), Sunday saw the first assembly of our Creative Works in Progress Public Workshop Series. What we launched was an amalgam of the typical writing group such as the Los Angeles one and a playwright's table reading.

People were invited to participate any or all of three ways. They could:

1. submit their own writing to be read and critiqued;
2. read/perform the works that others had submitted;
3. respond to what was read.

A fourth way was simply to come and listen.

The invitation was open to any form of writing including poetry, fiction, essays, memoirs, screen plays and so on. And, guess what—it worked! We had people who wanted their work read (including yours truly); others who wanted to read/perform; and still others who just wanted to listen and respond. Nobody opted to to stay quiet.

We met in Raymond's Bakery in Cazadero, and, as in LA, we shared work, received insightful feedback, ate delicious goodies, and drank good coffee!

Gretchen Butler a terrific graphic artist and memoirist shared portions of her wonderful work-in-progress about life from scratch in the Sonoma County boonies. New Zealand actress, now western Sonoma County resident, Jessie Alsop, read. She said it gave her a chance to work on her American accent and meet more of her neighbors.

I also shared a memoir, Melody at the Stone Forest, based on a trip to Yunnan Province, China. Radio host, David Kenly read the story. I thought the feedback I received was thoughtful, accurate and helpful.

Among those who chose to comment, rather than contribute writing was Dixie Lewis, writer, editor and publisher whose company, PenHouseInk is a local treasure.

We went away happy, caffeinated and restored. The next iteration of the Creative Works in Progress Public Workshops is planned for April 26 at the Ratna Ling retreat center on Hauser Bridge Road.

If you are interested in participating in any capacity please let me know!

Here's to more writing, more reading and more sharing!

Gone to Ground is available on Amazon.com; through the publisher (PublishAmerica) or through independent booksellers everywhere.