WRITE NOW NEWSLETTER: ONGOING WRITING GROUPS

NONFICTION AUTHORS ASSOCIATION

See the Meetup for date/time

The Nonfiction Authors Association meets periodically. For more details about the NFAA visit the meetup page.

HORROR WRITERS of AMERICA – OHIO CHAPTER

Meets quarterly on a Sunday from 1PM to 3PM
For specifics, visit the website or the Facebook page.

The Ohio chapter of the Horror Writers Association holds quarterly meetings in the Columbus area. We intend to host events of interest to people who read or write horror, dark fantasy, weird fiction, supernatural thrillers, dark science fiction, noir mystery, and related genres. If you’re interested in joining us, please contact us.

The HWA is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it.

For more information, visit the website or the Facebook page.

NORTH COLUMBUS FANTASY SCI/FI

2nd and 4th Sundays at 1:15PM
Worthington Area
Free!

A writer’s group that focuses on genre fiction. All levels of talent are accepted. Diversity encouraged! Easy to join. Apply for group membership or contact the moderator at Google Groups

COME WRITE-IN

second Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00PM
Orange Branch Library
7171 Gooding Blvd.
Delaware, OH 43015
740-549-2665

Are you a writer? Do you struggle to squeeze-in writing time into your busy schedule? Are you distracted by “To Do List” tasks when writing at-home? Do you need quiet time to make real progress on a writing project? If so, Come Write In! may be for YOU. Join fellow writers for Come Write In! sessions at Orange Branch Library. Come Write In! offers uninterrupted just-write-time. Try it out! Bring your laptop — or use DCDL laptops.

For more information visit the website.

SEQUENTIALLY SPEAKING Art Critique/Workshop
VISUAL NARRATIVE WORKSHOP

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

WRITERS’ INK

Third Sundays
Eat! 1:15 to 2PM
Meet! 2 to 4PM
MCL Cafeteria Meeting Room
3154 Kingsdale Center
Upper Arlington, OH 43221

Writers’ Ink has a monthly newsletter and a guest speaker each month. They welcome new members.

For more information, contact Nora Holt at 614-493-3298
or noraholt1@aol.com.

WRITESHOP

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/

PERIPATETIC POETS

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.

FOOLE’S GOLD PROSE & POETRY WORKSHOP

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.

WILD GOOSE WRITER’S GROUP

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.

THE BUSINESS OF ART

Second Mondays – 6:30 to 8:30PM
Wild Goose Creative
2491 Summit Street (north campus/south Clintonville)

A career in the arts can be sustainable with the right base knowledge. Join us as we present a free monthly panel discussion series designed to encourage art-centric entrepreneurship and provide a place for creative network building. This Business of Art Series is a discussion series held at Wild Goose Creative on every 2nd Monday of the month. The events run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the discussions beginning promptly at 6:40 and networking starting at 7:40.

SONGWRITERS’ CIRCLE

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.

Dublin Writers WRITE Meetup

Tuesdays at 9:15AM
Dublin Library
75 N High St, Dublin, OH
(Look for the meetup sign in or near the quiet study room or computer banks)
Please join the Meetup group and RSVP as space is limited.

As writers we sometimes isolate ourselves, but gatherings can feed our creativity by connecting us to something larger than ourselves. This meetup will be HEAVILY writing focused. We can chat briefly to check in, but the bulk of the time will be spent focused on our writing. COME connect with others who will influence you to stick to the work by sticking to their own work near you! COME influence others to produce by producing your own work near them!

KIRKERSVILLE WRITER’S CLUB

Second Tuesdays at 6PM
Kirkersville United Methodist Church
(Social Room – downstairs)
180 East Main Street

Kirkersville Writer’s Club is a group of amateur writers and the club is open to all. We have no dues. We hope the social atmosphere and information shared will inspire and encourage everyone to pursue their passion and perfect their writing.

THE WESTERVILLE POETRY GROUP

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.

CREATIVE WRITERS GROUP

Second Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Grandview

This unique writers group is open to all who are interested in improving their craft in fiction and creative nonfiction. Each month two people read 9-10 pages of their work aloud to the group. If you are reading, please bring 10-12 copies for members to read.

Contact Jules Knowles at julesknowlton@gmail.com or Lisa Lopez Snyder at LisaLopezSnyder@gmail for location and more information.

THE OHIO WRITERS’ GUILD

Wednesdays 1-3 PM
September through July Location:
Cultural Arts Center
139 West Main Street
Third Floor A/V Room
Summer Location:
Ohioana Library
274 E. First Avenue, Suite 300

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

ORANGE BRANCH WRITER’S GROUP

First and Third Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30PM
Orange Branch Library
7171 Gooding Blvd.
Delaware, OH 43015
740-549-2665

Be inspired. Share ideas. Gain feedback. Network. Build a writing support group. Join the Orange Branch Library’s Adult Writers’ Group.

For more information visit the website.

WRITERS READ, a 60+ group

Second Wednesdays from 1:30PM to 3:30PM
Panera
4519 N. High St., 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.

GRANDVIEW LIBRARY WRITERS GROUP

Second Wednesdays from 6:30PM to 7:30PM
Grandview Heights Public Library
1685 West First Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212
(614) 486-2951

Are you a writer interested in sharing your work with other writers and in giving and receiving
constructive feedback?

Whether your focus is fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, or any other format, join staff member Chris Boerger in an atmosphere of creative fellowship.

The spoken word is ephemeral, but writing is forever!

For more information visit the website.

COLUMBUS WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS

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.

PEN & QUILL WRITER’S GROUP

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

THE INKSTONE

The Inkstone: A Greater Columbus Novel Writing Group
Last Wednesday of each month, 7PM
Kingsdale Giant Eagle Cafe, 2nd floor
3061 Kingsdale Center Columbus, OH 43221
Free

At The Inkstone, we’re here to help you become the best novelist you can be. The task of writing a novel is difficult and often fairly isolated. Having work critiqued is another challenge, learning to pitch, networking, and knowing the industry are all additional hurdles to the ever evolving process from page one to publication.

That is why we created The Inkstone. Visit our page to learn more about our unique structure and offerings.

BEXLEY FICTION WRITERS

First Thursday of the month – 6:00p to 9:00p
Various locations in Bexley (each meeting’s location is listed on our website and Facebook page)

www.bexleyfictionwriters.wordpress.com AND www.facebook.com/bexleyfictionwriters

Or if you want to email us ~ contact Josh at bexleyfictionwriters@gmail.com

Formed in early 2016 from a post-NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) desire to keep things going, Bexley Fiction Writers is a new group looking for members that are interested in editing their work together through round-robin feedback.

Our meeting format is pretty laid back:

* 15-20 minutes for gathering and introductions / socializing
* Each member has about 10 minutes to read a selection they are working on followed by 5-10 minutes of round-robin feedback (general or specific based on what the writer is looking for)
* Discussion on a topic related to either the art / craft or business of writing (topics listed on the website)
* Time for working on a project with other writers for support

Bring a piece that you’re proud of, can’t make heads or tails of, need help with, or just not sure how it’s coming across (or any other reason you’d like) to read for the group for feedback. You can ask for specific feedback (Character X seems really flat / needy / boring –“ what do you think / how could I fix that?) or something very general (Is this really appropriate for Urban-Fantasy-Post-Steam-Punk-Apocalypical settings?). Whatever!

As a group, we should be able to come up with some ideas to help out where you might be stuck.

PAGING COLUMBUS!

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.

POETRY AT THE DELAWARE LIBRARY

First Thursdays – 7PM
Delaware County District Library
84 E. Winter St. Delaware, OH 43015

Poetry at the Delaware Library meets the first Thursday each month to write and workshop poetry at the Delaware County District Library. All ages are welcome to share and discuss. For more information, contact Ben at beeditty [at] gmail [dot] com.

ALEX WRITES

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.

INKWELL FORUM

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.

GROVE CITY WRITERS’ GROUP

Second Thursdays – 7PM
Grove City Library
Second Floor Board Room
3959 Broadway, Grove City, OH 43123

The Grove City Writers’ Group was formed in 2008 to network with other writers and to encourage each other to write. The group meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the second floor board room of the Grove City Library. Writers may bring some of their work to read to the group followed by a light critique.

For further information, email janetshailer@hotmail.com.

MAC WRITERS GROUP

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

FRANKLINTON WRITERS GROUP

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.

SONGWRITERS & POETS CRITIQUE

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

POET’S & WRITERS GUILD

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

SANCTUARY FOR THE ARTS – SUNDAY GATHERINGS

First Sundays from May to October – 12 Noon to 6:00PM

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.

FICTION FLURRY – MARYSVILLE WRITER’S GROUP

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

SALON Sponsored by Pudding House Publications led by ROSE M. SMITH

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.

COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION

Second Saturdays from Noon to 2PM
Potter’s House Church of God

For more information, email Mina at m_raulston@hotmail.com.

CONSTRUCTION ZONE – Poetry Workshop

Second Saturdays at 6:30 PM
310 E. Innis Ave.

Call 614-372-0453 for more information.

CENTRAL OHIO FICTION WRITERS

Monthly meetings held monthly on the “teen” Saturday
– see website for schedule
Norwich Twp Safety & Services
5181 Northwest Parkway, Hilliard, OH 43026

See http://www.cofwevents.org for additional information
or email cofwpresident@gmail.com for details.

COMPANY of WRITERS – WRITING GROUP

First and Third Saturdays from 10AM to Noon

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

CREATIVE MINDS COLUMBUS

Second Saturdays beginning at 10:00AM and
Last Tuesdays at 7:00PM
Polaris Starbucks

Each month, we meet on the 2nd Saturday at 10am and last Tuesday at 7pm at the Polaris Starbucks. Creative Minds Columbus is a group of fiction writers dedicated to honing our talents and improving our skills through networking and interaction with others. Our members work in a variety of genres, and at experience levels ranging from beginner to published authors. Our meetings generally include some mix of practice with prompts, reading/critiquing, discussing works, and (of course) good times. For more information please contact Mike Poe at poe.mike@gmail.com

BOOK BOSSES

Third Saturdays – 10AM
Columbus Public Library
96 S. Grant Avenue

We are a group of local writers and publishers learning from each other and growing our publishing businesses.

For more information, visit the Facebook page or contact Sandee L. Hemphill at sandeehemphill@gmail.com.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WRITING GUILD

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.

SISTERS IN CRIME COLUMBUS, OHIO

(men welcome too)
last Saturday of the month – 12:30PM to 2:30PM

SICCO, a local chapter of Sisters in Crime, meets montly. 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).

DRAMA FOUNDRY

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.

THE MUSTARD SEED RETREAT

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

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERARY WRITING GROUP PHASE II

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 are 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