About three decades published writing in the non-fiction world of freelance (e.g. health, travel, interviews, general interest) and of community journalism (yes, the excitement of stop sign-and-sewer permit-reportage from selectmen's meetings, but also the telling of stories of ordinary people doing interesting things). A few published poems here and there, the most recent in The Journal of Undiscovered Poets. About a half-decade as adjunct leading courses and workshops, my favorite being Writing to Heal and Rock & Write.  

Now interested in writing cultural/personal stories of Acadian/Quebecois/Francos, mainly in the Northeast, but, as with most things, that's likely to morph/evolve/expand. Interested because I want to read these stories but they seem only sporadically available. This has been a long haunt of mine. If you're still with me, here's a life snippet that continues to grate:

Some years ago, during a trip to visit a writing pal in NYC, she, my older younger-brother, and my brother's BF took me to a Soho bookstore that purported to have A Million Books available. Surely I would find some gems in that abundance. One of the clerks brought me to the section marked  Canada/Canadian History. Side-by-each in a two-by-three foot section on the lowest shelf, along with my crushed enthusiasm, were several rows of mostly travel books and superficial histories. Not even a French sounding something among them. 

As we drove back to Massachusetts, I mentioned this to my brother. Did this mean an untapped market? An opportunity to tell stories that weren't mainstreamed in the US? To which he responded, "Maybe  no one's interested in that." I considered for a moment, then thought and likely said something along the lines of: wait one damn minute. I'm someone, and I'm interested. I know I'm not unique. Surely others would be interested, too. 

During the ensuing years, I've read anything I could find that dovetailed with the largely unarticulated interest that niggles at my soul and sometimes -- metaphorically -- hits me with a two-by-four. Time to tell a story, if even I am the only reader "who is interested in that."

Looking for a group of older/old soul writers to share ideas/commentary/observations/insights about works-in-progress, especially if a wonder is how our personal and cultural histories managed to shape the people we think we are today. Meeting monthly online (I have mobility "issues") would be ideal, but, that too, could morph/evolve/expand. 

I am an experienced writer of literary fiction. I have completed several unpublished novels and my current focus is historical fiction (19th and 20th century American). I'm interested in connecting with other writers doing similar work or interested in this type of writing, partly to share and critique, but more to provide mutual support and discuss navigating the publishing business. I'm willing to meet online but especially interested in meeting in person in Los Angeles.

I am an emerging/aging transfemale writer based in Salem, MA. Recently, I retired from a 30-year career in educational publishing to refocus on my writing. I am also transitioning, as well as trying to accelerate the emerging and slow down the aging. My poems have appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, The Aurorean, Ibbetson Street Press, Italian Americana, Main Street Rag, Pegasus, Pine Island Journal, Poetry Depth Quarterly, U.S. Catholic, Late Knocking, Z Miscellaneous, and Poetpourri. My fiction has appeared in Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine, Mollyhouse, Once Upon a Crocodile, Sledgehammer Lit, All Worlds Wayfarer, quip literary review, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, Fiction on the Web, 96th of October, and The Broadkill Review.

Hi!

My writing experience stems from many NaNoWriMo novels and a workshop class in college. I enjoy writing fiction, from flash fiction all the way to novel-sized. Depending on my mood, I mostly write in the sci-fi/historical/fantasy genres, occasionally dipping my toes into poetry. I'd like to join a community and meet other writers to gain some accountability, workshop, and make some friends!

I started writing in my thirties but didn't get serious about it until after I retired from a career in manufacturing. Today I have written five novels in various genres and published one in the genre of Biblical fiction entitled The Oubliette. I'm working on three more, one of which I hope to publish later this year. That one is general fiction, a grail mythology along the lines of Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code". I self-publish because I'm older than anyone ought to be, I have a lot of stories in mind, and I don't feel that I have time to play the rejection game with mainstream publishing. Beyond my current WIP, a novel called The Practician, I'm working on a sequel entitled The Rift. After that, the second in the Biblical fiction series will be called, Patriarch. I have a rough draft of a murder mystery in the vein of Martin Cruz-Smith to be called Hawk's and Dove's. It too will be the first in a series. I also have a piece of historical fiction I wrote years ago that needs to be edited and revised before being published.

I love literary fiction. My benchmark is John Galsworthy but I don't want to write in that style. I prefer to strive for an upmarket classification of my skills. I realize that sharpening my skills requires honing them with other writers. I have always envied C.S. Lewis for his association with J.R.R. Tolkien and other authors in the Inklings group. I've sought that locally in writers' groups but found difficulties with differing goals, genre, and interests. I need to find writers with similar interests and goals. Genre compatibility is less important but still a desire. Local authors and face-to-face meetings would be preferred, but if that's not possible, online meetings will work or even e-mail.  

I'm currently in a PhD program in ethnomusicology at Columbia University. I've co-authored one nonfiction book with the Stooges Brass Band about New Orleans's brass band scene. I've also published a few academic articles. I'm currently working on my dissertation about childhood in contemporary Black American popular music and am looking for a diverse group of writers who are interested in experimenting with genres.

I have self-published a collection of poetry "Dusting By Stars," and two historical novels: "Tucks and Me" (Set in pre-revolutionary America centering on the relationship of a young Quaker boy and Crispus Attucks.  The historical focus is abolition, the plight of the ordinary seaman, the blockade of Boston Harbor, the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre and ending with the Boston Tea Party.); the second is "Otto" (the story of a  German soldier from World War I to the Eisenstadt Trial at Neuremberg after World War II.  It is an attempt to answer the question 'why?').  I am working on a new book about the life of apostle John and Mary.

I am 79 years young and still trying to understand humanity and its ways, knowing it to be beyond my skill.  I am filled with hope for humanity, patriotism for my country and scorn for those who "use" it for gain or power.  I despise "liars" and "bullies" and those who believe they are better than others because of their wealth, or color, or standig in the community.  I equally despise those who use their "victimhood" as an excuse not to try. 

I have spent my life's work as a teacher.  My favorite students have been those "thrown away" by others.  They are now managers of stores, architects, fathers and mothers, PTA members and solid citizens.  Many have college degrees, some have gone to jail, but have returned to society and found jobs.  They knew they were respected.  They knew an education was vital to their future.  They knew someone cared.  They knew life could be hard, because it was, and they knew they could overcome the difficulties because someone believed they could.

I like W.H. Auden, Frost, C.S. Lewis, and Bob Dylan.  I have read J.R.R. Tolkien, and Harry Potter, along with Wordsworth and Cathereine Emerich.  I love "Sign, Sealed and Delivered," as well as "CSI Miami" and "NCIS."  I am a member of the Nature Consevancy and Doctors Without Borders. 

I would love to find others who love history and facts and find reading fiction another way to learn history, or those who love a variety of poetry from the simplest to the most complex.  Kathy

We are a group of writers who provide support and constructive feedback to one another in writing, marketing, and publishing our work. Our members include traditionally and self-published authors of novels, short stories, poetry, and children's books, as well as aspiring writers looking for encouragement to produce quality written work for publication.