Further stretching of writing muscles

Since it's a new year and possibilities abound, I'm excited to say that I'm involved with a group of West Side writers who are organizing to meet monthly to work on more creative writing projects.

The idea for the West Side Writers came from talking to my fellow writers and from the inspiration of the East Side Writers Group. Whenever I listen to successful writers (or even newer writers) talk on the radio or TV or in print about how their book took shape, they almost always reference a writing group that provided invaluable feedback.

I had heard wonderful things about the East Side Group, led by Cleveland Heights novelist Sarah Willis and thought maybe we could duplicate that here. Let's face it, place does limit us from doing certain things (hence the westerly geographic focus). With the wonderful input of the east's Karen Sandstrom, we are ready to embark on something new—an ultimately terrifying.

When I ran the idea up the flagpole with two people (Lori Paximadis and Kristen Hampshire), they were both enthusiastically game.

So in the interest of moving outside our writing comfort zone, now six of us have decided to push ourselves creatively, provide support and feedback for each other and see what comes of it. From time to time, I may be writing about our efforts here. But mostly this will be more intimate work, that needs molding and sculpting before it ever sees the light of day.

Reminds me of a line in one of my favorite movies, "Shakespeare in Love." Will Shakespeare confides to his, em, psychiatrist that he has lost his gift and cannot find his muse.

Words, words, words. Once I had the gift. I could make love out of words as a potter makes cups of clay. Love that overthrows empires, love that binds two hearts together come hell, fire and brimstone. For sixpence a line I could cause a riot in a nunnery.

It is not my intention to cause a riot in a nunnery, but I would like to spin some great stories. Stay tuned!