Rarely do people who consider writing a hobby have the opportunity to share their work with other writers. Without a reader, it is impossible for writers to see the impact their words will have. St. Louis, however, has recently introduced to two separate workshop groups.
These groups make it possible for writers to have an open forum for criticism and praise for their writings.
The St. Louis Writers’ Workshop (STLWW) is an organization owned and founded by Denise Bogard, a St. Louisian. She dreamed of starting a group that would give writers the chance to learn more about different types of writing.
She hired several consultants (fellow writers) to act as teachers and mediators for these groups, and she began attracting students from around the city.
Her idea has been a hit around town, as evident by at last Wednesday night’s final reading at Left Bank Books. About 20 people came to read pieces that they had been working on in their workshops and several more people came just to watch.
Every seat was filled and excitement could be felt in the air as the first reader got up to read his piece. It was an essay based on a real conversation between Elvis and President Nixon during Nixon’s term. He changed some of the details of the event into hilarious anecdotes that made the audience at Left Bank Books shake with laughter.
It was obvious from the way he was reading that he was proud of his work, and the audience was receptive and flexible. In addition to this piece, a young woman read a moving piece about the effects of her sexual experiences.
Another woman read a sensational essay about a realization she recently had about what is important in life. The wide array of topics made the evening unpredictable and fun.
Here at Saint Louis University, there is a similar group that began this semester. It is called the Creative Writing Workshop (CWW) and the format is flexible. Anyone who comes can share with the group and then the other group members discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the piece.
Several people have commented that the workshop has been helpful by allowing them to see where their writing falls short and where they have mastered the language.
Writers of all genres and levels are welcome to bring a piece or just to come and listen. Either way, it is a unique experience for any aspiring writer.
For more information regarding the STLWW, e-mail Denise Bogard at [email protected].
The next meeting of the CWW is tonight, Dec. 7 at 8:00 p.m. in the lower level of the BMC outside of the coffee shop. Shakespeare will not be in attendance, but there will be plenty of qualified readers who can really dissect your work. Finally you have places for your writing to be read!
