JACKSON — Local authors from all walks of life can find the encouragement to continue writing at the Jackson Writers Group.
The group, which was established in 2000, was formed as a creative outlet for writers seeking to share their craft with others and to find inspiration in a non-threatening environment, according to the group’s website.
The writing club, which meets monthly, will host a local author book fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson.
The following published authors and writers from the Jackson Writers Group will speak on a variety of topics: Curt Holman – expressing emotions in writing; Louise Ann Barton – 10 tips for writers; Karen Kelly Boyce – creating characters; Kate Copsey – promoting books with talks and interviews; Al Lohn – what makes writers write; J.J. Lair – electronic publishing; and Barbara Hosbach – following a dream.
Other authors speaking and sharing will be Nicole LaBrocca, Thom Cherney, Bill Riley, Alice Dinizo, M.B. Nasdeo and Frank Pisani.
“Support from the group keeps me writing,” said Danielle Sibarium, who has been a member for 11 years.
Sibarium is a stay-at-home mom who writes part time. Her 10 novels have included young adult, new adult and new adult erotica books.
“The diversity of the group struck me. Members are accepting of new ideas and they critique in a positive way,” Sibarium said.
The Jackson Writers Group, Sibarium said, “helped me look at my own work critically.”
The group is comprised of mixed genre writers and its website states that “the only pre-requisite is a desire to write.”
For Karen Kelly Boyce, that desire brought her to the Jackson Writers Group 10 years ago when there were 10 members (there are now 35 members).
“The fellowship is great. When I started, most members were not published; now most are published. We encourage each other,” Boyce said.
Authors share their writing during the meetings and other members offer critiques, according to Boyce.
From writers as young as 16 to well into their 80s, the group includes members engaged in writing both full-time and part- time. Authors cover diverse genres — Christian, horror, romance, fiction and nonfiction, to name a few.
Boyce has written five novels and three children’s books. In 2005, she wrote a book about her struggle with breast cancer and donated proceeds from the sale of the book to cancer research.
“I go on ‘writing binges’ where once I get started on a novel, I don’t stop. I write every day until I’m done,” she said.
Member Al Lohn said he “never entertained the thought of writing” throughout most of his life.
“I started out when I was working on a family tree and wrote a book about my ancestors,” Lohn said.
After a 50-year career in the apparel industry, he retired and turned to writing to fill his leisure time.
“I enjoy the process. I start writing at 5 a.m., take breaks and work until 5 p.m.,” Lohn said.
Contact with others is a benefit, Lohn said, adding, “You can’t write in a vacuum.”
Lohn has six published novels and a sequel to his sixth novel will be released in the spring. He writes human interest books and reads military and war books.
“Everyone can benefit from a writers group, whether one writes fiction or nonfiction, or whether one is well published or a fledging author,” said member Louise Ann Barton, the author of four books about the Pine Barrens, in addition to short story collections and novels.
The club, Barton said, provides opportunities to learn from one another, through manuscript critiques, valuable insight, new perspectives and a safe environment in which to improve one’s work.
“It takes a lifetime to hone one’s writing skills and there is a great need to constantly tweak one’s manuscripts,” she said.
— Contact Christine Barcia at cbarcia@gmnews.com