The London Writers' Society is a community of writers in and around London, Ontario. Some of us are selling our work - short stories, mysteries, novels, poetry and non-fiction articles - and others of us are "wannabees" still learning our craft with the help of LWS critique groups.

Yet we have one thing in common: a need for feedback and encouragement from other writers. Writing is, by its nature, an isolating endeavor. Having a community of supportive colleagues and friends is vital to every writer's well-being. So we have come together as "writers helping other writers."

If you are a writer, we'd love to meet you. Come to one of our general meetings and see what we have scheduled. It might be a public reading by an accomplished poet, a presentation on forensic investigation, a mini-workshop on query letters or a session on writing Flash Fiction designed to get your writing juices flowing.

Yet what we offer at our general meetings is only a taste. Bring a few pages of your work to one of our critique groups and get acquainted with some of the most intelligent and generous people you'll ever meet, who will help you hone your prose.

And if you are not a writer, but a well-read reader who likes to "hang out" and help budding writers, then we invite you to come around, help critique our work and make friends in time to have a riot at our end-of-the-year holiday party. There's a literary world awaiting you within the London Writers' Society.

Join us and be part of it.

JULY'S SCHEDULE

GENERAL MEETING THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: July 17th Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: The Central Library, 251 Dundas St., London, ON N6A 6H9               2nd Floor, in The Business Hall of Fame Program: Bring a piece of writing you want critiqued. (Examples: a couple of pages of fiction, a query letter or a proposal.) We'll break into small groups and take turns reading to our table mates and receiving feedback for the first hour. The second hour will be devoted to sharing "summer reading favourites." Tell us what books you've read and recommend! "I encourage all writers to step away from their writing nooks to join us at our monthly general meeting. Your writing juices will flow for having met with the varied members of our group. Share with us the joy of inspiration found in a speaker's chosen topic, a listener's comment, or fleeting words heard as you pass by. It may encourage you to embrace your own talents and develop a committed writing practice." ~ Barb Chambers, President LWS

CRITIQUE GROUPS

WEDNESDAY EVENING FICTION CRITIQUE THE FIRST & THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: July 2nd and July 16th Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Ruth Zavitz's home: 58 Raywood Avenue London, Ontario N6C 1Y5 For those coming by bus: the Kipps Lane/Thompson Road bus stops at the corner of Raywood and Trevithen, and the Wellington bus stops at the end of this street. For those driving from downtown (intersection of York and Wellington): Raywood is off Wellington, about two blocks up from the liquor store. (The LCBO is on the right; Raywood is on the left about two blocks further.) Go through one stop sign after turning on Raywood and look for a small, well-lit house on the left. Ruth has a glassed-in front porch. You can't miss it. Bring around 5 or 6 pages double-spaced. Bring 6 copies to share. (It's okay to printon both side of the paper for all groups in order to conserve.) NON-FICTION CRITIQUE GROUP (REALISTS) THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: July 10th Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: London Public Library, Central Branch 251 Dundas St., London, Ontario N6A 6H9 This group meets on the first floor inside the library in the area adjacent to the Little Red Roaster. Ask for directions at the information desk by the escalator. Bring 4 to 6 copies of 5 or 6 pages of your non-fiction work (essay, memoir, factual article, speech, etc.) double-spaced. TUESDAY AFTERNOON FICTION CRITIQUE THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: July 8th Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Place: Angelo's Bakery North 755 Wonderland Rd. (just north of Oxford) London, Ontario N6H 4L1 Phone: (519) 473-7772 Host: Mary McDonald Bring 6 copies of (around) 5-6 pages double-spaced. (If your story is slightly longer, bring the entire piece.) You need not bring work to participate. Your impressions and comments on the work of others will be appreciated. THURSDAY EVENING FICTION CRITIQUE THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: July 24th Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Cheryl Curtis's Home 652 Tennent Avenue London, Ontario N5X 1L6 Tennent Avenue is directly off Adelaide Street. From downtown head north on Adelaide. After you pass Windermere Road on your left, look for streets on your left. The first will be Glenora; the next will be Tennent. Turn right onto Tennant and proceed nearly to the end of the street. Bring 6 copies of (around) 5-6 pages double-spaced. (If your story is slightly longer, bring the entire piece.) You need not bring work to participate. Your impressions and comments on the work of others will be appreciated.

"The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the other cat's mat is a story." ~ John le Carre

© London Writers' Society 2008 - www.LondonWritersSociety.com