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.

SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE

GENERAL MEETING THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: September 18th Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: The Central Library, 251 Dundas St., London, ON N6A 6H9 Program: "E-Publishing" Join us in the Tonda Room for a presentation by Ann Richards about E-Publishing. With three e-books to her credit, Ann will provide practical knowledge and insight into this growing segment of the publishing world. ~ SUMMARY OF AUGUST'S GENERAL MEETING ~ Our August 21st General Meeting was entitled "Critiquing 101." We had ample attendance, including writers new to LWS, and split into groups. Participants read their work and received feedback to help them along in their writing endeavours. I encourage all writers to step away from their writing nooks to join us at our monthly general meetings. 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: September 3rd and September 17th Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Ruth Zavitz's home: 58 Raywood Avenue London, Ontario N6C 1Y5 For those who are 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 print on both side of the paper for all groups in order to conserve.) TUESDAY AFTERNOON FICTION CRITIQUE THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: September 9th 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) 4 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. NON-FICTION CRITIQUE GROUP (REALISTS) THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: September 11th 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 around 4 double-spaced pages of your non-fiction work (essay, memoir, factual article, speech, etc.) THURSDAY EVENING FICTION CRITIQUE THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH Next: September 25th 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 right. 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

"LWS RALLIES TO SERVE COMMUNITY" Isn't that a great headline? Would you help me make it true? When I joined the LWS a little over a year ago, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the writers in our community. I received an enormous amount of support and guidance that continues to this day. And while I try to reciprocate when I can, I have also found another way to repay this debt: I volunteer at the library. I'm involved in two programs at present: READ which pairs adults with children who are having difficulty reading and One on One (Conversation Partners) which pairs adults with 'New Canadian' adults who are struggling to get their English going. Both situations have gifted me with cherished experiences and new relationships as well as very interesting insights into language and writing. And, well, it feels good too. So I invite you to join me in making that headline a reality by supporting these programs. If you get half as much from the experience as I do, you'll be glad you did. Contact Francis Cutt for READ (LPL Literacy Facilitator 519-521-5921 frances.cutt@lpl.london.on.ca) Contact Heidi Williams for One on One (LPL Languages Librarian 519 661-4600 heidi.williams@lpl.london.on.ca) In closing, I'd like to share the words of Mother Theresa: "Give until it hurts, until it hurts no more." Kevin Love            Vice President LWS

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