Unleash Your Inner Wordsmith
Updated: Mar 14
Join the Literary Revolution with the Jackson Writers Guild
Every writer knows that the journey to becoming a master of the craft is a long and often challenging one. But, with the right community of supportive peers, that journey can become much more accessible. We're excited to share the Jackson Writers Guild - a community of talented and inspiring writers dedicated to helping each other improve and take their skills to the next level. If you're an aspiring writer looking to grow, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals, look no further than the Jackson Writers Guild - this is the community you've been searching for.
The Jackson Writers Guild is a vibrant and inclusive community that welcomes writers of all levels, ranging from novices to seasoned authors. The group convenes twice monthly at the esteemed Jackson-Madison County Library, providing a congenial platform for members to share their love of writing, exchange valuable insights, and extend mutual support in pursuing their writing objectives.
"There is an organization called “NaNoWriMo,” National Novel Writing Month. They host a challenge where writers are encouraged to write 50,000 words in 30 days in November. One year, I decided I was tired of writing alone and organized “write-ins” every Saturday during NaNoWriMo, where writers could come in and have coffee and snacks while they wrote. We sat and wrote, chatted about plot points and encouraged one another. As we did more write-ins for that, we realized that it would be fun to meet more often and encourage one another!" - Shayne Plunk.
The meetings are engaging and informative, with various activities to suit everyone's needs. After a half-hour of casual conversation and updates from the Adult Services Manager, Shayne Plunk, the group dives into lessons on various aspects of writing. These lessons cover multiple topics, including character development, plot structure, dialogue, pacing, and more. Members learn from the facilitator and each other, sharing their own insights and experiences.
But the real magic of the Jackson Writers Guild lies in the sharing sessions, where members get to share their own writing and receive constructive feedback from their peers. This feedback is always offered in a supportive and respectful manner, helping writers identify improvement areas, build their confidence, and celebrate their successes.
"My favorite part personally has to be when we share news and updates about our personal writing at the beginning of each meeting. I love hearing about what my fellow writers are proud to have accomplished—whether their next book has been published, gotten a cover designed, or just been inspired for a new story." - Shayne Plunk.
The Jackson Writers Guild is more than just a writing group - it's a tight-knit community that values diversity, creativity, and collaboration. Members come from all walks of life with various writing styles, interests, and goals. But what unites them is their love of writing and their willingness to support each other in their writing journeys.
"Generally, we hope people will gain a can-do attitude when they come to our meetings. People have all sorts of goals with their writing. For some people, success and publication are essential to the writing process. For others, getting their work out to a small group is important. Then you have those who just want to write for themselves—journaling, creating a story for themselves, and maybe friends or family. No matter what those goals are, all of us want to make people feel like their writing is important, and the story they want to tell is important, too." - Shayne Plunk.
Suppose you're interested in joining this vibrant and welcoming community of writers. In that case, the Jackson Writers Guild meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the Jackson-Madison County Library's central location. You can also join their Facebook group, "Jackson Writers Guild," to stay up-to-date on all their latest news and events. The Jackson Writers Guild is eagerly waiting to welcome you and help you unleash your inner writer!
Contact Shayne Plunk to join! - splunk@madisoncountytn.gov
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