Writers' Cafe Gains Momentum

There’s a well kept secret in Fairfield County. It’s a Writers’ Café, a once-a-month gathering where writers get together to escape their desks, and get new ideas about writing, publishing, workshops etc.

The Café is open to anyone interested in writing, and is free. It was started at the earlier this year, but members come all the adjoining towns and from as far as Stamford and Ridgefield. Last Wednesday saw the latest of these meetings, when 15 enthusiastic writers came to share, learn and connect at Ina Chadwick's house.

The meeting started with Bragging Rights, where writers brag about their recent progress, and pay a dollar to do it. There was so much bragging that the Cafe made $18 (at $1 per brag, that's a lot of progress being made by people...)
Here are some of the other meeting highlights, with links you may find useful if you'd like more information:

WRITING CONTEST DEADLINE EXTENDED

Our writing contest (open to everyone) with the Center for Contemporary Printmaking has had its deadline extended to October 10 at midnight due to Hurricane Irene, and because of some apparent confusion about the subject. The prompt is Déjà vu. Have you been here before? Do you wish you'd been here before? Did you only dream this? Did the dream come true? We're looking for personal memoirs. You may use Jack Boul's art to inspire you, but you needn't use his subjects. Here's the link for submissions.

STORYTELLING NEXT MONDAY

Ina Chadwick’s company, Mouse Muse Productions, organizes storytelling evenings throughout the year. Our next one is on Monday September 19th, at the in Westport. Come and hear seven friends and neighbors tell their stories of parenting joys, disasters and poignant memories. As writers, you'll be interested in the way in which we help them craft their stories into 8 minute gems. $20 buys you entrance, drinks, food and a chance to connect with others. Email me (GCoatsworth@gmail.com) if you'd like me to hold tickets for you, or just walk in.

ECHOOK LAUNCH NEXT TUESDAY AT B&N

Ina and I will be among the eight writers helping to launch Echook's short story app at Barnes and Noble next Tuesday at 7pm. This is a great networking event for writers, with local authors, writers, publicists and editors. And it's free! Here's the link for full details.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

Alex McNab has snared Robert Ellis (author of the Lena Gamble police thrillers) as a guest blogger for the October issue of the Fairfield Writer's blog.

One of our writers, Penny Pearlman, will be teaching a class at the Hudson Valley Writers' Center: Secrets of Successful Interviewing for Writers, and is helping to organize an authors luncheon with Danny Meyer ( etc) to raise money for the Leukemia Society on Nov 2.

Ivy Eisenberg was a runner up in a contest for America's Funniest Humor. Personally, I think she should have won - here's the link so you can judge for yourself.

And there's more...but that's for my next post.