Tickled auburn over you

I must confess something. I'm absolutely thrilled even 24 hours after our first meeting of the Calgary Writing Collective. Everyone spoke their minds about what they wanted from the group and what they didn't want. In summary, all in attendance said they wanted to share their writing, get honest feedback and practice writing styles en mass with simple, brief, thought-provoking exercises.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday, July 8.
Here's what to expect from future meetings of the Calgary Writing Collective:

- Meet the second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. @ the Auburn Saloon (bottom of the Calgary Tower, 163-115 9 Ave. S.E.)
- We'll start with a quick writing exercise presented by a different writer each month. This allows each writer to put a different spin on the exercise.
- Exercises can be shared and discussed afterwards, if desired.
- The Calgary Writing Collective will not assign homework.
- Each writer is encouraged to progess on their own writing projects outside of the Calgary Writing Collective.
- Each writer will have an opportunity to share/read approximately 10 minutes of their work every monthly meeting. Ten minutes = approximately one minute per each double-spaced page.
- Feedback will be offered if requested. Feedback will be encouraging, but may contain critical questions or suggestions, which the writer can choose to respond to at the meeting or not.

Thanks to the seven people who came to the first meeting, you know who you are! And thanks to the handful of you who wanted to come but had prior engagements. I hope to see you next time!

I'll be leading the first exercise, so if you have any ideas or requests, please send them to alisonbracegirdle@gmail.com.

See you next month on Tuesday, July 8 at the Auburn Saloon.

-Alison