Fertile Material Writing Circles:
FoW Writing Circles use the fun and zany Fertile Material prompts from Fear of Writing to write a new story each week. A safe space is created where members feel relaxed enough to read their stories to the group, even if they've never shared their writing out loud before. The accent is on fun and no one is ever pressured to read.
What Regulars are Saying
I've really enjoyed my writing circle sessions! Thanks for bringing me out of my shell.
—Daisy Whisenant, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas
I wanted to tell you how much the writing circle has helped me with my writing anxiety. I’m much more relaxed about it now. The exercises gradually taught me that if I just start writing, a story will come out—all I have to do is let it flow!
—Donna Coyle, Fertile Material Writing Circle, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Milli and the Fear of Writing crew have come to my rescue. The weekly writing circles are great—a place where I can share my work with an appreciative audience, practice my skills, and learn from everyone involved. Thanks, Milli!
—Lainie Dulaney, Canyon Lake, Texas
We wrote the one about discovering you're still in your pajamas at the office. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. Great fun!
—Donna Brown, Fertile Material Writing Circle, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Page Contents
Start your own writing circle
Meet writing circle regulars
Suggested guidelines
THREE FREE BOOKS to start your writing circle
Meeting Schedule for Writing Circles in the Hill Country of Texas
Start Your Own
Fertile Material
Writing Circle
It’s easy! All you need to get started is one copy of the book and at least one other person who wants to have fun writing. New members will gravitate to your group by word of mouth. Your meetings should be FREE so all can attend.
The format is simple: The group chooses a new Fertile Material prompt each week. It’s always fun to see what a group of people comes up with using the same prompt. Write for 30-45 minutes, then stop to read your stories out loud.
No one should be pressured to read if they’re not comfortable. Also, critiques are not a part of the Fear of Writing philosophy. Complete suggested guidelines may be printed for group use.
Choose a central location where you can meet once a week. Coffeehouses are ideal for writing circles. Make sure you check with the owner first—find out if the owner is happy to host a group of writers who intend to read their stories out loud. It’s also a good idea to encourage members to make regular purchases (coffee, baked goods, etc.) as a goodwill gesture for allowing your group to meet in the coffeehouse.
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Meet writing circle regulars
Santa Fe Fertile Material Writing Circle—2002 Anniversary Dinner, The Store Different, Santa Fe, New Mexico
From left to right: Penelope Stowell, Robbie Lipworth (behind), Colleen Welch, Jayni Therkildsen with spouse Jorn, Milli Thornton, Terry Wilson with Mark, Jim Meyer, Fred Mitchem
Taos Fertile Material Writing Circle, Taos, New Mexico
Sadly, there is no photo of the Taos group (which ended when several members moved away), but Cindy Robison and Theresa O'Connor were two of the regular members.
Cindy is seen here helping Milli at the 2001 Santa Fe Festival of the Book. Theresa sent the Mt. Rushmore photo during a 2003 road trip to New York on her way to attend pastry chef school.
Bulverde/Canyon Lake and Boerne writing circle regulars at a party for writers, June 2005, Vintage Wine Bar, Bulverde, Texas
Clockwise, from front: Jeanetta Davis (seated), Liz Newman (seated), Sandy Fleming, Milli Thornton
Santa Fe Fertile Material Writing Circle—2003 Anniversary Dinner, Whistling Moon Cafe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Regular of the Bulverde/Canyon Lake Writing Circle, Mary Ann Campbell from Bergheim, Texas. Mary Ann went on a cruise to Alaska in August 2005.
September 2005 Bulverde/Canyon Lake Fertile Material Writing Circle (aka The Chicklettes), Chicki's Coffee Shop, Spring Branch, Texas
Back row, from left: Susan Smith, Mary Ann Campbell, Lainie Dulaney, Jeanetta Davis, Doris Stump, Marilyn Agee
Front row from left: Milli Thornton, Marlena Dammé, Dee Nielsen, Kathleen Stevenson
Absent: Caitlin Smith, Cindy Wilson, Jeannie Mumau
September 2005: Boerne (pronounced Bernie) Fertile Material Writing Circle, Ye Kendall Inn, Boerne, Texas
From left: Milli Thornton, Kathy Cloud, John Gaines, Sandy Fleming, Holly White
Absent: Daisy Whisenant, Thom Ricks, Michelle Horstman
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Suggested Guidelines for
Fertile Material Writing Circles
Click on the printer icon above to open the printable page.
1. This group is based on the Fertile Material writing exercises from the book, Fear of Writing. Each week, members choose one of the 112 Fertile Material exercises to write a short story with. We write for 30-45 minutes, making sure to leave time at the end for everyone to read his or her piece out loud to the group.
2. All members of the group do the same exercise.
3. Please refrain from chatting (or go outside to do it) while people are writing. Cell phones and pagers must be switched off during the writing circle.
4. If you arrive late and find that the writing has already commenced, enter the circle quietly so as not to disrupt your fellow writers. Someone sitting near you will use the book to point out the exercise we're working on.
5. The group is moderated by _________________. Whenever ___________ cannot be present, then ________________ will lead the group. If neither __________ nor _________ is present, elect a group leader for the evening.
6. The job of the group leader is to ensure that a Fertile Material writing prompt gets chosen and started on in a timely manner; that everyone gets a chance to read to the group (only if they want to—no pressure); and that the group stays focused on the format: writing and reading aloud our Fertile Material stories.
7. Please be conscious about sharing group time. No dominating group time with your life history. Please do not use this group as a platform to preach political, New Age or religious beliefs—either through your story or during general discussion.
8. No one should be pressured to read if they're not ready.
9. Be considerate when others are reading. Everyone should be afforded the attention span you expect for your own piece. Refrain from writing in your notebook or creating diversions not related to listening.
10. We are here as a supportive audience and to have fun! No critiques allowed.
11. The time immediately after each piece is read is reserved for remarks and exchanges about THAT piece. Refrain from using another member's story as a springboard into diversions away from his/her story.
12. While we encourage a friendly atmosphere, extended social exchanges that make the group run late should be saved for after the meeting (most people have commitments afterwards).
13. Please respect our host, _______________________, and patronize his/her coffeehouse with your business (hint: buy some coffee!).
Click on the printer icon above to open the printable page.
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THREE FREE BOOKS to start your own writing circle
THIS OFFER IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLY
TO STUDENTS OF THE ONLINE COURSE
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Writing Circle Regular Meetings
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
BOERNE WRITING CIRCLE
This group meets in the library at Ye Kendall Inn, Tuesdays at 6 pm.
Ye Kendall Inn & Conference Center
128 West Blanco Road
Boerne, TX 78006
830-249-2138
www.yekendallinn.com
It's best to contact the group coordinator before attending a meeting to make sure the schedule hasn't been interrupted for some reason. Sign up for the mailing list (below) to receive contact info.
Bring your copy of Fear of Writing and a notebook & pen. If you don't own a copy of the book, you can buy one from the group leader or purchase one from Amazon.com. NOTE: You can attend your first meeting without the book.
CANYON LAKE / BULVERDE WRITING CIRCLE
This group meets at Chicki’s Coffee Shop in Bulverde, across from Sonic on Hwy 46, every Tuesday morning from 10:30 until approx. 12:30.
NEW: Bulverde Library, 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 6 - 8 p.m.
It's best to contact the group coordinator before attending a meeting to make sure the schedule hasn't been interrupted for some reason. Sign up for the mailing list (below) to receive contact info.
Bring your copy of Fear of Writing and a notebook & pen. If you don't own a copy of the book, you can purchase one from Books & Java in Canyon Lake (call first as they no longer have a storefront and will need to fulfill your order by mail) or Amazon.com. NOTE: You can attend your first meeting without the book.
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