When Red and I arrive at the Hubbard Hall Writer’s Workshop each Thursday, the members of the group are usually gathered outside at a picnic table, talking to one another about their writing, their blogs, their lives. They encourage each other, praise one another’s work, trade blogs and ideas they have found useful and interesting, laugh about me. We go inside. We talk for two hours, sharing our ideas, talking about the structure of stories.

I am struck by their support for one another, their eagerness to listen to each other and share their passion for their work, which is as varied as their lives. The group includes a physician, a former milkman, a professor and artist, a professional photographer, a student/waitress, a housewife/programmer. Their gifts are astonishingly varied – writing, photography, animation, poetry, collage. They have great ideas and are telling them in ambitious and exciting ways. I am nourished just being around them.

I wanted three things from applicants to the workshop. Experience in writing or other creative forms, a willingness to listen.  I wanted them to be nice and generous. I looked for that in their work. It was important, I have learned, that creative people feel safe when they seek to break out. When I hear stories about writing groups, it often sounds like going to the dentist – necessary pain.  I  wanted them to see writing and creativity as businesslike and challenging, but also joyous and fun. This is, I think, the formula that has often eluded me and many of the writing workshops I know about.

I think I got it this time. We have a powerfully strong line-up of ideas. We are working on structure and form, the process of writing. The next workshop will be at Bedlam Farm. I can’t wait.