The Key West citizen., 1952-10-17
NetU Writers Club
DraiUS Fine Bead
On Group Target

4
group of writer's in the area held
their first discussion group Wednes-
day night at the home of Dorothy
Raymer. No. a Charles st. and got
off to a well-planned start.
No officers or group dues went
into the formation design. 1t was
simply decided that a monitor will
take charge at each melting and
that members will ,..-.tg in this
job. The next gathering viii be
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the home of
Jeanne Skewis, corner of Telegraph
Lane and Chafles ST.. in the up
stairs apartment. She will be moni-
tor next time and also volunteered
to be Librarian for the group.
The ten initial attendees formed
a round table with Dorothy Ray
! mer as monitor. She briefly out
lined the aim of the group which
is primarily to help those who want
to write both for their own pleasure
and for potential market value.
''You can only learn to write by
writing, not just talking about it, "
was one Of the first tenets of the
session. Each member in turn stat
ed individual aims and preferences
in different writing fields ranging
from short stories, verse, magazine
and newspaper articles and fea-
lures through novels.
A formula for writing which
wouldn't be hampered too much
even by time out for baby formulas
(some of the writer's have families)
was part of the briefing.
First ingredient is discipline, !.
e., to set aside some time every
day to write. Dick Sphine told of
a successful writer in Connecticut
who turned out a $50 page novel
which sold although he only found
20 minutes of free time every day
in which to work on the book.
Second jot on the formula was to
keep a notebook in which to put
down ideas, impressions, phrases,
and anything that might be of fu-
ture value for q piece of writing.
II was pointed out that Novelist
Thomas Wolfe did this and as a re-
suit hal a storeho Ise of matetial
from xLlch to ds,lw. A word, a
Lhrase, can be used as clue which
can be developed further in expan
sion.
Third portion for the recipe is
persistaI ce. Not Just persistence / !,
writing but also IL rewriting and
N re-suhmitting t1 markets even
though rejection slips may be gar
nered by the sheaf. II was EN-.
phasized that although the financial
angle is top consideration, that
| writing for fun of it and for therapy
has its benefits. Although most
schools of instruction and most ex-
perienced writer's begin with de-
finite publisher or market In mind,
| il may not be conducive to creative
thought especially with beginners.
Rule four concerned subject
matter, at least fol- amateurs with
the sound advice for writer's to
stick to what they know about on
themes with which they are actual
~ acquainted. It was suggested
that writing about Timbuctoo by
Cna who has never been there
should be taboo al least for the
experienced scribe.
Another important part Of the
formula was the study di styles by
various authors and the survey Of
what certain publications use. With
this in mind, the monitor distribut-
ed various magazines and promis-
ed to loan textbooks and fiction
books for study. Members win
check reading material In and out
through the library which Mrs.
Skewis win manage at her home.
Proper preparation Of . manu-
script to be submitted and the IN
| formation win be discussed az the
next meeting. II was also decided
that when a member has completed
and polished a piece ct writing
which he wants 10 send off 10 a
market. that a professional typiss
either from the group or hired may
be made available.
Az the Oct. - round-tahle. each
member Is asked 10 bring . first
dragt a. a character sketch similar
70 Tire kind appearing In the Read.
er's Digest. Anyone who vas bot
present af the first meeting and
Who wishes 10 affiliate with the
/ group may do 50 and also bring q
character sketch. Helpful sugges-
tiun and constructive criticism vii
be gwen each efEnrt. Bring q rs0te-
book aud pen or pencd also.
Present ~ the charter meeting
were May Rene Rndkn. GloFiz
Rrinaley. Larry and Temi karna.
Dick Spiaine. Jeanne SkewkS, jim
cohh. Don FeaFxon. MaFsanns "A,
vanaugA ard me hosseSS
Othxws VIC have expressed In,
teress ara Cmar. R1y Ryrax. Kay
Hanskat S1Saa McAvcys Maxgares
Foresmna. 1oe Hnxx1. Bob Ne
eaxln and I0hn Ms1rg.
Vast = make tartar saBee - !