Don’t let a single day go by without writing. Even if it’s garbage, if garbage is all you can write, write it. Garbage eventually becomes compost with a little treatment.
—Anonymous
There is incredible power in writing groups. One of the most transforming experiences of a Nebraska Writing Project Summer Institute is the expectation of writing and sharing your writing with a small group on a daily basis. Along with gaining new insight about teaching, it is one of the experiences teachers want to continue once the institute is over.
The NeWP wants to facilitate that continuing experience for past participants of NeWP Writing Institutes. Several writing groups were started in 2008 based on the small group practices of the NeWP. Currently, two groups (that we’re aware of) are meeting on a regular basis. The facilitator names and group locations are listed below. If you have an interest in joining one of these groups, contact the facilitator of that group.
You may be interested in starting your own group or continuing your group from a previous institute. In that case, please contact Anne Walden (e-mail below).
If a group does not exist in your part of the state, please let Amy Tasich (atasich@gmail.com) or Jenny Bruck (jennybruck@gmail.com)know and we’ll network through the NeWP listserve to help put together a writing group.
The following resources may be helpful as you start your groups:
- Ideas for Starting a NeWP Writing Group
- What to Do After Your Summer Vacation: Guides to Starting Your Own Writing Group
Omaha area:
Jen Stastny
Caffeine Dreams coffee
e-mail: jenstastny@cox.net
Lincoln area:
Robert Brooke
Indigo Bridge Bookstore, Wednesdays, 6 pm, every other week
e-mail: rbrooke1@unl.edu
