A few weeks ago I had an idea that woke me up at 3:27 a.m. (see previous blogs). I mulled the idea over, looked into possibilities and now I’m no longer jumping off the cliff…

…I’m sitting on the edge of the pool watching the water do its thing. And I’m mildly frustrated by it.

Here’s the idea: expand the writers group we have in Zion to teens. Give them ownership of one in partnership with the library.

Here’s what I found out:  1) the library already had a teen writers group but maybe one person would show up if at all, 2) Libraries in the area do not have an active teen writing group, and 3) when you reach out to teachers, you get no response.

No so with the library. The library is trying to get the teens in. It just hasn’t found what works, yet.

There are many issues with teenagers. Their time with school assignments, with sports and friends can cut into any free time for extras like this type of group.

But I have to believe (in my Pollyanna existence) there MUST be at least three or four teens out there who are writing stories or songs, poems or even a novel and might like some guidance.

If you’re out there – I’d like to tell I know how scary it is to share your work to get feedback. You already get from your creative writing teacher, but come out of your comfort zone just a bit more and let us hear your powerful words too. Once you do it, you’ll find it freeing, empowering and there will be challenges. That’s how you develop and deepen the craft.

Let us help you.

The Zion Benton Writers Group meets the first and third Saturday of the month at the Zion  library’s The Hive – creativity central. What you can expect to find is people who are ready to listen and share ideas of what worked and what didn’t. We share writing resources and opportunities to learn.

You can bring anything. We do not judge.