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The Kansas City Writers Group was founded in 1965 and has met continuously since that time. We average around 40 members per semester and have several charter members who still attend. We celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2005.
Our leaders are well-published, professional writers and editors, who are willing to share what they know with other writers regardless of
experience or achievement. Leaders for the critique workshops are Deborah Shouse, Mary-Lane Kamberg and Dawn Downey. Critique Group We use a workshop critique group format for works in progress.
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Winter
Meets
Thursday mornings
Critique Group Contact: Dawn Downey
816-674-0330
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No pre-registration necessary
Meets
Thursday mornings
Walsh
Class Contacts:
--------------- "Winter Class" (10 weeks) Cost $60 Begins December 17
Meets
10 a.m.
to noon
St. Garabed Armenian
Church
To enroll, contact:
816-674-0330
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Our meetings begin with “Market News,” which is a time (some call it “brag time”) to pass around recently published work, announce In each class, we read the pieces in the order they were turned in (roughly) but we like to read poetry first, because it goes a bit more
quickly, and we can get more authors heard. Then we read the longer stuff. We also like to vary the types of pieces to keep the class interested. During the critique, the author simply listens. We don’t “defend ourselves.” However, the author may ask the person
commenting to clarify the comment. The author also occasionally may ask the group a question he/she has that no one has commented on. We say, take what you agree with and leave the rest. Whatever anyone says is just that person’s opinion. The piece stays the
writer’s to edit or not per the comments.
We take a seven to 10 minute break at midpoint in the session and that’s a time for visiting the rest rooms, vending machines. People
also socialize a bit during the break, or ask each other specific writing questions – like advice on approaching a certain editor or anything else on a one-on-one basis. Our class ends at noon and whoever wants to then proceeds to lunch at a nearby restaurant. We currently lunch at Lucky Brewgrille at 5401 Johnson Drive (east of Kinko’s—Nall and Johnson Drive—on the opposite end of the same sidewalk). Class fee is $60 per semester. Feel free to visit to see if the group is for you.
Winter Semester KCWG
For the weather-hardy and the writing-obsessed
The Kansas City Writers Group also offers a New Writers workshop from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursdays at the same place. This is an 8-week course taught by Lawrence and Suella Walsh in a classroom format, with lessons, in-class writing exercises, optional 1- to 2-page writing assignments and discussions on writing techniques, markets and manuscript preparation.
Most people who are new to the Kansas City Writers Group start in this smaller, more intimate group. (Probably averages about 20 people each time.) Some take both classes at the same time. Others “graduate” into the critique group. (Nothing formal, the leaders might suggest they move up or maybe the person just wants a different format.) About Our Class: “EXPLORE THE WRITER WITHIN YOU”
SIX-WEEK WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS |
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The Kansas City Writers Group Presents
I Love To Write Camp for students entering grades 4-8
Explore the creative writing process without worrying about your grade! This workshop includes experience with peer review, free writing and techniques to help your writing come alive. Camp leader is award-winning professional writer Mary-Lane Kamberg. Dates for 2010 To Be Announced
Time: Cost: 6000 Lamar, Meeting Room C Bring: a spiral notebook, pens or pencils, change for vending machines.
This camp session is for young writers with work in progress. Instructor will provide critique including positive impressions,
as well as suggestions for improving the work. Peer review encouraged. Space limited. Please submit 10 pages hard copy typed and double-spaced prose or 3 to 5 single spaced poems by July 10. To: Mary-Lane Kamberg, 2128 E.
144th St. Olathe, KS 66062-2355 or e-mail Word attachment to MLKwriter@yahoo.com 6062SWord Format or ► PDF Format ------------------------------------------------------------
Now Available! The I Love To Write Book: Ideas and Tips for Young Writers by camp director Mary-Lane Kamberg, $16.95
Questions? (913) 764-4950 or e-mail: mlkwriter@yahoo.com
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Members
turn in 3 to 5 poems, one chapter of a book, a short story, article or essay to the leaders via e-mail or regular mail, or drop it off at class. We also critique query letters and book proposals. The leader then does a line edit and comments in writing on the piece.
At a subsequent meeting, the leader reads the piece aloud to the group. We have found that it benefits the writer to hear someone else read the piece aloud. The writer often catches things he/she did not notice in written form. For longer pieces, we limit the
amount read aloud to about 10 pages (double spaced).
The class then comments on the piece with the goal of helping it become more publishable. Comments may address grammatical or factual errors, comments on structure, characterization, etc., or just how the piece “hits us” as readers. Sometimes, the class even
suggests a different plot twist. Other times, someone may suggest a market for the piece. It’s pretty much up for grabs. Comments usually include both positive and negative points. But we don’t attempt to change content. We are trying to help the author say what he
or she is trying to say. 
awards, acceptances or rejections, signing with an agent, sales of books, articles, stories, or poems. It’s also a time for such general announcements as when someone is doing a poetry reading or appearing on TV or on the radio or passing around an article in the
newspaper about one of us. Also during Market News, we pass around guidelines or Web sites for markets we have found. It’s sort of a show and tell time. This time varies, probably about 15 to 20 minutes each meeting. However, on the first day of each semester, it
takes most of the meeting, since we’ve been apart so long and lots has usually happened. 
We like to try to read pieces by authors
whose work hasn’t yet been heard that semester before we repeat an author. (Some people never turn in anything!) Also, the author must be in class the day the piece is read. If he/she isn’t there, we just save it ‘til the next time he/she is. 
