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.

Workshop Leaders

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 workshop are Deborah Shouse and Mary-Lane Kamberg. Leaders for the New Writers Group are Lawrence and Suella Walsh.

Learn more about:  Deborah   /   Mary-Lane   /   Lawrence & Suella

Critique Group

We use a workshop critique group format for works in progress.

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).

Meets Thursday mornings
10:15 a.m. to noon

Johnson County Offices
Meeting Room C
 6000 Lamar
Shawnee, KS

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No pre-registration necessary

Critique Group Contacts:

Mary-Lane Kamberg
913-764-4950   or   E-mail

Deborah Shouse
913-671-7195  or   E-mail

New Writer's Group Contacts:
Lawrence & Suella Walsh
816-630-7063  or  E-mail

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.
 

Our meetings begin with “Market News,” which is a time (some call it “brag time”) to pass around recently published work, announce 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.
 

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 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.
 

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.   
 

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New Writers
 

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”

EIGHT-WEEK WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS
...who want to explore fiction, non-fiction and poetry