Seniors & Veterans
Our Wakefield Senior Center programming is FREE to participants
thanks to our sponsor: The Savings Bank
Program Spotlight:
Fountain Pens & Writing Culture with David Watts Jr.
Tuesday, November 14th:
Stoneham at 10:30am & Wakefield at 1:30pm
David will journey into the history of fountain pens, users, and the importance of cursive writing among younger generations. David is an active member of Boston Pen People, whose members range widely in interests and levels of knowledge - from rank beginners to acknowledged experts. While some prefer vintage pens and others tend toward modern styles, they all share a deep appreciation for pens and writing culture.
In addition to his involvement with the Boston Pen People, David has been behind cameras virtually his whole life, as a still photographer and as a film-video producer-director-writer-cinematographer-editor. Historical research, writing, and presentations also mark his life and career. In particular, David has worked with and documented the Collings Foundation’s collections. While his historical focus is primarily on the period 1918 through 1949, he has also researched and written about other historical subjects, including "The Hiker" statue, the most reproduced public statue in the U.S.
TRtW's Senior & Veterans Writing Groups
Wakefield Senior Center (30 Converse St, Wakefield, MA):
November 7th will be a "Writing Talk," where an instructor from TRtW will lead a chat about an article, blog post, or chapter from a book related to writing. (Contact Linda Macolm for details, see contact info below.)
November 14th, guest speaker David Watts, Jr. will present Fountain Pens & Writing Culture. David takes a look into the history of fountain pens, users, and the importance of promoting cursive writing to the younger generations.
November 21st will be a Gather & Write session led by an instructor from TRtW.
November 28th will be the monthly Critique Group session where writers will read their writing to the group and receive verbal feedback. (Please read over TRtW Critique Guidelines before attending this session.)
No registration required for Wakefield programs.
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Stoneham Senior Center (136 Elm St, Stoneham, MA) :
November 7th, 21st, and 28th: “Gather & Write” sessions will be held. Come with your own ideas of what to write or be inspired by prompts provided by facilitators from The Room to Write. You'll have time to write, as well as an opportunity to share your writing.
November 14th, guest speaker David Watts, Jr. will present Fountain Pens & Writing Culture. David takes a look into the history of fountain pens, users, and the importance of promoting cursive writing to the younger generations.
Registration required for Stoneham programs: Please call the Stoneham Senior Center to register, 781-438-1157.
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Writers’ Critique Group:
1:30 to 2:45 pm
The Last Tuesday of Each Month
Join us at the Wakefield Senior Center to share and critique one another’s work in a safe and friendly environment!
Bring your submissions to read on the last Tuesday of each month. No pre-submission required.
Writing submission length should not exceed 1,000 words per person.
*Please review the Critique Feedback Guidelines below in preparation for offering feedback to others*
For more information, contact Linda Malcolm at linda@theroomtowrite.org or 781-439-1080.
Our programming is FREE to participants thanks to our sponsors: The Savings Bank
Photo courtesy of JC Marketing
Want to learn about how a local writers' critique group works?
Hear from three local writers who participate in the
Stoneham Writers Group.
Read about the "Seniors to Seniors" event that took place on November 16th, 2022.
Click here to visit our blog and learn about the Seniors to Seniors event.
Read about our Workshop Series that took place in October of 2022.
Click here to visit our blog and read about our Senior & Veterans Writing Workshop series.
2022/2023 Programming: After our structured 4-week workshop series in October at the Wakefield Senior Center we held more informal guided writing sessions we call "Gather & Write" during the months of November and December. Structured 3-week workshop series in January 2023 focused on Memoir Writing was followed by several informal weekly writing sessions as well as the addition of a monthly Writers' Critique Group that meets the last Tuesday of each month.
The Room to Write hosted the last formal meeting of the program year at the Wakefield Senior Center on Tuesday, May 30th, from 1:30 - 2:45pm. Those in attendance participated in an "Open Mic" session where they had about five minutes to read whatever they wanted. They could share something they wrote, something they wanted to share that they didn't write, or a piece of written inspiration. We will open the programming year with an Open Mic format in the fall.
Workshop facilitators above (left to right): Colleen Getty, Sally Chetwynd, Linda Malcolm and Kathleen Shine Cain.
Get your thoughts, memories, stories, histories, and personal experiences down on paper! Our workshops are approachable for those hesitant to write and fulfilling for those wanting to grow in their writing experience.
Participants will experience a variety of approaches to written expression, meet the instructors to learn about their writing while experimenting with writing poetry, memoir, and fiction.
Seniors
The Room to Write has received several requests for more writing opportunities and workshops for seniors in the communities we serve.
Workshops are designed to be approachable for those hesitant to write and fulfilling for those wanting to grow in their writing experience. Workshops will include the opportunity to get thoughts, memories, stories, history and personal experiences on paper and an invitation to share when comfortable. Participants will be guided according to individual needs and goals.
Veterans
As we build relationships with the many organizations that serve seniors in communities north of Boston, Veterans emerged as a natural partner through our outreach.
We welcome veterans of all ages to participate in our writing programs.
Linda Malcolm - Coordinator of Senior and Veteran Programming
We are so pleased to have Linda Malcolm as the Coordinator of Senior and Veteran Programming for The Room to Write.
Linda is a local non-fiction writer and author of Cornfields to Codfish, a collection of short personal essays. Throughout the last ten years or so, she has been writing short, non-fiction, personal essays. In 2018, she was one of sixteen non-fiction writers selected to attend the annual New York State Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.
To learn more about senior and veteran writing programs, contact Linda Malcolm at linda@theroomtowrite.org.