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Program Spotlight:
Local Author Book Club: Tuesday, April 29th at 1:30pm
at the Wakefield Senior Center
On Tuesday, April 28th from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Karin will join the group to discuss her novel, Five Wishes. Limited free copies of Karin's book are available at the Wakefield Senior Center for people who plan to attend the meeting. Call 781-245-3312 to check availability or visit the front desk.
Karin is a retired educator, who lives with her husband on a Christmas tree farm in Essex, Massachusetts. In 1997, her book, Cape Ann & Vicinity: A Guide for Residents and Visitors, was published by Acorn Press. It was the first such book for this historic area.
In 2019 her first children’s book, Flora Has an Adventure was released by a New York publisher. This children’s book is first in a series. Also in 2019, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis published her short story, Dependence Day, in their 50th anniversary anthology honoring the anniversary of Slaughterhouse Five. Her short story, After World War II, was published by Hawai’i Pacific Review in 2020.
On June 13, 2023 her first novel, Five Wishes, was released by Atmosphere Press. The author is currently working on a creative non-fiction book: Monika's Journey. When not writing or reading, Karin loves to tend her garden, spend time with grandchildren, and bake and cook.
TRtW's Senior & Veterans Writing Programming
30 Converse St, Wakefield, MA
All Wakefield Programming starts at 1:30pm:
No registration required for Wakefield programs.
Apr. 1st -- Writers on Writing: An instructor from TRtW will be leading a discussion on an article or other short piece of writing. Contact Linda Malcolm for a copy.
Apr. 8th -- Open Mic: Participants will have about three minutes each to read a piece of writing to the group, their own or something they’ve read and would like to share.
Apr. 15th -- The Room to Write: Literally! Come in for two 30-minutes sessions: Write 20 minutes, share 10 minutes, repeat. You're welcome to bring your own ideas or use provided prompts by the host.
Apr. 22nd -- Building a Writer's Toolbox: Learn how research can enhance your writing.
Apr. 29th -- Local Author Book Club: Karin Gertsch will be joining us to discuss her book, Five Wishes. Do you ever wish you could chat with the author after you read their book? Well, The Room to Write has started a book club that will make that possible. What better way to celebrate writing than to read a book and connect with the author afterwards. Books will be given away for FREE at the beginning of each month, then the group will gather on the last Tuesday of each month to chat with each other and the author about the book. A limited number of books will be given away: contact the Senior Center at 781-245-3312.
May 6th -- Writers on Writing: An instructor from TRtW will be leading a discussion on an article or other short piece of writing.
May13th -- Guided Writing Session, Writing Your Story: After a short presentation about some aspect of memoir writing, participants will write in class and then have an opportunity to share their work
May 20th -- Open Mic: Participants will have about three minutes each to read a piece of writing to the group, their own or something they’ve read and would like to share.
If you have questions, contact Linda Malcolm, Coordinator of Senior and Veteran Programming:
linda@theroomtowrite.org or 781-439-1080
Our Wakefield Senior Center programming is FREE to participants
thanks to our sponsor: The Savings Bank
136 Elm St, Stoneham, MA
Registration required for Stoneham programs:
Please call the Stoneham Senior Center to register, 781-438-1157.
Thursday, March 27th, 10:00am -- Author J.A. Hennrikus returns for her popular mystery workshop! This is the first of three sessions with Julie, and this workshop will focus on goals and motives for characters. For more information about Julie, please check out her website: https://jhauthors.com/
Tuesday, April 22nd, 10:00am -- Author J.A. Hennrikus returns for the second session of her mystery workshop series focusing on the editing process.
Tuesday, May 20th, 10:00am -- Author J.A. Hennrikus returns for the final session of her mystery workshop series focusing on paths to publication.
Registration is required; please sign up by calling the Stoneham Senior Center at 781-438-1157.
If you have questions, contact Linda Malcolm, Coordinator of Senior and Veteran Programming: linda@theroomtowrite.org or 781-439-1080
Jan. 14th, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. -- Memoir Workshop: Kathy Shine Cain, Professor Emeritus, Merrimack College, will lead a session on crafting your own personal story. In addition to teaching, Kathy directed the Merrimack College Writing Center and has taught Writing the Personal Memoir courses to college students and adults. (https://www.irelandwritingretreat.com/kathleen-shine-cain)
Jan. 21st, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. -- Miniature Book-making Workshop: The Room to Write will be hosting a Miniature Book-making Workshop in collaboration with Re-create Studio. Participants will brainstorm and distill their words into a two-minute memoir. Then, the writing will be incorporated into a miniature book. (https://www.re-createstudio.com/)
If you have questions, contact Linda Malcolm, Coordinator of Senior and Veteran Programming: linda@theroomtowrite.org or 781-439-1080
Our Lynnfield Senior Center programming is FREE to participants
thanks to our sponsor: Wakefield Cooperative Bank
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:
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.
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