By Jenessa Farnsworth
Between the latest celebrity gossip and news about favorite television shows, two adult writing groups find time to discuss each other''s work against the backdrop of Barnes and Noble.
Every Tuesday and Thursday night the groups read and critique each other''s personal work in the hopes of improving their writing skills.
The groups, both originally organized by Katherine Mardesich, have been running for a few years now. At their inception the groups started out in the Orem Public Library, then moved to a member''s house before finally finding a home at the Orem Barnes and Noble.
Despite the fact that both writing groups get together to talk about writing, both have different dynamics from one another. According to Marsedich, who heads the Tuesday night meetings, her group consists of a fairly mixed group of writers, writing everything from women''s romance and poetry, to young adult and children''s fiction
'Each person brings a chapter,' Mardesich said. 'Someone else reads the work - that way you get an idea of flow, pacing and whether or not something''s clear. Then we all take a moment to critique each other''s work.'
Mardesich is mainly in charge of the Tuesday groups, while Eric Stone often heads up the meetings on Thursdays.
Thursday groups concentrate on different genres of writing, focusing mostly on science fiction and fantasy. The members of this group hand out their chapters one week, and bring their feedback and criticism the next.
'Sometimes, if something is short, we''ll just read it at the meeting,' Stone said, adding that taking a story home for a week offers the opportunity for more constructive feedback.
The writing group discusses everything from writing to favorite authors to television shows. While much of the meeting is socialization, an equal amount of the meeting is based on helping each other improve their writing.
'It helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of,' said Carla Jo Webb, a member of the Thursday writing group.
Stone and Webb said one reason they attend a writing group is because it gives them more motivation to write in their spare time.
'Sometimes it''s the only thing that gets me to write,' Webb said. 'You''re getting the jolt you need just to start writing by being here.'
The group consists of up to nine people, according to Stone, but they currently only have about five or six members who attend each meeting. Students are welcome to attend, but they ask that new members attend at least once or twice before bringing their own work.
'I have a waiting list that I''m accumulating right now to start on another night,' Mardesich said. 'It''s very effective for people that are serious. We have people who come and don''t want to give up their spot because a good writing group is really hard to find.'
The groups are held at 7 p.m. in the Barnes and Noble at 330 East 1300 South in Orem.
(For comments, e-mailo Jenessa Farnsworth at Jenessa.Farnsworth@gmail.com)