COME. WRITE. HERE.

For eight weeks this spring/early summer, my local writing sister, Jeanne Guy, and I hosted the “Once Upon a Time Writing Café.” Wednesday mornings, one-hour, complete drop-in invitation at a popular coffee shop. Our goal was to offer a space where people could come together, get a coffee, and follow a writing prompt for 30 minutes. We closed with fifteen minutes of informal “How was that for you?” People were invited to share anything they wanted about their experience—not the writing itself. The prompt changed every week, often based on a line of poetry, and there was always the opportunity to write from the standing prompt: Once upon a time…

People loved the sense of “writing at the edge of community.” They loved having 30 minutes of silence to follow their own thoughts without interruption. They loved clustering at tiny café tables, meeting new folks, feeling welcome to come once or come often. Jeanne and I each had travel plans during that time—we covered for each other. We watched a gentle sense of community emerge. The number of writers expanded from nine to twenty-one: we outgrew the space, and the café needed more seating for increasing summer/tourist business.

A birthday gift from Ann’s daughter, “because I know you believe the pen is mightier than the sword.” Yes, I do. And writing in community is part of that commitment.

We now have an email list, and are taking a several week hiatus. When we reconvene on Friday mornings, we will be housed in the Fireside meeting room of the Bayview Senior Center—remaining along the island highway, accessible, and maintaining that sense of writing at the edge of community life.

Now that people have the pattern, we will start up again with shared leadership: inviting one person at a time to commit to hosting a week, to bring a prompt, hold the space. It’s not hard. Everyone wants to be there. And in this new space at the senior center, a community kitchen serves a hearty lunch in this same room at 11:45, So if they choose, folks can linger, get a great meal, and interact with local elders who bring their stories to the table.

I’m sharing this because it’s empowering to create our own community connections and watch them thrive. This writing café is infinitely replicable, adaptable, doable in your town or neighborhood, or café. I suggested the idea last winter to a group of teachers in the council of IAJW (International Association of Journal Writers). My friend Gretchen is doing it in her town. Variations are sprouting up spontaneously in many places. Maybe you have a story to share in the comments.

A few tips: make it easy.  Partner with a friend. Announce the time/place. (Where I live, we have an electronic community bulletin board that includes a category of “Classes, Workshops, Events.”) Start with a timeline—eight weeks, ten weeks—then reconsider and be in dialogue with folks who have showed up regularly. Let it morph. Follow the energy that fits for your place and the people who are drawn to the activity.

And here’s a final connection: My father, Leo, lived near me for the last twelve years of his life, and after a long career focused on issues of aging, he served on the board of Island Senior Resources most of that time. He lived independently in a condo and ate at the community meals cooked by this very kitchen. This room was his hub and after his death they renamed it: Leo’s Place. That was October 2019… and well, we all know what happened in 2020—no community meal gatherings during the pandemic. But the dining hall has reopened. People are regathering. I am excited to see how these populations might inform and delight one another in the spirit of writing and story. Stay tuned!

Poster honoring my father on dedication day. October 2019–one year after his death at 98.