COMMUNITY
MEETING OF THE MINDS
Writers come for the critiques,
stay for the camaraderie
BY RACHEL CUCCURULLO
34 Port St. Lucie Magazine
ANTHONY INSWASTY PHOTOS
Morningside Writer’s Group co-founder Peter Haase follows along while another member reads. Members bring in their writing to receive feedback.
For more than 20 years, a “meeting of the minds”
has quietly taken place at Morningside Library. A
group of writers meets every Thursday from 9 in the
morning until noon. Many of the group members
are independent writers who are self-published. Some have
anywhere from one to 10 published works or are working on
their first piece to be put into print.
“We give each other advice, work on grammar and syntax
and provide encouragement to one another,” says group
founder Gene Hull.
Hull, a former musician, musical director and director of
entertainment for a cruise line, formed the group after retiring.
His enthusiasm and dedication to the writer’s group has
allowed for its continued growth.
Each Thursday, the writers bring in up to four pages of text.
They normally print enough copies to pass out and then read
it aloud to the group. Group members read along and make
notes for the author.
“The comments and critiques can be verbal or written, but
either way, they are always helpful and allow the author to
possibly see something they did not catch, such as grammatical
errors or just helping the writer to remain on track,”
says Allan Ramsay, who has been a member of the group for
five years.
Ramsay has been a writer and editor for years. He spent
a few decades marketing technology products, working in
sales and later as a technical writer and editor. His published
works fall under the realm of psychological thrillers that
incorporate sci-fi and romance.
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
Anywhere from 10 to 30 members attend the meetings, depending
on the time of year. Group members agree to avoid
talking politics and to not allow personal beliefs to influence
their views of the writing.
Many of the group members began writing in retirement.
Kathleen Conway has been a member for three years and is
working on a memoir, of sorts, about her family. It will be her
first published work. Conway is a retired professor of counseling
from Nebraska. She and her husband are now seasonal
residents in Florida.
“This group is incredibly encouraging and makes you feel >>