B_N_overview

Tales from the B&N

Overview

This is a collection of writings that results from my participation in a casual writers' workshop held every Thursday evening at the Colorado Springs Barnes & Noble store. Each writing is preceded by an explanation of what the workshop leader gave us as a starter topic. There is a different leader each week. We are given 5, 10, and 12 minutes to complete each of three tasks each evening. After all writers are finished or the specified time period has elapsed, we each read the results aloud. There have been many enjoyable evenings full of oooohs and aaaahs and downright gut-wrenching laughter. The only rule is that no one is allowed to make any negative comments about another person's writing. This period of my life started in 2001 and continued until the end of May, 2003

The group has been getting together for about three years and the number of participants varies from six to 20, depending upon who-knows-what. Several very interesting writers have come and gone during my involvement. The variety of output is astounding to me! I feel challenged to "hold my own" in this environment and truly enjoy the experience. I feel like a "real writer" for some reason. On the wall above the coffee shop is a huge mural depicting all the famous writers that I have ever heard about. It is, at least in my mind, like stepping back into the past and being in a French café or bar, full of the most creative people around.