Oshkosh Area Writers Club: FAQs
Who can join?
Meetings are open to anyone 17 and older. We get a mix of people writing in various genres at different skill levels.
Is there a membership fee?
No. But it would be appreciated if you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
When/where does the club meet?
We meet at 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of each month in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library, 106 Washington Ave.
How many members are there?
There are about 12 core people, others come and go as life allows. Meetings can have as few as 10 and as many as 22 people. Some are beginning writers, others have been published and a few have agents/book contracts.
How do the meetings work?
Meetings start with short introductions and general announcements. Then we begin critiques - a person reads their work aloud (usually 5 pages or less, 8 copies are appreciated but not required) and we critique it. We have a critique form we use so we can be sure the author gets both positive feedback and constructive criticism. Not everyone reads at every meeting; the order of readers is determined by arrival times - first person to come is the first to read. Meetings end at noon, even if there are still waiting people to read.
We do make special arrangements for people with completed manuscripts or compilations - anything that is too long to read during a meeting.
What else does the club do?
During the year, we host free programs at the library - including author visits and National Novel Writing Month write-ins every November. We also co-sponsor the Lakefly Writers Conference each May at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Coming in 2016: a public access television show called Author Showcase created by two of our members.
Still not sure if we're right for you? You best bet is to come to a meeting and see how we fit!
