In the fall of 2011, when our family was in the midst of a crisis, a young writer named Kristina Skaggs contacted me several times strongly suggesting that we should form a critique group for writers.
Kristina was so persistent that I reluctantly agreed, with the stipulation that I would guide from the background. I never envisioned how much this group would grow or how important it might become to me.
WriteOn Minooka started meeting in February 2012at the old firehouse in Minooka under the Three Rivers Arts council, which was renting the space. When the council lost the space the following year, Kristina found a new space at the Joliet Public Library, Black Road branch and we officially became WriteOn Joliet.
In 2018, WriteOn Joliet became an official partner of the Joliet Public Library. The library gives us space to meet, space in its quarterly program guide, and space on the shelves for our books, which "seeded" its local author collection.
I am so thankful for this partnership for it's been the conduit for many, many writers over the years to bring their words into the world.
WriteOn Joliet is a welcoming, diverse group of writers of varied skills, interests and experience. Through the years, the group has included professional journalists, fiction novelists, bloggers, screenwriters, musicians and poets from all over the southern suburbs, and even beyond now, since we met virtually during the pandemic and still keep one virtual meeting a month to accommodate remote members.
And, yes, WriteOn Joliet has even welcomed Bertrand the Mouse and his Uncle Barty.
Some of our writers have self-published or have been traditionally published. Others are still exploring their writing options and interests. Regardless of their place in the writing world, WriteOn welcomes everyone looking to write, read and grow, in a safe, comfortable and supportive atmosphere, where writers can share their work and give and receive constructive feedback, and everyone can benefit from our shared knowledge.
But WriteOn Joliet also strives to help writers find readers for their works and this is where we make a difference, I feel.
We help writers find their voice.
We help them improve the crafting of that voice.
We help them through the publishing process.
And then we help them find their audience, even if it's a small audience. I like to say, "If you can conceive it, someone wants to read it."
Locally, people can find those words on the shelves at both branches of the Joliet Public Library.
But wait - there's more!
This Saturday, April 22, at 7 p.m., the Joliet area community can also hear and enjoy some of those local words.
Eight members of WriteOn Joliet will present “An Evening With WriteOn Joliet: Readings to Entertain and Inspire You” on April 22 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.
Admission is $5.
Performers are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, and Duanne Walton.
Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.
The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.
For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.
For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.
