Writing Play Groups

Portland Stealing Time writing play groups for spring and summer 2013 are meeting Thursday mornings, around 11 a.m., at Taborspace at 5441 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR. We’re working through the Rose Metal Press Guide to Flash Nonfiction; you don’t have to own or bring the text to participate (though it certainly can’t hurt).

If you’ve ever longed to focus more on your writing, but fallen short due to time, money, circumstances and the presence of small children in your life, first: you are exactly like us. Second: we want to help. Think of this as a homeschool MFA, but with no residency and only the commitment you can muster. We will work on writing while our children play nearby; expect to be challenged and to be enveloped.

We will provide exercises and have a “syllabus” with a list of great writer’s craft books. We’ve done this for some time, and while it’s messy, it’s also beautiful and has brought us — here!

For those who are starting their own, the idea: To have a writing exercise meant to be done in class and to discuss our goals and some strategies for juggling writing and parenting, with children or without. Most of our participants have brought babies; Sarah often brings an older, homeschooled child.

We suggest bringing a notbeook. Maybe you can make it a new beginning. We’ll have a few copies of our favorite books on hand, but will also be sending you away with a reading list if you’d like to study at home.

Our play groups are conducted roughly on 12-week “terms”; in fall 2013 we hope to expand our meetings to one advanced group and once introductory group.

Want to connect to a writing play group in your town, city or burgh? Contact us at stealingtimemag at gmail.com and we’ll post here and on our Facebook page. If you have any good ideas for organization or location, send us a note.