Cranberry Township area writers gather for monthly feedback and inspiration
CRANBERRY TWP — Writing is typically a solitary experience and can feel isolating and lonely at times. Writing clubs, like the one that meets monthly at the Cranberry Public Library in Cranberry Township, can help lure writers out of their offices and homes and bring them together for feedback and friendship.
Started as a two-part storytelling workshop in March 2022 by professional storyteller David F. Brauer and the library’s adult services manager Megan Babal, the feedback was so positive, they were moved to continue with monthly meetings.
“Dave reached out to me in the fall of 2021 regarding a storytelling workshop,” said Babal. “(After the feedback from the attendees,) I asked Dave if he would be willing to lead the group monthly.”
Brauer agreed, knowing he could benefit from the meetings, as well as facilitate them.
“I like helping people and often learn as much from them as they might from me,” said Brauer.
Attendees are given monthly prompts to help them come up with something to write but are not held to using them.
“This covers the entire gamut of literature. I will send you prompts, but participants are not limited to these,” Brauer said.
During the meetings, members get the chance to read their writing to the group, to get feedback on what works and what may need some improvement. For those that are a bit shy, someone else can read their work if they would prefer.
Attendance varies each month, but four to eight people usually attend each meeting.
Geneva Johnson moved to Cranberry Township a little more than a year ago and the first thing she wanted to do after finding a place to buy groceries was visit the local library.
“I feel a library reflects a town,” Johnson said. “While the Cranberry library isn’t the biggest or most sophisticated library I’ve ever used, the people who work there are top-notch.”
While there, Johnson was given a flyer about the groups that meet at the library. She has attended all of them.
Johnson’s focus in high school was creative writing, where she had some poetry published and won some awards for her writing. She continued writing throughout college, while raising her children. Now she is back to writing thanks to the club.
Kathy Boban learned about the writing club more than two years ago when perusing the library’s event catalog. She’s been writing poetry and short stories since her teens.
“For me, the benefit is to be among like-minded creatives to obtain noncritical feedback of my work, learn and experience new techniques, and to hone my verbal narration skills,” Boban said.
There is no judgment about others’ work — just a willingness to help and provide positive feedback. There is also no age limit, with members ranging from their 20s to their 60s.
Experience in writing is not a requirement.
Member Bejamin Veres only wrote as a hobby when he joined three years ago.
“I first heard about (the club) through my wife, when she saw something on the library’s website,” Veres said. “She thought it would be something I would like. She was right.”
Veres, who works for Allegheny Health Network, said he believes the club allows him to use a part of his brain he normally doesn’t access at this point in his career.
“This serves as a therapeutic and creative outlet,” he said. “It also motivates me to keep up with my current writing projects. I always look forward to hearing someone’s feedback of my work.”
Veres said he enjoys hearing many different writing styles from the other members, including anecdotes, horror, fantasy and more, and encourages anyone interested in joining to come to a meeting.
“Don’t feel like you have to come to the club with a finished product, or that you have to be an experienced writer yourself,” Veres said. “(Members) come in with just ideas that they wish to share before even putting them to paper.”
More information on the writers club at the Cranberry Library can be found at www.cranberrylibrary.org.
