Queer Writers Group Convenes

by Lex Lawson, co-founder of the Queer Writing Group

The Office for LGBT Services would like to announce a new group for LGBTQ and allied students and community members. The Queer Writing Group will be meeting to read, write and share literary work that is both implicitly and explicitly queer.

The group’s purpose is to create a space for those interested in sharing and developing their writing with a queer bent. This group is composed of multiple elements to stimulate the writing process.
Discussing recommended readings both for content and structure will help inspire members in their own writing process and help shape what craft elements to look for. There will also be time for free writing in order to open up the creative mind and designate a time to actually write. Something we often struggle to create for ourselves.

Then of course there will be time to share personal writing with others, giving writers the opportunity to get feedback from others and have a safe space to share their thoughts and ideas. Having a designated time and space to share writing is often an important source of inspiration for writers. This safe space for sharing queer experiences and identities is an important element of this group.

We will also be discussing the importance of queer writing to self and society. Incorporating this analytical element is unique to a writing group, often writing is not seen as more than a creative expression. But because we see the need for establishing a queer oriented writing group as part of creating a space for queer view points, identities and experiences to be specifically addressed in writing practice this requires us to look at the why and how the work we are reading reflects that.

Please join us on the second and fourth Wednesday at 7:30pm in the Intersection if you are interested in creative writing of any kind. Writers and aspiring writers alike are welcome.