Notes from January 26, 2014

Dear Writers,

Our Writing Prompt for this evening was: “It doesn’t matter if its right or not, its human nature and you can’t change that.” - The Winter Hero by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier. 

Also coming soon will be a post on how to start your own writing/critique group.


Sadly, The Portsmouth Writers Salon is at capacity and is not currently accepting new members.

We do have a waitlist, and those interested in being on the waitlist may email: PortsmouthWritersSalon@gmail.com

Alternatively, please see our list here of local open and closed ongoing writing groups: Ongoing Literary Stuff #PortsmouthNH

If you are looking to make some local literary connections, you may want to check out the Writers Night Out in your area hosted by the New Hampshire Writers Project: Writers Night Out

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon

Notes from January 12, 2014

The Portsmouth Writers Salon had a wonderful meeting this evening. 

Items of interested mentioned this evening:

We are at capacity with our current 8 members (two of whom were on the waiting list in 2013, and have now joined us, and we welcome them!). 

For those on the waitlist or those looking for a writing group that meets at Portsmouth Book and Bar:

Darby Tench, local author, and former UNH Italian Professor, who studied with Umberto Eco, runs a writing workshop group that meets every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 PM at Book and Bar. They are currently seeking more members as they have three members. 

Our writing prompt for this evening was: "We met in the restaurant just before you drive under the overpass, the park is on the other side Fisherman's Pier I think right on the water" - Patsy Lynch Collins

Poets & Writers Writing Contests, Grants, and Awards

Local Literary ongoings can also be found on PortsmouthNH.com 

Until next time.

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon 

Notes from December 2013

The Portsmouth Writers Salon has canceled its meetings for December 2013. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Until next time.

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon 

Notes from November 24, 2013 (Brrr!)

The Portsmouth Writers Salon had a wonderful meeting this evening. Meeting minutes were emailed out to the members. 

We skipped the writing prompt this evening. 

Of interest P.W.S. member Tammi Truax has two new books out:

The Poet's Tale

Broken Buckets

Until next time.

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon 

Notes from September 22, 2013

The Portsmouth Writers Salon had a wonderful meeting this evening. Meeting minutes were emailed out to the members. 

We skipped tonight's writing prompt. 

We are deeply saddened that one of our members will no longer be with us, and we wish this person the best, and we look forward to seeing their stories published. 

It has been decided NOT to open up our writing group to more members (including the three people on the waitlist) until we have fewer than 8 members. 

Many if not all of us have the goal of polishing our work(s) for publication and with our current nine that we mean we each get 6 times total to share our work with the group over a year. (*Note We are not saying that we want ANYONE else to leave! We love our group! It’s a wonderful group of gals and guys who provide meaningful/useful feedback to each others writing. *)

For those on the waitlist or those looking for a writing group that meets at Portsmouth Book and Bar:

Darby Tench, local author, and former UNH Italian Professor who studied with Umberto Eco runs a writing workshop group that meets every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 PM at Book and Bar and is currently seeking more members as they have three members. 

Until next time.

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon 

Notes from Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Portsmouth Writers Salon had a wonderful meeting this evening. Meeting minutes were emailed out to the ten members. 

Our writing prompt for tonight's meeting was, “Connie was sitting in the rocking chair near the fireplace, smoking a cigarette” from Dancing After Hours by Andre Dubus. 

“Don't quit. It's very easy to quit during the first 10 years. Nobody cares whether you write or not, and it's very hard to write when nobody cares one way or the other. You can't get fired if you don't write, and most of the time you don't get rewarded if you do. But don't quit.” 
― Andre Dubus

Some links relevant to discussions at our meeting this evening:

Headlight flash - Urban Legends

BYU study says YA books are full of swearing

Until next time.

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon 

Notes from August 25, 2013

The Portsmouth Writers Salon had a wonderful meeting this evening. Meeting minutes were emailed out to the ten members. 

Our writing prompt for tonight's meeting was, “Nina unlocked the door with difficulty that stopped this side of panic.” from Guided Tours of Hell by Francine Prose.  

The following is an excerpt from an interview with Zadie Smith from June 28, 2013, published in the London Evening Standard. 

“Most dear to her is the community of writers in her life, which begins with her husband. She met Laird at Cambridge but only married him eight years later, at their college chapel. ‘It’s an incredible friendship,’ she says. ‘We never expected to get married, but it’s very useful to be married to your friend.’ They edit one another’s work, a habit that goes back to university days. Does this never cause tensions? ‘As I’ve got older, I’ve maybe got a little more sensitive,’ she concedes. ‘I’m trying to write a short story while feeding this kid, so my attention is maybe not so focused. I give him the first draft, and I do get a little touchy when I get it back with yellow highlighter pen all over it.’ Still, she does the same for him. ‘We both have the attitude: “Do you want to make a fool of yourself in front of me, or in front of x amount of people?”  

Until next time. 

Keep Writing,

Portsmouth Writers Salon