by Jo Scheier Bugay
Recently, the Rebecca M. Arthurs Memorial Library held a poetry reading featuring the winners of its 24th annual contest. In his opening remarks, the contest’s judge, Dr. Philip Terman of Clarion University, remarked that Brookville had become a locus for poetry and writing in the area. He jokingly wondered if there was something special in the water.
Certainly, the writers of Brookville enjoy a special level of support from the town’s own writers’ group, The Writers Block Party (WBP). Founded by local freelance writer and journalist Jess Weible, a former poetry contest winner herself, the group has blossomed in the number of its members and the variety of its activities, including free workshops, readings and collaborations.
WBP also supports the quarterly publication of The Watershed Journal, a local literary magazine. The group meets monthly at Fusion Café, using prompts to spark creativity and encourage writing. Membership is free and meetings— with dates and times that vary— are announced on this website, Facebook and via email.
If there is something magical in Brookville’s water, then it has flowed through the creative waterways across Northwestern Pennsylvania. Just south, in Punxsutawney, local writers have formed The Stained Glass Writers group, which meets the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at the local library.
A relatively new group, the Stained Glass Writers recently launched a website designed by member Fred Wilbur. Writers are encouraged to share their work via email in advance of the meetings, which feature in-depth feedback and discussion. Several of the SGW have come to WBP meetings and workshops, and vice versa, deepening the value of the experience for both groups.
Dr. Terman was being particularly gracious with his compliments of Brookville, since he himself founded the robust and active Bridge Literary Arts Center (BLAC) in Franklin. According to its website, the Center ‘ is dedicated to the prosperity of literature, language and art in the greater western Pennsylvania region. The Center holds writing workshops, collaborates on literature and visual art projects, and publishes an annual journal. Special events are held occasionally with musicians and regional artists.’
Workshops are held on the third Saturday of every month starting at 11:30 AM, hosted by the Neverending Stories Book Store. They are free and open to the public. Any adult who likes to write is welcome. Participants can choose to share their workand are encouraged to bring a short writing sample: a poem or two, or a page or two of prose. Discussion is encouraged.
Members of both the Stained Glass Writers and WBP groups have attended BLAC workshops, furthering the creative connectedness of the region. Besides its activities in Franklin, writers affiliated with BLAC hold readings and other events at Michelle’s Café in Clarion. With these three active and dedicated groups, the writers of Northwestern Pennsylvania enjoy a myriad of opportunities to share their work and get feedback, perform their pieces and grow in their craft and creativity. No wonder the area’s water tastes so delicious!
