Hi Kat,

I'm definitely up for that. Count me in.

Paula

This could be fun and beneficial. Perhaps the way to start is small - I like your idea of matching people and perhaps it would be best to start with short pieces.

I once took a weekend poetry class from Levi Romero - a wonderful poet from New Mexico. He started the class (this was in Taos) by asking us if he could hang us from the vigas (wood ceiling beams). He was asking whether he could give us direct feedback even if it was a bit tough to hear. I just loved the way he used this conversation to help each of us be in a more coachable way.

Real feedback is such a gift.

paula and lisa,

great. let's see if a few more folks come out in favor and then we can begin to craft the format. agree with short pieces to start at least until we see if this boat will fly.

(i know, i know... but i've always felt mixed metaphors were more interesting...)

lisa - the poetry workshop must have been wonderful. something magical about new mexico anyway, and a poet named levi romero could only be a source of inspiration!

I'd like to do this but not a one-on-one match if that is what you had in mind. Maybe 3-4 of us who want to do essays and another group who do fiction or poetry . . . If the number of responders stays below 10, I say we go for it. I doubt everyone would post every day, and we could set up a reading/commenting commitment like at least 2 pieces a week.

this is a good approach methinks. one on one can be confining and become ingrown. am hoping we can gather a quorum so to speak.

You experienced writers are all a bit intimidating to me, but I love the idea of feedback. I've never written much but marketing pieces and sales letters, and doing the writing camp for a few days was amazing for me...loved getting positive feedback, but would have also liked to know how to do it better, I am a huge fan of deeper feedback than a huge camp leader has time for. So, if you don't mind a total amateur interested in writing, you can count me in. Maybe if therre are a lot of novices interested, we could be a second group, so the really serious writers don't have to spend all their time with us greenhorns.

Yeah, I'm not a writer, either, but I have a good time at camp.