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POLK COUNTY–If you’re a writer or thinking of becoming one there’s a new group forming in Polk County that could give you the support you need to nurture your craft. The group is being spearheaded by a retired businessman who moved with his wife from Florida to Tryon seven years ago.

 

“When we moved here I asked around if there was a writer’s group because in Boynton Beach, from where we moved there was a writer’s group,” says David Matthesen, who wants to create a similar group here. 

 

Matthiesen, who’s written one novel and is working on a non-fiction self-help book, attended the Artists and Writers Group that meets weekly at the Tryon Fine Arts Center and ran the idea by its members. 

 

“They really are thinkers and creative people,” says Matthiesen. “We got a really brisk response from these people who are excited about doing this because there’s nothing like it in the area.”

 

The new group will be called the Writers Critique Group. The critiquing is what makes it different. Members will submit their work via e-mail and at each meeting one or two writers will have their work critiqued by the others. Matthiesen says the club will also invite published writers as guest speakers to offer inspiration and encouragement. The club will also recruit young writers by having high school English teachers recommend students submit their work for critique.  

 

“I would think that once this becomes known and once we have the group officially formulated it’s going to take off,” says Matthiesen.

 

The group’s first meeting is Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Columbus Library. Matthiesen says the first meeting will be mainly organizational with members deciding how often to meet and other logistics.

 

Anyone interested in joining should contact Matthiesen at matthiesen042@gmail.com.