Essays are my passion, and have wanted to get more into nature writing most recently. I had a short-lived but great experience with an online nature writers group associated with UVM years ago. Maybe it was too good to be true; the group disbanded! Always eager to talk to other nonfiction writers; particularly essay lovers. It seems like they are hard to find!

Katherine Hauswirth

Hi Kathy,

I am definitely interested in nonfiction writing. I have not done much essay beyond the personal but would be eager to explore. The online writers group is sort of a clever idea. Maybe more interest will crop up and we can put something together

I'd say my essays are mostly personal, too, and would love some feedback. I feel like I've mastered the basic essay but would like to expand my skills somewhat, stretch beyond my usual parameters. I have also been experimenting with poetry--still feel pretty amateur on that front and want to grow.

Here's hoping we may get some interest and can get a nonfiction group going! I was thinking maybe an every 1-2 week review cycle?

Hi Kathy!

Sarah here. I do a lot of non-fic, though no nature writing, at least so far. Would you like to start a group? That would be ab fab.

Hi, Sarah and DJango:

Yes--let's try an online group with a nonfiction focus. Maybe some poetry, too, although Sarah, I know you don't generally write it and I have just only started, so let me know what you think.

It would be good to set up a schedule--maybe a review something every 2 weeks cycle? (could be more often, but I think it's good to set up some parameters).Here's some links to a well-known writers group that meets in person. Maybe we could use their suggestions as a general guideline.  http://www.6ftferrets.com/-- see "starting a group" tab, and within that, critique guidelines.

I would like to know what level of feedback you guys are looking for. Sarah and I have been corresponding and been given fairly broad feedback , ie, overall impressions of each other's work, anything that resonated with us or, conversely, was confusing or seemed to dilute the message.

Also, may work better to do it directly via e-mail, rather than through this forum? Not sure we can attach stuff; also might not want to share all of work to a wider audience and/or take up a lot of space in the forum. Please  let me know your thoughts.

Kathy

Hi Kathy and Sarah,

An online group sounds interesting but isn't going to be the right fit for me right now. I really want to meet in person and I won't be able to do more than once a month. Thanks for including me.

We could meet once a month or so in person and do the rest by email, if that is OK.

Thanks for the reply, Django. Sarah, that leaves you and me (back to where we were!). I'll keep an eye on this board in case any other interested writers pop up.

Kathy

Greetings.  I'm out in western Mass but get to Concord and Cambridge a fair amount and can be flexible about when I do that, so would be interested in joining a group.  I'm a recovering academic working on environmental non-fiction.  My main project right now is an environmental history, a critical examination of conservation and mainstream environmentalism in New England, with emphasis on the pitfalls of the narrow focus on protecting isolated, scenic slices of pristine nature and so neglecting the deeper roots of environmental decline.   But I'm also working on some essays and editorial pieces.  Something akin to nature writing does come into my work at times, though, since my earlier background was in ecology, conservation, and experiential ed.  It would be great to have some feedback on my writing, but also just some comaraderie as I try to figure out what my niche is.

Daniel

Hi, Daniel. I am in CT so have been seeking groups and/or critique partnerships that are primarily online. So far I have only made it up to Boston for the first Grub Street Lock-in, which I loved!

Sarah and I have critiqued some pieces via e-mail. I really like to read the sort of thing you write and if you'd like to send me any pieces I would be happy to give my feedback. I am also trying to figure out what my niche is. I have published 1 nature piece, have another one I love but just can't seem to publish, and want to write more. I also write essays on other topics and some poetry (my newest venture).

Let me know if you'd like to send me something and I will do the same. Sarah, please jump in if you are interested, too.

PS: Treated myself to Lapham's Quarterly at Borders yesterday. The theme is Book of Nature, and I am really looking forward to digging into it. Sounds like it may be up your alley, too!

Kathy--sounds great.  i guess it's just us chickens, eh?  is there a way to do email or other private communication here?  i don't think so, but maybe... ?  ds

Just us chickens, Daniel. I think the best way is e-mail. Do you want to send me something first? khauswirth@sbcglobal.net. Please let me know the sort of feedback you are looking for--just overall impressions, or more in depth (ie, tracked changes in Word with any suggested corrections/rewords).

Thanks,

K