Creative writing

Keith Shafer (left) reads a chapter from his horror novel, which is based on a short story he wrote in high school. Shafer, a painter from Mayville, said it would be great to have his novel published one day. (Above) Members of the Lapeer Area Writer’s Circle — (left to right) Kristin Allen, Keith Shafer, Arlene Knickerbocker, Erin Landers, Ric Marion and Gerald Sims, discuss and critique the chapter of Marion’s cozy mystery that he had just read to the group during Thursday night’s meeting. They will meet again Thursday, April 1. LAPEER — A gory thriller, a small-town mystery, a coming of age tale and a hopefully award-winning speech were just a few of the writing samples shared at this month’s Lapeer Area Writer’s Circle.

The group, which was formed by local pastor and author Gerald Sims five years ago, meets the first Thursday of each month in the meeting room at the Marguerite deAngeli Library in downtown Lapeer.

Photos by EMILY CASWELL The circle has a rotating line-up of about 45 members, but typically about six to eight members show up each month. In the two hours that the group meets, each writer gets an equal amount of time which can be used as he or she sees fit.

At March’s meeting most authors chose to read a selection of the novel, or in one member’s case a speech that they were working on and used the remaining time for critique.

It’s during that time that the hidden talent in Lapeer County comes to light.

Tales of murder, gossipy neighbors, family discourse and futuristic wars suddenly fill the meeting room.

Most members are not professional writers, however, member Arlene Knickerbocker, of Davison, who shared a speech she is working on for a Toastmasters competition at the last Writer’s Circle, has had two works published and is currently a free-lance editor, writing teacher and speaker. Sims, the founder of the group, recently won an online competition to get one of his books, a fantasy novel titled Dreamwalker published. (A publish date has yet to be announced).

While other members like Keith Shafer, of Mayville, consider writing a hobby, the group thinks he has a good chance of getting his horror novel about an alcoholic med- ical examiner who accidentally kills a cyclist and the consequences that follow, published.

“Published would be nice,” he said.

His novel is based on a short story he wrote in high school. Shafer, a painter by trade, who said anything but the horror genre bores him, admitted that his story sat on the shelf for a while until one day he decided to pick it back up and expand it into a fulllength novel.

“I thought I’d really like to start doing something with it,” he said.

After seeing a listing for the Lapeer Area Writer’s Circle in the newspaper, Shafer decided to bring his story to the group to see what they thought of it about a year ago. Since then his novel, which along with being gory has a bit of humor to it, has been completed and he is now working on re-writes.

“The critique from the group helps me see what’s necessary and what’s not,” he said.

Shafer is already working on a second novel and is hoping to bring a sample of it to the next meeting.

Ric Marion, of Oregon Township, began attending the Writer’s Circle about a year and a half ago. During the last meeting he shared the latest chapter in his cozy mystery novel about a murder in a small town.

“They jump in,” said Marion of the group’s critique. “They let me know that my characters are good.”

Along with character development, the group covers plot lines, perspective, tenses and more. They talk a lot about showing rather than telling in each other’s writing.

Another big part of the Writer’s Circle, said Sims, is helping each other navigate the publishing industry, a must said Sims, because it’s “changing all the time.”

“Just staying up to date with that is an important part of what we do,” he added.

The group is always welcoming new members, no matter the genre they chose to write. Kristin Allen of Lapeer attended the Writer’s Circle for the first time in March. She plans to share some of her own writing at the next meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday, April 1.

Possibly the most vital aspect of the group, added Sims, is cultivating some of that hidden talent in the county and getting people to share their work.

”Most people, they want to write but it gets (put) on the back burner,” he said.

Details: 810-245-0228 or geraldsims@ juno.com.