Val Dumond

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Val's Writers Group: The Writers Roundtable

The Writers Roundtable of Tacoma, which has been going like gangbusters since 1997, began like most other groups - a meeting of writers who couldn't help themselves keep from writing! Some had been writing for a long time; others were new at it.

After seven years, more than 450 writers have stopped by or have been part of the Roundtable at one meeting or more (we kept a log). On an average, 25 to 30 people attend meetings, held regularly on the first and third Wednesdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 at a bookstore.

What makes this group different is the dedication of members to improving their own writing and helping others to improve theirs - with encouragement and criticism that helps rather than damages. Members have become good friends over the years, responding to each other like family. We've witnessed a couple romances that resulted in marriage, the arrival of babies, a few debilitating illnesses, and even the death of a member. In short, the kind of experiences that give us things to write about.

Each meeting begins with a Round-the-Table updating of the good news in our lives. Then those wishing to read toss their names into a pool and the reading begins. The only limits are time: three pages double-spaced for each. Evaluations follow each reading to help the writer improve.

Since getting published is the goal of most writers, the Roundtable invites speakers to meetings on occasion - authors to tell how they did it, editors and booksellers who let us in on their secrets, and book reviewers who offer tips - anyone who can help writers improve their chances of getting published and into bookstores.

The Writers Roundtable has published two anthologies of their work themselves, experiencing the entire publishing process from writing, editing and formatting, to choosing a printer and a marketing plan. Then they went out and sold the books.