Open arms and ballpoint pens

The soft whistle of a train sounded through Maitland on a sunny spring morning, as a group of writers entered the Maitland Senior Center. It was Thursday, and the writers critique group met just as they have for at least the past 27 years.

Those opening lines are known as setting the scene, perhaps with a soft tone, some alliteration and hopefully with diction appropriate to the characters about to come before you.

DJ Towle facilitates her fellow writers, a group of more than 20 on her email list and growing, but this is not her group, she said.

The originator 

Maitland superstar Jane Staly originated the writer’s group in the 1970s, Maitland Senior Center Recreation Specialist Brennan Dierks said.

Between meetings, she was a renowned civil rights activist and mental health counselor. In 2011, President Obama awarded her the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award on her 90th birthday, and the City of Maitland proclaimed March 11 as Jane M. Staly Day in the same year, according to her obituary. Staly died in January at 96-years-old, and a collection of her works in Maitland Historic Museum is in progress.

“Jane knew how to keep people coming,” Towle said. “When she was sick, she asked me to lead the group, and I said no – not until she really needed me to. She was at the last meeting before she died.”

The facilitator still won’t sit in Staly’s chair.

Since Staly passed, new men and women from all walks of life continue to share their written word in hopes “to be assisted by readers,” member and teacher Patricia James said.

Sharp as a tack 

Members include author of “The Sylvia Riddle” Robert, “Bob,” Coombs, a 186-page epic poem and known for his “out-there” characters in his works; dentist Alan Guy, who can write a complete story, even a novel, in two days or earlier to Towle’s jealousy; copy-editor, author and mother Teresa Bruce; ping pong champion of the world and published author Pat Hildebrand; poet David Gurney; and former travel journalist who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro DJ Towle, to name a few.

Six to nine regular attendees take turns critiquing each other’s writing each week with open arms and ballpoint pens. Writers take notes into consideration and have the option to re-distribute an edited version. Submissions up to six pages are acceptable with a double-spaced and 12-point type format required.  

“We’re sharp as a tack,” Towle said.

Towle said new group members were unsure of exactly what elements to look for as they critique, so she took a step back and wrote up a packet of ideas. Thursday’s workshop was about making amendments and suggestions for the final copy. No grammar or punctuation edits were allowed this round - only content clarifications – reiterating that critique is an aft form in and of itself.

“This is a [free] non-membership group about the joy of writing and making our stories the best they can be,” Towle said. “It’s all about growth.”

They critique all kinds of writing except poetry, as the ways of critiquing are different.

Towle assured the group she would keep an open mind. “The rules are there are no rules. After all, Dr. Suess would never have been published if he couldn’t make up words,” she said.

The devil is in the details as one headline read, and the group shared different views on style, voice and point of view in their thorough examination. Every word mattered; every person was heard.

“Jane made this a safe space, and that is what this group will continue to be,” Towle said.

Guy made sure every story had a beginning, middle and end while Bruce recognized the nuances, struggles and contradictions that are conveyed in a story.

“Sometimes it doesn’t make sense, but that’s what it is,” Bruce said in terms of terminology about arc.

Existential questions arose.

 “Are there any new stories,” Towle asked. She believes there are different ways to tell a story while Guy said that he heard there are seven basic plots to every story.

“Do we get graded on this course,” Guy asked with a chuckle.

At the end of the day, the group said no one should ever be on the defensive with their writing, “to heed or not to heed.” Staly’s name popped up in conversation: “Jane would say, ‘it’s your story,” Dowle said.

Coombs is new to the group and is appreciated for his interesting writing style. “I did a quick Google search, and I’ve been here for about four months,” he said. He goes to learn and make companionships with the group. Coombs is currently working on a thriller.

Group members have come and gone, but “Jane is always here, even today,” Towle said.

Although Jane’s arc is complete, the writer’s group is just getting started.

The writers’ group meets Thursdays at the Maitland Senior Center from 10 a.m. to noon.