SUAW Concord: Creating Together, One Event at a Time

By Mathew Conlin

If we're being honest (and, as one novelist once said, every good writer should have a built-in bull**** detector), Shut Up & Write! in Concord, New Hampshire, was born of the same stuff that many things in New England are: a strong DIY ethic paired with just a hint of laziness. Indeed, after our first organizer drove a little over an hour to attend a different group's event—the only one in the area at the time—he had just one question on the drive back: “How do I start one of these near me?!”

Now, two years later, SUAW in Concord is in full swing and going strong. Stop by The Bean & Bakery on a Saturday morning, a cozy cafe nestled in Concord's small but bustling downtown, and you'll find ten or so writers gathered around a long stretch of tables near the back, communing over coffee and tea, the occasional bagel or pastry, and their shared love of the written word.

Group members' writing runs the gamut of genre and form, ranging from fantasy and young adult novels to dystopian short stories, competitive screenplays, true crime podcasts, travel writing, spirituality blogs, and some good old-fashioned tortured poetry (just to name a few). Beyond the group's standard weekly meetup, we hold a monthly “afterparty” to workshop specific topics or just spend extra time together talking shop. And in between events, members will also connect over Concord's vibrant creative community, which is home to The Writing Gallery, the New Hampshire Book Festival, and Gibson's Bookstore.

When asked what SUAW in Concord means to the writers who call it home, they had this to say:

• "Consistency, community, and accountability. These are the reasons that I love and keep returning to our SUAW group!"
• "I love the sense of community. We're just a bunch of nerds hanging out on a Saturday morning."
• "I like to be in a community of other writers. And it helps me commit some time to writing."
• "I come to SUAW to be more productive, get out of the house, and socialize."
• "I come to SUAW to dedicate time to my craft. Attending these events is a way for me to respect my writing as a passion rather than just a hobby."
• "I come here to practice greater discipline with my writing habits. And it's a nice form of self-care to set aside time for mastering a beloved skill."
• "I find it difficult to write on the weekends, so this gives me a dedicated time and space to write on Saturdays."
• "I gain a lot of focus from the collective atmosphere and the designated energy to the task."
• "A sense of collective accountability in solitude."
• "Socialize with friends and fellow creative-minded people."
• "The energy of writing and creating around your people is infectious. I'm addicted to SUAW."

With our second year now in the books, we're grateful for the community we've had the opportunity to build through SUAW and are excited for all we'll continue creating together in the year ahead. If you're ever in the area and looking for a place to write with your people, SUAW in Concord has a seat!