Where in the World Are All The Writers?
By Adedamola Adeyemi
Where in the world are all the writers? That's the question that first led me to join the Shut Up & Write! Douglasville group in the summer of 2023. After having my closest friends scattered across the country by my college graduation and moving back home, I was ready to make some new friends, meet some fellow writers, and connect with my immediate community. I joined the Douglasville chapter at twenty one members strong and was delighted to find… nothing? Quick investigative work revealed the culprit: Covid-19. The last event that had been scheduled was March of 2020, and it was clear that the pandemic was responsible. Rats!
However, after a long year of nothing, I got something! A beacon of hope in the shape of a Meetup notification alerted me in the middle of my work shift: Shut Up & Write! with Lira from HQ. God bless Lira from HQ. I signed up immediately. After the event, Lira explained that the session had been posted in chapters around the world and that if any of us wanted to become event organizers, we were welcome to apply. And I'm glad I did. Ever since August of 2024, I have been blessed with the presence of novelists, poets, screenwriters (like myself!), bloggers, coders, and every other kind of writer under the sun!
The format of our meetings remains the same, but every session is a completely new experience. After some 15 minutes of chit chat, we finally settle down and go around the table sharing our names, writing fields, the projects we're working on, and a highlight of the week. I don't remember exactly when the "highlight of the week" section of the introductions was added, or who even suggested it for that matter, but it has been a special part of our group ever since, allowing us to share our wins, our losses, and other weekly adventures with each other. Promotion? New roommate? Concert? Published book? You name it, we've shared it. We like to joke that for a group called Shut Up & Write!, we sure love to talk. Our current record for a late start is 11:30 am. For reference, our official start time is 10:30am. Apologies to our newcomers! While we might not be the most punctual writing group on the market, I don't think a single one of us would trade punctuality for community. Here, I have to thank the beautiful staff at Kuumba Coffee here in Douglasville for hosting us in a wonderfully welcoming space and putting up with our shenanigans every Saturday afternoon.
After we've gotten the gab out of our system, we "lump it out!" — or write, as normal people might say — for one hour. The chorus of clicking keys and scribbling pens often carries us to the one-hour mark faster than any of us ever expect. In many instances, we are entering a flow state just as the timer is going off. We lament these moments, but it always gives us something to look forward to when we eventually return to our projects. We then conclude with a round-robin check-in with everyone's progress before members linger to chat, further strengthening connections and daring to make new ones.
Shut Up & Write! Douglasville is always my highlight of the week, and it warms my heart to see how our group has grown in just a year and a half. In that time, we've had some writers come and go, but many have become delightfully familiar faces that I look forward to writing with every week. I sometimes wonder if we'll ever outgrow our little coffee shop and be forced to look for a new location to host meetings. A new chapter in our journey of community and wordsmithing… Our growing membership has forced us to regularly rearrange the space, usually by pushing three tables together to accommodate our size, so relocating is not outside the realm of possibility. For now, though, I'm proud of how far our group has come and just hoping for four.
Hear from members of SUAW! Douglasville
- "I came to SUAW and immediately felt welcomed by the peace of being surrounded with the energy of other creatives. As an introvert, being able to connect with other writers without the pressure of sharing what's been written is perfect for me. I feel like I've joined an amazing community and connected with some remarkable writers." – V. Kottavei W.
- "Attending SUAW was the best decision I made. I have been able to not only work on my writing but also find a community that is welcoming and open. I wake up every Saturday excited to go and see where the day takes me in my writing and the connections that I am making there." – Justina W.
- "When I started writing my novel, I thought I needed a critique group right away. What I really needed was SUAW Douglasville. This group of writers has been the most inclusive group of champions for my project's progress that I could have ever hoped for. Being a busy mom of twins and teacher, our Saturday morning meetings are often the only times I have to write. The time we spend at Kuumba Coffee on Saturday mornings is sacred and has made all the difference in ensuring that my novel project does not collect dust and become forgotten in the corner of my consciousness." – Victoria C. A.
- "I could easily sing all the praises of this group. SUAW has been kinda life changing - not only helping me foster a consistent writing habit and growing as a writer, but also the relationships! It's been a breath of fresh air to meet a group of people so encouraging, to be in a dedicated space to writing. The connections go beyond that though, and I'm so grateful to have found that in this group." – Elle E.
- "SUAW Douglasville has such a welcoming and comfortable environment! I was nervous to attend for the first time, but everyone offered such a warm welcome, I couldn't wait to attend more in the future!" – Alex C.