By Stephanie Monahan

When I moved to Worcester two years ago, I knew I wanted to be a part of the writing community, but wasn’t sure how to go about it, or if such a group even existed here. Then I discovered the Worcester Writers’ Collaborative.

Cheryl Cory and Jessie Olson shared the same kindergarten class in Holden over 25 years ago. After Jessie moved away, the two lost touch. Then, in 2011, they reconnected on Goodreads. Over coffee, they talked about books and writing and Worcester’s rising art scene. The city had so much to offer, but one thing was missing ~ a group where fellow writers could come together for support, encouragement, and an exchange of ideas. Thus, the Worcester Writer’s Collaborative was born.

It started with a Facebook page. Cory, who had already self-published Must’ve Done Something Good in 2008, and Olsen, whose first self-published book was released in 2011, invited other writers they knew. Those writers enlisted their writer friends, and so on. Today, the group has over 100 members, 25-30 of whom have published books in a variety of ways: some are self-published, using platforms like Amazon’s Create Space, others work with smaller presses, while one writer has written several novels for MTV books. Also in the mix are journalists, writers of non-fiction, and beginners looking for a place to tap into their creativity. Members include both men and women; ages range from students to retirees.

The group meets at Nu Café every Tuesday night from 6:30pm – 9:00pm. There’s discussion about self-promotion and the mechanics of storytelling (in addition to chat about every day life), and an hour is dedicated to writing. The Collaborative’s mission: to connect local writers to readers and connect local writers to one another. Cory maintains a resource database of local cover artists and editors to make the self-publishing process less daunting ~ no one has to start fresh. “Writing is such a solitary and lonely experience,” Olson says. “This way, it isn’t. Now I schedule my life around Tuesdays.”

Staying true to its focus on local writers, the group is reaching out into the community. This summer, the group held a writing workshop for teens at the West Boylston Library. In September, the Collaborative will share a table with the Worcester Review at stART on the Street.

If you’re interested in the Collaborative, joining is easy ~ you can sign up on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/worcesterwriterscollaborative), or just show up at Nu Café on Tuesday nights. “It’s really laid back, fun, not stuffy or judgy, very welcoming and supportive,” Cory says. “Plus there’s snacks.” Everything a writer needs….