Writers Groups / Meetups IRL

[Belegon]

I have read on AH that there was in fact an in-person get together of LitE authors... something like 15 years ago. Our late TxRad... of course... was at least a participant if not an instigator. I think there is at least one active AH'er who was part of that meet, but memory draws a blank on whom.

There have been a few at least. There was a small strong core that first met based around a joint booksigning in Milwaukee... Let me count in my head... there were, I believe 8 of us at that first meet up in Milwaukee. We came from as far west as San Diego and from as far east as the U.K. That group formed the core of a group that then met at the Love Shack (as we called it) in Texas at least twice. TxRad attended both of the Texas Meetups and took lots of us on mototrcycle rides. I believe I'm the only one from that group currently active on Lit. The Love Shack was the residence of two dear friends who had met on Lit and became a couple through their correspondance here. There were at least three such couples in attendance, including our hosts. There were also Mac and Min, who are still married and live in the Uk ; and myself and Impressive. Imp and I were together approx. 6 years. I moved from San Diego to W.V. to be with her, and I am still in West Virginia and indeed, went to dinner with her on Sunday night. We are no longer a romantic couple but remain dear friends. Lucky and Vella_La, who owned the house, split up after a few years. I am not sure how long they were together, but it was at least several years.

Following those, there were at least two Lit-togethers held in a hotel in Chicago that were much larger events. I met several Litizens there that I did not know previously. Some of whom I remain in contact with.

We had a pretty tight-knit community here at the time. There were members of the community who did not have an interest in real-world interactions, but were still embraced as members of that "inner circle".

 

[Duleigh]

I've had two meetups IRL - One was with Gelfet which became a glorious weekend that I shall never forget, nor shall I ever reveal the details. The other was with Campus77, we spent the day on Amelia Island talking books and writing and characters. We had a wonderful dinner at Sliders (best Shrimp & Grits in the south) and parted good friends. Three weeks later I got word that he had died... meeting me was on his bucket list.

Damnit.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I've met and had lunch and/or dinner with eight other Litsters. Would be delighted to meet more in the Northeastern US/Canada region. I'd like to meet some in England again, but retirement has lost me my conference funding. Would liked to have met SamScribble before he passed, but the closest I got to New Zealand was Tahiti, and he couldn't make the trip.

 

[Belegon]

I have read on AH that there was in fact an in-person get together of LitE authors... something like 15 years ago. Our late TxRad... of course... was at least a participant if not an instigator. I think there is at least one active AH'er who was part of that meet, but memory draws a blank on whom.

There was a group of us that met several times around 2006-2007. But I'm not sure how easy it would be to replicate that happening. And yes, TXRad was at a couple of the meetups. But everyone in the group had already grown pretty close here in the AH. enough so thqt trust was not an issue. Indeed there were three couples involved that had met here. I was half of one of them.

It originally started happening because we banded together to put out a charity volume to benefit Katrina victims. After that book became available, there was an adult store in Milwaukee that pitched the idea of a book signing. Two of the members of our little circle were living in Milwaukee at the time.

We all hit it off in person very well and that fueled further meet ups.

 

[WCSGarland]

I'm going to be on Carnival Sunrise 10/27-11/1 out of Miami if somebody would like to meet.

 

[Belegon]

.... those that don't stroke each other in the AssHole Circlejerk of MeMeMe and Thee. You step on the toes of one of them and they all scream in unison and crap on your schlock.

They're easy to identify as they all have their hands slapping each other's backs in most threads. They even make threads revering each other or themselves.

The first step in stopping that kind of behavior is NOT to pass it forward. I know it's harder than knee jerk defending yourself, but there is a possibility of support in here. I know, because I experienced it here in the early 2000's. Sadly, most of those writers don't frequent here any more. ogg was with us then, and TXRad, and most of you have a high opinion of them.

I was part of a circle of writers that admired and supported each other. I' lucky enough to still know some of them, even twenty years later. It can happen and it is a bequtiful thing when it does. But I highly doubt you'll manage to encourage a new such community by collectively refering to it's possible memebers as Ass Holes.

 

[Belegon]

Since childhood, I have lived by the adage, "If it will embarrass you, don't do it."

But, that's just me.

This has allowed me to share what I write far more openly than merely posting on a website. I had one colleague with the volunteer organization that I am part of recently brag to another colleague about one of my books that she had read. With a broad smile and great enthusiasm, she said, "He writes smut, and it's GOOD!"

that's a moment to be cherished.

 

[Belegon]

By the way, I would be willing to meet in person. I have no reasons not to anymore, since I'm not at risk at work. The cancer has forced me into retirement. Well, not really the cancer. the side effects of the chemotherapy that fights the cancer. I live near the Ohio Valley and much of the northeast is within driving distance for me.

 

[ColtonWrites]

I used to participate in NaNoWriMo groups IRL and online before NaNo imploded. Now I still have a Discord group but its a lot quieter than it used to be.

It would be fun to have an in-person group again. NaNo celebrated just getting the writing done so there was never much elitism, though I didn't write erotica at those meetings. Im sure some people did - there was always a recommendation that sex scenes are good for word count!