Writing in solitude isn’t always easy. One way to combat the isolation and get feedback is through writers groups. Social networking tools have added a new way to connect. In December 2008, The Essex County Writers Meetup Group was formed and, in January 2009, Marc Bussanich, the self-titled “writing guru,” assumed organizational control of the Meetup group.
Under Bussanich’s leadership, the Writer’s Group convenes once a month to share the successes and frustrations inherent to being a writer. Prior to each meeting, Bussanich proposes a writing challenge to the group to stimulate writing. This month, Bussanich’s challenge was to write a story wherein a character is developed through dialogue. Members upload their drafts to the Meetup.com website, where other members of the group read and critique the uploaded drafts.
This members of the Essex County Writers Meetup Group convened recently at the West Orange Whole Foods Market. Seven writers, three men and four women, bearing laptops, notepads and marked-up drafts gathered at a long table to discuss the stories they crafted.
Bussanich began by asking who would like to share their story first. Pat volunteered his short story, “How Whitey Learned to Read.”

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Tomorrow night (4/30), it’s Mike Doughty at Outpost in the Burbs. We’ve got two pairs of tickets to give away. First two readers to email the name of the song Doughty wrote that was inspired by his own Gloria Gaynor moment will score the tickets. Send your answer here.
UPDATE: Thanks for playing. We have our winners. (answer was “Rising Up”)

Maybe you have a pet peeve (or two or 10). Here’s mine:
You’re online at the supermarket, and the person ahead of you is getting checked out. They stand there, pretty much doing nothing, (not even catching up on tabloid coverage of Sandra or Brad and Angie). You wonder “Why the heck don’t they help bag?”
I’m not saying you have to step in and bag if there’s a cashier and another employee who is already bagging, but if there isn’t, would it kill you to bag? Tell me, dear readers, if I’m off base, or if you share my consternation. I watched the scenario play out the other night at Kings, when I ran in to grab some items to scrape together dinner. The guy in front of me just stood there, not bagging. He was then joined by his significant other, who also didn’t lift a hand. So tell me…

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