A River of Words: A New Method for Writing Groups

Every writer needs more than just feedback, more than simple line editing. Writer's groups give help for your manuscript - this is new strategy is for when YOU, the writer, need help. When you sense something is not quite right, but can't get there by yourself, you need a RiverWords session. J. McKenzie has taught over 100 courses in writing at all levels, and spent five years in training for Clearness Committees and a technique called Open, Honest Questions. After her time in training, she adapted these techniques for her college writing classes, and now offers them to writing groups. "It is a method that moves beyond giving feedback on the manuscript, to helping each individual writer identify the basic purpose of their work, to help them grow, and to celebrate the belief that every writer already KNOWS which direction they need to take, they only need to discover the answer to that question within themselves." In 70 pages, Ms. McKenzie shares the foundations on which these methods are built, and offers planning worksheets and activities for writing groups to use themselves, to become ready to hold a session for one (or all) of their members.