Sparrow  Writers  encourage  creativity,  friendship  

By  Jenny  Stepanski  Family  &  Friends  staff  What do the words glaborous, glabella, lapidate and escarpment have in common? Well, besides being found in the Bibliophile's Dictionary, all of these words were featured in a writing activity during the July meeting of the Sparrow Writers Writing Group.

The Sparrow Writers Writing Group, a conglomeration of aspiring authors, always begins each meeting the same way -- with the "three words" writing prompt. The idea of the exercise is that each member shares with the group a word they learned that month and its meaning. Then each person is given five minutes to incorporate as many of the words as possible into a fictional paragraph or two. Words may be ones that were encountered over the course of the month or searched for in a reference book. Most of the members choose to find their words from the Bibliophile's Dictionary or "The Gilded Tongue." They choose the same activity each time because the consistency helps the group focus, according to member Michelle Walle. "We like using that every time because it is something that keeps us grounded, it gives us a good five-minute warm-up," Walle said. Sparrow Writers Writing Group has been meeting monthly in Watertown for just over three years. Founded by Jessica Zimdars, Watertown, and Heidi Edmundson, Whitewater, the group regularly has eight to 10 members in attendance, ranging in age from teenagers to those who are in the middle of their lives. According to its business card, the Sparrow Writers aim to promote creativity, improve writing skills, sample other genres, meet other writers and build a tribe and, of course, to have fun. Yet, anyone who happens to join in on a meeting or observe the group in action will see the purpose of the group goes much deeper. Out of the writing, learning and sharing springs laughter, acceptance and friendship. The Sparrow Writers Writing Group exists to provide a community for those who might not otherwise find a home for their stories. "I've grown as a writer by what I've written about," said Edmundson. "There are some stories I've written that were because of a writing prompt. I feel that if I weren't part of this group, that story might never have been told." The writing prompts that the group uses, which were born from a suggestion by author Judy Reeves and her books about becoming a better writer, help group members harness their creativity, as well as brainstorm for new ideas. Meghan Henderson explained that the prompts forge a path for pent up ideas which had no prior outlet. She said, "My mom always said writer's block is when you know where you want to go on a subconscious level but you are unable to get there." Using prompts, talking with other writers, brainstorming and writing are all methods the Sparrow Writers employ to help creative juices flow once again. Yet, not only does group participation help members to grow as writers, it also helps them to grow as individuals. "Being involved with the group really helps draw me out and helps with my public speaking," said Zimdars, "I've learned to come out of my comfort zone and be more vocal." Elizabeth Perez, 47, of Watertown, said she is one of those members who would never have found a creative outlet if it were not for the group. Perez said after she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia over 15 years ago, her personal outlook on life plummeted. She said the pain eventually became too intense to continue going to work and she ended up spending the majority of her time at home. She said, "I tried to spin this time into writing, but I could not figure out where to start." Then one sunny afternoon, she was feeling well enough to walk to Hessed's Connection Café, where she ran into Zimdars. "Talk about divine intervention," Perez said, referencing the coincidence that she would meet someone who would help her focus on her writing. She said she and Zimdars talked that day for at least three hours. Then they exchanged phone numbers and Zimdars called her every month to encourage her to attend a Sparrow Writers meeting. Although she had no confidence and no means of transportation, Perez finally decided to give the group a chance. And she never regretted it. "At my first meeting," she said, "I was given encouragement by each member of the group. It made me feel totally embraced." The Sparrow Writers group is also about connecting with friends. Walle said, "When you have a group,

even for a short amount of time, you have a way of getting into each other's heads -- into each other's stories -- and that is what I like most about this group." The group meets each month, usually on the last Tuesday, at a local restaurant. During the two- or three-hour meeting, they complete five writing prompts. Some of the prompts include using a movie quote, a piece of artwork or photograph, as well as exercises in character and plot development. According to Zimdars, one of the group's favorite prompts is called "Five Minutes of Randomness," where everyone is given five minutes to write whatever they feel inspired to say. Edmundson explained this prompt was fashioned to reflect the eclectic nature of the writings of Lewis Carroll, especially in his creatively scattered novel "Alice in Wonderland." Group members enjoy writing about a wide gamut of topics. While many of the members enjoy using familiar characters and styles, they also enjoy branching out and exploring new ideas. Many of them enjoy writing not only original creative stories but also fan-fiction type pieces. Mitchell Christensen said he especially likes to write "Hunger Games" spin-off stories, while Walle explained, though not truly fan-fiction, many writers in the group like to incorporate "Poe-esque" themes and symbols into their works. "I didn't get very far," Henderson said during the July meeting with just a hint of sadness in her tone after the timer buzzed signaling the end of a prompt. She had hardly gotten the words out when the group jumped in to encourage her, "It's OK," Perez said, "You'll finish it up when you get home." And that is the nature of this group; they are always quick to encourage and look for the best in each other so that everyone will have the confidence to share their story. Without that support, members of the group feel that many stories go unfinished, many books are never written and authors are never developed. "If you dream of writing and your soul longs to write," said Perez, "it doesn't matter what style or form. Sparrow Writers are ready to embrace and encourage that side of you." Zimdars said she decided to begin a writing group after a friend's daughter was visiting from out of state and requested that Zimdars get together a group of local writers so they could discuss writing and work on their creativity while she was in town. Zimdars turned to her friend and fellow aspiring author, Edmundson, to help reach out to anyone in the area who would be interested in attending. After the group met that first time, Zimdars and Edmundson decided to continue meeting and named their group, the Sparrow Writers Writing Group, after Captain Jack Sparrow, a favorite fictional character from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy, played by actor Johnny Depp. Edmundson said it's special that the group began meeting on the ninth of the month because Depp's birthday is also on the ninth of a different month. Spring-boarding off of the Captain Jack Sparrow pirate theme, each group member is assigned a "pirate name" and given a drawstring bag in which to carry their "loot." If a member performs a writing prompt particularly well, he or she may choose a prize from the "booty" bag. The group also has a pirate flag logo which has an emblem of a skull on it. When she is not leading the Sparrow Writers Writing Group, Zimdars is a homemaker and author. She has written two published books, "Tomes of Cariena: Book 1 Varish" and "Tomes of Cariena: Book 2 Viatores," as well as numerous short stories and poems. Many of her short stories and poems can be found by visiting Deviantart.com. For more information about the group or to join them in their next meeting, contact Zimdars at littletreesister@earthling.net.

           

                               

             

         

Heidi Edmundson is a founding member of the Sparrow Writers Writing Group. She is shown during the July meeting reflecting on how the group began. JENNY STEPANSKI/Family & Friends

Pictured are the members of the Sparrow Writers Writing Group at the Rose Garden Café and Pizzeria on July 22. Clockwise from center are Meghan Henderson, Samantha Owens, Mitchell Christensen, Michelle Walle, Jessica Zimdars, Heidi Edmundson and Elizabeth Perez (hidden). JENNY STEPANSKI/Family & Friends

 

Meghan Henderson is pictured during a Sparrow Writers meeting. She is deep in thought as she tries to finish a writing prompt before a timer buzzes. JENNY STEPANSKI/Family & Friends

Mitchell Christensen, left, and Michelle Walle, right, participate in a writing prompt during the group's July meeting at the Rose Garden Restaurant. JENNY STEPANSKI/Family & Friends

Jessica Zimdars, leader of the Watertown writers group, Sparrow Writers Writing Group, is shown in July participating in the group's "three words" writing prompt. JENNY STEPANSKI/Family & Friends