Hello Writers!
Around two months ago, Writers in Jerusalem held a very successful speaking event, centred around the idea of Immigrant Writing. What does it mean to be an immigrant? How does it affect your writing? Over the course of the evening, we heard some inspiring new talent from all segments of Anglo-Israeli society, and had some engaging discussion on the subject.
Immediately following this event, we also held the Writers in Jerusalem social "bar night". This event had a dual purpose – both to allow Anglo-Israeli writers to socialize, and also to serve as the final stage in our Writing Buddy scheme. (Which you can read more about here: http://writersinjerusalem.blogspot.com/2010/10/writing-buddies-scheme.html)
The Writing Buddy scheme has provided very mixed results. I have heard some very positive things from various writers who met at the event, or who picked up one of the sheets of paper. (Lists of contact and information details of other writers who were interested in the Writing Buddy scheme but could not make the event were handed out and circulated after the readings). I am happy to hear that many writers are already helping each other to improve their work. Unfortunately there are a number who have not been contacted by any other interested party and it would only be fair to say that, sadly, Writers in Jerusalem have been unable to help them. (We apologise for the delay in letting you guys know…but we have been trying to think of various other solutions – without success.)
December's Immigrant Writing and Bar Night events were not the first that Writers in Jerusalem have organized, but they were a new experience for myself personally. I have been involved with Writers in Jerusalem since making aliyah a year and a half ago, and during all that time was living in Jerusalem itself. Recently, however, I made the move to the Merkaz region, and thus had to organize these events from the other side of the Judean hills, something which as many will remember, resulted in some last minute problems on the night.
The last few months have been very busy for me personally, and the next few months, during which I will be applying for and hopefully starting a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, will be bussier still. As the main organizer of Writers in Jerusalem events, it seems only fair to suppose that for the next few months at least, we will be having fewer events. Our monthly critiquing group, for instance, has not met for two months and will probably not meet either this month or the next. Writers in Jerusalem remains active however as a source of information about literary events in the city. We are always happy to receive information which we will post on our site. The site (www.writersinjerusalem.blogspot.com) lists information about other critiquing groups in the city, which, now that ours is meeting less often, might prove useful to some of our regular members.
Hoping you are all well and writing,
"Adam Ehad"
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