While many are busy this Saturday, April 4, preparing for the Easter holiday, a lone writer finds herself at the library, thinking about the future.
As I type this, I am sitting in the Waconia Library, at a table in the Activity Room, reflecting on (and stressing over) how much I seem to be falling behind with my own writing these days. There have been times, especially over the last year, where I have sometimes felt stagnant, stuck; where the dream – finishing my novel, publishing my next book – just might not happen.
I have a tendency to actively avoid the thing I am afraid of, and that has resulted in a spotless apartment and a lot of care and nurturing for my houseplant collection and the vegetable seeds I’m starting for spring. I have organized my yarn stash and made plans to get my Etsy shop of crochet goods back online. I have cleaned out my closet (a Herculean feat). I have adopted a reptile (a crested gecko named Bean) and of course subsequently attempted to learn everything there is to know about crested gecko husbandry. I have reorganized my entire book collection (by genre this time!).
I have spent much needed time with family after two difficult losses this winter. Some of it has been delightfully light-hearted because that is what we need: reveling in the company of cousins I grew up with and how we know exactly what it takes to initiate full-chest rib-cracking wheeze-inducing oops-I’m-gonna-pee-my-pants laughter; enjoying spending time with their kids, teaching, encouraging creativity, donning the tiara and title of “Cool Auntie Jen.” I’ve also been there for my parents as they navigate through the loss of each of their moms, within 30 days of each other. The things that really matter, at the heart of it all. I don’t include this family time in my tendencies toward procrastination; if anything, the loss of my grandmothers has been a catalyst pushing me back toward my writing. I wrote their eulogies and read at their funerals. I carry with me how much they believed in my craft and encouraged my creativity the way I hope to encourage the next generation of our family. I won’t let them down.
I have been reminiscing back to the days when I, a new permanent transplant to Waconia, wandered down to the library on a Saturday in 2017 to see about a writers’ group. That day changed my life, honestly. Having moved back to Minnesota only a year prior, and having recently lost my job due to company restructuring, I was aimless and looking for some focus, remembering a dream I once had to finish a novel. The writers I met that day are still a part of this group, even if many of them no longer attend in person. We stay connected because of our craft. And even as we move through the months – as new members stop in to see about a writers’ group the way I did (some coming back, some moving on) – I still see a lot of promise and potential in Waconia Writers’ Group.
We have always been a dynamic group, always in motion, always evolving. Our group has accomplished a lot together. We published an anthology of our work. We assist each other in editing and critique, helping each other be better writers. We learn from each other’s experiences. And we will keep on with those central goals: to share, learn and grow with each other.
The WWG schedule has recently experienced some interruptions and adjustments over the last couple of months, and it is my hope that after this holiday weekend, we’ll be back on track as usual, with meetings hosted at the library on the first Saturday of every month (with the exceptions of July and September; those will land on the second Saturday due to holidays).
Our last meeting on March 21 was a full house, and it was great to see some new and returning writers attend! Our group had several children’s book writers in attendance, sharing information that will be added to our Writer Resources page.
There is a lot going on in our community, and writers who have recently attended the February and March meetings have shared some useful resources and events. I will do my best to get those onto the WWG calendar too. If you know of writerly events coming up in your neighborhood coffee shop, local arts council, and beyond, please email waconiawriters@gmail.com. One of the most important objectives of this group is to share the resources and opportunities available to writers in our communities.
Of one thing, I am certain: when you get a group of writers together, we can’t help but be inspired. By each other, and our own ideas. I think that is the number one reason why I kept coming back, after that first meeting in 2017, and it’s also why I agreed to take the helm of the group in 2021. I would ABSOLUTELY love if everyone – the new writers I’ve met over the last several months, the writers who attended in years past – could at some point cross paths at one of these meetings to connect with each other! Our collective experience and knowledge is so rich, it would be wonderful to be in one space at the same time. That is a dream of mine, and I’m committed to holding the space for it to happen.
All of that to say…. I could use your help. Whether it’s finding, collecting and reporting upcoming writer events, finding ways to share your writing knowledge, or joining us at the Saturday meetings with ideas and projects in hand. Let’s talk about how to keep building and strengthening this community, and how to keep stewardship of it for future writers. Ultimately, I am excited for the future, and am looking forward to partnering with you all on the journey there.
Much love,
Jen
Details for the next meeting:
WHEN: Saturday, May 2, 2026
WHERE: Waconia Library, possibly the Activity Room depending on availability (if not, we’ll meet in our usual spot in the Magazine Corner).
WHAT TIME: 10:30am
WWG MEETING CONTACT: Jen
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: We will spend about 10-15 minutes talking about upcoming events and writerly opportunities. The rest of the meeting, we will give members the space to share anything they’ve been working on (open reading + critique if requested).
WHERE: Waconia Library, possibly the Activity Room depending on availability (if not, we’ll meet in our usual spot in the Magazine Corner).
WHAT TIME: 10:30am
WWG MEETING CONTACT: Jen
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: We will spend about 10-15 minutes talking about upcoming events and writerly opportunities. The rest of the meeting, we will give members the space to share anything they’ve been working on (open reading + critique if requested).
PROMPT: Weathering the storm
MARCH WRITERLY EVENTS:
*March WWG Coffee Shop Crawl. Sunday 2/22, 9-11:30am, Elephant Joe’s Coffee (141 Lewis Ave. S.) in Watertown.
It’s (not quite) time for a meeting of the writing minds!
Hi writers,
Due to March’s lion-esque personality characteristics this first weekend of what we hoped would be spring, we are going to postpone our meeting to the THIRD Saturday of the month. Stay safe! Details below:
WHEN: Saturday, March 21, 2026
WHERE: Waconia Library, possibly the Activity Room depending on availability (if not, we’ll meet in our usual spot in the Magazine Corner).
WHAT TIME: 10:30am
WWG MEETING CONTACT: Jen
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: We will spend about 10-15 minutes talking about upcoming events and writerly opportunities. The rest of the meeting, we will give members the space to share anything they’ve been working on (open reading + critique if requested).
PROMPT: Weathering the storm
MARCH WRITERLY EVENTS to follow in a separate post.
WHERE: Waconia Library, possibly the Activity Room depending on availability (if not, we’ll meet in our usual spot in the Magazine Corner).
WHAT TIME: 10:30am
WWG MEETING CONTACT: Jen
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: We will spend about 10-15 minutes talking about upcoming events and writerly opportunities. The rest of the meeting, we will give members the space to share anything they’ve been working on (open reading + critique if requested).
PROMPT: Write a love letter to Minnesota
FEBRUARY WRITERLY EVENTS:
* WWG Write-Ins. Three Mondays in February (2/9, 2/16, 2/23), 6-8pm, Waconia Library. Come when you can, stay as long as you want! Bring your current or pending writing project, and put some words to the page in the company of fellow writers!
*February WWG Coffee Shop Crawl. Sunday 2/22, 9-11:30am, Ruby’s Roost (7924 Victoria Dr #101) in Victoria.
We will meet on the fourth Saturday (January 24), at our regular time (10:30am) in our regular place (the magazine area of Waconia Library). PROMPT: Write a love letter to Minnesota
WWG WRITE-INS (MONDAYS IN FEBRUARY)
After a January hiatus, we are extending the write-in schedule from 2025 into February. These write-ins are all listed on our WWG Events calendar.
WWG COFFEE SHOP CRAWL (JANUARY)
Sunday, January 25, 9-11:30am
Elephant Joe’s Coffee, 141 Lewis Ave S, Watertown, MN 55388
The Saturday meeting for January 2026 (today, 1/3) is cancelled.
Jen will be rescheduling for a different Saturday in January, date TBD
Good morning, fellow writers.
The new year is here; big goals, bigger dreams, and so much potential. The “what could be”s are the most exciting ideas, and I have multitudes of those. Looking into 2026, there are a lot of What Could Be’s for WWG as well.
However, I regret to share that I have to start the new year by stepping back slightly. The end of 2025 brought two significant losses in my family; my grandmothers Betty and Jeanne passed away within a month of each other, and we lost Jeanne just yesterday. Understandably, I need to take this time to be with my family. I know that some of WWG’s members knew one or both of them and I am sorry for your loss, too. They were beautiful, funny, strong, and loving ladies, and their absences are keenly felt. It is a little comforting to think of a couple of reunions that might have happened: Betty sitting out on a warm and sunny patio with her beloved husband Joe; and Jeanne dancing once again with the love of her life, Mel.
All this to say, I thank you for your understanding and am sorry for the late notice about cancelling our meeting this morning. I will attempt to figure out another Saturday for us to meet, if possible. Please check out the January WWG Events Calendar for additional opportunities to connect this month – we have a few Monday night write-ins and a Coffee Shop Adventure planned. I will be adding a few additional community events as well.
Thanks again for your understanding. Hold your loved ones close and tight.
Due to the holidays and some additional personal commitments for our members, WWG will not host a Winter Write-In at Waconia Library on Monday 12/22 or Monday 12/29.
The Winter Write-Ins on Monday nights will resume in January 2026 (see below):
WHEN: Mondays: January 5, 12, and 26. Start time is 6:00pm
WHERE:Waconia Library, in the Activity Room, or the fireplace area of the room is booked.
These write-ins are sponsored by Waconia Writers Group and Carver County Library. Please check WWG’s Events Calendar for future write-ins and other upcoming events this season!
These write-ins are sponsored by Waconia Writers Group and Carver County Library. Please check WWG’s Events Calendar for future write-ins and other upcoming events this season!
These write-ins are sponsored by Waconia Writers Group and Carver County Library. Please check WWG’s Events Calendar for future write-ins and other upcoming events this season!
WHERE: Waconia Library, possibly the Activity Room depending on availability (if not, we’ll meet in our usual spot in the Magazine Corner).
WHAT TIME: 10:30am
WWG MEETING CONTACT: Jen
WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA: We will spend about 10-15 minutes talking about upcoming events and writerly opportunities. The rest of the meeting, we will give members the space to share anything they’ve been working on (open reading + critique if requested).
DECEMBER WRITERLY EVENTS:
* WWG Write-Ins. Four Mondays in December (12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22), 6-8pm, Waconia Library. Come when you can, stay as long as you want! Bring your current or pending writing project, and put some words to the page in the company of fellow writers!
*ACCC Presents: A Joyful Noise (Music and Words). Friday, 12/5, 7pm, Chaska Community Center Theater (1661 Park Ridge Drive, Chaska, MN 55318). From ACCC: “Join us for Joyful Noise, a special evening celebrating the writers and musicians of Carver County. Enjoy live music and storytelling inspired by the season’s spirit and creativity. Prompt words: Best or Worst Winter • Shine • True Charity • Naughty or Nice • Holiday Magic or Humbug • Wishes • New Beginnings • Trees. If you’d like to participate, please send your submission to Steve Kelzer or Doug Munson by December 1.“
*ACCC Member Show Reception & Ekphrastic Reading. Thursday, 12/11, 6:30pm, Chaska Community Center Gallery. From ACCC: “The Members’ Show exhibit is now open at the [CCC] Gallery. Writers are invited to share readings inspired by the artwork during the reception. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Liya Oertel.“
RESCHEDULED WWG JANUARY MEETING
Waconia Writers Group 