Book parties are the frosting on the cake for those of us celebrating our completed books with our writing group. Here’s an example of one such writing group in Rochester.
At the senior co-op where we live we have a general writing group that has been meeting for several years. All 6 of the original members are still in the group. Five of the 6 have finished their books! All 6 have posts on this blog.
Our group meets at one of our co-op’s sunny, cozy, comfortable rooms. We usually start with a couple of writing prompts suggested by one of the writers. We give ourselves 3 minutes to write for each of the 3 prompts. Although it is old school to use writing prompts, our creative brains quickly go to work. We surprise even ourselves with what we come up with to read to the group. This is followed by each of us reading aloud whatever we brought to share, which could be a memoir, a short story, or an essay.
For memoirs, several of us have used the online memoir-writing program called Storyworth. The first Storyworth book was finished by Curt Mortenson. His book landed him on the front page of our local paper for quite a lengthy article –with pictures –about memoir writing. Curt’s wife, Jean Mortenson, wrote a book about the music history at her Lutheran Church. Truly a treasure. She is now writing a book about the church’s art collection. We have already had book parties for them.
Recently we had a book party for the next 3 books that were completed: Steve Melvin’s, Monica Taylor’s, and mine.
Steve Melvin wrote about the history of his regional Baptist church. It is available on Kindle now, but this fall 2026 it will be available in print.
Monica Taylor has truly outdone herself and all of us. Using the Storyworth program she has written not one, but two, lengthy books about her family. She is thinking about writing yet another book if it doesn’t drive her and her husband Louie crazy, as books take tons of time, energy, and focus. Go Monica!
Member Jan Strand is also writing her memoir using Storyworth. It’s a work in progress.
As the facilitator of the group, I have completed a Storyworth book about some of my husband’s most interesting life events. I am now working on a memoir about my own life.
BTW: I also facilitate a Storyworth memoir-writing group at our local senior center, 125 Live. Some 16 of us are busy at work finishing our books — which means happy writers celebrating their successes with book parties!