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The Colorado Springs Fiction Writer's Group has decided to add this section due to so many questions about how this organization came into being. Pardon the love story overtone, but that actually "is" how everything came into being.
Hank & Hollie joined a friend's critique group and found rules governing creativity to be too strict. They searched another, and a third. After the fifth group both were disheartened with either the Puff - "I love whatever it is you turn in - it'll be the next best seller" or the Literary - "You write like a combination of James Joyce and Amanda Quick." Most members of the first type of group seemed afraid to express their opinions for fear that when their turn came to be critiqued people would take their pound of flesh as revenge. The second offered commentary on the general flavor of the work, but little-to-nothing for practical commentary on the work itself. They each had a spiral notebook filled with comments about what was working in each individual group (and even more on what wasn't). A few friends, including long term writing verteran John Irwin, met with Hank & Hollie for coffee at the, now closed, Media Play. This meeting turned into a discussion on writing and to the idea of forming a group of their own. In January of 1996 the "Fiction Writer's Group" officially opened to the public. With no advertising, no website and only word of mouth the membership grew from 4 to 13 in a single year. The main rules were simple - "everyone reads the submissions, everyone critiques, submit only if you want." While the group grew, there was an ongoing problem with people actually reading the submissions. What promised to be a group for writiers serious about learning more was quickly spiraling into just another social group. Hank & Hollie studied their notes, returned to visiting writing groups around the front range and even as far away as one in Kansas. All of the groups they found with more than six members suffered the same problem, and often the problem was fatal to the group. In January of 2000 the answer came not from a writing group, but from Hank's father, a business analyst and accountant for the city of Colorado Springs. He said, "people love free things. Your group is free. People love you. If you want the group to be taken seriously, you need do something to get dedication and loyalty from the members. Charge them." That suggestion spawned charging dues and offering priveleges to the membership. Then came the problem of what to do with the money?
Critiquing each others work branched out into high school writing competitions, teaching creative writing at the local teen inmate facility even instructing elementary students on the need to feed their imagination with reading and writing rather than constantly watching television or playing video games. Lectures followed and members were asked to sit on author panels and take part in literary functions. Over the years one group grew into two, then two into three. In mid 2008 the CSFWG witnessed its first "hive off" from the group as a whole. The group had done so well a new group had sprung, taking with it some of the rules created, and focusing in a whole new direction. This is what the CSFWG was designed for - for writers to grow together and branch out to others.
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In 1995 college student, Henry Snider, changed from the daytime fiction writing class at Pikes Peak Community College to the night class (both of which were taught by Penny Jackman), reason being his frustration at the lack of effort or passion from the day class. The move was suggested by a friend, and night class student, Dawn. There he met, fell in love with, and became engaged to Hollie Johani . . . all in the span of ten days (no folks, that's not a typo). At the end of the semester Hank & Hollie realized that they craved the critique environment, the ability to help peers and, of course, the ability to socialize with like-minded artists.
An offiicial website was purchased, print advertising created and posted around town. What began as the "Fiction Writer's Group" became the "Colorado Springs Fiction Writer's Group." The group grew, as did the rules. Every rule within the CSFWG comes from a hurdle the group's encountered, be it, "why don't you accept electronic submissions" to "why do I have to sign the back of the written critique I've given?" While some of these rules might seem silly or mildy annoying, they've been created to keep the group as a whole healthy.
In January 2009 - on the thirteenth anniversary of the group's founding, Henry "Hank" Snider gratefully passed the presidential torch to J.T. Evans who had been the Saturday group's vice-president. What does that mean for the group? Judging by what J.T.'s shown already - new vision, new passions and a direction focused on giving the aspiring/established writier what they need - feedback, socialization and support.
