Are you a budding poet or an aspiring writer looking for inspiration, guidance, or a community to share your work with? The Aurora Public Library District (APLD) offers a variety of writing and poetry programs designed to nurture your creativity, refine your skills, and connect you with like-minded individuals. Whether you’re just starting out or have been writing for years, these programs provide a supportive space for exploration and self-expression.
One of the best ways to grow as a writer is to surround yourself with fellow wordsmiths. For poetry enthusiasts, APLD hosts monthly meetings of the A-Town Poetics, at the West Branch on the last Tuesday of each month. Created in July 2013, the group serves as an opportunity for writers to share their work, experiment with different forms of poetry, and gain positive support from peers. “The fact that the group has continued for 12 years is wonderful and demonstrates its value to local poets,” said Karen Fullett-Christensen, City of Aurora’s poet laureate emerita. “The library serves as an excellent gathering place for members of our community.”
Writing is typically a solitary activity, but in order for writers to improve it’s important to open themselves up to feedback and hear how their work is received by others. The Scribes & Scribblers group, which meets on the first Monday of each month at the Eola Road Branch, provides that opportunity. “Scribes & Scribblers strives to be a friendly environment for writers to share their drafts for feedback from other writers,” said librarian Megan. “We also discuss resources for writers, advice on self-publishing, and upcoming contests. Occasionally we’ll do prompt-driven writing exercises to encourage people to break out of their comfort zone.” This group was created in response to customer requests and adapts based on attendee feedback to best support their writing goals.
Seeing the success of Scribes & Scribblers, the library was looking for an opportunity to expand the group to multiple locations. When a local author and English professor reached out and suggested creating the Aurora Writing Workshop Group at the Santori Library, we knew it would be a natural fit. “It’s been great to see the group grow, and all of the writers are very supportive of each other, whether a beginner or an experienced author,” said librarian Becky. “Writing can be very personal, so it can be hard for writers to put their work out there for others to see, but everyone is so welcoming and supportive.” Attendees leave each meeting feeling energized, eager to implement the feedback they received, and ready to share their progress at the next meeting. “I really love seeing new and aspiring writers blossom!” added Becky.
Attending a writing group at APLD is a great way for local authors to connect and stretch their writing muscles while finding motivation and inspiration to stay engaged in their craft. Upcoming meeting dates are Tuesday, March 25 (A-Town Poetics at West Branch), Tuesday, April 1 (Aurora Writing Workshop Group at Santori Library) and Monday, April 7 (Scribes & Scribblers at Eola Road Branch). For more information, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/localauthors or contact the library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.