A Jamestown-area author has organized a new support group to help writers of all experience levels navigate the complexities of storytelling and publishing.
Big South Fork Writers Group Organizer Leslie Helm said the initiative began after a previous group in Crossville became too large to address specific needs. She noted that the new gathering aims to provide a focused environment where local novelists can share work and receive constructive feedback.
“People who say they want to write, they just don’t know how to get started and it helps to have a supportive group and provide ideas for them to work on,” Helm said. “It’s a very non-judgmental group.”
The group meets on the second Thursday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. inside the community room at Jennings Funeral Home. Helm stated that while the current roster includes about eight dedicated members, they hope to expand that number to 15 or 20 participants.
“One fellow who joined had a story idea and he wrote an introduction, he read it to the group, everybody thought it was great, and we brainstormed his plot ideas for the next hour,” Helm said. “I’m sure when he left his head was spinning.”
Beyond plot development, the workshops cover technical aspects of the industry, such as navigating Amazon’s specific publishing requirements. Helm and other experienced members guide attendees through decisions regarding cover art, paper finish, and formatting.
“Absolutely rank beginners are welcome,” Helm said. “People who have no idea what to do, they just know that they’d like to write someday.”
Helm draws on her own transition from traditional publishing to self-publishing to assist members, noting that she switched methods after losing creative control over her book covers and seeing low returns. She explained that new authors often struggle to stand out in a saturated market and benefit from the collective experience of the group.
“It’s hard to make your book stand out,” Helm said. “And I think that’s what people in the writers group are coming to us for, for support.”
The next meeting is scheduled for February, where the discussion will focus on book cover design.