Audrey Westerberg
The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild is turning 10 this April and to celebrate a decade of community writing, the CVWG is hosting a birthday bash at the Brewing Projekt on April 16th at 6PM. The event will celebrate the people who helped us reach this milestone, in addition to presenting a very special award. Free food, drinks for purchase, free merch and brief remarks from longtime Guild members.
Ten years ago the idea for the Guild grew out of B.J. Hollars’ inbox when, after receiving hundreds of emails from writers seeking support, Hollars founded the CVWG to fill that gap. Since then, the Guild has continuously evolved, steered by the needs of our community. While the Guild’s original programming centered on education-centered craft talks, the organization soon grew to embrace everything from radio dramas to the 6×6 Reading Series and the ongoing Rough Draft Reading Series.
Perhaps most memorable of the CVWG’s array of events are its writing retreats, which, like the Guild, have also evolved over the years. Currently, there are two options offered: the 12-Hour Writers Retreat (the next one’s coming up May 2, hosted by Tamara Dean) and the annual Oxbow Writers Retreat, a weekend-long workshop hosted by the Oxbow Hotel. Both events are filled with guided exercises, workshops and time to free write in a supportive environment, and each is topped off by a live reading courtesy of participants.
If you’ve been to a retreat then you’ve felt the atmosphere of warmth, openness and support—a kind of easy familiarity one can slip into, even as a stranger in a room of old friends. All the time and care that goes into curating these experiences is a labor of love.
“There is so much that goes into creating an atmosphere that allows for creativity to flourish.”
“There is so much that goes into creating an atmosphere that allows for creativity to flourish,” Hollars remarked. “But the most important part is bringing good people together in a common cause. For us, that means lifting our writing to the highest level.”
Like every event or resource the CVWG creates, the writing retreats are for everyone. No sample writing or portfolio required, just an open mind, a willingness to get involved, and the desire to hone your craft.
“Even if people aren’t writers,” noted Pam Anderson, a longtime retreat participant and a recent addition to the CVWG Advisory Board, “there are lots of opportunities to be an audience member for aspiring writers.”
A unique feature of the Guild is that anyone can take an active role. Anderson moved to Eau Claire, in part, to get more involved in the writing scene. Her story exemplifies the kind of people who keep this Guild going; people willing to lead their passion into action. Some of the best programming the Guild has undertaken was led by people willing to take the leap and get involved.
Eric Rasmussen, founder and editor of Barstow & Grand, is another example of someone who embodies this ethos. “There are plenty of organizations around town doing good work for their members and for the community”, he said, adding, “but I would argue the most valuable ones are those that inspire people not just to spend energy bettering their own lives, but to invest in their neighbors and communities. The CVWG is a model of that type of organization.”
What’s next for the Guild?
“For me, it really depends on where our local writers want it to go,” Hollars said. “What matters most,” he stated, “is that the CVWG continues to feel like an inclusive and supportive place for writers. That's what makes the Guild work.”
This organization has grown tremendously, in no small part due to the love and support from this community.
Come celebrate with us at 6 PM on April 16th at the Brewing Projekt. Grab some food, drinks, and Guild merch, all while celebrating our first decade.