Local writer’s group supports creative efforts for 88 years

The Mt. Pleasant Scribblers are a group of writers that meet once a month to discuss and read their writings. Founded in 1934, the Scribblers are a group that originated at Iowa Wesleyan University, after founding from a classroom group, it became a social group of various writers from the Mt. Pleasant community.

“I joined the group in 1978,” said writer Claudia Streeter. “I am the oldest in the group right now. We write and share our writings with one another each month now.”

The 10 member group takes time out of their schedules to write a story or a poem and present it to the group once a month. There are no boundaries on what is presented, it can be fiction, and fantasy, prose or whatever comes to mind.

“We have lost quite a few members, but those of us that are here continue to write and tell our stories” said Streeter. “We have several members who have reached a much older age.”

Several of the members are non-fiction, life experience types of writers. They relay what they have seen or done throughout their lives to the group. Several of the members have been issued accolades for their works.

Writer Karen Osborne said, “I am much more of a writer of my life experiences and my travels. I don’t do a lot of fiction writing. I have had my poetry published in ‘Lyrical Iowa’, I have also been published in the ‘Spoon River’, it is based on the ‘Spoon River Anthology’ by Robert Masters, and the ‘Iowa Writers Project’. ”

I mostly write memoirs,” said Marilyn Vincent. “I have been published several times in several publications. I have even been published in the ‘Old Threshers Chaff’, back when they used to do that sort of thing.”

A popular theme among the writers is the writer’s workshops that used to take place throughout the state. Many of the group have attended the traveling workshops, and now comment on how good those workshops were for honing their writing and prose skills.

“I am a would-be mystery writer,” said Ann Porter. “I have all sorts of mystery stories written in my head, but I do poetry and journaling about my life and my travels.” Porter also does artwork from the stories that have been read from others within the group.

“I am 73 years old now, and I was 27 when I first joined the group,” said Kathy Wiley. “I have written for ‘Sun’ magazine. I write personal essays. I also do Haiku, I am working with artist Susie Morrison and doing Haikus for her paintings.”

The group is looking for new members, and even though the assembly has changed much since it was founded, it still has a basis on nurturing the writer, whatever the style of writing they may do.

Contact Michelle Hillestad at michelle.hillestad@southeastiowaunion.com