On the 16th of August, GLAWS had its annual summer party, where we just make time to hang out and have fun – and eat food, of course. The feast gathered is arranged by pot luck, so you can never be sure of what you will find (other than Lilly Todaro’s Hawaiian Pulled Pork dish, that is).
There’s nothing like a bunch of writers gabbing together over food.
Friends talking at the GLAWS 2014 Summer Party
Inevitably, people talk about whatever writing project they are currently working on. Depending on who you are talking to, it could be a comedic horror novel, a science fiction action adventure, an historical memoir, or (in my case this year) a non-fiction work for writers.
Even my agent, the esteemed Paul S. Levine, showed up in a Hawaiian shirt for the festivities. (He admitted that he had to dig deep into his closet to find it, though.) We have a little contest for who has the most attractive Hawaiian print, for both the men and the women.
Lilly Todaro – crafter of some fabulous jewelry and delicious Hawaiian Pulled Pork
Because it is a writers group, we do also feature readings from various members toward the end of the gathering. Readers are limited to about five to seven minutes each, so it can occasionally mean that a narrative gets cut off at some interesting moments.
Tony Todaro and a Party Tiki God
(Tony’s the one in the background)
Everyone had a good time at the party. It’s good to just hang out and enjoy each other’s company once in a while. Come September, our monthly gathering will be back to focusing on learning more about the craft and business of writing. In the meantime, there are these pleasant memories for those moments when the writer stares into space wondering how to put the next sentence together.
