Written by Kyra Wilson Cook, Founding Director of the MetroWest Writers’ Guild

We’re a community that came together starting back in 2018 when MetroWest Massachusetts needed regional leadership for a beloved November writing challenge. This matters, because we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that beautiful idea that writing is more fun when there is a community of fellow creatives working alongside you. Write-ins, social events, little treats and prizes to keep you motivated… these are the things that make writing a novel a little less lonely, a lot more possible. We’re here because we share the belief that it takes a community to bring a story to life.

When COVID lockdowns made our 2020 events impossible to do in person, we collected money, made goodie bags, and started a team competition to keep folk motivated. We partnered with local libraries, did a digital and in-person scavenger hunt…and had a lot of fun. We learned what it’s like to be a community. There are so many Guild members who were with us from those early days who are still with us today.

I do not regret the time the Guild spent supporting writers taking on that beloved November challenge. I don’t regret the words I wrote over 13 challenges. I do not regret our roots, nor the path we’ve walked to get to where we are.

And I think that’s why it’s all so very sad… This year, the organization that faithfully ran that event has changed a lot. Most of those changes have been hard to watch. We decided earlier this year that we would no longer be tied to that organization, nor support the challenge as run by that organization. In recent days, it seems as that our decision was merited. This is a sad paragraph to write. As things change, we must also change. Sometimes, that doesn’t feel good.

And yet, just like after reading a heartbreaking scene in a book we care about with characters we love, we must choose to turn the page and continue. That’s what the Guild is doing–we’re turning the page, choosing to continue on as a community of writers who love to write and grow together all year, plus do a little extra in the month of November.

I’m very proud to share that we’re doing our own challenge, MetroGameO, which honors the roots of the original friendly team-based competition we made in 2020 and infuses new spirit into it. Consider this YOUR personal invitation to join us: you can take on the challenge by writing, revising, or something else. You can contribute to a big community writing goal or join a team for friendly competition! Bragging rights and real prizes will be part of the offering. I look forward to sharing more about that with you soon!

If you’ve found the Guild today because of a search or a social media search, I welcome you. I hope you’ll click the “Join us!” tab and share your information with us so that you can join our community. We’ve spent half a decade building a supporting community for writers like you. And if you have any questions about who we are and what we’re about, please reach out and ask! My email address is Kyra@metrowestwriters.org.