Kentucky, particularly the eastern portion in this piece, is ripe with literary talent. Local writers are overflowing with ideas for fiction and nonfiction stories that have yet to come to fruition in the most ultimate ways. Others have yet to actually attempt their dreams of being a writer.

What we Kentucky writers, as well as others across the nation, need is some significant breaks to showcase our work, and maybe even to make the big time. They need a shot at legitimate publication. Many readers are missing out in delving into their material as much as they are missing out in sharing that material. There are new avenues in nonfiction works that are aching to be shared as well as fresh approaches of old knowledge and issues. There are new adventures and fresh characters in fictional works that are aching to be told and introduced. Many writers must finish explaining their viewpoints or weaving their tales. So much potential waiting to be born and grown in the literary field. I fancy myself as potentially a cross between Steven King and Andre Norton, a metaphor in my own way, in my own works.

For this very potential, there exists a local writers support group that meets at 1 p.m. the first Saturday of every month at the Pikeville Public Library. At the moment, the group is three strong and we are looking for new members. We can help newcomers with advice for their work or sharing in ways to get more exposure for the same. New members might also have some advice or new ideas of their own that we haven’t learned yet. There are many types of groups out there, some of which I have been involved in, whose so called support is extremely lacking. Their camaraderie is non-existent. Not so with writers. So far, I have found that we really do stick together and provide support to one another.

Thomas W. Elam

Pikeville