LEONARDTOWN, Md. — In a county known for its history, farmland and waterfront views, creativity is taking root in a quieter corner — around tables at coffee shops and cafes where The Writers of St. Mary’s gather. More than a club, it’s a community of poets, essayists, novelists and storytellers of all kinds who come together to write, share and support one another.
Founded by local author Christopher Woolsey, the group meets four times a month, with sessions rotating between Lexington Park, Social Coffeehouse in Leonardtown and — most recently — Blue Wind Gourmet on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. The format is simple but effective: open discussion, peer encouragement and plenty of time for writing. What emerges is not just new work on the page, but friendships, collaborations and a stronger local arts community.
For William Wilson, 29, the group has been a lifeline. Originally from Southern California, he writes poetry, short stories and screenplays.
“Having a group of contemporaries that feel the same excitement for expression is honestly a great gift,” he says.
He recalls how Woolsey, after hearing him describe his interests, distilled his work into two words — contemporary fiction.
“That affirmation of what I was as a writer really stuck with me,” Wilson says.
Engineer and essayist Gabriel Buziba discovered the group after moving to Southern Maryland last year. He stumbled on a flyer at St. Inie’s Coffee and decided to give it a try. His work leans into philosophy and narrative nonfiction, exploring themes of selfhood, social media and life in one’s 20s.
“I like to think of it as a massive study hall,” Buziba explains. “We may all come from different corners of St. Mary’s and all have different goals for our writing, but we encourage each other to keep going.”
He says one of his favorite memories was singing karaoke with fellow writers.
“Writing can be a solitary act, but moments like that show how close we are.”
Lily Bennear, 21, another member, says the group has given her confidence as she drafts essays and explores ideas.
“It removes the anxiety of pursuing a new interest or hobby by yourself,” she notes. “Everyone here has different experience levels, but we all remember the struggles of starting out. You realize there’s no wrong way to write.”
The Writers of St. Mary’s are diverse in both age and style. Some members have published novels, while others are working on screenplays, essays or poetry. A few are just beginning to explore writing as a hobby. What unites them is a shared love of storytelling — and the understanding that Southern Maryland is richer when its voices are heard.
As Wilson puts it: “The best part of writing is that it can be done at any point in someone’s life. I’d love to hear about a success story down the road that started with this marvelous group of writers.”
For now, the group keeps meeting, writing and cheering each other on — proof that sometimes the most important work in a community doesn’t happen on a stage or in a newsroom, but in the quiet corners where words come alive.
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Great article.
Is there a schedule of when the meetups will be at each place. I was thinking of doing a solo version of NaNoWriMo coming up. A local support group could be helpful.