Step into City Center Gallery and Books most Monday evenings and you'll find a small group of eager writers. They’re creatives, all rallying around the written word. For the host, Cam Estremadoiro, this isn’t a new venture. Inspired by previous experience in the arts and publishing, he’s been facilitating writer's roundtables for the last six years, most recently organizing this one in downtown Fayetteville.
According to him, downtown Fayetteville is on the cusp of a renaissance, “After witnessing the growing number of people living, working, and spending time Downtown, it felt like a good time to get involved.”
The roundtable offers several benefits for new and experienced writers. Meeting other writers is a way to stay motivated and enjoy the personal connections that arise from shared interests. Estremadoiro says hosting these roundtables has allowed him to connect with producers, celebrities, poets, artists, and other talented people. They spend time sharing feedback, discussing projects, and offering encouragement. He describes the group they cater to as “writers, authors, poets and creatives.”
Here, you’ll find the support to push past writer’s block and press toward the finish line. Diane Parfitt, owner of City Center Gallery and Books, hopes that the sense of community writers find will put them on the path to publication, “We are happy to provide space for budding writers to share ideas as they hone their craft. We hope this encourages writers in Fayetteville to continue to pursue writing and to develop their work so they will be published.”
Whether you write for personal enjoyment, or with an eye to publication, City Center Gallery and Books provides limitless inspiration. There’s no fee to attend the roundtable, but with a voluntary donation of $5-$10, you’ll receive a matching bonus toward books. And as you indulge in the work of writers gone before you, City Center Gallery and Books is eager to help you find “just the right book” to build your library or get you back into reading, Parfitt explained.
It’s the perfect environment for exchanging skills and services that benefit local business owners and community members alike in the burgeoning downtown area. Estremadoiro is excited about what this means for the future, “The emerging arts and culture scene downtown is a continued indicator of good things to come.”
His advice for anyone interested in attending? “If you can make it through the door, you are well on your way!” He recommends you come prepared to put pen to paper by bringing a notepad or laptop, though they’ll have supplies available. Anything from outlines to ideas to full manuscripts is welcome material for discussion. You can arrive around 6 p.m. at 112 Hay St, Fayetteville, and expect the roundtable to start around 6:45 p.m. -7 p.m. He recommends taking advantage of street parking in the surrounding area for easy access to the building and reaching him with questions or inquiries at 816-372-8218.
There’s a world of writing camaraderie available to you, and Estremadoiro hopes you’ll join:
“Don’t be shy. It’s time to do something new and different.”