Today today I want to address the concept of numbers per group.  The one I was a part of  in Porterville, California was founded in the early 1970's by a young woman who was the English teacher at a local high school and had taught a creative writing class for the local community college.  The fifteen enrollees begged her to continue some kind of a group outside of the college.  She did and I joined the group on moving to Porterville in 1973.   The founder of the Porterville workshop, my forever-friend, Shirley, asked if I would take over by 1974. I was happy to do so.

I had participated in a workshop years earlier in Orange County, CA.  By the time I moved to Porterville,  I had sold many travel and parenting articles, but by then my ranch responsibilitires helping my husband restricted any travel that would produce articles and my children were grown and gone.  I began interviewing local farmers and  launched a new career–writing for farm and ranch magazines.  These successes  gave me credence as a leader.

In my experience as a participant and a leader, I am constantly inspired by the people who are willing to join and share their writing.  It is quite amazing to me that I often hear in others' reading information that reminds me of something in my background I can write about. I left Porterville and the workshop group in 1992.  This group still meets, weekly, in Porterville and is back under Shirley's leadership, thriving with only four memberds. One member has published eight or ten novels (I don't keep up with the number) but five of her titles are on my shelf.  Shirley has produced two nonfiction books. 

The number of participants does not matter.  Diligence, faithfulness, and the support of others, do.  More tomorrow.  Willma