“I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters I am not. I write to explore all the things I am afraid of.” 

- Joss Whedon, screenwriter, filmmaker, comic book writer.

Young and old creatives are finding inspiration as an innovative writing group — facilitated by two former teachers — welcomes storytellers of every age. Everyone from early learners to lifelong wordsmiths are invited to share their voices, sharpen their skills, and build community through the written word.

Diana Powers and Lynn Leschke, both retired English teachers, are the leaders of the new writing organization called POP! Writing. According to their website, this group turns good writing into great writing through workshops in various genres including fiction, nonfiction/memoir, and poetry, among others. Each workshop is tailored to a certain age group and has a registration cost.

The inspiration to start POP Writing came from the strong passion for writing that the former educators possess. They also have a deep desire to pass on the love of writing to the next generation.

“I have written and loved writing for as long as I can remember,” Powers said. “I am intrigued and challenged by the magic of words and what they can bring to our existence when a talented writer is at work,” she added.

Leschke is equally enthusiastic about her craft, noting that she is often drawn to poetry and fiction. She also has an extensive background in both teaching and writing.

“I taught writing for over 35 years as an English teacher at Wachusett Regional High School, helping students find and refine their voices to craft analytical, personal, and college essays, as well as creative and poetic works for their portfolios,” Leschke explained. “Beyond the classroom, I have served as advisor to the school newspaper, yearbook, and poetry club, nurturing student expression,” she added. They met at local coffee shops and other locales to brainstorm and organize their new endeavor.

In a day and age when news changes by the second and most of our lives are spent on devices, getting anyone to sit and write longhand is a challenge. However, Leschke and Powers are driven to change that and give the next generation of writers confidence, passion and a place to express themselves. 

“We want people to find joy in writing and provide a place and opportunity for them to explore their craft, whether it be for pleasure or something more ambitious like publication,” Powers said. 

The biggest challenge, particularly for younger people, is to help them find their voice. 

“The best way for people to find their writing voice is for them to write, often and freely – to be able to write about what they want to write about. We hope that POP Writing will stir motivation to either begin or continue writing regularly,” the duo explains.

Another motivator to start POP Writing was understanding that writing is a powerful way for people to process and express what they are both living and feeling.

“We recognize the need to do this in a positive way, particularly in today’s world,” Powers said. “All of this was a strong undercurrent in what led us to launch POP Writing,” Leschke added.

In addition to hosting writing workshops, the organization can also tailor seminars for individual group needs. For example, they recently had the opportunity to assist a local Girl Scout troop whose members were working on their Scribe Badge.

Like Girl Scouts, POP Writing wants to be a part of the larger picture.

One of their goals is to form connections within the community and give back. They have begun to do this by collecting voluntary donations from participants for local food pantries. The team also plans to offer financial assistance when it is needed to cover registration fees.

If you know someone who loves to write or someone who is intrigued by the thought of finding the writer within themselves, reach out to Leschke and Powers by email: 

[email protected], 

website: pop-writing.com, 

Facebook: Pop Writing, or 

Instagram: @wecoachwriters.