Writers may toil on their own much of the time, but those who are looking for camaraderie and opportunities to hone their craft have a local resource at their disposal: the Manheim Township Writers Group.

"Writing is a very solitary thing," said Melinda Newmin, the leader and spokesperson for the group. "It's you and your computer. The purpose of the group is to give writers a place to congregate. There's also a lot of learning that can come from critiquing. It teaches you to have tougher skin. It's camaraderie, getting your work viewed by someone else, and it's a toughening-up process."

The Manheim Township Writers Group currently consists of 10 writers or aspiring writers, some of whom have been published and some of whom haven't. They are mostly local residents who range in age from 18 all the way up to people in their 60s.

Newmin said that traditionally 90% of the group members have been primarily novelists, but past and present members have also produced works of nonfiction, memoirs, poems, cookbooks and joke books.

The Manheim Township Writers Group meets for 90 minutes to two hours on the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of each month at the Manheim Township Public Library.

"What we do is take three writers and have them submit their work to the other members of the group by email," said Newmin. "Everyone gets reviews, comments and suggestions for change. We discuss them. We ask, 'What did everyone see in the writing?' It's supposed to be constructive."

Writing a book is a huge undertaking requiring time, commitment, prioritizing and organizational skills. Newmin classifies writers into two general categories - architects, who lay out stringent plans for their books and then follow them precisely, and gardeners, who "get an idea, throw it in the ground and see what sprouts."

"I write for myself," said Newmin, the author of two published science fiction novels. "When I stopped trying to guess what people wanted, I think my writing became more interesting. I like letting my characters be characters. If you stay true to your characters, it's always the right thing."

The Manheim Township Writers Group was formed 11 years ago through the efforts of local author Lis King.

"(King) felt a need to start this group, and when she left, I took it over for her," said Newmin. "The people who are in it have changed, but the format has not changed. Many people have one book in them. They write it and get out."

"There are thousands of writers living among us," said Newmin. "They struggle alone, and it's a very tough job. We have very serious people who want to be professional writers. Folks genuinely want to be published. They're trying to learn and brush up on their work."