A local gay and lesbian writing group has formed in Fort Lauderdale, and participants say the launch event was successful enough to plan more activities for the future.

Lavender Writes was formed by noted lesbian author Karen Dale Wolman in an effort to provide free workshops and activities to local writers.

“The goal is to have free classes, workshops and to invite guest speakers to the area in an effort to enhance the literary core of the community and encourage communication among local writers and enthusiasts,” Wolman says. “It gives gay and lesbian writers a way to develop their talents by providing a forum to showcase their work and receive feedback and discussion.”

Mary Damiano, arts and entertainment editor for The Express, associate editor of She, screenwriter and mistress of ceremonies, said she enjoyed the diversity of both the crowd and material. “It was a great turnout for an inaugural,” she said. “Everyone had a great time, and I am continually impressed by the caliber of writing in our community. I look forward to the next event and hope to see more new faces as well as those who turned out for this one.”

The writers presenting their work at the event included Jim McDonough, who has had numerous stories printed in magazines and anthologies over the past several years, and John Siegfried, a retired physician who once ran a writing discussion group at the Stonewall Library and Archives.

Siegfried has been meeting with Wolman and other writers on Monday nights for nearly a year. “It’s a wonderful way to share with other writers what we’ve been working on through the week and to get feedback and a productive critique,” Siegfried says. “The genres were diverse, ranging from science fiction to personal stories of incest.”

He is currently working on a memoir that he hopes will be helpful for his children, grandchildren and others. “No matter how you handle the issue of being a gay man from a traditional marriage, it’s going to be difficult for some of those around you. I want to put this together in a way that will help others to understand.”

Wolman has been teaching writing classes for 12 years. She moved from Los Angeles to South Florida four years ago, and began teaching classes again shortly thereafter. She created Lavender Writes to “unite the community of writers, and allow them to network and a create a forum for public readings.”