Local author Shirley Smith is starting a Christian writers’ group and a separate Christian Book Club at the Scenic Regional Library in Warrenton in January.The club will meet monthly at 1 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month beginning Jan. 25. The book club will select a book to read and discuss.The writers’ group, the “Scribes,” will meet at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of each month starting Jan. 17.Inexperienced writers are welcome.“A writers’ group is not for that gifted few, it’s for all believers, because we all have a story,” said Smith, who had a career in the ministry before becoming a published author. “Everyone has a book in them. Everyone has a story.”Smith writes under the name of Diane Shirley. Some of her writings can be found online, and her book, “Counting the Costs,” can be purchased on Amazon.Smith said she will inform writers and equip them with knowledge to improve their skills and gain an understanding of how publishing works. She said it’s open to anyone who write as a hobby, keeps a journal, blog, have a manuscript or plan to write a book.While Smith writes fiction and nonfiction based on Scripture. Members of her writers’ group don’t have to be religious or write about religious topics.“I want them to feel welcome, even if they’re non-Christian. It’s not about doctrine, it’s about craft,” Smith said.Smith lived in Lake St. Louis for a few years and came to Warrenton about six years ago. Before that she lived in Colorado.“In college I studied journalism and magazine writing. Writing books never crossed my mind,” she said.She was a paralegal in intellectual property and a minister before she started writing.“I was probably in my 40s when I got the call (to write),” she said. “I hardly knew what I was doing.”Writing groups helped her along the way.At the moment, she has three Christian fiction manuscripts getting ready for publication.Anyone who is interested in either group should just show up. Writers should come ready to take notes. They can also bring in things they have written. Writers can share their work with others for feedback.Each week Smith will lead the writers’ group in a different topic, such as the hook in the first five pages, self editing, intellectual property, research resources and modern publishing avenues.“I want them to be able to produce something from this,” Smith said.For more information, contact Smith at shirleyswords3447@yahoo.com or call the library.

Warrenton Scenic Regional Library