One of my goals in creating this blog is to draw attention to individuals who are trying to promote the literary arts in one way or another. Ty Weisheimer is one such individual. While growing up in Bellefontaine, Ohio, Ty found that writing stories and creating works of visual art gave him an escape from small-town life. He also immersed himself in pop culture. In his own words,  “I devoured movies, cable TV programming, and comic books (I’m including MAD Magazine) like they were my last meal. Not only did I love consuming these various works of fiction, but I dreamed of a day when others would be captivated by something that I created.”

Even through college, career, marriage, and fatherhood, Ty kept writing and creating artwork. His efforts have brought some success. He has sold a number of artworks locally and had two of his novels accepted by online publishers. His most recent venture is a Facebook page – Write Minded. I’ll let him tell you about it.

“I created Write Minded as a way to build a community for writers to share bits of their work, no matter what the genre, style, or discipline. I also wanted to make it a quick and easy place for readers to experience new and relatively undiscovered authors, without committing to a 200-page manuscript. Perhaps most importantly, it gives writers a place to write: pure and simple.”

I learned about Write Minded from family friend Michelle Geissbuhler and joined about a week ago. I’m glad I did. Not only does Ty allow members to share excerpts from their work, he encourages them to respond to interesting writing prompts: What do you see in today’s world that makes you sad? What would you do if you had $1 million to give away? Where is your safe haven? The responses are often insightful and thought provoking. For example, one member said her safe haven was inside her “own head.” Another found it in a woods. For me, it’s my study (not my whole house – that was disallowed as a choice).

In my opinion, Write Minded is a good place for writers, especially those who are hesitant to put their compositions in front of the public. The page provides a non-judgmental yet creative environment where members can test both their writing skills and their ideas without facing a torrent of rejection. Write Minded currently has close to 40 members and the number is growing. Visit the page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1630977363821199. Ty will be there to welcome you.