The write stuff

By Lethbridge Herald on September 20, 2025.

Jeannine Coling, Randy Ward and Robert Oakley write during the weekly meeting of The River Bottom Writers, a Lethbridge support group for local writers. The group has been a regular presence at the annual Lethbridge Public Library (LPL) Word on the Street (WOTS) festival since the first WOTS Festival.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Lethbridge Public Library (LPL’s) 15th Word on the Street (WOTS) Festival kicks off today, an annual event celebrating literacy and literature with a lineup of authors, panel discussions, demonstrations, live music, activities, a marketplace, and food trucks.

Literacy is defined as the ability to read, write, speak, and listen, which allows us to communicate effectively with one another. It is an essential ability that goes beyond reading, comprehension, and writing skills. Being literate allows us to participate actively and meaningfully in society.

Literacy is essential for writers of both fiction and non-fiction, because it develops strong foundational skills, fosters critical thinking, enhances vocabulary and understanding of complex ideas, and improves the ability to structure and communicate information effectively.

For The River Bottom Writers, a Lethbridge support group for local writers, their connection to WOTS goes back to the very first festival, says founding member Leslie Johnson.

“Collette Acheson was co-ordinating the venue for the LPL,” says Johnson. “Collette had attended some of our meetings, and her son was a regular part of the group. We were invited by her to assist in setting up and taking down the tables and chairs for the launch. We gained a few new members that year, which was our purpose for being there. Except for during COVID, we’ve been a regular attendee at WOTS.”

Johnson started The River Bottom Writers after taking a creative writing course at what was then called Lethbridge College, when she put out a call for storytellers to join her on a creative journey.

“The goal of The River Bottom Writers is to ignite and maintain a passion for writing, to create an atmosphere of support and encouragement for all writers at any stage, and allow the exploration to imagine the unimaginable.”

Johnson says the group takes pride in being a WOTS regular because it focuses on their craft; and they reach out to all who come by their tent looking for a place to write, improve and have fun doing it. She says a lot of new members learned about The River Bottom Writers through WOTS.

“I think events like WOTS are so important, not just for independent authors like myself as an opportunity to showcase our novels, but for all writers to find a community,” says group member and romance writer Mandy Chomiak (who writes under the pen name Mandy Michelle). “Literacy events and local writing groups are a safe place to learn and develop skills, but also to build friendships with other writers.”

The writer’s life can often be a solitary or even lonely pursuit, especially for introverted writers. Writer support groups like The River Bottom Writers help ease that isolation.  

“Even before any of us became published authors, we were there reaching out to people who wanted to write. Not everyone who showed an interest actually came to a meeting…there is an inherent anxiety about coming into a group where you don’t know anyone, especially if coming alone,” says Leslie Johnson.

Johnson says the group wants to reach local writers because they believe their stories are important to our culture, history and future. They also want to make the public aware of local writing talent that they believe can stand up against any “big-name” authors out there..

“Now that a few of us have published books, we want to use those books to encourage new writers to show that you can succeed as a writer and share your stories with the world,” she says.

The River Bottom Writers meet weekly on Thursday at 7 PM in the Richardson Oil Seed Room at  Lethbridge Polytechnic. Group membership is free and all writers are welcome. For more information, visit their tent at WOTS Saturday. You can also visit their River Bottom Writers Facebook page or email them at river58@telus.net.

The WOTS Festival runs from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Lethbridge Public Library.Main Branch. For a schedule of events visit https://thewordonthestreet.ca/lethbridge/festival/schedule/