The Writing Life is a bimonthly virtual get together that meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3:30 via Google Meet. Any LRJF member can attend in addition to another writing group they regularly participate in OR exclusively to this experience.
Interested in participating? Click here to go to our Event Calendar and see the upcoming scheduled meetings of The Writing Life.
No pre-registration is required to attend this particular group. All LRJF members are welcome to participate whenever they like. Not yet a member? You are welcome to attend one session as a guest.
SPRING 2026 Schedule
February 11 and 25, 2026
Generative AI
The February 11 presentation will be led by Dr. Bruce Fraser and serve as an introduction to Generative AI, its emerging role in human creativity and work, and its potential to reshape aspects of the writing process. We will consider constructive ways to orient to this technology and the guiding principles of effective and ethical use. Various approaches to using these technologies for ideation, context-building, dialogue, and world-building will be explored. Participants will be encouraged to apply AI tools to their own writing projects, using prompt templates and guiding questions, which will lay the groundwork for more practical application of AI technologies in the second session.
Dr. Bruce Fraser is a Professor of Philosophy and the Executive Director of AI Initiatives at Indian River State College, where he guides institutional efforts to modernize curriculum and administrative workflow for the AI era. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude, and his Doctorate from Boston University in Philosophy. He lectures widely on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on education and society. Bruce is an LRJF board member, as well as a member of the Porch Poets.
Led by Christine Light on February 25, participants will ideally come to the table with specific research questions that are informed by their experimentation with skills learned in the first session. Participants assess the validity and usefulness of AI output in both group and individual examples. The practical aim of the second session is for participants to glean material that is useful in furthering their projects, as well as to cultivate confidence in partnering with AI technologies for future research. Participants will also learn how to reference and cite AI engagement in alignment with (current) best practices.
Christine Light will graduate from Randolph College in June with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Her creative and academic work throughout this course of study have led her to a recent and fervent interest in paratactically surveying “the archive,” both personal and social. While Christine engages in most of her academic work—and all of her creative output—without the use of AI technologies, in the last year she has leaned heavily into the powerful (and fast!) research capabilities of AI. Christine is the Chair of LRJF’s Publications Committee and a member of the Porch Poets.
March 11 and 25, 2026
Context & Provenance
The March 11 and 25 discussions will cover methods, sources and protocols when organizing and documenting artifacts, photos and written work. Recording context and provenance is a critical part of archiving —even more so with the use of and easy access to AI generated images and information. We will learn best practices in describing metadata and why it is significant. Participants will have an opportunity to share lessons learned using their own work. Led by Angie Neely-Sardon.
Angie Neely-Sardon created the Brackett Preservation Lab at Indian River State College, Mueller Campus, where she serves as the campus librarian/assistant professor. She has led a series of workshops on Preserving Your Legacy with Mike Godown and currently teaches a college course on research strategies and information literacy.
Our meeting on March 25th will culminate by writers sharing their work incorporating session learning and listening content.
Previous Session
A recording of the below session is available. If interested, please email lkelley@lrjf.org.
January 28
Research for the Writer
Experienced genealogist and LRJF facilitator Mike Godown will present methods and sources to uncover and authenticate your stories in genealogical records.
The January presentation will utilize an example which weaves research from early land records, vital records, diaries, DNA, artificial intelligence (AI), full-text search, and a variety of sources to develop an authentic family history narrative.
The structured methodology will reveal sources of information which can be explored to answer both general and specific research questions. We will discuss tools for evidence analysis to reach a conclusion. This process can provide writers with social history details and a multitude of ideas on settings, characters, relationships, religious and political influences, migration, conflicts, loss, and resilience.
The key sources used in the example will hopefully provide inspiration to find content for storytelling applicable for any genre. AI will be discussed in terms of its use for creative research and providing reference material for citation. Examples of recently developed full-text search capabilities will be demonstrated. The goal is to familiarize participants with locating relevant research materials for their own writing projects. The two-hour meetings will include a handout and ample discussion time.
Mike Godown graduated from Lafayette College with an Economic and Business degree. He is a retired executive from General Electric Company (GE) where he graduated from their Financial Management Program and held a variety of leadership positions during his 27-year career in their Consumer, Healthcare, and Information Technology businesses.
Mike has a life-long interest in family history and has volunteered in a variety of organizations including as President of the Indian River Genealogical Society, co-facilitator for LRJF’s Write Life adult writing group, and most recently facilitating LRJF youth programs.
Meet The Writing Life facilitator:
Laura Kelley
Laura Kelley has lived and worked in Vero Beach since 1981. When she wasn’t in the dance studio, she earned a Journalism degree, BA from Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant MI in the days of the manual typewriter. After graduating she wrote for a weekly string of suburban newspapers and the next year moved to Florida for her grandmother, the sunshine, and a magazine job.
Laura served in writing positions in Florida PR and ad agencies before running her own company, Image Makers Ink from 1985-1990. She served as the first Executive Director of the Volunteer Action Center in Indian River County and from 1993-2003, Laura was the Marketing Director for Saint Edward’s School.
In 2003, she joined the then Indian River Community College’s Institutional Advancement office and the following year was hired to develop and direct the College Foundation’s successful Lifelong Learning Institute until redefining her own retirement in 2013.
A long-time community volunteer, she has enjoyed serving on local non-profit Boards with a focus on education and the arts and served on the first Board of Directors for LRJ.
With a passion for mindful movement, Laura is a registered Yoga Alliance teacher having completed 2-200 hr. certified trainings in vinyasa and yin. She enjoys off the beaten path travel, sailing, yoga, and dance, and is currently working on her memoir. She and her partner Bob live, work, and play in the Cultural Arts Village.