High School Friday Nights

Communal Pen workshops are at the heart of what we do. Each workshop has a facilitator team and thoughtful prompts with the goal of creating community connection. Read more of our details below of this workshop.

Follow this link to register for the event

This special Communal Pen workshop invites participants to reflect on the traditions, memories, and community spirit of Friday nights under the lights. From the thrill of the game to the halftime show, from cheering in the stands to marching on the field, high school sports often leave lasting impressions that shape both personal identity and community pride.

Together we’ll write about our favorite moments, from unforgettable victories to quiet memories with friends, and consider how these traditions carry on across generations. Have you continued going with your children or grandchildren? Do high school sports still bring your community together—or not in the same way? Join Melanie McGehee at WECO Biergarten in West Columbia from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Two large shaded tables will be reserved for guests as we share stories, reflect, and connect.

Guest Facilitator

Melanie McGehee is an essayist, poet, and storyteller with an MFA in Creative Writing. Her work appears in Fall Lines, Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Peregrine Journal, and Hippocampus. She writes book reviews for Mom Egg Review and leads writing workshops for women.

Event Details

Date:
October 9, 2025 6:30 pm

Duration:
2 Hours

How:
In Person

Location:
WECO Biergarten | 626 Meeting St, West Columbia, SC 29169

Follow this link to register for the event

Stories from this Collection

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  • I enjoyed this experience very much. I enjoyed meeting people and other writers and being able to hear their stories. This is a great opportunity to cold write and get something done off the cuff and, in many ways, has helped me reconnect to writing.

    Rob McManus

  • I appreciate the freedom of expression, the community, the sharing, and the encouragement the Communal Pen offers. It goes beyond just the individual writing or putting things down on paper… it allows you to be inventive and to see things in a different way.

    Janice Johnson

  • The facilitators really cared about what everyone had to say. They really cared, and I feel like that was unique. They give everyone space to share their stories from our community. The black culture is so strong in tying stories together and handing things down over the generations, and I am excited that this workshop seems to share that goal. Connecting to a community that wants to listen to stories and share them like that is powerful.

    Patricia

  • I love folklore, and sharing stories of people’s families. The family stories that may or may not have been embellished over the years… it made me think back on my family stories. Hearing the stories of other attendees made me realize that we have such a rich history of folklore and stories in South Carolina. Listening to the stories gave you a wonderful front porch feeling. It was immediately so comfortable and welcoming.

    Eden

  • No matter what the topic is, the Communal Pen makes you go deeper and share the stories that inspire you. I loved going a little deeper with the other writers, then going deeper into what people see and think. There are no barriers to stop us from expressing ourselves. I learned how to relax and tell my stories to the people in my community.

    Sandy

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