A long chat over a cup of coffee with Gabriel Camacho is inspiring enough to motivate the most novice of writers to create a spoken word piece and to join the Paducah Writers’ Group at their weekly spoken word events.

Camacho’s passion for the spoken word is evident in the language he uses to discuss the group’s vision and goals.

“What I love about writing is that when we touch people through our work one week, the very next week a former observer may come into the group and say, “I’ve got something of my own,” said Camacho. “Our goal is to develop and grow the spoken word as an art form.”

It was this passion for the spoken word which led Camacho to connect writers in the community with one another.

“There are a lot of writers out there with no place to go and no outlet to express themselves. This group provides a good environment for writers to offer their own perspectives,” said Camacho. “When we can connect with other people through our words it’s beautiful. It’s amazing.”

Camacho says that the work produced by the writers in the group comes primarily from the experiences of the individual.

“What I’m seeing coming out of this town is magical. And it’s all coming from what the writers are experiencing here in Paducah,” said Camacho.

Over the past year the group has evolved and seeks to integrate other forms of art into their spoken word events. Poets in the group recently collaborated with local musicians to produce an album combining the spoken word and music. The album is called Poetic Just Us. More information on the album can be found at the group’s Facebook and My Space pages.

The group will also offer a workshop on October 17 designed to empower writers and those interested in writing. The workshop will allow writers to gain helpful feedback on their individual pieces. Camacho hopes to see the workshop grow into a regular event, which will help writers and those aspiring to write to continue perfecting their craft.

The group welcomes writers and those interested in writing from all ages and stages of life. All skill levels are encouraged to take part in the readings each week.

“We have had readings from people age 7 to 80. We have writers with all different points of views represented here,” said Camacho.

The group will celebrate their first anniversary on November 7.

The Paducah Writers’ Group meets each Friday night at Etcetera Coffee, located at 320 N. 6th Street in Paducah’s LowerTown Arts District from 8 to 11 p.m.

More information is available at www.myspace.com/pwg07 and at Paducah Writers Group on Facebook.com. For more information send e-mail to pwg411@gmail.com.