The SLC Writers Group at Under the Umbrella: Creating Connection Through Words

At the corner of 5th West and 2nd South sits Under the Umbrella—a “queer little bookstore.” 

Since it opened in 2021, Under the Umbrella has welcomed countless people through its doors, where it offers a safe space for all of Utah’s LGBTQ+ community.

Alongside highlighting stories from and about the queer community, the staff at Under the Umbrella is dedicated to hosting events that bring people together in as many ways as possible. From book clubs to tarot readings, speed dating to open mic nights—this charming little bookstore has the perfect event for anybody.

“We provide the space for community building events, and seeing the community use our space as a hub for them is really wonderful,” explains Under the Umbrella owner Kaitlyn Mahoney (they/she). “Creating a safe, community space takes a lot of intention, and we try to make our events as interactive and fun and safe and queer as possible!”

A particularly special event takes place on the first Saturday of each month: the Salt Lake City Writers Group. 

In fact, the SLC Writers Group precedes the opening of Under the Umbrella, having been active for over twenty years now. Since finding a home at Under the Umbrella, the group has a place to meet for a few hours each month to collaborate, complete writing sprints, and perfect their craft. Laptops, notebooks, pens, and pencils take over the tables throughout the café at Under the Umbrella, and the space fills with the sounds of scribbles, typing, and chatter. And occasionally, the event sees such a large attendance that writers need to spread into the bookstore’s dedicated meeting room.

The organizer of the group, Shauna Brock (she/they), explains the mission of the group as such: “The main objective right now is to create a safe space for writers to build community and share their work.” Importantly, queerness holds a central, but not defining, role within the group. “While we aren't queer-only,” Shauna explains, “we are primarily queer as a writers group, which means creating space to elevate our voices as queer writers in SLC and beyond.” 

Some members of this group have gone on to present at conferences together, while others have even gotten publishing deals—allowing them to turn their writing dreams into a reality. While these exciting developments have unfolded over time, members of this group have been able to rely on a dedicated community that encouraged, embraced, and uplifted them.

The Writers Group has taken on many forms over the 20+ years it’s been active, and it experienced a notable transformation during the pandemic—a time when in-person events were impossible. Rather than cancelling meetings of the group, Shauna opted to move towards online meetings. “We transitioned pretty smoothly to an online format and because of that, we were able to accommodate people who left the state for work, school, or safety,” she describes. Rather than closing a door to connection and collaboration, the pandemic revealed an opportunity for the group to open up to anyone interested in joining—no matter their location. “As a result, we now have group members in Dallas, Minneapolis, and even as far away as Taiwan.”

While it may be known as the Salt Lake City Writers Group today, it’s much more than that. It’s a community spread all over the world, united by a mission to collaborate while maintaining a safe space for aspiring queer writers to tell the stories they find most important.

Does this sound like the type of community you want to be a part of? Head over to Under the Umbrella on the first Saturday of each month to get involved! 

For more details about the Salt Lake City Writers Group, reach out to slc_writers_group@vegawriters.com.