Since 1987, Gery L. Deer — the “GLD” in GLD Enterprises — has been a “commercial writer,” the term he prefers for the wide variety of writing he does for a diverse client base (everything from marketing, to public relations, to video scripts). He is also a monthly business contributor to the WDTN-TV (Channel 2) show “Living Dayton.”

With such success in business and commercial communication, why did Gery see the need to start Western Ohio Writers’ Association, which focuses on creative (fiction, essay/memoir and poetry) writing?

“I realized that there are many associations and groups for marketing and business communicators, but many of these professionals — and others, too — were having a bit of a challenge finding a regular writing group, outside of major conferences and college classes, without having to start one on their own,” says Deer. “Frankly, I wanted that kind of group, too, for getting my own creative work critiqued.”

Deer enjoys writing science-fiction short stories. “But I found this group to be too nice. Sure, I wanted to hear what worked with my stories. But I also wanted to hear what didn’t work, and get feedback I could grow from. Plus, I wanted to learn more about the business side of creative writing, which is so different than the business of commercial writing.”

So in October of 2008 Gery started the Western Ohio Writers Association as a meet-up group, with three members: himself, his wife Barbara (who also writes creatively) and a friend.

Now the group has 196 members. That’s right: 196.

And a book, a collection of short stories, is coming out soon.

“We meet every first Thursday at 7 p.m. and usually have about 35 people attend,” Deer says. “About 10 of those are regulars; the other 20 vary, which is fine. Some people just need to come every few months, others, more or less.”

Attendees bring three pages for critique, or may attend without bringing work in order to participate in critiques. They break into smaller groups and follow basic guidelines.

Occasionally, the meetings also include guest speakers, sometimes on the business of publishing, but sometimes on an interesting career that creative writers might want to know about for a character. For example, at the next meeting Channel 2 meteorologist Tara Hastings will speak.

The group meets at 4 Starters Coffee & Cafe in Beavercreek. There are no annual fees, but there is a small fee for individual meetings to cover costs of the group’s website, administration and other minimal fees. Deer, who now runs the organization with a small team of helpers, says the work to run the group is purely voluntary, a labor of literary love.

About that anthology: It’s a collection of stories based in southwestern Ohio, “anything from science fiction to mainstream to literary,” that will be published by Loconeal (loconeal.com), a small press publisher in Amherst, Ohio. Watch this space for specific title and publication date to come.

Deer says a Western Ohio Writers’ Association committee formed to blind-judge and select WOWA members submissions before putting together the anthology; “my story wasn’t selected,” Deer says with a chuckle, “which just goes to show that I’m getting what I wanted … true feedback on my and others’ work!”

Learn more WOWA at www.meetup.com/WesternOhioWritersAssociation, on its Facebook group page, or follow on Twitter, @daytonwriters.

Other Literary Life news

• Local psychologist Dr. Katherine Platoni (and a colonel in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve) is co-editor of two books focusing on managing the effects of war trauma: “War Trauma and Its Wake” and “Healing War Trauma: A Handbook of Creative Approaches.” Both are published by and available from Routledge Mental Health. Platoni also has a private practice in Centerville.

• Digital magazines from Wright Library in Oakwood: The new library service, Zinio, provides full digital copies of many popular magazines, which can be read on a computer or mobile device. Newly available only digitally, “Newsweek” is included in the Library’s emagazine collection along with many other titles. Visit www.wrightlibrary.org to learn more.

• Books & Co. welcomes three visiting authors soon:

7 p.m. Tuesday: Daniel Stashower introduces “The Hour of Peril,” a nonfiction account of a true plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln in 1861 as he was on his way through Baltimore to Washington for his inauguration.

7 p.m. Friday: Julie Cross, author of “Tempest,” will introduce “Vortex,” her new young adult novel.

2 p.m. next Sunday, Feb. 10: Children’s author Peter Lerangis (who has written more than 160 books!) presents “Seven Wonders: Book 1: The Colossus Rises.”