They are WritersAnonymous.
Three years ago, the group began as strangers who had answered an ad seeking members for a writers’ group. Today, they are 15 freshly minted authors who have just collectively self-published "Seven At The Sevens," a collection of seven-word stories, memoirs and poems. None of the writers is originally from Boston, but all have made a home at The Sevens.
Customer service was fourth on their list.—Temple Goodwin
So goes one of the seven-word stories. Inspired by Sevens’ staff member, John Everett Martin, it belies the friendly atmosphere of The Sevens. In fact, customer service is one of the reasons WritersAnonymous has continued to frequent the Beacon Hill establishment.
For the writers, it is the little things that make them feel comfortable and welcome. Thanks to their usual waitress, Julianne, and barman, Bob Considine, there are often drinks on the table before they sit down, sandwiches that come without pickles or onions, and a friendly hello from the bar.
Tuesday nights at seven at The Sevens. — Grant Trenton Gardner
The Sevens isn't selective about who becomes a regular: “If you’re quiet, kind and nice, you’re going to fit in,” said Martin. For him, WritersAnonymous fit the bill.
“They are a sweet, quiet group," he said. "When they first came in, they seemed like more of a coffee shop crew. They grew on us."
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” — Ernest Hemingway
Grant Trenton Gardner, founder of WritersAnonymous, credits Ernest Hemingway’s famous six-worder -- and his belief that every work should begin with one true sentence -- with the seven-word twist of the writers' group. That one-line format seemed a manageable project for a diverse group with time and writing constraints, and it reflected the role of The Sevens in the developing book.
Considine, who has worked at The Sevens for 17 years, said he enjoyed hosting WritersAnonymous, but didn’t realize the impact of the pub and its staff on the group's project until he read the book. “I was blown away by their perception of us. I ran into [Gardner] on the street and told him how much it meant to me…It made me really proud to work here,” said Considine.
