Writers’ Groups
The writer's cirlces mentioned here have asked us to tell you all about them.
SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE
We're on a mission… “To surprise, challenge and include the people of Salisbury, Wiltshire and the wider region in innovative, high quality, diverse and stimulating creative experiences.” So what does that mean?
Basically we believe that the arts make life better and that everyone should have the opportunity to experience them. We regularly offer free activities – from Live Lunches to Family Festivals - so people can try things without worrying about money.
We know everybody likes different things. We love that individuality and we make it our business to offer a diverse programme to appeal to varying tastes. We realise not everyone will love everything we do but we don't think that's a bad thing. We're confident you'll like something.
We take pride in being brave enough to show things that are challenging. If it gets people thinking and talking, we think that's positive! For more information visit www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk
SPREAD THE WORD
Spread the Word is London's leading writer development agency. It is a catalyst for developing writers with a strong reputation for providing bold, playful and accessible support for writers of all levels – from networking events to publisher and agent talks, advice surgeries to an online city of shared stories. Spread the Word is committed to excellence and quality and works in partnership with arts organisations, universities, libraries and local authorities. We connect writers with the wider literature scene and offer a sustained relationship to talented writers for the development of their careers. For more information ring 020 8692 0231.
THE BLEDDFA CENTRE
The Bleddfa Centre, near Knighton in Powys, are currently offering some literary workshops. For more information visit the website at www.bleddfacentre.com.
LITTLE LEVER WRITING CIRCLE
We are a small friendly writing circle who meet every other Thursday from 2pm to 4pm at St Teresa's situated on Red Car Road, Little Lever, Lancashire. We are non-denominational and write poetry and short stories purely for pleasure and enjoy the social aspect of our group. We select a theme to write on for the next meeting - this is optional and we do not work in a classroom or offer criticism - we just take pleasure in reading, listening to and enjoying the work produced. We would like to offer a warm welcome to anyone with a love for the written word who would like to come and join us. There is no membership fee, and for more information please contact Jim Feeney on 01204 572721 or Francis West on 01204 796550, or email Sharon Booth at sharon.booth12@btinternet.com.
INSPIRATIONS WRITING GROUP
Inspirations Writing Group in Thanet, Kent, meets on the last Saturday of every month at Westgate Library from 11:00am-1:00pm. The group is open to anyone from absolute beginners to those writers ready to start publishing, regardless of age, gender or genre. For more information email Carol Salter at spratling@tiscali.co.uk.
HUDDERSFIELD AUTHOR'S CIRCLE
Huddersfield Author's Circle is a small self help group of writers, covering all genres of creative writing. Our meetings are held every second and fourth Wednesday of each month at The County Hotel, Princess Street, Huddersfield, and we are always ready to welcome new members. You can find our website at huddersfieldauthorscircle.wordpress.com
WRITING GROUP AT BEVERLEY LIBRARY
Johanna Boal said, "We meet one Thursday in the month, at 5:30-7pm, at the Beverley Library in Beverley, East Yorkshire. The writing group started in January of this year (2011). We are a small group, writing for children and teenagers only, and we keep it fairly simple. We inform each other of competitions going on locally and nationally, and where to send stuff to try to be published. We bring our in our favourite children's books, talk about latest publications, etc. At the library we have been involved in writing for the East Riding Council Library Services, stories to be read out at children's reading groups." For more information contact Johanna Boal: 28 Wheatlands Drive, Molescroft, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 7HR; Tel: 01482 888109; Email: randjboal@yahoo.co.uk
FELIXSTOWE LADIES WRITING GROUP
Felixstowe Ladies Writing Group meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 45 Princes Road at 7:30pm. Sue Smith said, "We are a small, offering comment and constructive criticism on two longer pieces of work at each meeting. No membership fee and no obligation to attend every month." For more information contact Sue Smith on 01394 274852 or email sues.poems@talk21.com
FOLKESTONE WRITERS
Folkestone Writers is a relatively new group and we were informed by one of its members, John Sussams, who said, "We currently have 26 active members and additional interested people who receive our monthly newsletter. Meetings take place in members' homes every month, where we read and discuss extracts from our work and listen to talks on a variety of subjects. There are about a dozen people at each meeting. Most of the members live in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh but some are from further afield. Our first anthology (Short Stories and Poems by 18 Local Authors) was launched at the 2010 Folkestone Book Festival." For more information contact email John Sussams on 01303 242990 or email john@sussams.freeserve.co.uk or write to 14A Castle Hill Ave, Folkestone, CT20 2QT. You can also view our website at www.folkestonewriterspress.com
CREATIVE WRITING CIRCLE IN RUGELEY, STAFFS
Does your imagination run wild? Is there a novel inside you trying to get out? Why not join a group of like-minded people. We are a friendly, happy, creative writing circle affiliated with the WEA, and meet every Tuesday from 10:00am to 12:00pm in Rugeley, Staffordshire. For more information call 01889 578817.
WRITERS' GROUPS AT SEVENOAKS KALEIDOSCOPE LIBRARY
There are several creative writing groups at Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Library. Jenny Carter, the Customer Service Development Librarian, said, “We have several very active creative writing groups and we are looking for new members. Meetings are held monthly and it’s not just about writing and reading poetry and short stories, there is a strong aspect to our get-togethers. If you want to join you can contact me – Jenny Carter – or Fiona Dutton, on 01732 453118, or email Jenny.Carter2@kent.gov.uk. You can also write to Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Library, Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1LQ.”
WOLVERHAM WRITERS
"Our group is open to all comers," said Christine Brown, head of the Wolverham Community Centre creative writing team. "We have a lot of members and have separate two hour sessions on Monday lunchtime, Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. We have visitors who range from basic to advanced writers and we also focus on both poetry and prose, so we have something for everyone." To join, all you have to do is phone Christine on 01513 552638 or email her on jcebrown@googlemail.com or drop in to Wolverham Community Centre, Cheltenham Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 5DS.
AND EVEN VERSE AT LEIGH LIBRARY
If you live anywhere near Leigh you must pop down to the library and meet up with their regular poetry group – And Even Verse. Leader of the group is librarian Stephen Lithgoe. “We meet on the second Thursday of every month in the Derby Room at the library,” he explained. “We bring and share favourite poems and have an informal read-round. New members are more than welcome.” To contact Stephen, call on 01942 404566, email him at s.lithgoe@wlct.org or leighlibrary@wlct.org or write to him at Leigh Library, Civic Square, Leigh, WN7 1ER.
INCANDESCENT AT CARDIFF CENTRAL LIBRARY
The Incandescent group focuses on sharing published poems through reading aloud, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Stimulating thought and poetry awareness the group meets between 5.45pm and 6.45pm every 3rd Thursday in Meeting Room 4 on Level 4 at Cardiff Central Library. New members are welcome so come along.
WHICKHAM LIBRARY GARDEN – A NEW VENUE FOR POETRY ON TYNESIDE
Whickham library is in the heart of the village’s shopping precinct, overlooking the River Tyne and Europe’s largest indoor shopping centre, The Metrocentre, in Gateshead. Whilst the library has always been well supported by the local community, the rear of the building had become a no-go zone because of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
A group of local people formed the Friends of Whickham Library Garden in 2006, with the aim of redesigning the space to create a garden for use by library users.
A competition amongst the six local primary schools was launched to produce a suitable design. Over 100 entries were received and the design by Harriet Morison, from Clover Hill Primary School, was chosen.
In 2007 a fundraising campaign was launched and work was completed in 2008. In 2009 our group organised a “Poetry in the Garden” event which was attended by local poets from the Tyneside region and local residents. Six local primary schools and the comprehensive school in Whickham have been invited to produce poetry for future events.
If you want to join the group, contact
Alwyn Gornall
3 Spinneyside Gardens
Gateshead
NE11 9RJ
Tel. 0191 4604490/07847 186802
FOLESHILL LIBRARY POETRY GROUP
Foleshill Library Poetry Group is a brand new poetry group which is looking for new members. It meets at the library in Broad Street, Coventry, CV6 5BG on the first Thursday of every month at six o’clock. “The aim of the group is for members to be able to read out their poetry and discuss it with fellow group members,” said Michelle Dearden, library manager, who is head of the group. If you want to get involved you can phone the library on 0247 6786978 or email michelle.dearden@coventry.gov.uk.
HAREFIELD LIBRARY POETRY GROUP
Len Barron, library assistant at Harefield Library on Park Lane in Harefield, Middlesex is leader of the poetry group at the library. “We started the group in February 2010 and we meet on the last Tuesday of each month at the library from six until eight with refreshments in the form of wine and nibbles,” explained Len. “The writers’ group was the idea of library manager Lara Marshall. We are both very literature minded and we thought it would be a great idea to encourage poets. At our meetings we explore poetry and what it means to us. It also gives us a chance to write. I’m a poet myself and I like writing poetry and then verbally pulling it apart. There are usually about eight people in our meetings but we are keen to encourage new members.“ If you want to join contact Len at the library on 01895 558664 or 01895 558184 or email lbarron@hillingdon.gov.uk or write to, Harefield Library, Park Lane, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6BJ.
THURSO WRITERS' GROUP
Ruan Peat, school librarian at Wick High School, Caithness has another role as one of the chief members of the Thurso Writers’ Group. “We have a very active and busy library at the school, which has almost 900 pupils,” explained Ruan. “Our writers’ group certainly doesn’t have the same size of membership. We have meetings every Wednesday evening at Ormley Centre at 7 o’clock and they are attended by between two and twenty people. If a lot of people attend a meeting, we split into different groups. We consider ourselves to be a support group for all tastes and flavours of writers. For example, one of our members is writing her autobiography, but she hasn’t realised it yet!” If you want to join the writers’ group, you can either write to Ruan Peat, School Librarian, Wick High School, West Banks Avenue, Wick, Caithness, KW1 5LU or telephone 01955 603333 or email ruan.peat@highland.gov.uk.
BALLYHACKAMORE BARDS
Ballyhackamore Bards is a poetry circle set up in 2009 by Maureen King, manager of Ballyhackamore Library in Belfast. “The group has around twelve members and meets on the last Thursday of each month at the library at 6.45,” explained Maureen, who set the group up herself. “I always intended that the group should run itself and it now has a new leader, Brenda Liddey, who is an English teacher. The group normally chooses a theme to write poetry about. The best poem of the month is displayed in the library.” If you want to join, contact Maureen at the library on 02890 509204 or write to her at Ballyhackamore Library, 1-3 Eastleigh Drive, Belfast, BT4 3DX or email maureen.king@librariesni.org.uk.
CLEVELEYS WRITERS
New members are welcome at Cleveleys Writers, a group which meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 1.30 at Cleveleys library. “We read and discuss our poems and short stories and run competitions for charity via schools,” explained Malcolm Brocklehurst who is chairman of the group. You can contact him on 01253 852147 or at enquiries@best-author.co.uk or you can write to the group at Cleveleys Library, West Drive West, Thornton, Cleveleys, Lancashire, FY5 1EB.
CREWE AND DISTRICT WRITERS CIRCLE
If you live in the Crewe area, why not contact your local friendly writers' circle? Crewe and District Writers' Circle meets locally every second Tuesday of the month at 2 Barony Road, Nantwich, CW5 5PL. The meetings are friendly gatherings for readings and discussions of members' own poetical or prose work. If you're interested in joining the meetings, phone the organiser and secretary Mrs Waltraud L Field on 01270 624052.
OLDHAM WRITING CAFE
Oldham Writing Cafe is a community-based writers' group which meet every Saturday except the first in the month. “We have approximately 29 members in total but we generally have about 12 members who meet regularly,“ said group leader Carolyn Crossley.
“The members are all at different stages of their writing careers and we have recently published our first short story anthology, Shadows. We are members of (NAWG) National Association of Writing Groups. If you want to join the group, please do not hesitate to contact us.“
Email Carolyn Crossley at writingcafe@hotmail.com or write to Oldham Writing Cafe, P.O. Box 656, Oldham, OL1 9JS. Tel: 07968 993497. Website: webjam.com/oldhamwritingcafe
THE WRITE COMPANY
The Write Company is a keen band of writers who meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 9:30 - 11:30 at Gadalfa Community Education Centre in Cardiff. They welcome new members and would be delighted for you to contact them. Penny James, the circle's press secretary said: "We all attended a creative writing course last autumn and decided that we wanted to carry on. We started as a group of four, and soon picked up new people. Sometimes our previous tutor Pete Thomas comes back to talk to us. We set ourselves a piece of writing to do for the next meeting and we read our written work to each other."
Contact Terry-Anne James-Davies at curlew-bird@hotmail.co.uk or write to: 5 Debigh Court, Curlew Close, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1BL.
EDINBURGH WRITERS' CLUB
Meetings of Edinburgh Writers' Club are held fortnightly from September to May in the Osbourne Hotel, York Place, Edinburgh, 7:30. Call/email membership secretary and an information pack will be sent out, or just turn up. New members, published and unpublished, are always welcome. Enter our professionally judged competitions, hear renowned speakers and authors, and receive friendly advice and inspiration. Contact: Kate Blackadder, Membership Secretary. Website: www.edinburghwritersclub.org.uk
EASTWOOD WRITERS
Established in 1987, Eastwood Writers drew its founder members from a creative writing class run by the late Pat Gerber. The group is affiliated with the Scottish Association of Writers and members regularly feature on the list of prizewinners at the Association's Annual Conference. Meetings are held in Woodfarm High School, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, every Monday afternoon, 2:15pm to 4:15pm, throughout the school year. A lively, motivated group, our syllabus covers every aspect of creative writing. Several of us have had work accepted for publication and the group has produced its own anthologies packed with stories, articles and poetry.
WRITE ANGLE POETRY & MUSIC CABARET
Write Angle Poetry & Music Cabaret is now celebrating its second year. They meet upstairs at The Square Brewery, Market Square, Petersfield GU32 3HD every third tuesday of the month. There's an open mic for anyone to perform an original piece and they have special guest performers. There's always a huge variety of talent of talent as professionals and newcomers join regulars at the open mic. The quality is consisitently high and people attend from all over. For more information you can visit their website:
www.petersfieldwriteangle.co.uk and entry is £4.
FELIXSTOWE SCRIBBLERS
Meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library in Crescent Rd. Starting at 7.30pm meetings usually finish by 10.00pm. Established over thirty-five years ago, ours is a friendly diverse group with ages ranging from 13 to nearly 80 but, significantly, there is neither membership fee nor compulsion to attend every meeting. We are like-minded people who love writing and, irrespective of ability, our blend of published, award winning and hobby writers create the Felixstowe Scribblers experience. You can visit their weblog at http://scribblers2010.blogspot.com or contact them at barry.darnell@ntlworld.com
THE WRITERS' STUDY
The Writers' Study is a self-help adult group aimed at anyone interested in writing, from the novice to the experienced writer. We have three terms a year, each consisting of six fornightly evening sessions, held in the Village Hall in West Moors, Dorset. We are not a teaching class, but you will learn of markets for your writing, current competitions and how to find a publisher. You will have the opportunity to discuss your writing with others and gain constructive feedback. We run our own competitions, regularly hold workshops and talks by established authors and enjoy the occasional social gathering. Since 2005, we have had many successes and look forward to adding to these in the years to come. Member's stories and poems are regularly read out on the local radio stations and a hospital radio service. For more information contact the Secretary at lanternj@talktalk.net
WRITERS TOGETHER
Are you looking for a supportive, serious writers' group in London? Writers Together meet alternate Monday evenings, in Canford Road, SW11. We provide critical feedback for prose writers who seriously aim to be published comercially. We look for talent and potential, ability to give/take/benefit from honest criticism, and commitment to getting published. Numbers are limited. Contact: Bobbie. Email writers.together@ntlworld.com Tel: 020 7228 8228 (but emails preferred)
MEDWAY MERMAIDS
We are a writing group for women based in Medway, Kent. We meeting monthly to discuss our individual submissions. These could be group projects or members' own work in progress; prose or poetry. Autobiographical stories are a favourite subject, particularly with older people who are new to writing. Our aim is to help and encourage local women with their writing aspirations, at all levels of ability. All enquirers welcome. Contact: medwaymermaids@yahoo.co.uk
PEN TO PAPER / THE WRITERS @ YORK LIBRARY
York is a lively city on the literary front; we have performance venues, writing courses, a literary festival and a rake of support groups. Lizzi Linklater runs two groups; Pen to Paper on the third tuesday at Miller's Yard (evenings) and The Writers @ York Library on the last tuesday (afternoons). Both groups aim to extend technique whilst offering places to write and share work. The last group has published two anthologies of short stories and poetry. Water from the Well is their latest anthology which was published by United Press. You may purchase the anthology from Lizzi at a cost of £5.99 including Postage and Packaging. For details of books/groups, you can email e.linklater@ntlworld.com or call 01904 331 885 and ask for Lizzi Linklater.
1stWRITES
Monique Munroe runs eight-week short story writing courses in Poole, Dorset. Her aim of running the courses is to equip new writers with the basics of short story writing; so when the eight weeks have been completed, they will feel confident and enthusiastic enough to keep writing. In addition to the eight-week courses, she also runs occasional Saturday morning sessions. For these sessions she generally concentrates on one aspect of short story writing such as characterisation or descritpion, although I also run straightforward creative writing sessions too. Details about the courses are available either by calling Monique Munroe on 07766 581 134 or email 1stwrites@writes1st.plus.com or see http://www.1stwrites.co.uk/.
THE WRITERS' UMBRELLA
The Writers' Umbrella, the writers club that comes to you. Writing is a lonely business, but sometimes writers feel the need to communicate with others of like mind. If for health, family, work or geographical reasons joining a conventional writing club is not an option, the Writers Umbrella is for you.
Members receive a bi-monthly newsletter with information on the world of writing. We have news of competitions, publication opportunities, hints and tips and always a bit of fun. We offer a free to enter cash prize competition, an editorial first draft service for new writers and include examples of readers work.
Cost is £5 per annum e-mail membership £10 per annum postal membership. Sent for free intoroductory newsletter to: barbara@ladysgate.freeserve.co.uk or write to Barbara Hammond, 14, Ladysgate Court, Carronshore Falkirk FK2 8HE
FIRE RIVER POETS
Fire River Poets (http://www.fireriverpoets.org.uk) is a group of poets who meet for mutual support, with the aim of helping each other to become better poets. It is based in Taunton and draws its membership from across Somerset and beyond. Meetings are intirely private and confidential. They are held in private houses, which limits numbers of who can attend, but we are always pleased to hear from potential new members who may have to join a waiting list or set up a group of their own with our support. We are always happy to liaise with poets' groups within and outside Somerset as we feel that mutual support can raise aspirations and improve opportunities. We have been offering readings and workshops open to the general public at The Brewhouse in Taunton. 'Open Mic' sessions are always available at the readings. We do not offer classes so beginners should join a creative writing class to learn the appropriate techniques before applying to join the group.
ME4 WRITERS
ME4 writers are a group of creative writers based in the Medway in Kent, UK. We meet on an irregular monthly basis with the aim of commenting on each other's writing, creating collaborative works and inspiring members to get published (three of our writers have had short stories published online or performed in the last 2 months!) Numbers are limited due to space, though we have a waiting list, and if demand is such - a second group could be set up. If you would like to join the waiting list, please email ME4writers@gmail.com, in the meantime you can read extracts from the group on our blog: http://ME4writers.wordpress.com
WEDNESDAY WRITERS' WORKSHOP
Wednesday Writers' Workshop has been running for almost 30 years. We meet in a member's home in Sevenoaks once a fortnight on Wednesday afternoons. Members write short stories, articles, poetry, plays, memoirs and even novels. Some of us are published writers and others are just beginners. We welcome those who hope to achieve publications and those who are writing for fun. For details please email Camilla Bourcier - camillacamilla@bourcier.force9.co.uk. Alternatively you may write to - Wednesday Writers' Workshop, FAO Camilla Bourcier, 6 Quarry Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0HH.
WRITTEN WORDS
Author, Henrietta Soames offers stimulating workshops and supportive tutorials/mentoring through her website http://www.writtenwords.net. Intensive Writing Workshops are designed specifically to empower writers embarking upon or already working on a novel or short stories. Three terms of three one-day Workshops, each Workshop examines a different aspect of fiction writing and using imaginitive exercieses, lively discussion and literary examples. The intensive workshops will stretch your abilities and deepen your writing skills. Each Workshop is limited to a maximum of only ten, this is so that each student receives maximum attention and has the opportunity to read and discuss their own work-in-progress. For further details visit the website, or email henrietta@writtenwords.net
CHELTENHAM POETRY CAFE (BUZZWORDS)
Buzzwords is for everyone who enjoys poetry - whether to write or to listen. It is now in its fourth year and continues to attract an audience ranging from teens to nineties. Buzzwords aims to be fully inclusive. It provides a platform for new, aspiring and established poets to perform and share their work. It offers a regular opportunity to take part in writing workshops, publicity and support for events of interest for anyone who enjoys poetry. Buzzwords began with an idea from a group of Gloucester writers which was taken up by Angela France, who continues to organise the meetings. The name arose from the first venue at the Exmouth Inn on Bath Road, where it meets the first Sunday of every month. Each meeting begins with a workshops for those who wish to take part, usually run by a poet or writer. This is followed by an open mix session for anyone who wants to read their work, and then the guest poet of the evening takes the floor. After the break another mic session followed by more from the guest poet. The average size of the audience is 30 persons.
