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Hi All,
I keep hearing about writing groups. Does anyone have experience with them? What is a writing group like? What happens there? Does anyone know a good one in London?
Thanks,
Balazs
Comments
During the meetings there is a wide variety of activities including reading out of members’ own work for constructive comments, internal competitions and on-the-spot writing in response to inspirational exercises. Time is allowed for members’ news, club business and announcements of forthcoming events. Workshops and talks are held regularly and are open to non-members.
Don't know if any of these are any good because I've never been to any of them but they're listed online as being in London:
EAST DULWICH WRITERS GROUP [email protected]
◾GREENACRE WRITERS Rosie Canning, 25 Chistlehurst Avenue,London, N12 9LN email: [email protected] web: http://www.greenacrewriters.blogspot.com
◾HARROW WRITERS' CIRCLE John Monaghan, 189 Cantebury Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 4PA [email protected] www.harrowwriters.org.uk
◾PHRASE WRITERS The Chairman, 8 Didcot House, Chantry Close, Yiewsley, Middx, UB7 7FT.
◾ROYAL ELTHAM WRITERS' CIRCLE The Secretary, 195 Westmount Road, London, SE9 1XY email: [email protected]
◾THE WRITERS’ BLOCK The Secretary, 191 Holcroft Court, Clipstone Street, London W1W 5DH. Email: [email protected] web: http://writersblocklondon.wordpress.com/
◾TORRIDON WRITERS The Secretary, 18 Tremaine Close, London SE4 1YF. Email: [email protected]
I'd suggest that, once you've found one, you ask if you can go along to a meeting or two to see if it's for you.
Then she'd set us homework, and we'd hand that in the next meeting. the meeting after we'd get it back with her comments.
It was excellent, because she was - in fact it was Crysse Morrisson who used to write for WM.
The next one was pretty similar but poems.
It's well worth doing as the other students comment as well and you soon get the idea of what works in your writing and what doesn't if the other students are all in agreement, or even if the majority are.
You may find some groups will require you to be published before letting you join - never understood that myself!
But as PM said, ask to go along to a few meetings as a visitor, as each will vary and by visiting you should get a good idea if it's for you.
http://www.codsallwriters.weebly.com
I was hoping to join a more local group but apparently this is for published authors only and by invitation (strictly no poetry!). I have self published 4 books through createspace and been in a couple of anthologies (including the OWC) and message them asking for any details but have had no reply so I presume I am not considered worthy.
I am considering advertising to see if there are any other writers interested in meeting up and forming a separate group.
My advice would be give them a go. I was really nervous and it has been such a wonderful experience and I have made some good friends.
Thinking about putting an advert together for our parish magazine and see if I can get one started. I'd love to have a evening to look forward to each week with fellow writers.
Trouble is, I don't drive and I commute seven days a week to London, which doesn't leave me much time
Who knows, I might just find half a dozen fellow writers in the village
Any recommendations?
I would like a change of scenery though. I'm either here in the shop, on a train or at home (with a pub thrown in now and then)
A change of scenery once a week would be nice.
I hadn't thought of leaving flyers in the library, TN, excellent suggestion!
I do, approximately, 22 hours per week on the train, if they behave themselves.
It's a lovely idea, TN, but there seems to be an unwritten law that forbids commuters to socialise other than by grunts and expletives.
Bet you're glad you escaped Tilbury, Liz. I rarely venture there, if I do (I have a friend there) I tend not to linger...
Fenchurch Street station has been wet with my tears after many a long day and no trains!
Publisher; Petan
Author; Colyer, R. ( Maureen Blundell )
Title; Closed Circuits, Cluttered Minds ( Trilogy )
And I'm leaving soon
Yes Dora, stuffy was what sprung to mind when I read it. I think that they look down on self-published and stated something about people needing to be thick skinned as their aim to is offer constructive criticism in WIP.
I am perhaps looking for work and social type of writing group not a throw me to the wolves group.