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I am now retired I have time to do some of things I have always wanted to do. I have just started writing and belong to a U3A writing group. I have been looking at this forum for awhile and followed some of the links and picking up lots of tips. So I have written a little thank you for this
When I came upon Writer’s online – oh this looks fine
I might learn a thing or two, I have only just started writing
And not always so sure what to do.
I read the forum and you make me grin
I would not know where to begin.
I like the way you tease but you try to help and please.
Baggy Books with your good advice on grammar
If you asked me I would stammer
Tiny Nell what lovely children’s stories you tell.
The jumping frog Liz appears to be
Poems of animals she likes to write
Datco with his novel Love Btye
Many stories by Phots Moll
Does this writing take its emotional toll?
10x10 word fiction by Lizy expat
Claudia, Casey, Carol, and Heather on the forum you have sat
Snailmate, Mrs Bear and Stan2
How clever of all of you.
I have taken the courage to knock on your door
I have taken your advice, paid the fee and submitted my entry.
Comments
Writing doesn't take an emotional toll on me personally. Quite the opposite I think.
I'm group leader of my local branch, and I think Toothlight leads the group on his patch.
Good to see another pensioner joining us.
:-h
I feel a fraud being here as I have only written a few short stories for the U3A writing group.
The poem I entered in the competition was about my lack of ability as a writer!
I know - I am hoping to pick up lots of tips and hope to improve my writing
You haven't got long (until 31st Oct), but you could have a go at the One Word Challenge...
As new to group I do feel I can say much and all the others seem like the way its run. So I could be reading out a load of rubbish and they would all be too polite to say.
Romney, I can see as a new member in your group you don't want to be too pushy, but could you ask for people to say if there's anything they didn't quite understand or which they think could be improved? Phrased that way, the others might feel able to say something. Of course you then need to be braced so you smile delightedly when they tell you what they didn't like.
This year the group contains several talented and experienced newcomers, whose experience would probably be lost to the group if it was organised on 'vicars tea-party' lines.
Someone here might know of a group local to you.
about 30 minutes drive but they meet in the evenings and I am not so keen on driving around the lanes in the dark ( everybody's lights seem like they are on main beam)
I've been thinking about joining a writing group myself, but haven't found anything local yet either.
Perhaps I should start one
Spray yourself orange and pop in for a pint sometime
Online feedback groups tend to focus more on the writing and less on the authors, which can make it easier to give and recieve criticism. Also there's more chance of actually finding a group of like minded people.
I do belong to a very friendly local group who help and encourage each other - but we have a poet, a horror writer, writer of children's books, a non fiction writer, writer of women's magazine stories, lady writing a fictionalised memoir etc. There's one full time writer, one lady who has never submitted anything anywhere and never will. It's good to mix with these different writers and I believe we do all gain from it - but not in the way that we would if we all wrote for similar markets or with similar aims.
It's a bit quiet at the moment, but if you (or anyone else) put a story up on the short story board, I'll leave some feedback.
There are lots more though - some are listed on the useful website thread. As with any group, some will offer what you want and others won't. Try a few and stick with whichever suits you best.