writing groups

The Cola Factory -

London speculative fiction writing group

A small group of fantasy, science fiction and horror writers meeting once a month for critique, discussion, networking and mutual support in London. We use a soft, friendly and supportive approach to critiqueing that remains honest but is not brutual or overly negative. Our aim is to provide everyone with a positive experience whilst giving them insights into their writing and motivation to continue forward. Please contact: MEStaton (twitter)

michaela@resurrectioncola.com

or

visitresurrection-cola.com

and click on "The Cola Factory" or see the facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=87747987804

Café Writers

www.cafewriters.org.uk

We are open to all and free of charge. We meet once a month in Marzano Bar at The Forum, Norwich.Café Writers present a wide range of writers performing a variety of styles - poetry, drama, prose - in an atmosphere that both welcomes new work and invites professional polish. There are opportunities to read from the floor. We have around 250 people on our email list, and attendances are usually 60 - 80 people.

Full details about our group and activities at www.cafewriters.org.uk

Coventry Writers' Group

Coventry Writers' Group meet at The Tam-O-Shanta Club, in the Robert Burns Room on the first Tuesday of every month. The room has a bar where refreshments can be purchased . Meetings start at 7.30 pm and run for approximately three hours. There can be anywhere from 15 to 20 people at a meeting.

We have a variety of writing talent within our group, a lot of whom have work regularly published.

The group has been in existence for over 50 years.

Contact details:

Rick

Tel: 02476 334571

Email: write@fsmail.net

Mike - Chairman

Tel: 02476 405232

Email: michael.sherratt1@btopenworld.com

Malvern Writers' Circle

www.malvernwriters.org

Malvern Writers’ Circle was founded in 1948 to encourage writing for all media and to help with publication. The main business is to read and comment on members’ writing and to share information about publishing opportunities. Meetings are relaxed and informal, and guests are welcome.

Contact details:

Email: info@malvernwriters.org

URL: www.malvernwriters.org

SOUTHPORT WRITERS' CIRCLE

Contact:

Chairman

42 Pilkington Road

Southport

PR4 4QJ

Email: southportwriterscircle@yahoo.co.uk

We meet every Thursday from 8 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. at Birkdale Library, Liverpool Road, Southport. We bring our writing and poetry to read and critique. Applicants are invited to attend three meetings and read their work before being invited to join the circle.

Membership fee £20.00 p.a.

Annual events:

International open poetry competition, closing date 30th April.

Joan Nicholson competition for members.

Open short story competition, closing date 31st October.

Summer party and Christmas dinner for members, their friends and families.

Scarborough Writers' Circle

Contact:

Carol - Secretary

Tel: 01723 360535

Scarborough Writers' Circle, founded in 1948 by Mary Hall, meets alternate Tuesdays at Allatt House Annex, West Parade Road, Scarborough (near Sainsburys).

The objective of the Circle is to share practical writing experience. Among the members are novelists, journalists, columnists and people who write purely for their own pleasure, not necessarily for publication. The subjects of each meeting are very diverse with occasional guest speakers on related topics and, with in-house competitions, make for a great variety throughout the year.

A warm welcome awaits anyone interested in any aspect of writing and a visit to see if the circle is your 'cup of tea' may prove beneficial.

Guests fee for any meeting is £2.

For further information contact the secretary, Carol Stockhill, on 01723 360535.

Darlington Writers' Circle

Contact:

www.darlington-writers-circle.org.uk

Albert Hill - Chairman

276 North Rd

Darlington

County Durham DL1 2EW

Tel: 01325 462487

Our group was first formed in 1965 and we have established as well as amateur writers. Our work ranges from short stories, articles, poetry and novels. We meet once a month on a Monday evening in Darlington's Town Hall from 7 - 9 p.m. and would welcome anyone who cares to come along and share their ideas, read their work or just to discuss writing.

 

Cheltenham Writers' Circle

Contact:

Carol Sandiford - Secretary

Tel: 01242 578109

Email: carol.sandiford@blueyonder.co.uk

Cheltenham Writers’ Circle has been meeting since 1997 and over that time a number of members have become published authors, and all enjoy the chance to share their work. We meet at Parmoor House, Lypiatt Terrace, Cheltenham, on the first and third Monday of each month. At our meetings members read their work and can ask for comment and in addition there are, from time to time, workshops and visiting speakers. We are always pleased to welcome new members. If anyone is interested, please contact the secretary, Carol Sandiford, on 01242 578109 or else email at carol.sandiford@blueyonder.co.uk

Richmond Writers' Circle

www.richmondwriterscircle.org.uk

Richmond Writers' Circle meet at the Parish Rooms, Church Walk, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SN (opposite the parish church and over the Refectory Restaurant) every Wednesday from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm; the meeting proper starts at 8.00 pm.

We do not meet in August and usually have a break at Easter and Christmas.

Our main activity is to provide a forum for writers to meet, read their work, criticise or receive criticism from other writers, but we also have pub nights and performance evenings; competitions based on themes; an anthology of members work; summer picnic and Christmas dinner and produce a quarterly newsletter.

The quality of work is high; it includes: prose short stories; novels; poetry; play scripts.

We have just published an anthology of recent work called Room 14 at 8 O'Clock which is available from local book shops in the Richmond area or from the contact details below.

Contact details: Chairman: Richard Rickford

Peter Stephen-Ward

Tel: 0208 878 2086

Email: info@richmondwriterscircle.org.uk

URL: www.richmondwriterscircle.org.uk

The Society of Sussex Authors

The Society of Sussex Authors was founded in 1968. They meet on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at The Dorset Arms, Malling Street, Lewes, West Sussex in February, April, June, August, October and December. Membership is restricted to writers who live in Sussex and who have had at least one book commercially published, or other wirtings used professionally.

Contact details:

Michael Legat

Bookends

Lewes Road

Horsted Keynes

RH17 7DP

Short Story Writing Class

A friendly and supportive group meeting each Thursday during term time in Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Email: writingunderwater@tiscali.co.uk

Solent Writers' Circle

Founded in 1981. Solent Writers' Circle meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month from

7.30 - 9.30 p.m. at the Lee-on-the-Solent Community Centre.

Full details about the group are on their website www.solentwriterscircle.com

The Medway Mermaids

A writing group for women

www.medwaymermaids.btik.com/

Our members write in different disciplines and styles, but we are all committed to developing our work through mutual support and constructive criticism. We are very sociable and relaxed, and like to think that we are a bit younger than your average group. In the past, we have produced anthologies, performed in various locations and run workshops, and we continue to develop a busy programme of events into the future.

We welcome new members who are ambitious, committed and enthusiastic, but we do currently have a waiting list. Potential members need to make a commitment to turn up regularly to meetings, to read and review the work of other members, and to have an email address that they check regularly. We also ask for a writing sample for new applicants.

Meetings are held in Gillingham, Kent, and there is a subscription fee of £18 per year.

Contact details:

www.medwaymermaids.btik.com

Writers' and Poets' Circle

Writers' and Poets' Circle in Purley, Surrey for:

- poets

- writers

- artists who can write

- writers who can paint

All are welcome.

We meet on the second Friday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House.For more information and to join please contact Veronica Aldous by email. Veronica hopes to keep the group small, friendly and informal so those wishing to join must contact her first please.

Contact details:

Veronica Aldous

Email: veronicaspaintbox@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 020 8763 2692

The Goldfish Bowl Writers’ Circle

Contact:

Amy or Becca at admin@writingincircles.co.uk

Web: www.writingincircles.co.uk

A friendly and informal writing group for all ages and styles. A place for writers to share their work and gain feedback. We usually meet in quiet and accommodating local pubs in and around Canterbury City Centre.

Thameside Writers

Contact:

Mrs. Vee Willes – Chair

Tel: 01932 221863

Mobile: +447795220004

E-mail: veecwilles@hotmail.co.uk

Mr. P. Eric Warren – Treasurer

Tel : 020 8224 1265

Mobile: +447730234587

E-mail: erik.warren@btinternet.com

Mrs. Brit Tangen-Warren - Secretary

Tel: 020 8224 1265

Mobile: +447766896127

E-mail: brit.warren@btinternet.com

Thameside Writers, formed in 1987, meets every second Thursday during the year between 10 a.m. and 12 noon in Elmbridge. It is a mixed group writing poetry and prose. We take it in turn to run workshops and our work is read to other members and receives helpful critic in return.

We write mainly for our own pleasure and if someone wants to publish we welcome that too. The quality of our work is considered good. Authors are invited to run workshops and give professional critic of our work.

Each Christmas we have poetry and a prose competition.

The subscription is currently £10 per quarter.

Thameside Writers welcome new members.

West Oxon Writers' Group

Contact:

Email: aswa@hotmail.co.uk

Have you always wanted to write, or have writing in progress? For the cinema, television, radio, stage, novels or short stories, factual, fiction, comedy, drama or documentary, why not join the West Oxon Writers' Group and meet people with similar interests for feedback, help, ideas and support.

Meetings held twice a month!

For more information please email us at aswa@hotmail.co.uk

Thatcham Writers

www.thatchamwriters.co.uk

We meet monthly in Thatcham where we read and discuss our work in an informal setting. We set ourselves monthly assignments, the results of which are often published on our website .

Email: thatchamwriters@yahoo.co.uk

URL: www.thatchamwriters.co.uk

Battersea Writers' Group

formerly Tooting and Balham Writers' Circle

Email: jasonyoung72@yahoo.com

Battersea Writers' Group Blog http://thebatterseawritersgroup.blogspot.com/

Committee:

Jason Young

Founder and Chairman

The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30 in the Family Room at the Battersea Arts Centre www.bac.org.uk in Lavender Hill. At present there is no formal structure to the evening: it is just a mix of discussion and readings. Our hope is to support new writing and help writers develop their creative potential. Come and join us for a friendly evening of discussion and advice.

Camden Town Writing Group

Contact:

Email: februarygirl111@gmail.com

Just finished your first novel? Perhaps you're halfway through a screenplay and would welcome some feedback? If so, the CAMDEN TOWN WRITING GROUP could be what you're looking for. We will be meeting every two weeks, starting in October 2006, and we are open to anyone who is writing on a regular basis. So whether you're working on a play, a collection of short stories, a sitcom or a novel - get in touch! For more info, please contact: februarygirl111@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE: This group really is for those people who are serious about their writing. If you're just dabbling, or a total beginner who has never written anything before, then really sorry, but we are not the group for you.

Willesden Green Writers' Group

Contact:

www.willesdengreenwriters.com

Willesden Green Writers Group has been running for 11 years and has won the Arts Council administered Raymond Williams Community Publishing Award for their anthology, 'The Monkey's Typewriter'.

We meet every Thursday from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Willesden Green Library Centre, NW10 2SF.

Fiction, narrative non-fiction, poetry and plays welcome, although we concentrate on the former two. For more details see our website

North London Writers

Contact:

Email Alfred at: northlondonwriters@yahoo.co.uk

URL: www.northlondonwriters.co.uk

The North London Writers Group offers a frank, rigorous, and yet friendly and supportive environment in which writers can grow, both by having their own work critiqued, and by critiquing the work of other members. Many of us are professional writers in other disciplines (e.g., journalism); each of us seeks to produce work that will be published. We welcome new members who are serious about their goals, actively writing, and whose output is at or near a professional level.

East Finchley Writers

Contact:

Tel. Carola on 0208 8835808

Tel. Lilian on 0208 444 1793

East Finchley Writers welcomes writers of prose, poetry, drama etc. We meet every Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. at the Old White Lion Pub, London N2. For more information about the group ring Carola or Lilian.

EDINBURGH WRITERS' CLUB

www.edinburghwritersclub.org.uk

Edinburgh Writers' Club meets at Osbourne Hotel in York Place fornightly. We have some work nights, and also professional speakers who judge our competitions and write a personal crit on each entry. We are a mixed bunch, all ages, some professional writers, some unpublished and lots in between. Membership is around 100 but usually only 30 or so come to every meeting.

We are affiliated to Scottish Ass. of Writers and some of us attend their weekend seminar in the Spring.

Contact details:

www.edinburghwritersclub.org.uk

Visible Ink

www.visible-ink.co.uk

We meet on Wednesdays 7.00 - 9.00 at The West End Hotel, 35 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. Meetings last two hours; the first hour is usually a stimulus session, the second hour is used for readings and feedback on work in progress. Poetry, short stories, rants, novels, songs, plays, and screenplays have all been presented and discussed at previous meetings. Though most members aspire to be published, some find the company of other writers sufficient reason to attend the group. New members and new writers are always welcome. After the meeting we pop downstairs to the hotel bar.

Contact details:

Tel: Barbara Scott-Emmett 0131 313 1612

URL: www.visible-ink.co.uk

Email: info@visible-ink.co.uk

Cardiff Writers' Circle

The group meets every Monday evening from 7 - 9pm at 62, Park Place, Cardiff.

The Circle is celebrating almost 55 years of supporting beginners and experienced writers in fine tuning their work in order to become published. Several of the current members are able to offer good advice and encouragement from a background of success as novelists or short story writers for both the adult and children's markets. The Circle organises talks and competitions but most of the meetings allow members to read their stories, poems or articles and receive positive, helpful criticism.

Why not visit this lively and thriving group for a taste of a typical meeting before committing yourself to membership.

Contact:

Email: niva@nivapete.freeserve.co.uk

Bridgend Writers' Circle

Contact

Chair: Joe Waterman joseph.waterman@googlemail.com

Secretary: Michele Smith msmithhk@hotmail.com

URL: http://bridgendwriters.webs.com/

Founded 1976. Bridgend Writers' Circle meet monthly at the Coed Parc Library Headquarters.

TEIFI SCRIBBLERS

Contact:

Geoff Cobb

Tel: 01239 851013

Email: geoffcobb@fsmail.net

Teifi Scribbers meet at Penrhiwllan Village Hall on the third Monday of each month at 7 pm. Penrhiwllan Village Hall is on the A475, approximately 4 miles from Newcastle Emlyn and 16 miles from Lampeter.

Catchword

Catchword meets on Monday mornings in members' homes. They are a small group who spend their meetings reading and analysing work, discussing all sorts of issues to do with writing and occasionally they run workshops. Last year they started 'Catchword Out and About' - taking their work to others.They produce a programme of poems and prose to read and discuss with all sorts of groups in the community.

All members have had some work published, but the principal reason for the group is mutual support and interest.

Contact details:

Rona Laycock

33 Sandford Leaze

Avening

Glos GL8 8PB, UK

Tel: 01453 834271

Mendip and Somerton Writers

Mendip and Somerton Writers run creative writing classes of between eight and fifteen people. New writers are welcome as well as published writers. There are day-time as well as evening meetings at different venues - Somerton, Wells and Cheddar. Contact Judith for full details.

Contact details:

Judith Thomas

11 Chapman's Close

Wookey

Wells

Somerset BA5 1LU

Tel: 01749 676441

Fax: 01749 676441

Email: jmthom@tiscali.co.uk