Writing groups • by region If you wish to appear on the Mslexia website, please let us know ENGLISH REGIONS: EAST | EAST MIDLANDS | LONDON | NORTH EAST | NORTH WEST SOUTH EAST | SOUTH WEST | WEST MIDLANDS | YORKSHIRE NORTHERN IRELAND | SCOTLAND | WALES EAST»   Cambridge Word Fest provides a richly-packed weekend of some of the best contemporary writing, political debate, poetry and events for children. Presents a unique blend of workshops, seminars, panel events and readings. April   www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk Felixstowe Scribblers is a well-established writers’ group for writers of all levels and genres. The group offers a platform to share and discuss work and participate in writing assignments. Felixstowe Library, Crescent Rd, Felixstowe. 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7.30-10.00pm. www.nar8or.blogspot.com Redwell Writers is a prose, novel and short story based group. New members welcome. Norwich City centre. Weekly on Wednesday, 7-9pm. The Third Thursday Writers’ Group welcomes writers of poetry, prose and playwriting. Holland-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea. 3rd Thursday of the month, 7.30-9.30pm. Write Now! welcomes beginners and established writers of poetry and prose. Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Fortnightly on Tuesday, 7.30pm.   EAST MIDLANDS » Belper Writers’ Group welcomes any and all forms of creative writing for all abilities, Red Cross Centre, Babington Hospital, Derby Road, Belper. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7.30-9.30pm Grace Dieu Writers is a self-help writers group of mixed ability.New members welcome. The Rangers Club, Loughborough Road, Thringstone (just outside Coalville) 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month, 7-9pm. http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/gracedieu Leicester Poetry Society welcomes new members to their group. Leicester Adult Education Centre, Wellington Street, Leicester. Approx 30 meetings per year, Fridays, 7pm. www.poetryleicester.co.uk Nene Valley Writers welcomes writers of all genres and experience. Mission Church Hall, Wellingborough Road, Rushden. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 7.30pm (except December). Nottingham Poetry Society welcomes new members. Nottingham Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood street, Nottingham. 4th Saturday of the month, 2.45pm. www.nottinghampoetrysociety.co.uk Poetry Wednesbury provides members with advice, the occasional workshop and the opportunity to read and write. Open to new members. Wednesbury Library, Walsdale Road. Monthly on Wednesday, 7.30pm. Free. www.purplepatchpoetry.co.uk Sherwood Writing Group welcomes all types of writing and all levels of experience. The Place, 2a Melrose Street, off Mansfield Road, Sherwood (behind the bus depot). 2nd Friday of the month, 7.30pm. LONDON » Highgate Poets asks would-be joiners to submit a sample of their work. Members’ homes. 1st Sunday of the month. JustWrite is a creative writing group for Black women that promotes new and existing writers of poetry, prose and novels. Masbro Centre, 87 Masbro Road, London. Weekly, 7-9pm. www.wilde2000.com North Camden & Belsize Writers’ Group welcomes fiction writers. Members homes. Every 4th Monday, 8pm. The Way Creative Writing Group covers all genres and is open to women and men of all ages and ability. Friends Meeting House, Winchmore Hill, London N21. Approximately every 6 weeks. Word for Word is a friendly mixed group of poets, prose writers, filmmakers and musicians. Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, London. Weekly and fortnightly (see website for further details). www.wforw.org.uk Writers Together is a small group providing critical feedback for prose writers who seriously aim to be published commercially. They look for talent, potential, and ability to give/take/benefit from honest criticism. More women needed! Canford Road SW11. Alternate Friday evenings.   NORTH EAST » Northumberland Writers’ Group is for writers of all abilities, from beginners to published. Coast Guard Station, Amble. Fortnightly on Monday, 7-9pm. Writers-at-Home provides older and/or disabled writers and/or their carers access to the writing workshop experience by post and telephone. Open to residents of the greater Gateshead area, beginners and experienced writers welcome. Yarm Writers’ Group provides members with an opportunity to read on selected topics (if you want to). Mixed ages and ability. Anybody welcome. Yarm Library, Yarm High Street. Fortnightly on Thursday, 10am-12pm (except August).   NORTH WEST » Ulverston Writers welcomes writers of poetry, short fiction and plays. Owl Barn, Back Lane, Ulverston. Fortnightly on Wednesday, 10.15am.   SOUTH EAST » Camberley Writers Circle is a mixed group of all ages. Largely unpublished (frustrated) writers of all genres. High Cross, Knoll Road, Camberley. 1st Thursday of the month, 7.45-9.45pm. Chanctonbury Writers welcomes anyone interested in creative writing. Members range from beginners to experienced and published. Members homes. 1st Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm. New Forest Poetry Society has a programme which includes readings, performances, poetry surgery and more. New members welcome. New Forest Arts Centre, Old Milton Road. Last Monday of the month, 7.30pm. Sussex Playwrights’ Club is for people who love theatre. Writers, readers and those that just like to discuss plays are all welcome. New Venture Theatre, Bedford Place, Brighton. Monthly on a Sunday. www.newventure.org.uk Sheppey and Sittingbourne Writers’ Group work on poetry, prose, playwriting, magazine articles and novels. Members houses. Fortnightly on Wednesdays. Thames Valley Writers’ Circle includes those who write poetry, prose, articles, travel and autobiography. St Joseph’s Church Hall, Corner of Park Lane & Berkshire Drive, Tilehurst, Reading. Tuesdays, 7.30-9.30pm. www.thamesvalleywriterscircle.org.uk Wednesday Writers welcomes beginners and experienced writers of poetry and prose. St Juliens Club, Kent and members homes. Every Wednesday during winter and spring, 2.30-4pm. No meetings over summer. West Berkshire Writers’ is a broad-based group with interests in poetry, short stories, drama and novels. Open to all with aninterst in writing, beginners to advanced. Kennet & Avon Canal Building, The Wharf, Newbury. Most Wednesdays, 7.45pm. www.newburyarts.co.uk/Orgs/writers.shtml The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival includes a mixture of talks, panel discussions, readings and workshops. Oxford. March/April www.sundaytimes-oxfordliteraryfestival.co.uk   SOUTH WEST » Hartland Writers’ Circle includes professional and non-professional writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays. Members homes. 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm. Company of Poets is a group of experienced writers that welcomes requests for readings. Members’ homes. Once a month on various nights, 7.30pm. Honiton Writers Group is for writers of poetry, prose, beginners and experienced. Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Street (off New Street), Honiton. 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7.30-9.30pm. Ilfracombe Writers’ Circle are of mixed abilities - poetry and prose. Younger members welcome. Ilfracombe Conservative Club, Market Street, Ilfracombe. 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7.30pm. Newton Abbot & District Writers’ Circle welcomes writers of all abilities - poetry, prose, short stories and novels. Jolly Abbot, East Street, Newton Abbot. 1st Tuesday of the month,7.30-10pm. Prestbury Writers’ Workshop welcomes writers of all abilities. Upper Room, St marys Church, Prestbury, Cheltenham. Wednesdays, 2-3.30pm. Writing Novels and Stories is a creative writing group of all levels and experience. All Saints Church Hall, All Saints Road, Sidmouth. Varies.   WEST MIDLANDS » Birmingham Writers run a programme of themed meetings for beginners and published writers. They hold the occasional workshop as well as a series of competitions are for members only. Birmingham Central Library, Chamberlain Square B3 3HQ. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6-8pm (except August). www.scorpiopsc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bw Bridgnorth Writers’ Group is for writers of all genres with various levels of expertise. Cinnamon Cafe, Castway, Bridgnorth. 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7.30pm. Cannon Poets welcomes members of all writing abilities. Midlands Art Centre. Monthly on Sunday, 2pm. www.cannonpoets.co.uk Tenbury Writers’ Group is for all writers, especially beginners. Tenbury Library, 24 Teme Street, Tenbury Wells. Once a month on Tuesday, 7.30-9.30pm. YORKSHIRE » Airedale Writers’ Circle is for anyone who enjoys writing, from beginners to advanced. The Social Centre for the Blind, Scott Street, Keighley. 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7.30pm. Bradford Poetry Workshop is a critical and constructive workshop for the consideration of members poetry. The New Beehive pub, Westgate, Bradford BD1. 4th Monday of the month, 8.30pm. Bridlington Writers' Group is for writers of all genres. Jamroz Centre, North Street, Bridlington. Tuesdays, 7.30-10pm. Doncaster Women’s Centre Group welcomes all women: poetry and prose. Doncaster Women’s Centre, 21 Cleveland Street, Doncaster. Tuesdays 10.30am-12.30pm. Driftnet Poets Yorkshire. Members homes. Fortnightly on Monday, 8pm. Leeds Writers’ Circle welcomes all writers, including beginners - novels, short stories, poetry, articles etc The George Pub, Great George Street, Leeds. Fortnightly on Monday, 7-9pm. www.leedswriterscircle.co.uk Malvern Writers’ Circle encourage any kind of writing from poetry and prose to journalism. Also occasional workshops, guest speakers and other events. 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7.30-10pm. www.malvernwriters.org The Scribblers is a mixed groups that welcomes all types of creative writing. Members homes. 2 seperate groups: weekly on Tuesdays, 2.30-4.30pm; fortnightly on Thursdays, 7.30-9.30pm. York Poetry Workshop invites members to bring copies of their poems for constructive discussion. They also hold the occasional full day writing workshop, and an annual poetry picnic. Guppy’s, Nunnery Lane, York. 1st Saturday of the month, 11am (except August). NORTHERN IRELAND » Derry Playhouse Writers welcomes writers of all genres. The Playhouse, 5-7 Artillery St, Derry City, Co Londonderry. Wednesdays, 1-4pm. www.derryplayhousewriters.org Flowerfield Writers’ Group tackles short story writing exercises in-session and each member produces a piece at home for the following week. New members welcome. Flowerfield Arts Centre, 185 Coleraine Road, Portstewart. Wednesdays or Thursdays (7-9pm), once weekly on a 10 week term basis Oct-Dec, Jan-Mar and a 6 week term after easter. SCOTLAND » Edinburgh Writers’ Club enjoys a varied programme that incudes guest speakers, competitions, workshops and social occasions. Mixed ability and ages, all welcome. Osbourne Hotel, 58-59 York Place, Edinburgh. 2nd and 4th Monday of the month (September-May), 7.30pm. www.edinburghwritersclub.org.uk Highlands & Islands Short Story Association is a loose network of writers who keep contact (by email or letter) with each other for the purpose of critiquing and encouraging each other’s work www.hissac.co.uk Kilmarnock Gateway Writers is a group of mixed ages and abiity that welcomes writers of all genres. Kilmarnock College. Weekly on Tuesday, 7pm. Perthshire Writers’ Group includes amatures and professionals writers of poetry, prose, articles and reviews. Talks and workshops for members and guests. Salutation Hotel, Perth. Twice a month, Tuesdays, 7.30pm. StAnza is Scotland’s only regular festival dedicated to poetry, presenting world-class poets and writers performing in exciting, atmospheric venues. St Andrews. March www.stanzapoetry.org Wigtown Book Town Festival includes readings, group discussions, interviews and book launches. September/October www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk WALES » Cynon Valley Writers’ Group welcomes new members. Unitarian Church School Room, Monk Street, Aberdare. Twice a month on Tuesdays, 7-9pm. I*D Books Writers’ Group is for writers of poetry and short stories (for adults and children). Beginners and experienced. Community Centre, Plymouth Street, Shotton, Deeside. 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, 7.30pm. Llanelli Writers’ Circle aims to stimulate and encouragethe craft of all genres of writing. beginners and experienced writers welcome. The White Lion, Felinfoel (Monday) and The Lakefield Communtiy Centre (Wednesday). 2nd Monday of the month, 7.30-9.30pm and last Wednesday of the month, 2-4pm. • Return to main listings page • Place a banner ad
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