L&DW is a support group for writers created for mutual advice and encouragement of members in their writing endeavors, and aims to encourage, suggest practical ways for improvement, and recommend appropriate markets.
At present we meet at Cruck House, Stowe Street, Lichfield. Parking is available off Stowe Road. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of every month from 7:45pm to 10pm. Occasional visitors are advised to check both programme items and venue with a committee member to avoid disappointment.
Meetings:
Workshops:
Members of the group with a particular expertise may be
asked to run a workshop for general interest and benefit.
These have included characterisation, punctuation,
descriptive writing, structuring articles, breaking
writers’ block and viewpoint (a surprisingly contentious subject!).
Requests for workshops on specific themes are
welcome — as are volunteers to run one!
Manuscripts:
These sessions are particularly popular with members
bringing along their own work to read aloud to the group.
Advice on specific points, or general comments, may be
requested — the only rule here is that criticism
must be constructive. There is no obligation to
participate actively in a manuscript evening, but most
members find the exercise useful.
The introduction of ‘anonymous manuscripts’
nights has proved particularly popular.
There may be a time limit set for each reading (10-15
mins) depending on numbers wishing to take part.
Socials:
These biannual events are held at private houses and are
generally ‘members only.’
Membership:
Membership is currently running at 24-30. We are a mixed bunch, covering all writing disciplines and most genres between us. Some members have been published widely, mainly in the fields of article writing, short stories and poetry; others have yet to break into print; some write solely for their own pleasure.
The current membership fee is £20 pa. and visitors are charged £2 per session (this may subsequently be offset against membership fee).
We hold a library of reference books and back copies of writers’ magazines for members to borrow, and small stocks of specific magazines are sometimes available for market study. News of current competitions and market opportunities and the occasional special offer to writers’ group members is also disseminated at meetings.
Two postal folios are presently running for members who like more frequent feedback on their work than is available at ms. evenings. There are fifteen participating members, and in the past we have run specialist postal folios (article/novel/short story).
The L&DW Short Story Competition is now in its seventh year (see our Homepage).
The Hilary Fawcett Award for Article Writing is also run - the next will be advertised in due course.
Committee:
Chair: Sylvia Birchall Vice-chair: Brian Asbury
Secretary: Janet Ashcroft Treasurer: Elizabeth Dickerson
Programme Secretary: Jan Green Publicity: Jane Rogers
Web page: Phil Franks
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