I am interested in writing by local people and groups. While browsing the internet I came across http://www.abbeydale-writers.co.uk

What do other people think? Personally I was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the work. It was much better than I would expect from an amateur group.

I've just got back in to regular writing after a bit of a hiatus; the hardest thing for me at the moment is creating the habit of doing 1000 words or so a day.

I'm currently doing short stories (mostly science fiction / fantasy / horror but some 'generic') and some scripts.

Joe

This is quite cool. I have been writing poetry on and off since a child but hardly anyone has read it as I waiver between lacking confidence to show people and sort of "protecting" it by keeping it to myself.
Might check it out.....

Originally posted by slimsid2000
I am interested in writing by local people and groups. While browsing the internet I came across http://www.abbeydale-writers.co.uk

What do other people think? Personally I was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the work. It was much better than I would expect from an amateur group.

"Annabel's Boobs" was great! (I said as much on their feedback form)

In a way almost unimaginable ,the very words that I had been forming were.........reproduced in black and white to an almost obscene group of semi intellectual.....(or is that quasi, eh fanny) voyeurs and then... nothing.......The writers block returned.


End

Dragon

Let's all hope that your writer's block is permanent, Dragonslop. Why don't you take some valium and move the furniture about a bit; you'll feel much better.

What are other people's favourate pieces. My own are The Swap and The Cherry Tree, oh and yes i also like Annabell's Boobs.:cool:

Originally posted by timo
Let's all hope that your writer's block is permanent, Dragonslop. Why don't you take some valium and move the furniture about a bit; you'll feel much better. Have moved the furniture about and now because of YOU Timo I cant find the f...... valium.

OOH! You are a card, Dragonsoup!

Please stick to the point. What do people think of the work on this site and which pieces of work do you like best?

Apparently Abbeydale Writers will be appearing at The Red Deer, Pit st. as part of the Off The Shelf festival on Tue 19th Oct.

Originally posted by slimsid2000
Please stick to the point. What do people think of the work on this site and which pieces of work do you like best?

Apparently Abbeydale Writers will be appearing at The Red Deer, Pit st. as part of the Off The Shelf festival on Tue 19th Oct. Stick to the point!!!!! Dont talk to me as though Im a mere portion of blotting paper on the inkpen that is life

Originally posted by timo
OOH! You are a card, Dragonsoup! King I reckon! You are just boring so go away and write some drivel.

Yes 'Annabel's Boobs' is really good. A neat little piece of writing. Great stuff.

I used to belong to Heeley Writer's Circle - I was a regular for around three years, but then finding the time became a problem.

However, I would recommend joining a group such as Abbeydale Writers. If you want to get work taken seriously and aim to get work published, the invaluable critiques you get from joining one of these groups is brilliant.

Incidenatally, what's wrong with having a 'dedicated' thread on SF for writing, where good, honest feedback for articles/poetry/ short stories or whatever could be posted?

Anyone interested?

I'd be interested in a thread - my main problem with a writer's group is that of time.

And my inherent lack of confidence ;)

Joe

I have just read the "Book" and found it topical, entertaining and well written, they have certainly got talent and will improve even more as they go along.

Temper, temper Dragonslop! Be careful or the blood will rush straight to that little head of yours. Re "drivel", do you mean the kind of infantile twaddle you have just written about the writer's forum, or perhaps the semi-literate, cowardly comments [described as "puerile" by another contributor] you offered on the Meadowhall thread recently? To coin a cliche, if you can't take it, don't dish it out. Go on, thrill me with your intellectual acumen and resort to an abusive reply...

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
[
Incidenatally, what's wrong with having a 'dedicated' thread on SF for writing, where good, honest feedback for articles/poetry/ short stories or whatever could be posted?

Anyone interested? [/B]

yes its a good idea if enough people contribute and it doesn't go stale after a bit. It needs moderating carefully too, otherwise peer to peer criticism can be just bitching and smart arsing and it just scares people off. Mind you honest criticism is a tool for development, but what do you do if someone is really just crap at it?

Who can you find who knows their stuff about writing and has time and tact enough to do it?

Hi Grace,

I suppose that determining that something is 'crap' is pretty subjective; I dislike most poetry, but I'd never call it crap because I'm not knowledgable enough to say whether it's good or bad poetry. The most I'd say is that it's not for me....:)

I write mainly science fiction, fantasy and horror for 'fun' these days, with some film scripts and such thrown in. My published work, however, is a couple of hundred technical articles and a dozen techgnical books in the last 20 years. My biggest challenge is to get my fiction out there. But I know that many people look down upon the genres I've chosen for my fiction; but that's my choice and I'd expect that choice to be respected even if people don't like it!

One of the problems with any creative forum is that some people do use it to score points; I'm was put off quite a few forums and groups because of that, but my attitude now is to look at the people on a one by one basis. Most point scorers in these forums are wannabes - they wannabe a writer but for now they'll just be a critic. If someone puts over some criticism in a constructive manner, that's cool. If someone just bad mouthes you because they can, they'll soon get a reputation for being arses and people soon get to know this.

OK....I'm going to dig out some of my stuff and post it up on my blog site. I'll post a link later - in other words, I'll try and get the ball rolling further.

Joe

Mod: Dragonsoup, Timo, please don't do this in the open Forum. If you want to abuse each other please do it via PM.

Originally posted by graceomally
yes its a good idea if enough people contribute and it doesn't go stale after a bit. It needs moderating carefully too, otherwise peer to peer criticism can be just bitching and smart arsing and it just scares people off. Mind you honest criticism is a tool for development, but what do you do if someone is really just crap at it?

Who can you find who knows their stuff about writing and has time and tact enough to do it?

Well, I have had numerous pieces (short stories, articles, poetry etc) published in national magazines and if being published is knowing your stuff, which I believe it is, count me in as a willing giver of critique and advice.

Incidentally, there is no such thing as absolute rubbish when it comes to writing, you can always find something positive in any kind of work.

Sorry Tony. I accept what you say here.

Well, got my act together and posted some samples of my stuff to my blog site.

URL is below.

Joe :)

I've gone back and had another look at this site.

It is still very good but they don't seem to update it very often which is a shame.

If you haven't viewed it yet i highly recomend it.