Anyone know of any effective and keen fictions writers groups in the area? .
What I'm not looking for is anything run by a "community arts worker" or where people talk about their life experiences etc.
Bit of cut and thrust criticism and run by the poeple who are in it if you see what I mean.
Post up or email us please.

"Anybody that goes to a workshop that's not into light engineering is a ******!" - Alexi Sayle

contact sheffield's central library.

they have a writer's resource centre, and the sheffield information service there can probably give you a list of writers groups around sheffield that you could access.

also, the sheff University portobello centre of west street has an adult education section, which has a "writer-in-residence" who runs a creative writing group. contact them, for info...

HTH

PT

I write short stories / scripts and would be interested in similar events / sessions.

I looked at the Creative Writing courses run by the Uni and I have to say that it didn't float my boat. I suppose my problem is that I want to write science fiction, horror, fantasy and thrillers.

Not exactly literature....:)

Joe

The only advice I can give is follow your instincts and DON'T do a creative writing degree.

I'm on one at the moment and it is far from what I expected.

Steer clear.

Originally posted by Pilon
The only advice I can give is follow your instincts and DON'T do a creative writing degree.

I'm on one at the moment and it is far from what I expected.

Steer clear.

May I ask what the differences are between what you expected and what you're getting?

I just want to tell stories; I don't want to do poetry, travel writing, autobiography, local history, whatever.

Just tell some stories that hopefully grab people and don't let go!

Joe

Technically, I'm on a media writing course, which is supposedly an all-round degree. On paper it sounds great - scriptwriting, prose, journalism etc., but in reality they teach you very little.

In hindsight, it makes sense that you can't teach someone to write - you can either do it or you can't.

My advice is to look in magazines such as the imaginatively titled "Writing Magazine", available from places like WH Smiths. They offer handy hints to people who like to write for a hobby.

If you are serious about writing books, whatever the genre, you need to keep sending your work off to publishers, time and time again.

As they say, prepare to be rejected countless times, but if you are determined, dedicated and have a little luck on your side, you may end up getting a break.

I'm a subscriber to "Writing Magazine" and have had a few hundred articles published over the years along with about a dozen books - technical stuff.

I've written some scripts, and done script editing on a couple of produced shorts and have had nice things said about my feature scripts. I'm now at a point where I'm seriously considering how to shift from 'hobby' to more 'serious' mode with my fiction writing.

I think you can teach technique and craft to seom degree - e.g. formatting a film script, grammar, breaking writer's block, etc. but would agree that if the creative juices ain't there you're not going to find it easy, assuming you find it possible at all to get started.

But I do believe most people have a little writing in them - it's just getting past the equivalent of the 'second album' that is hard work!

Joe

Anyone interesting in starting one up, give me and email. Writer in residence? Arrrghhhh!

Writing was one of my hobbies for many years and I must admit I wouldn't mind getting back into it.

OK...let's see if we can do something here!

I'm interested!

very interested

PT

Abbeydale Writers have a very good reputation. They meet every Tuesday night at Totley.

website (http://www.abbeydale-writers.co.uk)

Unfortunately, I live in Walkley...:)

Any centralised groups? If not, any takers for a 'Forum Fantasists' group?

Joe

If anyone wants to start up a writers group I'd be very interested. I too have looked around for a decent group but to no avail.
Keep me posted!:thumbsup:

Hi all,

Well, let's see what we can get going.

If anyone's interested then drop me a PM and I'll take on board the job of getting some sort of get together arranged where we can have a chat and see how we can progress things.

Is it fair to say we're looking to start a group for fiction writers of any experience, genre or style - short stories, novel, script, whatever - with the intention of providing criticism, support, readings, speakers, etc. to help said writers improve their works and see them in print?

Any bright ideas of where we could get together welcome - the place that immediately struck me was the Showroom or, if we could blag our way in, a room at SHU somewhere - I'm thinking along the lines of central with easy access for all.

Anyway, I'll await your interest....:)

Joe

Why dont you just hold an online conference

Well,

I just kinda like meeting people and getting away from the keyboard for a while....

But hey, whatever.

I'm just offering to kick things off.

Joe

I was thinking you might start an online community, like the free yahoo clubs or set up a forum something like phpnuke get a few people together then have regular social meetings

Not a bad idea, and phpNuke is a possibility, but a couple of people had expressed interest in r/l get togethers.

I don't honestly think you can critique people's work effectively online - just look at the sort of shouting matches that occur here! If you get together then it's easier to get a discussion going.

I'd expect any meetings to be 'working' meetings rather than social metings, though socialising would happen, natch!

Thanks for contributing, though!

Joe

Why not do both? An online site would be good for keeping people up to date on how everyone's getting on with their writing, and might be useful for tracking the progression of whatever you're working on. I agree that some form of "in person" meeting would be very useful though. I seem to remember that the central library has meeting rooms that can be hired out?

(raises hand, a little warily....)

erm...

Wherever the meeting is arranged for, it'll need to have level access....(ducks and dodges the flak that will come from certain quarters after making that "unreasonable" request)

I am looking forward to attending this meet...I love writing, and creating short stories and poems.

I am so much looking forward to hearing others' work, too.

I agree that r/l is probably better, although online *might* work, to a lesser extent, the pproblem is, you can't get the inflections and nuances of the way the person is "playing" with language and sound online, as you can when you hear it spoken out loud.

PT

Hi PT, Funkydave

Yup, accessibility was up there in my thinking! I'm popping in to teh library this Wednesday night to see what they've got, and will see if I can find a space at SHU.

I think an online approach would work in some areas, but I'd prefer to get stuff running offline first. It's easier to work 'virtually' when you've met the people you're working with.

And totally agree, PT, about nuances of langauge. Also, you can't see the other person to see whether they're snoring or smiling...:)

Cheers m'dears,

Joe

Hi Joe, Im totally up for the idea of meeting up, listening to ideas and sharing each others work. The idea of meeting up with everyone is much better than sitting in front of the pc as the face to face interaction is so much more socially rewarding.

I too love writing and have one or two peices I'd love to share with the right mix of people.
Keep me informed as Im very interested in the whole idea.

I too have had a considerable amount of work published, short stories, articles, poetry, spoof news, etc - mainly thanks to Heeley Writers Group where I was a member for a few years.

I found the interaction very rewarding. I wish you all luck with your venture. I would love to be a part of it, but would have real problems finding the time on a regular basis.

Anything online would ceratinly interest me, though.

Hiya Sam,

I'll keep you posted - I'm pretty sure that the online option will come to life pretty quickly.

Watch this space - any input or advice would be very welcome, Sam.

Cheers

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
I write short stories / scripts and would be interested in similar events / sessions.

I looked at the Creative Writing courses run by the Uni and I have to say that it didn't float my boat. I suppose my problem is that I want to write science fiction, horror, fantasy and thrillers.

Not exactly literature....:)

Joe
I love this forum so this is by no means a criticism but how on earth do you find enough time to answer so many posts! I seem to spend all my lunch hour answering/asking just a couple...!

Originally posted by drp215
I love this forum so this is by no means a criticism but how on earth do you find enough time to answer so many posts! I seem to spend all my lunch hour answering/asking just a couple...!

I have a cloning machine in the kitchen.....:)

Actually, I've always found it easy to write or type. The quality I'm not always 100% sure of, though...

And like all writers and story tellers I LOVE the sound of my own voice or the sight of my own words!

Joe

I like the idea of this writing group, if you do an online one, I'll sponsor you guys (free hosting on my company web server). I'd also be interested in coming along of course.

PS The offer also goes out to sheffield forum, I've tried to contact you guys about a banner for my company but no reply so far, maybe one of you mods will PM me and we can arrange something, we've got web servers on a 2Mb uncontended leased line with pleanty on bandwidth free for hosting.

Hi Pete,

Will bear that in mind, although I do run a small hosting operation myself for soem of my own clients, but bthanks for the offer! Will certainly keep it in mind!

Cheers,

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Hiya Sam,

I'll keep you posted - I'm pretty sure that the online option will come to life pretty quickly.

Watch this space - any input or advice would be very welcome, Sam.

Cheers

Joe

Cheers, Joe. Just a thought: I wondered if everyone was aware of the 'Soapbox' section on the Sheffield Forum?

If anyone else fancies taking on a regular column as I have, the opportunity is certainly there.

Cheers

Sam

OK joe, well if you need any extra bandwidth for your commercial hosting we could arrange a dirt cheap leased line for you.

Thanks Pete,

I'll bear that in mind.

Just to keep people posted - spent a useful hour with the writer in residence at Sheffield Librray this evening asking basic questions about kicking this sort of thing off.

I've got a few leads on central venues, some offers of wider publicity if we want it and some possible pointers towards arts council funding. Anyway, more to follow.

Joe