TnT: writing circles.

[azuire]

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I've just moved to a new place and there's a local writing group recruiting.

Now, I know they say writing is a solitary art and most of us have taken to the internet to share our work (case in point: this community), but I've never been part of a group that meets up every week or so to discuss writing, and I've rarely met another writer in person. I have to admit I'm curious.

What do you think of these writing circles? Any stories to share?

Comments

[cariadwen]

One time, when I was going to a professional creative writing class and the tutor told us we couldn't write stories about ponies because it was too middle class and unfair on poorer people.

I told her that the village I came from had more horse ownership than indoor plumbing. And that travellors (gypsies) when rehoused in high rise flats in Ireland kept their horses on the grass outside. And what was wrong with writing for the middle class or children who'd love to have a pony if only they could afford one?

Not that I wanted to write stories about horses, I just didn't like being told I couldn't.

She also told her we shouldn't write stories about pigs because it might offend Moslems. I left it to a very intelligent Moslem and a Jewess to argue against that one.

I liked her though, she did have some good encouraging advice and her poetry was wonderful.

Another creative writing class, this time held by my local library and free, had a well known SF, and Fortunean Times writer, known as the Rollerskating Reverend. He encouraged us to write Occult and Sf stories. He used to boom so loudly (much like Brian Blessed) that we were removed from the downstairs room we had in the main part of the library as it was disturbing the readers. :) Then the library had our stories illustrated in woodcuts and vanity printed. Then presented by the Mayor of Cardiff at a posh ceremony on St David's day. Only problem was that the vanity printers had left out half the stories including mine while including the illustrations. We didn't find out until we opened our copies at the ceremony.