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AS OF DECEMBER 2009, THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED

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Regular Events

The 'Literary Forum' holds regular meetings at Stoke Film Theatre - it's a gathering for writers in Stoke-on-Trent.Ìý
See http://www.ameetingofminds.co.uk/

The City Voices writers' group has its annual Festival of Words and MusicÌýat the Leopard Hotel in Burslem, in Stoke on Trent in May.
Website is: http://cityvoices.co.uk/

The Keele Writing Shoestring Festival - a mini-festival to celebrate and encourage creative writing - takes place in May. For more information see:
www.keele.ac.uk/depts/en/pgrad/mawriting/shoestring_festival.html

"Stoke City Libraries Writers' Weekend" takes place at Wedgwood Memorial College every December.
SeeÌý www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/libraries/ - and click on "Writers Weekend"

(Know of other writing/literary events in Staffordshire? Let us know too by using the messageboard at the bottom of this page)

• Competitions

Although computers and the Internet have made it much easier for budding writers to print and publish their work, it is still true that having a positive feedbackÌýmakes writing sharper.
Which is why many writers enter competitions.Ìý Local big ones include the Keele University / Three Counties Short Story Competition.

(Know of another local competition for writers? Let us know too - by using the messageboard at the bottom of this page)

• Local Publishing

Just fancy getting published?

Patrick Robotham is letting budding writers from the Midlands showcase their short-stories on his website.
The retired university professor who currently lives near Uttoxeter, having worked and lived for 30 years in Burton, Stoke, and Wolverhampton had difficulties in getting his own work published at first.
He says: “There are a lot of exceptional writers who haven’t been published. I’m hoping to create a short story writers’ community, with people contributing to it on a regular basis."
See his site, 'Tales from the Middle' at www.tftm.org.uk

(Know of another free way to get published? Let us know too by using the messageboard at the bottom of this page)

• Writers' Groups

But if you simply want to practice your writing, or chat to fellow putative authors, there are a number of activities across the region that could get your creative juices flowing...

Den Cartlidge told us about the Leek Writers Group: "...an informal and friendly local society dedicated to promoting writing and writers in North Staffordshire. The group meets in The Swan Pub in Leek on the first Monday of every month with proceedings kicking off at 7pm. Contact me via email on - den.cartlidge@hotmail.co.uk or follow the link off the Leek Online website."

The 'Stoke on Writing' Group now has its own website. See:ÌýÌý
http://stokeonwriting.blogspot.com

And' Writers Inc' also meet at Hanley Library - the Library staff (on
01782 238455) can give you more about its meetings etc

'Burton Monday Writers' meet at Burton Library between 1.30pm and 3.30pm every week. They’ve been around for eight years now and a lot of their members are now successfully published authors. Check them out at www.burtonmondaywriters.co.uk

Mid Cheshire have a writers group called The Vale Royal Writers. Visit their blog at www.vrwg.blogspot.com for more information.

Tamworth Writers meet every week, and also publish an anthologyÌý -ÌýÌý http://members.tripod.co.uk/TamworthWriters

'Room in the Roof Writers' are based at the Burslem School of Art in Stoke on Trent.Ìý They have been established for five years and meet every week.
Details available from the School of Art.

Lichfield & District WritersÌý-Ìý http://members.tripod.co.uk/sooty_3/index.htm

City Voices is a writer's forum based in The City Library, Hanley meeting bi-weekly. The group is both informal and very friendly, with the ages of the members ranging from 13 to 80-plus.ÌýÌý They also organise Stoke on Trent's 'Festival of Words and Music' in May.
Web: http://cityvoices.co.uk/

The Potteries Writers' Workshop, a self-help group of local writers, welcomes all interested in improving writing skills and has been meeting for several years on Friday afternoons (term-time) 1pm - 3pm, at Hanley Library.

The Rising Brook Writers group is a voluntary charitable trust active in Stafford providing creative opportunities for the Over-50s. The nationally renowned poet, Ian McMillan, recently became the Writers’ first Patron.Ìý
RBW offers free weekly writing workshops, free online workshops and free community workshops.
RBW also publishes anthologies - poetry collections - as well as audio tracks for download and radio broadcast. RBW's current audio tracks have been donated to the Talking Newspaper for the Blind, national prison radio and Hospital Radio Stafford & Cannock. All Over 50s welcomed.
Website:Ìý www.risingbrookwriters.btik.com

For Stoke on Trent, the excellent 'Creative Stoke' website has literally hundreds of links. See http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/write.html

If you want to see if there’s a group closer to you, have a look at the Penguin Writers website on http://readers.penguin.co.uk and follow the links.

(Know of another Staffordshire-based writers' group? Spotted anything that needs updating? Let us know too by using the messageboard at the bottom of this page)

• Reading groups

The 'West Midlands Readers' Network' helps people to find a local book club or readers' group. See -
http://www.westmidlandsreaders.org/contact

Among the many book clubs listed is the 'Birthplace Book Club' whichÌý meets every month at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum in Lichfield, and is open to all. Email:sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk

(Know of another Staffordshire-based reading group?Ìý Spotted anything that needs updating? Let us know too by using the messageboard at the bottom of this page)

• Voluntary work

There is plenty of work for volunteer readers and writers.

One such is the charity called Volunteer Reading Help. They are looking to recruit more volunteers to help children in local schools with their reading, plus playing games and chatting. Reading helpers go into schools twice a week,one and a half hours each session, working with three children for half an hour each.
Full training is provided, CRB checks and refs taken. Tel 0845 450 0341 for more information or visit website www.vrh.org.uk.

(Know of another Staffordshire-based reading voluntary organisation? Let us know too by using the messageboard at the bottom of this page)

Spread the word.