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First meetup of 2009

Jan 19
Mon 7:30 PM
Location
Shooting Star pub

125 Middlesex Street
Next to Catherine Wheel Alley
London E1 7JF

This is a private home or office

How to find us
"We'll be in the downstairs function room"

Estimated attendance
 27  people attended.
5.00 5.0013

Who organized?
Ben

Price

GBP2.00 per person
refund policy

The new meetings will have a slightly different format to the old ones.

First, there will be time-slots that people can use either to get feedback on a short piece of writing, or to describe a challenge they are facing (plot difficulties, etc) and get suggestions on that. From the poll, there is equal interest in both.

Second, there will be no set themes for the readings. I see the primary aim of the group as helping people with their existing work, so priority will be given to those who want feedback on a live project they are working on. Although I'll post a suggested theme each month, this is only for those who are not working on something of their own, and those readings will take a lower priority (ie. we'll come onto them if we have time).

The suggested theme, as befits a new year, is 'new beginnings'. But please, if you are working on something of your own, bring that instead.

The format will be time slots of 15 minutes, which are yours to use as you please. For example, you could do a 5-minute reading and have time for 10 minutes of feedback, or present a plot problem in 2 minutes and have 13 minutes of suggestions. It's entirely up to you, but remember that the more of your time you spend talking, the less time there is left for feedback and input!

The group will run for 2.5 hours, which will allow 10 time-slots. If more than 10 people request a slot, priority is given to those who want input on their own work. If there are more than 10 of those, names will be picked out of a hat (metaphorically speaking; I don't actually own a hat ...).

Payment by Paypal must be made when you RSVP. Funds are used for meetup fees, with any balance going into a pool to buy drinks for the assistant organisers.

This first meeting will run from 7.30-10pm to allow time for the volunteer co-organisers to meet beforehand; future meetings will run from 7-9.30pm.

The Shooting Star is less than 5 mins walk from Liverpool Street station, on the central Line:
http://www.pubandbar-...
Take the Bishopsgate exit from the main rail concourse, cross the road, turn left and Catherine Wheel Alley is 2nd right. The pub is about 100 metres down on the right-hand side, and we meet in the function room downstairs

Photos of this Meetup

No photos yet.

Talk about this Meetup

  • Ben
    Posted Jan 20, 2009 11:26 AM
    Ben
    Organizer
    Andrea, I've picked up your comments on the message board: http://www.meetup.com/londo...
  • Ben
    Posted Jan 20, 2009 11:18 AM
    Ben
    Organizer
    I really loved the way people were both honest and constructive in their feedback, and the way those receiving feedback were open to it. The debates were interesting, and the feedback I got on my plot issue was excellent.
  • Vanessa
    Posted Jan 20, 2009 10:50 AM
    Vanessa
    It was a great session, warm, polite and fun! I learned a lot from attendee's advice. Thanks Ben and to all of you who were present!

Who attended?

  • 27 attendees
    • “ It is a great forum for writers. Several people read from their work and the comments from the group were constructive and interesting. Most enjoyable. ”
    • “ I really enjoyed our group last night. The people were friendly and everyone gave honest, thoughtful feedback even if sometimes group members disagreed. The people who attended came from a variety of backgrounds and were interested in all sorts of writing. I read a short story and the comments I received helped me hone in on some of the change I need to make in order to produce a better piece of writing. There were only 4 readers but I felt like we all got a good chance to address each piece of writing and give it the necessary thought and attention. I'm wondering if having 7-8 readers in the future would be too many. As a listener it would be tiring and the feedback would be less succinct as the night went on. Perhaps 5 slots should be the maximum and people can feel free to bring shorter pieces that can be read out if there is more time at the end. Just a thought... ”
    • “ It was great to see the meetings start up again. Here's hoping it will continue! ”
    • “ great feedback. honest no hanging about - straight down to business ”
    • Ben

Your organizer's refund policy for First meetup of 2009

Refunds offered if:

  • the Meetup is cancelled
  • the Meetup is rescheduled

Payments you make go to the organizer, not to Meetup. You must make refund requests to the organizer.

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