What we’re about
This is a group for anyone interested in writing and meeting other writers in the Caversham and wider Berkshire area. For our online meetings, we also welcome members globally.
We were founded in 2018 by Canadian author Crystal Bourque with an ethos that we still maintain today: "If you write, you're a writer."
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We've always been free to join and free to attend. To help keep it that way, please consider Buying Me A Coffee, all donations go towards the running of the group.
All skill levels are welcome - published or unpublished, aspiring authors or enthusiastic hobbyists. We have members that write in all genres, so whether you write fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, fantasy or reality, you will fit right in.
We currently hold meetings in 4 different formats:
> Writing Meetings. In which we'll either work on (or start) any writing project of our own choosing, or we'll set a theme or prompt for all to use as a starting point.
> Feedback Meetings. In which we'll provide feedback on excerpts of members work, either submitted in advance or read out to the group on the night. Feedback should be constructive, encouraging, and tailored to the author's directed instruction.
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> Author Events. In which published authors come along to talk to the group. We have a Q & A with them about their writing process and path to publication.
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> Writes & Bites. In which we meet for a social evening, usually at a local restaurant. No writing involved in these events, they are an opportunity to get to know each other better and, of course, to discuss all things writing.
> We also have occasional one off special events, such as literary festival talks, book signings, launch parties.
Upcoming events
4
•OnlinePrompt-Write Night (online event)
OnlineFeeling stuck? Unblock yourself in this writing session where I set a prompt or theme for members to use as a jumping off point for an hour of writing. You can use it to write fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose.
NOTE: When joining the Zoom session, please ensure you are using the same name as in your Meetup profile. You will not be admitted into the Zoom meeting if your name isn't on the Meetup attendee list.
What to expect: We'll start off the meeting with introductions and a bit of a chat (which usually runs to about 30 minutes). I will then introduce a writing prompt for us all to follow, a jumping off point to act as a guide for the writing session. What you do with it, where you go with it, is entirely up to you! We'll write for about an hour, after which we can talk about where our writing took us and maybe share some of what we produced.
No pressure, though - only share whatever you feel comfortable with. (We do have a more formal feedback meeting that you can submit pieces to for review - check our upcoming events for more details.)
**Don't forget to subscribe to our Caversham Writers newsletter! A weekly round up of our events, discussions, member news and more straight to your inbox every Friday.
18 attendees
Writing Feedback Meetup - In Person
Fourbears Books, 20 Prospect Street, Reading, GBThis is our more formal feedback event in which 2 members get the chance to have their work critiqued by the group. Please contact me directly if you'd like to submit something for feedback.
Submissions to me by Friday 14 November.
Please give yourself enough time to read the pieces before the event (I'll send a link to attendees to access them on Sunday 16th.)Our Feedback Meetings give you the chance to share your work with other writers. All genres welcome. Members are also welcome to attend just to provide feedback.
- The word limit is 3,000, although no one will begrudge you a token few more if they're needed to complete your article/chapter/short story.
Please indicate what feedback you'd like. This could be specific, such as comments on the plot or use of language, or general such as whether or not people feel it needs more work.
What to expect on the night:
- Each piece of writing will be given 1 hour for feedback.
- Attendees should have read the pieces in advance so as to give maximum time for discussion and review.
IMPORTANT: Feedback must be constructive. Members' work is confidential. By clicking to attend this meeting you are agreeing that you will not share others' work outside the group.
**Don't forget to subscribe to our Caversham Writers newsletter! A weekly round up of our events, discussions, member news and more straight to your inbox every Friday.
8 attendees
•OnlineWrite Night: Your Work in Progress (Online event)
OnlineThis writing session is a chance for you to work on (or start) a project of your own. It's your space and time to use as you wish. You don't have to be in Caversham, or even the UK, to join us online.
NOTE: When joining the Zoom session, please ensure you are using the same name as in your Meetup profile. You will not be admitted into the Zoom meeting if your name isn't on the Meetup attendee list.
In these online writing events we follow the format of our regular writing meetups (see below). To do so, I will end the Zoom component of the meeting after 20 to 30 minutes so that we can all write for an hour without the feeling of being spied upon through our webcams! I will then restart the Zoom meeting and you will be able to re-join using the same link.
What to expect: We'll start off the meeting with introductions and a bit of a chat (which usually runs to about 30 minutes).
In this meeting, we do not set writing exercises or suggest themes - attendees are free to work on (or start) any writing project of their choice.We'll write for about an hour, after which we can talk about where our writing took us and maybe share some of what we produced. No pressure, though - only share whatever you feel comfortable with.
(We do have a more formal feedback meeting that you can submit pieces to for review - check our upcoming events for more details.)**Don't forget to subscribe to our Caversham Writers newsletter! A weekly round up of our events, discussions, member news and more straight to your inbox every Friday.
10 attendees
Writes & Bites Xmas special - an in person social event!
Quattro Italian Restaurant, 14 Prospect Street, Reading, GBThis is our regular social event for members to meet and chat over a meal at a local Caversham/Reading restaurant. This month we return to a Caversham institution for our Christmas meal: Quattro
We'll typically talk about all things writing, so feel free to raise any questions you might have about your own, or each other's, writing projects.
To better manage the reservation with the restaurant, numbers are limited for this event so a waitlist may be in force. If you sign up but later realise you cannot make it, please ensure you change your RSVP status to 'not going' so that other members can be moved up from the waitlist. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the group. Thank you.
There is no agenda for this meeting - no laptops, pens or paper required. It is just a chance for us to get to know each other a little better, to meet new members, or to get reacquainted with those we haven't seen in a while.
Members are responsible for their own food and drink.
**Don't forget to subscribe to our Caversham Writers newsletter! A weekly round up of our events, discussions, member news and more straight to your inbox every Friday.
10 attendees
Past events
339
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