About us
Welcome! We're a fiction writing group of like-minded individuals gathering for writing confidence, advice and support.
Our community is here to give fiction writers a place to meet other writers, hear what others are writing and improve your own skills. If you could use some practical advice on developing your storytelling skills, our workshops and events will give you more confidence about being a fiction writer.
See a full list of what's on: https://www.meetup.com/londonwriterscafe/events/
Read on for more about us and how we roll.
We have members who write from all levels, abilities and genres and we aren't at all snobbish about 'worthiness' or literary merit. All we care about is if the story is well told or if it needs more work. We have writers working on stories for adults, young adults and children.
Our group was founded in June 2006 in a lovely pub near Liverpool Street with only a few members and now we're a bustling community of 4,400 so we must be doing something right! Most of us are in the process of writing fiction (novels, short stories and scripts) at every stage, but it doesn't matter if you've been writing for years, or mere months, we're here for every kind of fiction writer and we'd love to meet you.
On that, we don't believe in groups where everyone is forced to share/contribute/offer feedback *shudder* so we'll never pressure anyone to read before they're ready.
Read more about what makes a quality writing group.
That's all for now. We hope to meet you very soon and happy writing!
Lisa x
Email: londonwriterscafe{@}gmail.com
Follow what's on via Eventbrite.
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Socialise with us via London Writers' Cafe
Instagram: @LondonWritersCafe
X: @LDNWritersCafe
LinkedIn: @ldn-writers-cafe
Upcoming events
6
- £15.00
Fiction Feedback Workshop
The Sutton Arms, EC1, 6 Carthusian St, Barbican, London EC1M 6EB, London, GBWriters, learn more about writing fiction well through our constructive feedback, comradery and lively discussion. You'll be amazed at what you can learn by listening, and sharing your own words once you feel ready. No pressure.
In our regular feedback workshops, we have three writers sharing a sample of their writing for immediate feedback, advice and encouragement. Critique is led and moderated by your host Lisa Goll.
Listening to the writing of others and the feedback their piece receives on the night is how we learn. We've been running these sessions since 2010 and there's a reason they fill up so fast! Usually, our workshops are limited to a group of 15 writers in total. Three reading; the rest listening, commenting and giving feedback.
For people reading, pieces must be 3,500 words or less as you'll have about 45mins for reading and discussion on your excerpt from around the table. Most people bring 3,500 words from their novel or a short story of all genres and styles. If you'd like to read, please post a comment below. You must have booked your place before making a request to read.
If you are reading, please bring enough printed copies (at least 10) of your pages so members can make additional feedback/editing notes for you during the reading. All copies will be returned to you after the feedback has concluded.
New members are always welcome in these groups. Most people come along to a few sessions before offering feedback, commenting or requesting to read but it's up to you. If you want to read right away, great, but if you want to come along and see how we roll first, that makes sense too. Again, you'll be surprised by how much you can learn from others by listening to the pieces and their feedback.
After the workshop, most of us head to the bar for a social drink or two and extended conversation about the highs and woes of writing.
TICKETS: £15.00 and please follow the steps to pay via PayPal when you RSVP. Ticket price pays for workshop fees, planning, hosting and organising which involve time and effort. A community of 4,500+ writers takes time to manage.
PLEASE NOTE: Refunds or credits will only be provided if the workshop is cancelled by us. We cannot offer refunds or credit for another session if you decide not to attend on the day. Please change your RSVP if you no longer plan to attend. We often have people on the waiting list and we'd hate for others to miss out.
Location: The Sutton Arms EC1, 6 Carthusian St, Barbican, London EC1M 6EB. Closest stations are Barbican, Farringdon and Moorgate.
Use the official Meetup app to update your RSVPs, check what's on and last-minute notifications about our events as they happen to your phone. Download it now.
These workshops are hosted by me - Lisa Goll, Boss Lady at London Writers' Cafe - I'm a publishing professional with more than twenty years of working within the publishing industry. Added to that, I've been leading LWC workshops for writers since 2010 too. See more about me on LinkedIn or Insta me @LisasShare @LondonWritersCafe
Question? Post a comment below.
11 attendees - £15.00
Fiction Feedback Workshop
The Artillery Arms, 102 Bunhill Row, London, GBA special Saturday afternoon workshop session from 3pm for those who find weekday evenings challenging.
In our regular feedback workshops, we have three writers sharing a sample of their writing for constructive critique, advice and encouragement. Critique is always constructive and moderated by your host.
You learn more by listening to the writing of others and the feedback their piece receives on the night than you can imagine. We've been running these sessions since 2010 and there's a reason they fill up so fast!
For people reading, pieces must be 3,500 words or less as you'll have about 45mins for reading and discussion on your excerpt from around the table. Most people bring 3,500 words from their novel or a short story of all genres and styles.
If you'd like to read, please post a comment below. Please don't ask to read until you have booked your ticket to attend.
If you are reading, please bring enough printed copies (at least 10) of your pages so members can make additional feedback/editing notes for you during the reading. All copies will be returned to you after the feedback has concluded.
New members are always welcome in these groups. Most people come along to a few sessions before offering feedback, commenting or requesting to read but it's up to you. If you want to read right away, great, but if you want to come along and see how we roll first, that makes sense too. Again, you'll be surprised by how much you can learn from others by listening to the pieces and their feedback.
TICKETS: £15.00 and please follow the steps to pay via PayPal when you RSVP. Ticket price pays for venue fees, planning, hosting and organising which involve time and effort. A community of 4,500+ writers takes time to manage.
PLEASE NOTE: Refunds or credits will only be provided if the workshop is cancelled by us. We cannot offer refunds or credit for another session if you decide not to attend. Please change your RSVP if you can't be there. We often have people on the waiting list and we'd hate for others to miss out.Location: The Artillery Arms, 102 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8ND. Grab a drink and find us in the private room upstairs. Closest stations are Old Street and Barbican.
Try the official Meetup app to receive last-minute updates and notifications about our events as they happen to your phone. Download it now.
These workshops are hosted by me, Lisa Goll, Boss Lady at London Writers' Cafe. I'm a publishing professional with more than twenty years of working within the publishing industry. Since 2010 I've been programming and hosting LWC workshops for fiction writers. See more about me on LinkedIn or Insta me @LisasShare @LondonWritersCafe
Question? Post a comment below.
3 attendees - £10.00
Crime Publishing Q&A with Karen Sullivan of Orenda Books
·OnlineOnlineA lot of writers are working on crime novels and so I've invited Karen Sullivan, Founder & Publisher at Orenda Books to join us for a conversation about crime publishing. Orenda Books is a small independent publisher based in South London. See what they publish at orendabooks.co.uk
Grab your favourite drink and login on Wed, July 8th as we ask Karen everything we writers need to know about this mysterious, thrilling and ever satisfying genre right now. What makes a crime novel unmissable? How do writers need to think about positioning their story in such a busy space? What do crime readers want above all else? So many questions.
We'll start at 7pm and be online until 9pm at the latest.If you need some crime writing inspiration watch this genius reel from @ElleCordova where an essay has been murdered.
I'll open things by talking to Karen for the first 30mins and then open up to all guests to ask her anything they want about crime writing, crafting and publishing. See Karen's bio below for more information about her experience and expertise.
Location: This event will be held online to keep it affordable and make it accessible to all writers in our community. I use Google Meet to host our events online. You will be able to see the link to join once you've booked your ticket.
Cost: £10.00 to pay for content, preparation and event organising. Please follow the steps to pay via PayPal when you RSVP. Refunds or credits will only be offered if the meetup is cancelled by admin. Please change your RSVP to 'Not Going' if you can no longer attend as we often have people waiting and we'd hate for them to miss out. Download the Meetup app to manage your RSVPs quickly.
About Karen Sullivan, Founder & Publisher of Orenda Books.
Karen Sullivan was born in Canada, and moved to the UK at the age of twenty-one, ostensibly to travel around Europe. Unexpectedly landing her dream job in publishing, she settled in London and hasn’t looked back. After a few years working for an independent, starting as PA to the editorial director and eventually becoming commissioning editor, she left to raise her young family, working as a freelance editor and author of a wide range of non-fiction titles – predominantly relating to children’s health and wellbeing – and appearing on TV and radio. She returned to the ‘other side’ of publishing in 2013, taking on the role of managing editor for a small independent. This – and her own experience as an author – was the catalyst for founding Orenda Books, where author care and high-quality, culturally diverse, bold and original writing are paramount. Karen lives in London with her partner and two of her three sons, and remains a voracious reader and a passionate supporter of the book community. You can find Karen on Twitter @OrendaBooks.About Orenda Books
Orenda Books is a small independent publisher based in South London. We publish literary fiction, with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers, and roughly half the list is in translation. We currently publish authors from fifteen different nations … and counting.
Orenda Books was founded by publisher Karen Sullivan in 2014, and our first books were published in 2015. In 2016, Karen was a Bookseller Rising Star, and Orenda Books was shortlisted for the IPG Nick Robinson Newcomer Award in 2015 and 2016. We won the CWA Crime & Mystery Publisher of the Year Dagger in 2020 and 2025, and were a regional finalist for the Small Press of the Year Award in the British Book Awards in 2021 and 2024. Orenda is a Canadian First Nations word, which loosely translates to ‘the mystical power that drives human accomplishment’, and its provenance is a part of Ontario, Canada, where Karen has spent every summer of her life.Any questions, please ask. If you have a question you want me to ask Karen on your behalf, please post it in a comment below.
2 attendees
Past events
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