Book Writing

In these regular writing 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. 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! Usually, we have a group of up to 20 writers attending. 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 joys and woes of writing. **TICKETS:** £18.00 and please follow the steps to pay via PayPal when you RSVP. Williamson's have raised their hire fees and so ticket prices have to reflect that additional spend. It's also my role to organise and lead these sessions so ticket price incorporates my labour in hosting these sessions for you. Thanks for understanding. PLEASE NOTE: Refunds or credits will only be provided if the meetup 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 Three Tuns,** 36 Jewry St, Aldgate, London EC3N 2ET. Closest stations are Aldgate, Aldgate East and Tower Hill. Try the official Meetup app to receive last-minute updates and notifications about our events as they happen to your phone. [Download it now](https://www.meetup.com/apps/). 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 feedback workshops for fiction writers since 2010 too. See more about [me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagoll/) or Insta me @LisasShare @LondonWritersCafe Question? Post a comment below.

A relaxed London book club exploring the most influential book in history. Whether you think it’s rubbish, holy, or you’re simply not sure what to make of it, you’re very welcome. We meet for two hours at a time. Our reading list includes books from the Bible — as well as some of the books that didn’t make it into most Bibles. The Bible has shaped culture, law, art and ethics for centuries, yet many people are personally unfamiliar with it. Each evening is structured but informal. The group chooses the book or books to read, and discussion takes place in small groups. No lectures. No pressure. No need to prepare anything in advance. The aim is thoughtful, respectful conversation. Plenty of people feel they know quite a bit about the Bible, yet struggle to read it. This is a space to explore it thoughtfully and honestly — in good company. This club is for: • Curious thinkers • Skeptics • Christians with questions • Anyone who wants to make up their own mind Our only rules? Be curious. Be honest. Be kind. And enjoy yourself. It’s also a chance to find a bit of community along the way. Photos may be taken during the evening to share on the Meetup page or social media to help others see what the group is like. If you prefer not to appear in photos, just let the organiser know at any time. We meet in a private room on the second floor of the Duke of Sussex pub. When you arrive, get yourself a drink, ask for The Book Club, and come on up.

WELCOME! We’re a supportive community, and I’m here to organise this Meetup space. I’m looking foreword to seeing it grow and become a regular place for people to get-together. I also invite likemindeded people with shared interests from society. I hope this develops into a fully fledged, shared, literacy lounging experience. INTRODUCTION Join us for some focused coworking writing or reading time. All experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing and reading done and meeting other literacy enthusiasts in the area. EARLY ARRIVALS around 6:30pm When you show up, the group will be located in the large room next to the fireplace. Take a seat and settle in and spend some time to chat with your fellow writers before the start of the session if you like. START OF SESSION around 6:45pm I’ll set timers for our no-talking and focused writing sessions (write, break, write, end). END OF SESSION around 8:30pm Afterward, there’s time to hang out, and many people stay for over an hour. Perhaps to chat and get to know each other. Everyone tends to talk about their successes and challenges as writers/readers or similar interesting topics. If we don’t have time to stick around, no worries! We’re here every week anyway!! FORMAT A note about the format: We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers andd readers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft. VENUE Sandwiched lovingly between Crouch Hill and Stroud Green, the Stapleton Tavern is a warm, welcoming, quirky pub fit for a vibrant community. home to a truly bizarre collection of ornaments, they serve a wide variety of tasty food and drink from all over the world. LOCATION & TRAVEL Located in the junction of Stroud Green Road and Stapleton hall, 10 minutes walk from the Finsbury Park Underground station and 2 minutes from Crouch Hill station on the Suffragette line. INTERNET Name: Stapleton Guest Password: StapletonTavern For our full event schedule\, visit \[https://shutupwrite\.com\]\(https://shutupwrite\.com\)

**The Talbot Room at the George Inn** The George provides the room free of charge (they are awesome), and we encourage you to purchase drinks (and food – the burgers are great!). As it’s a pub and not a picnic area, please don’t consume your own food and drink there. We usually meet in the Talbot room which is on the top floor on the left hand side of the pub as viewed from the courtyard. If lost please send a message here shortly before the meeting starts. **We are sorry to say that there is no step-free access to the Talbot room, and it is at the end of three flights of stairs.** **Format** We start at 7pm and run until 9pm. We hear approximately six readings of 10 minutes (\~2000 words), then discuss the piece for 10 minutes. Email your work to: london60transmitter@emailitin.com as an attachment (It must be an attachment). A link for access to googledocs will be given at the start of each session to enable people to read along, which in turn enables more considered feedback. Work submitted will be automatically deleted after 10 days. We decide on readers/pieces at the beginning of each session. **Safe and respectful space** The group is run by volunteers, and we don’t have the capacity to read submitted work in advance. If there is anything in your work that might distress or disturb some readers, for example concerning any kind of abuse, please give a trigger warning before you read. Be specific and concise. If it becomes apparent during a reading that a piece is inappropriate, the moderator will stop the reading. In discussing others’ work, please be mindful of how you express yourself and do not use discriminatory language, even if such language features in the piece.

When I went freelance, I wanted someone I trusted to tell me exactly how they’d done it. I didn’t want vague blogs. So that’s what I’m doing. I'm **[Isabel Woodford](https://www.isabelwoodford.com);** a former Reuters reporter, and now freelancer - featured in The Atlantic, The FT, The Times, The Guardian, The Observer, and more. Join me for my in-person, freelancing [Masterclass](https://www.tixtree.com/e/how-to-crack-freelance-journalism-the-finances-with-isabel-woodford-a5a3da7dc7fd) (RSVP here to gurantee your spot). This is targeted at journalists thinking about going solo, or those who've recently made the jump. If you've ever wondered how your peers got their bylines, what they earn ($), and how they've built their careers outside of a newsroom, this is for you. **WHAT TO EXPECT** Join me for a candid, off-the-record discussion on tackling freelance life. I'll be sharing a practical framework for how to build a successful career, as well as discussing the raw truths about tackling the industry. That includes money chat! This is intentionally not another webinar; it's an in-person event to meet real people, and to be part of a live conversation. *Special guests: I'll be joined by top commissioning editors, with experience at the Boston Globe, New Scientist, and Bloomberg.* We'll be discussing: * The 'open secret' of freelance journalism * Building a financial roadmap * How to pitch (and land) major publications * How to think long-term \*\* --- **EVENT DETAILS** **Schedule**: Doors open at 7pm, and final entry will be at 7.15pm - just before the fireside chat begins. We'll be wrapped up by 8.30pm. Spaces are extremely limited. Please note, there is unfortunately no wheelchair access to the venue. **We can't wait to see you!** For any questions, contact: **[isabel@lfjcollective.org](mailto:isabel@lfjcollective.org)**

Detective Inspector Tom Thorne now knows that three murdered young women were a killer's mistakes -- and that Alison was his triumph. And unless Thorne can enter the mind of a brilliant madman -- a frighteningly elusive fiend who enjoys toying with the police as much as he savors his sick obsession -- Alison Willetts will not be the last victim consigned forever to a hideous waking hell. Already an international bestseller, Mark Billingham's "Sleepyhead" is a chilling masterwork of crime fiction -- a boldly original experiment in terror that will beget dark dreams and sleepless nights.

Please join us for an evening of all things Umbraco - the latest news, community chat, and a talk or two! For 2026, we will be running both in-person and virtual meetups, alternating every month. For those who can't join in person, virtual attendance is available too, so you can join us no matter where you are! This month, we have **Mike Masey** giving you a sneak peak of his Umbraco Spark talk where he uses Claude Code and SPECKL to create a web accessible tool for a brand contrast colour checker, and **Justin Neville** will be giving a demo of the new Umbraco AI integrations. There will also be food, drinks and some friendly socialising. What's not to like? 😄 Whether you are an Umbraco novice or a seasoned developer, this is your chance to meet like-minded people to talk about our favourite friendly CMS! No matter what your role is there will be something to learn and your chance to meet other members of the Umbraco community from Kent and the surrounding areas. Venue The meetup will be at Dragon Coworking in Rochester (7-8 New Road Avenue, St George's Hotel, Rochester, ME4 6BB), a short walk from Chatham train station and with free on-site parking. If you wish to use the car park, please access via Gundulph Road, Rochester, ME4 4ED. You can then use the steps between buildings to access the entrance. If the car park is full there is on road parking available, but please check the parking restrictions. On arrival, please make your way to St George's Hotel reception (where you access Dragon Coworking) and one of the organisers will come and collect you. **Please note: Do not bring bananas, nuts or pineapple into the coworking space as there are members with allergies.**

Join our Zoom for under-represented writers who want more time to write, feedback on their work, and tips on developing their craft. Join via the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LJm04h5_QDSEZAfOol55SQ The Writers’ Corner is a peer support community for under-represented writers, with bi-monthly meet-ups both online and in-person. Join us if you want more time and space to write, get feedback on your work or to develop your craft. We welcome all writers who tend to get overlooked by the publishing industry, or struggle to afford the costs of other writing courses and groups. We’ll let you self define, but we particularly welcome writers of colour, those from the LGBTQ+ community, disabled writers, unpaid carers, low income writers and anyone who self-defines as a woman. While we have done our best to pick venues that are accessible to all, if you have any specific access requirements please send us a message so we can discuss how we can meet your needs. That includes anyone feeling anxious about attending a group for the first time (very happy for you to come a bit early, before everyone else, if that helps). While we are establishing the group we will be deciding week-by-week how each session will be structured. This will be led by the group. Once we are more established we will have a structured programme of events that you can chose to take part in.

Join us in the Islington Black Cultural Centre for an evening dedicated to the legacy of Yaa Gyasi’s **Homegoing**. ​*Homegoing* is a sprawling, multi-generational story of heritage, loss, and the invisible threads that tie us to our ancestors. It begins with two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, born into different villages in 18th-century Ghana. The novel follows their descendants through eight generations, tracing the ripples of history from the Gold Coast to twentieth-century America. ​**All are welcome.** Whether you are on the final page, just starting out, or haven't picked it up yet, please join us. We are gathering to discuss the themes and the weight of the stories we carry, regardless of your progress in the text. ​**What to expect at The Lit Lounge:** * ​**Guided Discussion:** A focused yet unfiltered conversation examining the cultural layers and the craft within the story. * ​**Delicious Food:** Your ticket includes a personal food box filled with a selection of light, delicious bites. * ​**Welcoming, Chilled Atmosphere:** A relaxed environment styled to mirror the themes of the book. * ​**Shared Connection:** A space designed for meaningful interaction with others, valuing depth and collective perspective. **Ticketing & Sustainability** Cost: £10 Written In Colour is a grassroots, self-funded project. All funds from ticket sales go directly toward the operational costs of the book club and the development of future events. It is important to us that these conversations remain accessible. If you would like to attend but the ticket price is currently a barrier, please reach out to us directly so we can ensure you are able to join the group. Booking your spot: To secure your food box and entry, please purchase your ticket via the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982618960682?aff=oddtdtcreator

Get your kids book written! This is an un-hosted meetup for anyone who wants to come and write for a couple of hours in the company of other kids writers. It's a great way to move your project forward in a lovely arty atmosphere. The only rules are to say hello to other writers and leave them to work until 8:30 when you are free to have a chat. If you're by yourself, don't worry. You'll get two hours of writing closer to your goal. Enjoy and Write Write Write!

A chance just to work in company on your writing, be it a book, blog, screenplay, dissertation, poem, song, coursework, memoir, play, journal, travel writing or work stuff. Newcomers always welcome. No one will see what you're writing or give you unsolicited advice. WE FILL THE ROOM, so you MUST SIGN UP below AND ARRIVE BY 11.40 at the latest, or we can’t guarantee you a seat. And if you can't make it CHANGE YOUR RSVP to "not going" ASAP to give someone else a chance, thanks. WHERE? FIFTH FLOOR CAFÉ, Floor 5, Waterstones, 203-206 Piccadilly, W1J 9LE TIMINGS:- 11.00 - Café starts serving 11:30 - Host of the day will be there. Say hello, especially if you’re new. 11.40 - Brief introductions for everybody - your name and what you’re working on 11:45 - Timer starts: write for 45 minutes 12:30 – Break, chat to your neighbours if you like 12:45 - Timer starts: write for 45 minutes 13:30 - The End…feel free to stay and keep writing or chat some more. Bring whatever you need to be able to write. It’s a café, there’s some noise so earbuds/headphones/earplugs are handy. There’s very few mains sockets so charged-up laptops are a good idea too. And please remember everybody, thank our venue by buying a drink or food, and don’t consume anything from outside while you're here. IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 11.45 - everyone will be quiet and writing. If there's no spare places ASK THE CAFE STAFF, they may be able to seat you in the adjacent restaurant section (without having to buy food). If not then there's sofas on the sales floors below as well as one cafe at the back of the ground floor and another in the basement. The hosts won't have any other alternatives to offer you. Please feel free to join us for the break and afterwards. We’re looking forward to writing with you, your hosts, Sarah, Nick, Laura and Anna

Join us at Craft Beer Co. Brixton for our structured Sci-Fi & Fantasy Feedback Session. A supportive, focused space where writers can share their work and receive constructive, thoughtful critique. These sessions are designed not only to help authors refine their writing but also to strengthen our community. Giving feedback is as valuable as receiving it: by learning to critique effectively, we sharpen our own editorial instincts and deepen our understanding of craft. Whether you’re submitting work or attending as a reader, this is a collaborative, growth-focused environment. **FOR THOSE SUBMITTING WORK** **We allow up to 4 people to submit their work** **for feedback. In order to submit please RSVP and send your submission to** **scififantasyauthors@gmail.com no later than the Sunday prior to the session** to give organisers time to review submissions and arrange critique groups in advance. *Priority for submission slots is given to those who have attended a previous session.* To ensure quality and fairness, submission guidelines are as follows: * **A short introduction (2–3 paragraphs max.) explaining:** * The context and status of the piece (early draft? polished?) * What kind of feedback you’re looking for * **An excerpt (chapter or short story) of up to 3,000 words** * +10% flexibility allowed * Strict cut-off beyond that **FOR THOSE PROVIDING FEEDBACK** Please RSVP and read the “How to Give Feedback” document that will be shared prior to attending. * Bring a device suitable for reading the submitted piece * Be prepared to engage respectfully and constructively * There is no expectation to read anything in advance. All reading takes place during the session itself. We begin with dedicated silent reading time, ensuring that everyone engages with the piece equally and no one feels pressure to prepare outside the session. Just show up ready to read, think, and contribute. **SCHEDULE** Attendees will be placed into small critique groups of 5–6 people, each with an experienced facilitator to guide discussion and manage time. **6:30–6:45pm** – Arrival, drinks & group seating **6:45–7:30pm** – Silent reading & note-taking **7:30–8:00pm** – Structured feedback delivery **8:00–8:30pm** – Open roundtable discussion & author questions Each participant will have up to 5 minutes to share feedback during the structured critique section. Authors listen without interruption, with space for clarifying questions later in the roundtable. Whether you’re looking to polish a chapter, test an opening, or strengthen your editorial instincts, these sessions are an opportunity to grow together. RSVP early, as places are limited to ensure productive group sizes. If you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP.

This will be the first ever Book Club Meet up for this group! * We will be discussing Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (if you would like a free EPUB copy of this book to read on kindle, message me & I can send you the ebook) * ***Changed the book from Daggermouth due to it being independently published and hard to find in print**** * Feel free to attend even if you haven't started or finished the book ◡̈ ! * Small snacks will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! * Even if the meetup event shows full, you are welcome to come. If you can no longer attend the event, no worries, just please try to update your status on meetup for it.

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 25 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Sunday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at noon on Sundays. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 12:00 - quick intros. 12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Sunday!

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!