Non-Fiction Writing

Sohemian Society presents Dr Helen Fry author of twenty books on intelligence, MI9 and social history of WWII. She will be talking to Ross McFarlane about her new book **The White Lady** I know many of you who follow me and have been on my walks are fascinated by the women spies of WWII as I am and so I have my ticket (£11 includes booking fee) already and if you would like to join me above the Groom & Horses we can enjoy a lovely evening in Fitzrovia. Get your tickets here: https://www.sohemiansociety.com/opening-page This is what they say about the author: **“It is not often that a writer is able to add to history rather than interpret it, but in her exploration of Belgian and Luxembourg archives Fry has done just that.” (Alan Judd, *The Spectator*)** Intelligence-gathering was essential to both sides in the First and Second World Wars. At the heart of MI6's efforts were two key networks in Belgium. Agents in the White Lady acted as couriers, saboteurs, and spies to facilitate the end of German control. And, when war broke out again two decades later, the leaders of the network regrouped and established a successor: the Clarence Service. Helen Fry charts the history of these pivotal intelligence networks for the first time. Drawing on recently declassified information, Fry examines who the agents were, how they were recruited, and how the intelligence they gathered directly impacted the outcome of both wars. Operators in the field sent over eight hundred radio messages to London and delivered more than a thousand reports, including groundbreaking information on Hitler's secret weapon the V-1. This is a compelling account of the agents who risked their lives and found ingenious ways to smuggle intelligence out of occupied Belgium. Historian and biographer **Helen Fry** is the author of *The Walls Have Ears*, *Spymaster*, *MI9*, and more than twenty books on intelligence, prisoners of war, and the social history of World War II. She appears regularly in media interviews and podcasts and has been involved in numerous documentaries. **Ross MacFarlane** is an archivist who has over twenty years’ experience working on the history of science and medicine. He has researched, lectured, and written on a range of topics, such as aspects of the occult, the history of early recorded sound, and the collection of amulets and charms in Edwardian London. He is a regular book reviewer for *Fortean Times* and has also published in magazines and journals such as *New Scientist*, *The Lancet*, *Folklore*, as well as *Notes and Records of the Royal Society*.

Southwark Culture & Intellectual Discussion: Urban History Street name plates are more than just practical markers; they are fragments of London’s living history. Each plate captures a moment in time: the typography, the materials, and even the placement tell stories about the communities that named the streets and the councils that governed them. This evening, we turn our attention to Southwark, one of London’s oldest and most characterful boroughs. From the medieval lanes of Bankside to the grand 19th-century developments of Bermondsey and Camberwell, Southwark’s street signs reveal the borough’s layered past: its industries, its reformers, its changing boundaries, and its shifting sense of identity. Our guest speaker Simon Morris, publications secretary of the London Topographical Society, has cycled more than 3,000 miles around London documenting historic street name plates before they vanish through redevelopment or neglect. His meticulous photographic record captures everything from ornate Victorian cast ironwork to the distinctive red and black enamel plates of the London County Council era. In this talk, tailored specially for our Intellectual Discussion Night, Simon will share highlights from his research and photography in Southwark, exploring what these small but significant details reveal about the borough’s evolution. Expect fascinating insights into how street names were chosen, how signage reflected civic pride, and how local residents sometimes resisted the changes that reshaped their neighbourhoods. He will also share some of Southwark’s superlatives, including its longest, oldest, strangest, and most puzzling street name plates. After Simon’s talk, we will open the floor for group discussion about the value of urban heritage, local identity, and how we decide what is worth preserving in a city that is constantly rebuilding itself. About the guest speaker: Simon Morris is the publications secretary of the London Topographical Society, specialising in the historic growth, mapping, and organisation of 18th- and 19th-century London. His photographic archive documents thousands of name plates across the city, offering a unique window into London’s visual and civic history. VERY LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE SO PLEASE RSVP EARLY! \*\*\*Location: Address sent by PM It's a 1 minute walk from Borough tube station or an 8 minute walk from London Bridge station. \*\*\*Reminder: RSVP is mandatory to attend. Light refreshments included for this one but BYOB if you want something special. \*\*\*Please Note: The address will be sent directly via private message on Meetup to those approved to join discussion night. Please have your notifications turned on for private messages.

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!

Having just discussed Rachel Joyce's book, we will head to the Theatre Royal Haymarket to see the musical adaptation of her novel. Since we have bought tickets in advance, spaces are limited and RSVPs are not open. Please contact me via message if you are interested in coming along.

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 18:00 on Wednesday afternoons/evenings. 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: 18:00 - Quick introductions 18:15 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 19:15 - The End: chat, take off, or keep writing OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 19:30. 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 and I look forward to seeing you at the Peckham Pelican! What Should I Bring? Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block the cafe’s overhead music or the occasional conversation by other patrons. **Other Important Details:** \- If you arrive and can't figure out who we are \(usually the table with a lot of laptops and notebooks\)\, feel free to ask the bar staff who will point you in the right direction\. \- Many of our participants found the event through other means\, so please don't be put off by a low attendance number on MeetUp\! \- The Pelican has some\, but not many\, charging points\, so make sure laptops are charged and perhaps bring a notebook just in case\. \- The WiFi is also very poor \(non\-existent\)\, but most have found that to be a good thing\. Make sure to download or turn on 'offline mode' if working on a computer\. \- Please thank our hosts by purchasing something \(The pizzas are fantastic\, and we write during happy hour \- two for one on cocktails\!\)

**London in the Second World War at The National Archives** **Free**, but booking required here: [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-in-the-second-world-war-exhibition-tickets-1234531861029](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-in-the-second-world-war-exhibition-tickets-1234531861029) This free exhibition explores the experiences of Londoners during the Second World War and the effect it had on the city they knew. Using the London County Council bomb damage maps, personal diaries, rarely seen original artworks and atmospheric photographs we will tell the story of the people that lived and worked in a city at war. What was it like to live through the Blitz, to see your neighbourhood change overnight, or to be a volunteer with one of the city’s emergency services? The exhibition also examines the way that London sought to rebuild after the war, through the creation of the County of London plan, and how this was put into place at Poplar’s Lansbury Estate for the opening of the Festival of Britain in 1951.

**This is a ticketed event and purchases can be made via [eventbrite here.](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-role-of-religion-esoteric-philosophy-and-spirituality-in-history-tickets-1982069225409?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1%2A1pqcc35%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AOTQxMTAzNjU3LjE3Njk3ODM4NTk.%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AczE3Njk4NTkyNTAkbzMkZzEkdDE3Njk4NTkyNTkkajUxJGwwJGgw)** This seminar will consider the spiritual influences in history from religion to esoteric philosophy and look at their impact on society. What are the driving forces of history? The common view is that history is a product of economic forces, struggles for power or simple egomania. However, without denying the above factors, the thesis for this seminar is that there are also spiritual influences at work, such as religion and esoteric philosophy, whose impact has been generally underestimated. It cannot be denied that religion often has a divisive effect, but it is also interesting to consider its benefits for humanity. Even more so is this the case with esoteric philosophy, whose adherents may have been numerically few but whose ideals and practical schemes for the betterment of humanity have influenced whole societies and epochs. The seminar is based on research into the works of the cultural historian Christopher Dawson, a specialist on the role of religion on history, and Dr. Frances Yates, a lecturer at the Warburg Institute, who illustrated in her many erudite works the important influence of esoteric philosophical thought on the Renaissance in Europe.

Join Tim on a walk through Soho, Fitzrovia and Bloomsbury in the footsteps of Karl Marx. We'll see where Marx lived and studied; where he wrote the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, two of the most influential books ever published; where his daughter, Eleanor, performed Ibsen with George Bernard Shaw, fell in love with a French revolutionary and lectured with Keir Hardie. We'll see where his children were born, grew up, died and were buried; where Karl agitated, organised and got blind drunk. It's a secret history of a remarkable man and, perhaps, an even more remarkable daughter. More generally we'll be looking at London in the second half of the nineteenth century; a place of grinding poverty and disease but also of intellectual ferment, awash with political refugees from every country in Europe. We'll be walking through some of the most historic parts of London with a history stretching back over 350 years. We meet at All Bar One in Leicester Square at 10.30 to start walking at 10.45 and end in a pub by the British Museum frequented by Karl and Eleanor after a hard day's agitating. Cost is £12 payable on the day, by card, via PayPal or bank transfer. Tel: O7846899156

🏎️ **If you’re not automating yet… you probably are.** Be honest: how much of your job are you already secretly automating, and how much of it is just automation in disguise? In this session, **[Ellis Pratt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellispratt/)**, director of **[Cherryleaf](https://www.cherryleaf.com/)**, will take a clear, no-hype look at automation in technical communication. He’ll rewind to where things stood just over a year ago, then discuss what’s changed since. We’ll explore how automation shows up across the technical writing lifecycle, and common pitfalls that come with it. Finally, we’ll look ahead. What does increasing automation really mean for our careers as technical writers and documentarians? Join us for an honest, practical conversation about what to automate, what not to, and how to stay relevant as the tools keep changing. **📣 This event is aimed at technical writers and those working in closely related roles. The discussion will focus on automation and AI specifically in the context of technical documentation and technical content workflows.** **When:** Thursday 19 February, from 6.30pm **Where:** The Yellow Room @ Remark! 18 Leather Lane, EC1N 7SU **What:** 18.30 - 19.00 Arrival 19.00 - 19.45 Presentation 19.45 - 20.00 Short break 20.00 - 20.45 Presentation 20.45 - 21.30 Networking *All times are approximate.* **Photos:** Note that the organizers will take some photos for the WTD group.

*"Joseph Wright of Derby has been described as the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution."* – Tate Britain **Join us at the National Gallery for the first major exhibition dedicated to Joseph Wright of Derby's legendary 'candlelight' paintings.** Working during the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution, Wright captured moments of discovery and wonder with a Caravaggio-like mastery of light and darkness. This exhibition reveals him as more than just a painter of scientific progress – his work explores death, melancholy, morality and the sublime. See his most famous painting 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' alongside over twenty other works that continue to speak powerfully to contemporary audiences about what it means to observe, to learn, and to question. Read more here: [https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/wright-of-derby-from-the-shadows](https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/wright-of-derby-from-the-shadows) **MEET DETAILS:** **FROM 2.15pm: MEET IN Bar Giorgio Cafe** **(Optional)** Level 0 Sainsbury Wing Foyer, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN **3.00pm: ENTER THE EXHIBITION** The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN **4.30pm - Late: PUB SOCIAL (optional)** We'll head to a nearby pub for a social chit chat over drinks. *Location tbc in Event Comments 24 hours before the event.* **TICKETS:** Please book your ticket **[here](https://my.nationalgallery.org.uk/10552/10784).** Select the 3pm time slot (or around that time). * Standard admission: £10 (Sunday off-peak rate) * Art Pass holders: £5 * National Gallery Members: Free - no need to book **GETTING THERE:** Please see **[here](https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/plan-your-visit?utm_source=google&utm_medium=google_paid_aip&utm_campaign=aip-grant&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20156872443&gbraid=0AAAAADjwvWmrlcpoafVnxrzxUIX2NIOQ4&gclid=CjwKCAiAwNDMBhBfEiwAd7ti1L5DjMc-gZnFokiVy_SkfB-YDycoef5X7pFWQSyeFi8I7oYZn5-pcxoCxdoQAvD_BwE)** for more information. **EVENT WHATSAPP GROUP** If you are on the 'Going' list, please join the event WhatsApp group to help you find the group on the day. The link will be shared in the Event Comments below at least 48 hours before the event. *Joining this WhatsApp group will make your phone number visible to other members in the group.* **PLEASE READ:** LoMAZ events are run by volunteers. This event has an attendee limit as we prefer a smaller, friendlier group. If you RSVP but can no longer attend, please change your RSVP as soon as possible, **otherwise you will be marked as a 'no show'.** We remove members from the group who: * repeatedly sign up for events then 'no show' * repeatedly change their RSVP to 'No' * are on the event waitlist or have not RSVPd but turn up anyway. Please see the **[About Us section](https://www.meetup.com/london-museums-a-z-for-30s-40s/)** for more information about the group and how it works. Thank you for your interest in the group & being part of LoMAZ. 📸 **[Follow LoMAZ on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/londonmuseumsatoz?igsh=MTl5N3doNmJ6OXN1cA==)** Photo credit: Trafalgar Square, London by Benhard Cranach, 2014. Via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

This meeting will be an open discussion about the book "an Immense World" by Ed Yong

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!

Thursdays just got smarter (and sassier). 🧠🍻 Join us at TownHall Short North for Trivia Night with Marquis—where the questions are fun, the competition is friendly, and the vibes are immaculate. Grab your crew, sip something good, and prove you know random facts you absolutely shouldn’t.

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 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!

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!