MEETINGS, COMPETITIONS and ACTIVITIES

OUR CURRENT WRITING COMPETITIONS

THE ART OF LETTER WRITING:

LETTERS BY WATFORD WRITERS

July's writing competition revisits the art of letter writing - very much a dying craft in today's Email and social media world. How many of us actually write letters these days?

You are invited to write a letter and a response to your letter (as one entry), using no more than 500 words in total... so you may wish to divide your word count equally between the two or whatever - your entry must not exceed 500 words in total. There is no minimum word count.

The letter theme can be on any subject of your choice, as long as the letter and reply are written as "letters" and not Emails or social media styled correspondence. You may wish to write your letter in poetic verse but please ensure you have written and laid out your entry(s) to resemble a letter - that is to say you are addressing your letter to someone or an organisation, and that your reply equally resembles a letter format.

The rules are as follows:

You should give your entry(s) a clear title. (Your title is not included in word count).
Maximum of 500 words per entry. No minimum word count.
Maximum of 2 entries per person (an entry will count as a letter and reply).
Please ensure your letter and reply (if you choose to write a reply) are on the same entry, not separate. (i.e. your reply to your letter follows on underneath the letter).
You can decide to just write one letter (without a reply) if you wish - that's fine for one entry.
Please ensure that your entry does not use derogatory terms, words, or language likely to cause offence.
Word.doc or pdf format should be used. No other format will be accepted.
All entries must be NEW, and not previously published, written, read-out, or uploaded online in any format anywhere.
Please do not place your name on your entry(s).
Deadline for submissions: Friday 11 July 2025, 7pm.
Scoring will commence on Saturday 12 July 2025, 10am. Details to follow.
Submissions received after deadline will not be accepted. No correspondence will be entered into.
Please note that any breach of the competition rules will result in your entry(s) being withdrawn. No correspondence will be entered into.
All entries should be Emailed to: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk

PLEASE READ THE RULES CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY(S).

Watford Writers' competitions are only open to those on our current Email circulation list.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ENTER.

MEETINGS and ACTIVITIES

MONDAY 7 JULY 2025

OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH SHALL BE AT:

QUAKERS MEETING HOUSE, 150 CHURCH ROAD, WATFORD, WD17 4QB

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENING STARTS AT 7:30pm

For those unable to attend our zoom meeting on 23 June, there will be an opportunity to read their entries for our recent "Collections" competition; plus any leftover "rants" from last week!

---

Competition Prize Giving

We shall be presenting prizes to the podium winners in our Jazz Tracks Titles, Prequel or Sequel, and Collections competitions.

---

Judging a book by its cover.

A short interactive writing workshop whereby you choose a cover of a book; bring the cover or book with you to the Quakers Hall, and start to develop a brand new story or new poem. or maybe a play or monologue? You may wish to attempt one or some of the above suggestions aimed at a particular age group? Your ideas / draft(s) to be shared with the group.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICING STRUCTURE:

£5 per person (Hall only)

£5 per person (Zoom only)

£10 per person (Hall and Zoom)

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CUP FOR TEA / COFFEE

Note:

This evening will also include an update on Watford Writers as a group going forward.

FRIDAY 11 JULY 2025

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES TO CURRENT WRITING COMPETITION

DETAILS AT TOP OF THIS PAGE

SATURDAY 12 JULY 2025

SCORING OF ENTRIES TO CURRENT WRITING COMPETITION OPENS 10am

Details on how to score to follow.

DEADLINE FOR SCORING: Friday 18 July, 7pm.

MONDAY 14 JULY 2025

ZOOM MEETING

Start: 7:30pm

MANUSCRIPT NIGHT (tbc)

(Chairperson: DAVID)

Are you working on a novel, non-fiction, biography, autobiography, poem, article? Manuscript night is the perfect way to present your latest work and receive excellent critiques from fellow group writers.

If you would like to read up to a 1000 words (a little more to complete a chapter), then you are welcome to book a reading slot by emailing Ian: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk

Note:

We are now offering the opportunity for your work to be read ahead of the meeting, so that on the night you can receive a more indepth critique from fellow writers.

Please can you ensure your work is double-spaced, and in word-doc or pdf format.

If you would like to take-up this opportunity, please Email your writing to: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk by Thursday 10 July for onward circulation.

WEDNESDAY 16 JULY 2025

KIDS LIT

Zoom Meeting. Starts at 7:30pm.

Please click here for details on how to join the meeting

FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025

DEADLINE FOR SCORING OF CURRENT WRITING COMPETITION - 7pm.

MONDAY 21 JULY 2025

ZOOM MEETING

Starts at 7:30pm

(Chairperson: tbc)

THE ART OF LETTER WRITING: LETTERS BY WATFORD WRITERS

Competition results to be announced and a chance to hear the entries read out.

MONDAY 28 JULY 2025

ZOOM MEETING

Starts at 7:30pm

(Chairperson: tbc)

Details to follow

MONDAY 4 AUGUST 2025

OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH SHALL BE AT:

QUAKERS MEETING HOUSE, 150 CHURCH ROAD, WATFORD, WD17 4QB

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENING STARTS AT 7:30pm

---

MANUSCRIPT NIGHT - Live at the Hall!

(Chairperson: tbc)

If you would like to read up to a 1000 words (a little more to complete a chapter), then you are welcome to book a reading slot by emailing Ian: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk

Note:

We are offering the opportunity for your work to be read ahead of the meeting, so that on the night you can receive a more indepth critique from fellow writers.

Please can you ensure your work is double-spaced, and in word-doc or pdf format.

If you would like to take-up this opportunity, please Email your writing to: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk by Thursday 31 July for onward circulation.

Alternatively, you may wish to bring some hard copies to the Hall and we may look at breaking into small groups for critiquing - tbc.

PLUS:

We shall be setting our writing competition for August.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICING STRUCTURE:

£5 per person (Hall only)

£5 per person (Zoom only)

£10 per person (Hall and Zoom)

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN CUP FOR TEA / COFFEE

MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2025

ZOOM MEETING

Starts at 7:30pm

(Chairperson: CHRIS)

Details to follow

MONDAY 18 AUGUST 2025

ZOOM MEETING

Starts at 7:30pm

(Chairperson: tbc)

MANUSCRIPT NIGHT (tbc)

If you would like to read up to a 1000 words (a little more to complete a chapter), then you are welcome to book a reading slot by emailing Ian: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk

Note:

We are offering the opportunity for your work to be read ahead of the meeting, so that on the night you can receive a more indepth critique from fellow writers.

Please can you ensure your work is double-spaced, and in word-doc or pdf format.

If you would like to take-up this opportunity, please Email your writing to: ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk by Thursday 14 August for onward circulation.

MONDAY 25 AUGUST 2025

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY

NO MEETING