OUR PROGRAMME

ONLINE ACTIVITIES:

GUEST PRESENTATION  (via "Zoom"):

Watford Writers is pleased to welcome Ruth Badley will be reading short extracts from her book 'Where are the grown-ups?' and answering questions via a "Live" chat. Ruth will talk about the writing process, in particular the mixture of lived experience and historical research to write Where are the grown-ups? 

Our Group members may want to discuss the notion of ‘creative non-fiction,’ or even another avenue of writing... something else? For those that want to know something about the content in advance, the first three chapters are free to read on the Look Inside feature of Ruth's book: please click here. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read the whole book at zero cost.

...

We will also be holding our popular Poetry Competition, which will go "LIVE" on the website from 7:30pm and can then be viewed and scored over the following few days...

POETRY COMPETITION.

The theme is "Planet" - minimum of 20 lines, maximum of 50 lines. 

It could be a poem about our Planet which has been much in the news regarding climate change and of course the Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps you may decide to write a poem regarding another Planet in our Solar System? Maybe a Planet that is revolving around another Star, not our own Sun? Or you may consider a Planet as yet unknown to us?
 

If you've never written a poem, why not start now!? The best way of starting is to find out if there is any poetry or verse that you like. Maybe, you learned poetry or one particular poem at school or college? Look at the style and context, line and metre - you may like "free verse" which some writers and poets say breaks all the rules...

What better time than now to write poetry?

Please Email your poems to Helen and Ian by Monday 1 June, 7pm - Sorry NO extensions. Please also make sure you check your work for corrections / revisions before Emailing as uploaded copies may not always be able to be changed due to time constraints. 

We are looking to run this poetry competition in the format of our Flash Fiction... poems will be online and score sheets will be downloadable from 7:30pm on Monday 1 June. 

Score sheets to be submitted to Helen and Ian by Thursday 4 June, NOON. Results to be announced by Friday 5 June.

ONLINE ACTIVITY:

MANUSCRIPT NIGHT via "Zoom" from 7:30pm.

 
We shall be holding another of our popular manuscript evenings via" "Zoom" - Helen will Email the details on how to join the meeting.

FOR THOSE WISHING TO SUBMIT THEIR MANUSCRIPT:

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. We are limiting submissions to 1000 words.

Please Email your manuscript to Helen and Ian by 7pm on Monday 8 June. Sorry NO extensions. Manuscripts will be displayed on the website until Thursday 11 June. Please also make sure you check your work for corrections / revisions before Emailing as uploaded copies may not always be able to be changed due to time constraints. 

CRITIQUES

If you prefer to provide your critique in written form, a "Critique" feedback form can be found on the Manuscript web-page. CRITIQUES MUST BE EMAILED TO HELEN and IAN by FRIDAY 12 June.

 
Even if you are not planning to submit a manuscript, please do take time to critique other writers' work - your critique will always be much appreciated.

ONLINE ACTIVITY:

ZOOM SESSION from 7:30pm:

"The writer in you!"

In the first of a two-part session, group members are invited to talk about favourite books and inspirations for writing. This will be a chance to get to know the "writer in you"... 

FLASH FICTION COMPETITION

 
It's flash fiction time again. The theme will be decided during the "Zoom" session the week before.  

Word count: 350 words.

Please Email your manuscript to Helen and Ian by 7pm on Monday 8 June - sorry NO extensions. Please also make sure you check your work for corrections / revisions before Emailing as uploaded copies may not always be able to be changed due to time constraints. 

Score sheets will of course be downloadable on the Flash Fiction Page which will go "LIVE" at 7:30pm on Monday 15 June. Flash Fiction scores should be submitted by NOON on Thursday 18 June.

ONLINE ACTIVITY:

ZOOM SESSION from 7:30pm:

YOUR PERFECT HOLIDAY

What has been your perfect holiday? Or what would be your perfect holiday? 

Fictional, fantasy, virtual or factual... why not write a piece to read out to the group via "Zoom"? 

Word count: 500 words.

If you would like to submit your piece ahead of the evening, please Email "your perfect holiday" to Helen and Ian by 7pm on Monday 22 June. Please also make sure you check your work for corrections / revisions before Emailing as uploaded copies may not always be able to be changed due to time constraints. 

Helen will Email the usual details on how to join the meeting.

ONLINE ACTIVITY:

ZOOM SESSION from 7:30pm:

"The writer in you!"

In the second of a two-part session, group members are invited to talk about favourite books and inspirations for writing. This will be a chance to get to know the "writer in you"...if you would like to take part, Email Helen and Ian who will then draw up the running order.

The session will start as usual at 7:30pm and Helen will Email the usual details for you to join the meeting. 

BUSHEY MUSEUM COMPETITION

 
Following on from the success of our Watford Museum competition, we hope to hold a competition involving Bushey Museum... more details to follow.

KEEP YOUR BOOK REVIEWS COMING!

It's never too late to submit a book review...

Please click here to see our selection of Book Reviews

Please Email your book review to Ian - ianwelland@hotmail.co.uk 

KEEP YOUR TRAVELOGUES COMING!

Click here to see our Travelogues Page

500 words,.. 

• on somewhere you have been for a day, a weekend, or a holiday in the UK or abroad; 
• what you enjoyed about it, 
• why you would recommend it, 
• maybe anecdotes about the place, 
• could you recommend a book that mentions this place?

Or: 

• Or you might put a slant on instead of a place you went to and didn't like; 
• why didn't you like this place? 
• what were your expectations? 

If you would like to Email a photo to accompany your travelogue, this can be uploaded alongside your travelogue.

Please Email your 'Travelogues' to Helen and Ian as usual - thank you to those who have already done so.