What to expect at your first meeting

Coming along to a writing group for the first time can feel daunting — here’s exactly what happens, so there are no surprises.

Just turn up

There’s no need to book or get in touch first (though you’re welcome to). We meet every Friday morning from 10.30 to 12.30 in the meeting room at Hinckley Library — ask at the desk and they’ll point you our way. Your first meeting is free; after that it’s £2 per meeting, which covers room hire, our affiliation to the National Association of Writers’ Groups, and the group’s publications.

The shape of a morning

Members take turns reading short pieces aloud — prose or poetry, up to 750 words so there’s time for everyone. After each reading, the group offers friendly, constructive comments. There’s a suggested prompt each week, but nobody minds if you write something completely different.

You don’t have to read

There’s no obligation to read your work — plenty of people spend their first few visits just listening, and that’s absolutely fine. When you do feel ready to share something, you’ll find the group generous and encouraging. Take a look at our guide to feedback to see the spirit in which comments are given.

Who you’ll meet

All sorts — novelists, poets, memoirists, flash fiction writers; published, self-published and unpublished; people who’ve written for decades and people who’ve just started. What we have in common is that we take each other’s writing seriously and enjoy each other’s company.