On Wedneday 14th April, instead of our usual evening with an invited speaker, the TWDWC is having a social evening, and a chance to get to know each other a little better. Why not come and join us, get to know who we are and what we do? You'll find us friendly.
Email our chairman, at hilary.mack@talk21.com if you'd like to come.
Wednesday 31 March 2010
If I only had a brain!
Of course the script writing group cannot meet on WEdnesday April 1st. There IS no Wednesday April 1st. The script writers meet on Wednesday April 7th.
Duh!
OK, who picked up on the deliberate mistake?
Duh!
OK, who picked up on the deliberate mistake?
Sunday 28 March 2010
Script Writing Workshop
For the budding script writers, we have a workshop that happens on the first Wednesday of each month, except August. Like all our groups, it's a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, with people offering constructive criticism and helpful comments.
This group started at the beginning of 2008, when it was realised that a number of writer's circle members were eager to try their hand at script writing. Some wanted to write screenplays, others stage plays, still others radio plays. The subject matter is broad as well - we've had period plays and contemporary, secular and religious, linear and non linear, big cast and little cast - even once, a play written in rhyme!
The group members bring along a part of a script that they would like feedback and help with, bringing several copies of the piece. Other members of the group then read the various parts, with the author trying to ensure they do not have to take a role, enabling them to simply listen to their work. You can make a lot of improvements to your own piece if you can listen to it being read by others - especially read cold.
Then feedback is given. People might suggest a different and better way of portraying something, or they may have found something confusing. They weren't sure what tone this character needed or where that sub plot led to. They ask questions for the author to answer. The author asks questions for the critiquers to answer. And then the author takes the piece away, having collected ideas to help with the rewrite and further development of the script.
As a member of the group, I have to say the feedback and advice I have received has been invaluable. I've been stuck, and found myself unstuck. I've thought a piece was awkward and then had a revelation as to why and what to do about it. Work I have taken to this group has grown into plays I have sold to publishers, or had performed by local drama groups.
I'm not alone in this. I know one member had a short screenplay filmed last year, and others have been made sufficiently confident to submit scripts to the BBC Writers room.
As well as learning and improving, we share information on markets, competitions, seminars, etc. And we have all become great, great friends. It's a date in my diary I look forward to each month.
The next meeting of the Script Group is this Wednesday, 1st April. If you think you'd like to join us, email our chair at hilary.mack@talk21.com and she'll put you in touch.
This group started at the beginning of 2008, when it was realised that a number of writer's circle members were eager to try their hand at script writing. Some wanted to write screenplays, others stage plays, still others radio plays. The subject matter is broad as well - we've had period plays and contemporary, secular and religious, linear and non linear, big cast and little cast - even once, a play written in rhyme!
The group members bring along a part of a script that they would like feedback and help with, bringing several copies of the piece. Other members of the group then read the various parts, with the author trying to ensure they do not have to take a role, enabling them to simply listen to their work. You can make a lot of improvements to your own piece if you can listen to it being read by others - especially read cold.
Then feedback is given. People might suggest a different and better way of portraying something, or they may have found something confusing. They weren't sure what tone this character needed or where that sub plot led to. They ask questions for the author to answer. The author asks questions for the critiquers to answer. And then the author takes the piece away, having collected ideas to help with the rewrite and further development of the script.
As a member of the group, I have to say the feedback and advice I have received has been invaluable. I've been stuck, and found myself unstuck. I've thought a piece was awkward and then had a revelation as to why and what to do about it. Work I have taken to this group has grown into plays I have sold to publishers, or had performed by local drama groups.
I'm not alone in this. I know one member had a short screenplay filmed last year, and others have been made sufficiently confident to submit scripts to the BBC Writers room.
As well as learning and improving, we share information on markets, competitions, seminars, etc. And we have all become great, great friends. It's a date in my diary I look forward to each month.
The next meeting of the Script Group is this Wednesday, 1st April. If you think you'd like to join us, email our chair at hilary.mack@talk21.com and she'll put you in touch.
Friday 26 March 2010
Writing fiction for women group
The workshops are one of the main attractions of the Tunbridge Wells Writer’s Circle. Here, writers read their work and receive constructive criticism. Each workshop concentrates on a different writing discipline, and the friendly advice and criticisms are incisive and valuable.
Until February 2010, there were four workshops: two were for novelists and catered for a wide range of works, whilst a third was for script writers and the fourth was for people writing short stories and articles. Each group meets monthly and some members just attend one group whilst others attend two or more. They are all conducted in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in people's homes.
However, speaking with writers both inside and outside the circle, we discovered there was a demand for a fifth workshop, this one based on genre rather than writing type. Some people, men as well as women, who write for a mainly female readership felt they’d be happier reading to others who wrote for the same audience, rather than in a more varied group. Thus, the fiction for women group has come into being.
The first meeting was on Wednesday February 17th and three people turned up, including one lady who was new to the circle. By the March meeting, our number had increased to five and we hope to add more.
Anyone who writes for a target audience that is predominantly female is welcome to join us. It doesn’t matter whether you, the writer, are male or female, writing short stories, articles, or novels. If you write for women, feel free to join us.
Further details from Hilary on hilary.mack@talk21.com
Until February 2010, there were four workshops: two were for novelists and catered for a wide range of works, whilst a third was for script writers and the fourth was for people writing short stories and articles. Each group meets monthly and some members just attend one group whilst others attend two or more. They are all conducted in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in people's homes.
However, speaking with writers both inside and outside the circle, we discovered there was a demand for a fifth workshop, this one based on genre rather than writing type. Some people, men as well as women, who write for a mainly female readership felt they’d be happier reading to others who wrote for the same audience, rather than in a more varied group. Thus, the fiction for women group has come into being.
The first meeting was on Wednesday February 17th and three people turned up, including one lady who was new to the circle. By the March meeting, our number had increased to five and we hope to add more.
Anyone who writes for a target audience that is predominantly female is welcome to join us. It doesn’t matter whether you, the writer, are male or female, writing short stories, articles, or novels. If you write for women, feel free to join us.
Further details from Hilary on hilary.mack@talk21.com
Tunbridge Wells Writing Circle
We're a friendly group of writers based in and around Tunbridge Wells. The circle was started over 40 years ago, and has been going strong ever since.
We cater for all writers, whether they are old or young, male or female, experienced or just learning their craft. Some of our members are published, others are not, but we all meet on an even platform here.
Among our members we have novelists, script writers, short story writers, magazine journalists, you name it, really.
Once a month we have a meeting when all members are invited to come together. More often than not, we have a guest speaker at this meeting. Past speakers have included Jonathan Gash, who wrote the Lovejoy books, Tamara McKinley, whose blockbusters sell in the millions all over the globe, and Simon Brett, who wrote "After Henry" for the BBC.
As well as these monthly meetings, we hold several workshops every month, and members are welcome to go to as few or as many as they feel they want to join. Each workshop is dedicated to a different type of writing, to ensure the advice you get is as relevant to your work as possible, and the criticism is constructive, friendly and often profound. I've come home with a comment playing on my mind, only to wake up next morning with a whole new sub plot and a much more satisfying piece of work.
The workshops encompass general novel writing, short story and article writing, script writing and writing fiction aimed at women readers.
Feel like joining us? Contact our chairman, Hilary Mackelden at hilary.mack@talk21.com, or see our Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108938249125887&ref=ts
We cater for all writers, whether they are old or young, male or female, experienced or just learning their craft. Some of our members are published, others are not, but we all meet on an even platform here.
Among our members we have novelists, script writers, short story writers, magazine journalists, you name it, really.
Once a month we have a meeting when all members are invited to come together. More often than not, we have a guest speaker at this meeting. Past speakers have included Jonathan Gash, who wrote the Lovejoy books, Tamara McKinley, whose blockbusters sell in the millions all over the globe, and Simon Brett, who wrote "After Henry" for the BBC.
As well as these monthly meetings, we hold several workshops every month, and members are welcome to go to as few or as many as they feel they want to join. Each workshop is dedicated to a different type of writing, to ensure the advice you get is as relevant to your work as possible, and the criticism is constructive, friendly and often profound. I've come home with a comment playing on my mind, only to wake up next morning with a whole new sub plot and a much more satisfying piece of work.
The workshops encompass general novel writing, short story and article writing, script writing and writing fiction aimed at women readers.
Feel like joining us? Contact our chairman, Hilary Mackelden at hilary.mack@talk21.com, or see our Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108938249125887&ref=ts
