Contacts

The Bridgend Creative Writing group meets every Thursday from 1.30 to 3.30pm in the Education Room of the Bridgend Centre in Bollington. Newcomers are welcome to come along to any of the sessions. Please phone the Centre beforehand at 01625 576311 or e-mail Cath at info@bridgendcentre.org.uk.

Aims of the Group

We support and help people to improve writing skills. In a typical session each person reads out their own work which relates to the topic of the week. Other members may make constructive suggestions. (If they haven't brought in their own work people are encouraged to read out a piece from an established or published writer that they admire.)

Examples of topics covered in recent sessions are:

• Children's story or poem
• Different verse forms
• Dream or fantasy works
• Short stories
• Place and atmosphere
• Factual writing

The Anthology

Each year the group produces a collection of its work. Some of this may be viewed on the website. A printed booklet is available to buy. All proceeds go towards the Bridgend Centre.
Click on this link to view some of our work.

The People

The group is a small friendly one. Sessions are informally led by Sandy Milsom who facilitates talk and discussion about the pieces. Topics are collectively decided. Participants have a wide variety of writing interests including poetry, short stories and autobiographical work. To allow time for all readers, we tend to concentrate on shorter pieces or extracts that can be discussed in the time allowed.

Special sessions

We occasionally invite guest speakers to give talks or lead workshops. Former Cheshire Poet Laureate Joy Winkler was one such guest. A small additional charge on top of the £3 cost per session is sometimes required.

We also have occasional days where an audience is invited to listen to and enjoy our work with us, the open mike session on 20 May 2009 during the Bollington Festival being one such occasion.