Alternative Writers Circle

In response to:title-165685

2005-09-14T17:43:24+02:00

About to start designing a web site entitled The Alternative Writing Circle.Will obviously take me a while as it will be my first one.Can anyone give me any pointers to help me along.Will be interesting to see how it progresses.Not stopping me writing as I do that during my lunch break at work.Well on now with chapter 19. I think there is about three, maybe four chapters to go.

In response to:title-165685

2005-09-12T16:11:52+02:00

Some people enjoy reading their masterpiece out in front of others. Over the four years I was at the Circle, I founf that to be the exception. Memebers didn't usually mind me reading their story or poem but rarely read it out themselves. I find that I can digest a story better if it read by someone else. If I am reading it I tend to concentrate more on the words rather than the story.
Putting it in writing for comment was a much better altenative. Obviously if it is a novel you don't have to put the whole work to be read but even just the first chapter can be a good taster for others to want to read more. It can also give valuable feedback.
Probably a blog isn't the right place to publish part of a novel or a short story or poem. Maybe a web page is the better place.
11 novels Robert. Wow, I'm only on my third full one and I thought that was some achievement.Have also written a novelette about Dundee which may be a shortened novel but was still enjoyable to do.
Does anyone have any comments about a web site covering an Alternative Writing Circle? Where unpublished writers could air their works in part for others to comment on, without actually having to leave the house.Just think, not having to go out on those dark, cold, wet and blustery November and December. evenings.

In response to:title-165685

2005-09-10T16:20:37+02:00

I attended one for awhile and enjoyed the feedback I received on the work. It is a little unnerving though to let your 'baby' be read by others, yet isn't that the point?

In response to:title-165685

2005-09-09T19:41:17+02:00

I've never gotten involved with a writers' circle as I never seem to find the time. I've completed around 11 novels now and had one in print - until the publisher went bust.

I think they are probably a very good idea so long as they are of a similar mind to you. I would doubt there'd be much to gain from a writer of fantasy and horror going to a mills and boon club. Could be wrong though!

In response to:An alternative Writing Circle

2005-08-26T21:00:45+02:00

Hi eggbod, glad there is someone else out there who thinks all Writing Circles are not the same. What type of writing do you enjoy best? And reading. What is your idea of a good read? Mine is either a good adventure set at sea or a sci-fi story.
One part of the writing class I enjoyed was when our tutor asked us to write something in just 10 minutes. She would pick a subject, say TIME, and we would have just 10 minutes to write something about it. Great fun. Some only wrote a few words. Others a full page. some a poem. It made you think quickly of a subject. I still have my class jottings from a few years ago and use them in my novels when I think they will work.
For homework at the Circle I used to asked members to write at least a page about a subject I thought would get them thinking. They didn't have to read it out at the next meeting if they didn't want to. I would do that.
This is where I think the Alternative Writing Circle would come to the fore. Writers could send in something that everyone could read and give their opinion on without the writer having to actually read it out.
Writing this while my son watches Liverpool on the TV. He don't know what he is missing. Writing or TV. No contest.

Les

In response to:An alternative Writing Circle

2005-08-26T15:18:41+02:00

Hi Les, like you I enjoy writing. I have found this blog site quite addictive and a lot of fun. I thought about joining a creative writing class/club/circle but would be immensely put off by having to read out aloud to the others.

In my opinion, no it's not a good thing to spend considerable time listening. Reading yes, writing yes, but not listening. Reading and writing fit better than writing and listening.

And an alternative writing circle would be a great idea for the reading and writing theme.
If I have learnt one thing from this blog site it is that more people read than you would have imagined. It's a cathartic exercise that we all seem to need.

Enjoy