The Oldbury Writing Group (OWG) has recently been to the Wolverhampton Literature festival where we did a talk on the benefits of joining a writing group. Everyone who has ever performed anywhere will tell you that unless you sell tickets to your event, there is no way of knowing how your event is going to go until the actually day.
Okay, so we turned up the Wolverhampton Literature Festival thinking 'I'll be surprised if anyone turns up, but on the other hand, I'll be upset if no one does.' Boy, was I wrong, not only did we get an audience, we sold a few copies of our book, gave one away for review (to the Arts Foundry) and we have made some friends of the Telford Writing Group. It was, by all intense and purposes, a very good event indeed. I introduced the event, we all spoke about how the joining OWG has helped us individually and then we read out a short piece of work that was inspired by, in one way or another, the OWG. The Telford writing Group has challenged us to a poetry slam. Now, I think that is a very good idea, but without sounding in anyway patronising to my friends at the OWG, many of the OWG has never been to a poetry slam before, so I am not sure if they know what to expect. Okay, to all of you guys out there that has never been to one either, this is how it goes. You have 3 mins (or there about) in that 3 minutes you can read as many poems as you like as long as you don't go over that three minutes, if you do, you're disqualified. You vote for the best poet. The poet with the most votes wins the slam. At least that is how the slams I have been to work. If you have different stories or ideas of how a slam should work, then please let me know. So, that is something to look forward to. The great thing about going to places like these literature festivals is that we get to network, meet new people, make new friends and create new opportunities for ourselves. This year (2018) has only just begun and I would like to think that we can go to more events like this as a group. There are plenty of them about. It is sad though that PowWow Literature Festival in Moseley (prince of wales Pub) is not on this year. I do hope it comes back soon. I have never been to a literature festival and not taken something from it. The PowWow inspired me to start studying for my degree and take up ghost writing. It has also given me an idea for my next book. Yes, there are lots of festivals about and there is a good list of them in the Writers and Artists yearbook 2018, which, incidentally is something my partner bought for me this year and I would recommend it to any writer no matter how established you are. It is a book that has got pretty much all the answers to most writers questions and it has certainly helped me throughout the years. So, do I think that the Wolverhampton Literature Festival was a success this year? I certainly do and I can't wait to hear from our new friends in Telford. One thing I know for sure, is that if I had not have started the OWG, I would not be the writer that I am today. Not only have other members learnt from me, but I have learnt equally, if not more, from them. Each member is a good friend, we have created opportunities for each other, pointed each other in the right direction by giving good advice. We've helped one another with confidence issues and celebrated together when we each get published. We are individuals who recognise the support a group like ours can give to those who need it. The OWG has been going now for about three and a half years and I hope with all my heart that we have many, many more years to come.
0 Comments
The Oldbury Writing Group (OWG) will be taking part in the second ever Original Wolverhampton Literature Festival. We will be doing a talk on the benefits of joining a writing group. Each member who takes part will be talking about how joining a writing group has helped them and what they have achieved as a writer since joining one. Each member will also give an example of their writing since joining the OWG.
Every member joins a writing group for their own specific reasons, but I started the group because after being unsupported by family and friends during writing my first novel, I knew there were people out there that desperately needed to connect with people who are also writing. We know that generally, family members and friends love us dearly, but they don't always understand what we do and why we do it. This is where the support of a good writing group comes in. Not everyone understands that we writers need time to write, sometimes, something as simple as being asked if we want a cup of tea can throw us off course in our train of thought and as a result writing can be a long and lonely job. This is another reason why it is a good idea to find people who understand your why of life. I say 'way of life' because that is what it is for a writer. It is a profession that tends to choose us rather than the other way around. We can be naturally unsociable people, who desperately needs to be left alone to work, but asking friends to temporarily go away can cause offence, it is this reason why writers need other writers to understand their needs and show support. It does not mean that you have to give up your old friends, I wouldn't do that and I would not expect anyone else to either, but gaining a good friendly relationship with others that understand you and can relate to you is never a bad idea. You will be able to hear more about the Oldbury Writing Group and the how the OWG has helped others at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery (the community room) at 12:30 - 13:30 on the 27th January 2018. For anyone who is on the fence about joining a good writing group, or you just need more information about how we and others might work, this is the event for you. For more information about the OWG visit www.oldburywritinggroup.wordpress.com |
AuthorI am the author of a book called Innocent Spirits, I write short Novella's and Short stories. I love to dabble with a bit of Poetry. All my stories are either Horror or paranormal Thrillers. I write poetry of all genres. Archives
July 2019
Categories |