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Hastings Writers' Group
Established in 1947, Hastings Writers’ Group claim
to be one of the longest-running writers’ groups in
the country. Catherine Cookson was a founder member and
also patron for many years. The current patron is David
Gemmell, author of heroic fantasy novels such as the new
Troy series.
‘Our membership is somewhere around the 40 mark,’
writes member Rosemary Bartholomew. ‘We are a friendly
crowd with wide-ranging interests, some of us published,
some still aspiring to be.
‘Meetings are held fortnightly on Monday evenings
and our stimulating programme includes manuscript evenings
with constructive criticism, guest speakers, workshops,
and competitions with judges from the field of professional
writing.
‘We have a Writer of the Year Cup, awarded to the
member gaining the highest accumulated points from five
varied competitions and there is also a separate internal
short story competition for the Catherine Cookson Cup.’
The active group also runs the Legend Writing Award, an
open short story competition, and produces an annual anthology,
Strandline.
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‘Strandline contains an imaginative
and creative mix of prose and poetry, ranging from light-hearted
and humorous to the darker and more serious,’ says Rosemary.
‘All members, from beginners to published writers, have
the opportunity to contribute and, additionally, our last
two volumes have included the six winning entries from the
Legend Writing Award.’
In 2004, volume three of the anthology secured the group the
David St John Thomas Charitable Trust Anthology Award, while
volume four won the National Association of Writers’
Groups Denise Robertson Trophy for best group anthology.
Strandline Volume Five is £7.50 (inc p&p;
cheques to Hastings Writers’ Group), from HWG, 39 Emmanuel
Road, Hastings TN34 3LB; a few copies of volume four are still
available (£7).
For details of Hastings Writers’ Group’s
activities and membership, contact secretary Jean Russell-Parnell,
tel: 01424 870054.
• The group’s Legend Writing Award is open until
31 August 2006, with prizes of £500, £250, £100
and £50 for three runners-up. The prize is particularly
intended to encourage new UK short story writers. There is
no theme; word limit, 2,000; entry fee, £5.
David Gemmell will judge the winning entries.
Details: Legend Writing Award, www.legendwritingaward.com |
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