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Alpha Circle
Online writers’ group Alpha Circle, formed by subscriber
Olaf Chedzoy after an appeal for members in Writers’
News, have now published their first book.
The group, members of which have never met in the flesh,
communicated and conducted all their activities by e-mail.
Subtitled ‘the birth of an e-mail writing group’, Alpha
Writers charts the group’s progress during its first year
through members’ accounts, and features the text in full
of their biggest single achievement, the 30,000-word portrait
of life in a fictional village, The Scribeham Chronicle.
Tips for other writers hoping to create similar groups include:
• Consider how you will source members and whether
you will need to advertise.
• Schedule, and stick to, a timetable for activities.
• Plan exercises, and how the writing will be assessed,
in advance, and circulate texts to ensure everyone learns
as much as possible.
• Have at least one activity which involves contributions
from everyone.
• Allow for discussion and consider summarising points
made for the benefit of all members.
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The global communication benefits of e-mail,
which obviously contributed to the group’s success, even helped
the production of the book.
‘The cover was designed by Michele Edgecombe, who is
not a member, but is the daughter of member Margue of the
Turks and Caicos Islands,’ said Olaf. ‘When there was an amendment
to make to the design to account for a change in spine thickness,
I received the memo from the printers at 1.30pm. I e-mailed
Michele at about 1.40pm, and I had the amended cover in my
hands by 2pm, which I then sent straight to the printers.
‘I suspect that working by e-mail is probably faster than
if we'd been an ordinary conventional group.’
Published with the support of the Arts Council England,
the book is available from Alpha
Circle |
