Upcoming Events
2nd December – Members’ Christmas Social
Calling all members! We’ll be enjoying an evening of literary cheer as we gather to celebrate another year of creativity, community, and storytelling. Whether you’re polishing a manuscript, dabbling in poetry, or simply enjoying the written word, this is your chance to unwind among fellow writers in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It’s
3rd February 2026 – Rosie Pierce (Curtis Brown)
We are delighted to welcome Rosie Pierce from top literary agent Curtis Brown! More details to follow nearer the time…
Our monthly writers’ events are held at: Hartington Grove Meeting House.
91-93 Hartington Grove
Cambridge
CB1 7UB
Non-members are welcome to attend most events, at a charge of £3. Please contact our chairman Harry Goode if you would like to come along.
If members have any suggestions for speakers you would like to hear at our writers’ events, please contact our events officer.
Recent Events
4th September 2018 – Una McCormack
Una McCormack teaches Creative Writing at Anglia Ruskin University. She is an expert on Science Fiction and Fantasy, author of a number of tie-in novels to Star Trek and Dr Who. The session will go beyond these genres and look at all the problems we encounter as writers. It will largely be held as a Question and Answer session.
7th July 2018 – Summer Social
Saturday 7th July, from 6 to 10 pm at Mulberry House, 23 High Ditch Road, Fen Ditton. Bread, cheese, butter and soft drinks will be provided, but we ask that you bring a dish (sweet or savoury, as you choose) to share, and such alcoholic drink as you wish. There will be a charge of £5 per head. You are
5th June 2018 – Flash Fiction Competition
This is a members-only competition. Bring along a printed story of not more that 250 words. It must have a title, although this is not part of the word count. Stories will be read aloud anonymously by a single reader to ensure a uniformity of delivery. Members will then cast votes to determine the winner.
1st May 2018 – Writing for Competitions
Ingrid Jendrzejewski received a BFA in Creative Writing and a BA in English literature and then switched tracks to study physics. She returned to creative writing in 2014 and has since won 11 writing competitions, judged three short-story contests, had around 100 pieces published, and been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, Vestal’s VERA Award, and twice for Best Small Fictions.
6th March 2018 – Annual General Meeting
Don’t be scared – all existing officers are willing to go on serving. However, if you fancy a turn at an office, do step forward. The formal business will be followed by a Twitter Competition – telling a story in 280 characters, which includes spaces and punctuation. Box of chocolates for the winner.
6th February 2018 – Short Story Competition Judging Event
The annual Short Story Competition is judged this year by literary agent Julian Friedmann who is a longstanding partner in the Blake-Friedmann literary agency and who has given us a presentation in April 2017.
5th December 2017 – Workshop by Tim Love
Hemingway said "If you can throw away stuff that would make a high point of interest in somebody else’s story, you know you’re going good." In this workshop-based evening, Tim Love will look at how to edit your texts – adding as well as throwing away – starting at the word level then working all the way up to shifting
7th November 2017 – Creative Writing Course with Cambridge Writers
Jane Phillips completed a two year MA course at City University, London – Creative Writing, Novels (Crime), in October 2016. Was it expensive – yes she says, was it worth it – yes again. What did I learn? I'll tell you in November she promises – with some handouts from the course. Les Brookes attended a couple of Arvon courses
3rd October 2017 – Emotional Resonance and the Short Story
Helen will give part talk, part workshop about the "Emotional Resonance and the Short Story". Sheis a Lecturer of Creative Writing and Publishing at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England. Her first collection of fiction Hair Side, Flesh Side won the Sydney J Bounds Award in 2013, and Gifts for the One Who Comes After, her second collection, won the
5th September 2017 – Alexander Masters
Alexander Masters is an author, screenwriter, and worker with the homeless and lives in Cambridge. He is the writer and illustrator of "Stuart: A Life Backwards", the biography of Stuart Shorter. It explores how a young boy, somewhat disabled from birth, became mentally unstable, criminal and violent, living homeless on the streets of Cambridge. The book won many prizes and
1st July 2017 – Summer Social
5.00 – 8.30 pm at 22a Riverbank, Littleport Our member Siobhan Carew and her husband have kindly made their farm available for this event. There will be a charge of £5 per head, and members are welcome to bring guests. You must also bring a dish (sweet or savoury) and some drink (whether alcoholic or not) to share. The farm
6th June 2017 – Flash Fiction Competition
This is a members-only competition. Bring along a printed story of not more that 250 words. It must have a title, although this is not part of the word count. Stories will be read aloud anonymously by a single reader to ensure a uniformity of delivery. Members will then cast votes to determine the winner. The prize is a box