About us
This is a group for anyone interested in writing and meeting other writers in the Caversham and wider Berkshire area. For our online meetings, we also welcome members globally.
We were founded in 2018 by Canadian author Crystal Bourque with an ethos that we still maintain today: "If you write, you're a writer."
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We've always been free to join and free to attend. To help keep it that way, please consider Buying Me A Coffee, all donations go towards the running of the group.
All skill levels are welcome - published or unpublished, aspiring authors or enthusiastic hobbyists. We have members that write in all genres, so whether you write fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, fantasy or reality, you will fit right in.
We currently hold meetings in 4 different formats:
> Writing Meetings. In which we'll either work on (or start) any writing project of our own choosing, or we'll set a theme or prompt for all to use as a starting point.
> Feedback Meetings. In which we'll provide feedback on excerpts of members work, either submitted in advance or read out to the group on the night. Feedback should be constructive, encouraging, and tailored to the author's directed instruction.
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> Author Events. In which published authors come along to talk to the group. We have a Q & A with them about their writing process and path to publication.
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> Writes & Bites. In which we meet for a social evening, usually at a local restaurant. No writing involved in these events, they are an opportunity to get to know each other better and, of course, to discuss all things writing.
> We also have occasional one off special events, such as literary festival talks, book signings, launch parties.
Upcoming events
4
Prompt-Write Night (Online event)
·OnlineOnlineFeeling stuck? Unblock yourself in this writing session where I set a prompt or theme for members to use as a jumping off point for an hour of writing. You can use it to write fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose.
What to expect:
We'll start off the meeting with introductions and a bit of a chat (which usually runs to about 30 minutes).
I will then introduce a writing prompt for us all to follow, a jumping off point to act as a guide for the writing session. What you do with it, where you go with it, is entirely up to you! We'll write for about an hour, after which we can talk about where our writing took us and maybe share some of what we produced.No pressure, though - only share whatever you feel comfortable with. (We do have a more formal feedback meeting that you can submit pieces to for review - check our upcoming events for more details.)
**Don't forget to subscribe to our Caversham Writers newsletter! A weekly round up of our events, discussions, member news and more straight to your inbox every Friday.
23 attendees
Bookshop Week Coffee Morning
Costa Coffee, 43 Church St, Reading RG4 8BA, Reading, GBIndependent Bookshop Week is a celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. It aims to highlight the vital role independent bookshops play in their communities, and to encourage consumers to shop for their summer reads with their local independent.
We are very lucky in Caversham to have the wonderful Fourbears Books. Alex and the team are so very supportive of the community in general and us at Caversham Writers in particular.
So I thought we as a group should show some support in return and this special event is to that end.
Here's the plan:
- We'll gather at Costa Coffee in St Martin's Precinct in Caversham for coffee and a chat.
- Then we troop round to Fourbears and buy a book!
- Share your book purchases on social media tagging @booksaremybag and #IndieBookshopWeek (and @fourbearsbooks)
If you're too far from Caversham to join us in person, visit your local bookshop wherever you are and join in by posting your book purchases on social media tagging @booksaremybag and #IndieBookshopWeek
Let me know how you celebrated Independent Bookshop Week and I'll put it in the Caversham Writers newsletter.
2 attendees
Writeshare Night - Read Your Work To The Group (in person!)
Fourbears Books, 20 Prospect St, Caversham, RG4 8JG, Reading, GBAt this in-person event at Fourbears Books in Caversham, members have the opportunity to read out their work to the rest of the group and get some instant feedback.
**If you're reading at the East Reading Festival on Sunday June 21st, this is a chance to practice and get a little feedback before the day**
What to expect: We shall take turns to introduce and read out our writing (10 minutes maximum) and have a short discussion on the piece we've heard. Anyone that doesn't get a turn this time we will prioritize for the next Writeshare Night.
What do I read to the group? Anything you have written - a work in progress; a first draft; a finished piece. Anything that you'd like to share and get some immediate responses to.
Do I submit my work in advance? No, the object of the exercise is to get an immediate first impression response from your fellow writers after you read the piece out.
It is not mandatory to read something at this event. By all means, join us only to listen and contribute to the discussion if you prefer.
The aim is to encourage our writing by having this space to share it and getting some spontaneous responses. We ask as always that this should be constructive and positive. It will be great to hear what we’re all working on.
**Don't forget to subscribe to our Caversham Writers newsletter! A weekly round up of our events, discussions, member news and more straight to your inbox every Friday.
13 attendees
Writes & Bites - an in person social event!
Alto Lounge, 32 Church St, Caversham, Reading, GBThis is our regular social event for members to meet and chat over a meal at a local Caversham/Reading restaurant.
We're meeting at Alto Lounge in Caversham this time. See Alto Lounge - Café Bar - Caversham - Lounges - Food & Drink
We'll typically talk about all things writing, so feel free to raise any questions you might have about your own, or each other's, writing projects.
There is no agenda for this meeting - no laptops, pens or paper required. It is just a chance for us to get to know each other a little better, to meet new members, or to get reacquainted with those we haven't seen in a while.
Members are responsible for their own food and drink.
**Don't forget to subscribe to Caversham Writers newsletter!
10 attendees
Past events
367
Group links
Members
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