Hi; I've just registered on this site and wondered if anyone here is from East Devon or thereabouts. I've been writing fiction for six months and completed second draft of Crime novel (90,000) and finished two short stories. Need motivating and local discussion/critique.Tried local writer groups but didn't find them interesting or helpful. Would like to start a new small group for people similar to myself.
I used to live in Lyme Regis (so in theory not bad for east Devon) and there are very good writing groups there run by Joanna Smith called The Black Dog Writing Group(s). The groups attracted a great mix of people & abilities, involved discussions, critiques and writing exercises - all very ably guided by Jo.
Hello Ashley - I just joined this site today in order to enter their short story comp.
I too live in East Devon. I've had some children's books commercially published and had an agent for quite a while - but not any more. Would be happy to meet up on a one-off basis just to swap ideas etc. Local writing groups - forgetaboutit! You might try joining the Society of Authors - they have meetings in Devon. But, as you know, it's tough out there in the publishing world. I know someone in Axminster who is aspiring thriller writer. Another person in Bridport who is trying to write a psychological thriller. I don't know much about Crime genre, and tend not to read it much. There's a well-established writing group or two in Exeter.
Joe Hackett
Hi. I'm from Devon, in the South Hams, so not really near east Devon, I'm afraid. I also write for children rather than adult/crime etc. so I'm probably not much use to you. I've also belonged to a couple of writers' groups and not found them terribly useful, but I did a part time MA in Creative Writing at Plymouth Uni and found that both useful and stimulating and have kept up some contacts from that. Would you consider looking at something like that? Does Exeter uni do a creative writing course? Hope you find some people to have discussions with.
Carmen Henderson