AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAND WRITERS
Why is the group called Island Writers?
Obviously, we’re on an island (the Isle of Wight), but that’s not the only reason. By its nature, creative writing is a solitary pursuit, and so, as writers, we are often isolated from the outside world. The group gives us a chance to ground ourselves in reality by meeting other people.
Can I join?
Membership is open to anyone over 18.
The group is usually full, but do ask, as sometimes we have space for a new member. Please come and join our Facebook group as well.
We’re only looking for active members who will be active writers – people who will attend at least one of our two monthly meetings and are (or will be) currently producing some new creative writing.
Will Island Writers help me to get published?
We welcome anyone, whether they have published work, are self-published, or will be aiming for some kind of publication eventually. Every writer wants to be read, but these days, many writers choose self-publishing over the traditional route of finding an agent and submitting their work to publishing firms. Whatever you decide, we’ll support you in any way we can.
The focus of our meetings is more on perfecting our craft – improving the quality of our writing until we’re the best we can be.
What happens at meetings?
We’ll normally start within a few minutes, so if you like to chat and mingle first, arrive about ten minutes early.
The first half begins with a brief round-up, where each of us says how our writing’s been going since we last came to a meeting.
After that, we’ll do some writing activities based on our theme for the day, e.g. Time:
So that we don’t go ‘rabbit-in-the-headlights’ at the sight of the blank page, we start with a super-easy brainstorm exercise to generate ideas, such as ‘list any words, phrases and ideas connected with Time.’ e.g. clock tower, grandfather clock, passing the time, seconds too late, time machine, The Land Before Time, clocking out, Time Lord, eons of time, time on my hands…
Then a writing activity (or two if there’s time) based on the ideas and/or vocabulary generated in the previous exercise. e.g. ‘A piece of writing using one or more ideas from your list’ or ‘Write a piece about someone trying to make up for lost time.’
Writers may respond in any writing style – prose, poetry or play-script, humorous or serious, whatever suits their preference or is more helpful for the writing they do at home. We can even choose not to do the activity but write something entirely different: “I decided to write a poem about mangoes.”
Then we read out the results and give feedback (bearing in mind these are only first drafts). There is no obligation to read out your writing if you don’t wish to. If it didn’t come out the way you’d planned, or you want to take it home and polish it (or bin it!), no problem; not every pebble is a diamond.
At the halfway point, we break for 15 minutes for tea/coffee and biscuits (no extra charge), and maybe a trip to the loo or a hasty cigarette outside.
After this, we’ll discuss general writing issues, then read out a piece of work we’ve done since the last meeting, or ask for ideas on something we’ve been struggling to get right, for the group to give feedback and suggestions. Again, there is no obligation to read anything out, or someone else could read it for you if you prefer.
At the end, we give out an optional assignment to complete for the next meeting, perhaps a first line, title or subject. (If you’re coming for the first time, you can find the latest assignment on the Island Writers blog.) Some of us may find it motivates them to get started, or gives them an idea to develop. Others won’t. If you prefer to work on your own project, such as a novel or blog, or to write something on a different topic instead, that’s all fine, so long as you keep trying to produce new writing rather than editing Chapter 1 for the 2,725th time!