About Us
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Burton Monday Writers was formed in September 2000 by Maggs Payne, who saw a need for a day-time creative writing group in the area. Maggs found the perfect venue - Burton Town Centre Library. After contacting two fellow writers, Maggs launched Burton Monday Writers.
Over the years the group has produced several anthologies (latest on publications page). Members have had their work published, won writing competitions, attended conferences, had work read on national radio, signed publishing contracts and seen their work published internationally. We thrive on positive criticism, enthusiasm and a shared desire to enjoy creating the written and sometimes spoken word. We are a friendly group of people interested in producing short stories, poetry, scripts and novels. Over the years we have been very successful with our writing projects. Whilst we welcome new members over the age of 19 who have an interest in creative writing , in order for our group to function efficiently we have to limit the number of active members to around 20. Hence, we operate a wait-list system. If you are interested in joining our group in the first instance please contact: Burtonwriters@aol.com or telephone 01283 732680 when places become available we will contact you. Many thanks and best wishes with your writing projects. |
Breaking News:
At the annual National Association of Writing Groups conference in September 2018 two Burton Monday Writers won their sections: Ann Hodgkin won the historical short story section with an account of the early life of Derby Artist Joseph Wright when as a boy he witnessed the Jacobean occupation of Derby. Julia Dumelow won the travel article section with her account of her trip to Ghana in January 2018. (There is an account by Julia in our Activities section under the More tab at the top of this page.) Congratulations to both our trophy winners. But that's not all... Yuletide Tales - Burton Monday Writers' latest anthology published December 2017 was runner up and so were Shelagh Wain in two categories for her historical short story and limerick and Barbara Swallow for her comedy writing. All trophies and certificates were presented by guest speaker author Milly Johnson We congratulate all our writers who entered this national competition. Keep writing Burton - didn't we do well! Meetings Burton Monday Writers meets every Monday 1.15 pm to 3.30 pm at Burton Library upstairs meeting room. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided every week at no extra cost. No membership fee - pay as you go £3.00 per week. Burton Monday Writers is a member of the National Association of Writing Groups (NAWG) Weekly newsletter to members who have internet access Regular workshops on creative writing subjects led by professional creative writing tutors Regular publication of members' work in group anthologies (paperback). Weekly writing sessions. Burton Monday Writers is entirely self-funded and not supported by any local authority or charitable association. |
Outstanding Member Award 2017-18 Honorary Member Alan Payne (left) presents Outstanding Member of the Year, Barbara Swallow, with the Maggs Payne Trophy. The presentation was made at the annual dinner held in April 2018 at the Repton Tea Rooms. *** Obituaries Sadly our founder and Honorary President Maggs Payne passed away on her 83rd birthday January 17th 2018 Freda Beckett November 2017 It is with much sadness that we report the death of one of our longstanding and talented members. Please see More..tab at the top of the page and click onto Obituaries for details |
Calendar of Meetings• News of Burton Monday Writers next anthology out soon.
• Shelagh Wain won our recent internal short story competiton, with Barbara Swallow second and Lynda Turner third. Twelve members entered and the competition was judged by Author and Poet Sue Johnson. 'Avoid writer's bloc by ceasing to worry about the first sentence. Just throw down a few words that have something vaguely to do with the idea or image with which you wish to begin the passage you're writing, then carry on, as sketchily as necessary, and sort it all out later. You'll often find that the words unexpectedly start to flow, once you have begun.' George Monbiot, interviewed by The reading Lists |
September 2018* September 3
Exercise led by Gill * September 10 Exercise led by Mary * September 17 Exercise led by Josie * September 24 Workshop led by professional tutor, author and poet Jo Abbott "The great poets express what most of us struggle to put into words." Allie Esiri |
October 2018Julia * October 1
WW1 poems, stories, articles etc for Burton Recovery and Aftermath exhibition led by Julia * October 8 Exercise led by Betty * October 15 Exercise led by Julia * October 22 MSS re WW1 Burton Recovery & Aftermath Exhibition * October 29 Exercise led by Judy "It's splendid to be a great writer, to put men into the frying pan of our your imagination and make them pop like chestnuts." Gustave Flaubert |
November 2018• November 5
Exercise led by Mary (deadline for anthology stories) • November 12 Exercise led by Rhiannon • November19 MS Day bring your current work in progress • November 26 Exercise led by Ann December 3 Workshop led by professional tutor and writer Alison Dunne December 10 Exercise led by Gill December 17 Christmas Party December 24 and 31 no meeting library closed. 'I think that many novelists at the beginning of their careers spend far too much time writing and then tinkering with their first book.' Alexander McCall Smith "If you don't like to read, you haven't found the right book." J K Rowling |