OUR NEWS
The latest news and gossip from within
The Lutterworth Writers Group
23rd April 2024
Annual Short Story Competition Winner
Huge Congratulations to Sylvia Smith who was announced as the winner of our 2024 Short Story Writing Competition with her entry, 'Uninvited Dilemma', judged this year by local writer Dave Martin.
That makes it 4 wins in a row for Sylvia
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The full results were:
1st Sylvia Smith
2nd Pat Knight
3rd Andy Vaughan
Highly Commended: Gayle Scotchbrook
Highly Commended: Liz Marsh
6th April 2024
Poetry Workshop with Gary Carr
We had a great turn out at our Poetry Workshop run by local poet Gary Carr.
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We discovered what types of poetry we liked and didn't like and examined what makes poetry poetry. Everyone had a go at writing a poem, with some excellent examples shared by the group. We were introduced to the complexities and nuances of writing many different styles of poetry that we can put into practice in our next writing task in May.
12th December 2023
Christmas Meeting and Flash Fiction Competition
A fun evening was had by all who attended our last meeting of 2023
We enjoyed the opportunity to chat as we enjoyed festive nibbles.
Congratulations to Kazia and Francis who were joint winners of our Christmas Flash Fiction Competition
26th March 2024
Speaker Evening with Judith Cooper
The group enjoyed a very interesting and informative evening listening to group member, Judith Cooper talking about her Historical Novel which she is currently in the process of editing. It was fascinating to hear about the amount of research that is needed to accurately write a novel set in the 1830's in Coventry and Australia. Judith gave some useful advice on where to search for information. We were all intrigued to discover there is actually a book of Stage Coach Timetables from 1836!
We can't wait to read the finished book.
26th September 2024
AGM and a
New Chairperson
The groups Annual General Meeting was well attended and ran smoothly. The group had enjoyed a busy year celebrating its 35th anniversary and many members had successfully published new work.
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The group thanked Outgoing Chairperson, Elizabeth Marsh for her years of service as she handed over to incoming Chairperson Julie Hurn who was warmly welcomed into her new role.
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Other changes included, Committee member Eric Galley standing down from his role and the group welcomed Gail Scothcbrook onto the committee and into the shared role of Beverage Coordinator along with Mary Rolleston
25th July 2023
Members Summer Night Out
The group enjoyed a night out together at Cheikos Restaurant in Lutterworth. It was a lovely opportunity for everyone to spend time together socially and chat about things other than writing
27th June 2023
THANK YOU
to our Chairperson
Group President Cathy Mansell thanked Chairperson Liz Marsh for all of her hard work and leadership of the group as she prepares to stand down from the role at the AGM in September. Liz was presented with flowers.
27th June 2023
Cathy Mansell Award
At the last meeting before our summer break, Group President Cathy Mansell presented Patricia Knight with the Cathy Mansell Trophy for her service to the group and for the success of her script writing and short films.
25th April 2023
Annual Short Story Writing Competition
Winner Announced
Huge Congratulations to Sylvia Smith who was announced as the winner of this years Short Story Writing Competition judged by Steve Bowkett. Sylvia retained the trophy following her success in last years competition, which makes it three wins in a row for Sylvia.
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The entries by Cathy Mansell and Gail Scotchbrook were Highly Commended.
1st April 2023
Writing East Mildands
Writers Conference
Members of Lutterworth Writers' Group attended Writing East Midlands Writers' Conference held recently at Derby University. With a wide variety of workshops, talks and panel discussions as well as key note speakers, it was a very interesting and informative day.
Writing Workshop
Saturday 22nd April 2023
1pm - 5pm
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Denbigh Room, Lutterworth Town Hall
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Dialogue, Points of View & Settings
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The workshop will be led by Jo Derrick, a local Writer
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The cost of the workshop is £15.00 including tea & biscuits.
Bring your own packed lunch
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If you're interested in attending email us at
lutterworthwritersgroup@gmail.com
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CANCELLED
28th March 2023
March Meeting
The group enjoyed a rather different evening with an excellent talk from Wayne Kelly on an 'Introduction to Big Screen Writing'
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Examining areas such as Points of View, Camera Angles, how to bring cinematic elements to story writing and much more, which the group found very useful.
13th December 2022
December / Christmas Meeting
The group enjoyed a fun filled Christmas evening for our last meeting of the year. With word games and fascinating facts, we ;learnt a lot more about each other than we'd ever expected. who knew we had members that have entertained Royalty, dated a Hollywood celebrity, driven around Los Angeles in a De Lorena Sports Car and played darts with World Champions.
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It was wonderful to have our President, Cathy Mansell attend and to have three possible new members join us for the evening too.
8th October 2022
35th Anniversary Celebration & Anthology Launch
We held our 35th Anniversary celebrations and launch of an anthology of members work on Saturday 8th October. Check out the 35th Anniversary page, here on our website for more details and photos from the event
14th September 2022
35th Anniversary Celebrations
Lutterworth Writers’ Group is amazed and delighted to find that we are almost thirty five years old!
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To celebrate, we have produced an anthology of writing from past and present members (with financial support from Lutterworth Area Community Fund and Lutterworth Lions Club).
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On SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER we will launch our book and celebrate our thirty fifth birthday. For an invitation or to order a copy of our anthology, please e mail us at lutterworthwritersgroup@gmail.com
28th June 2022
June Meeting
We had an excellent turn out for our last official meeting before the summer break. As expected our 'write a paragraph and pass it on' challenge created some very interesting, strange and funny stories. A great night was enjoyed by all.
14th May 2022
Writing Workshop
The writing workshop led by local writer Dave Martin was enjoyed by all who attended. He gave a very interesting and informative session on many key aspects of writing including developing plot ideas and developing good characters.
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A very interesting debate followed looking at peoples perceptions of the Ernest Hemingway piece given to read prior to the workshop which highlighted three different interpretations of the same piece.
Saturday 14th May 2022
10am - 2pm
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Denbigh Room, Lutterworth Town Hall
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'How I understand Story, Narrative Structure and its Interactions with Character - a Writer's Journey'
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The workshop will be led by Dave Martin, local author and member of Leicester Writers' Group
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The cost of the workshop is £15.00 including team & biscuits.
Bring your own packed lunch
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If you're interested in attending please click the button below to email us
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Writing Workshop
26th April 2022
Short Story Competition Results
And the Winner is .................
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Following a tutorial on Short Story Writing, our judge Lilian Butterwick announced the results of our annual Short Story Writing Competition.
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This years winner is Sylvia Smith with her entertaining story 'Three Little Words'. Sylvia was presented with a gift voucher by group Chairperson Liz Marsh.
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In 2nd place was Lynne Vernon
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In joint 3rd place was Julie Hurn and Mario Anastasiades
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22nd March 2022
March Meeting
The Group enjoyed a rather different evening, with several members giving talks on particular aspects of their writing
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Pat Knight - showed her short film 'A Change in Time' which she has written, produced and directed
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Cathy Mansell - Getting a publisher and agent for her novels including The Dublin Girls
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Andy Vaughn - Getting a publishing deal for his novel, The Impossible Last Request
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Lynne Vernon - Points to consider when writing a memoir
14th December 2021
December / Christmas Meeting
Members enjoyed our Christmas event, with intrigue and fun had by all trying to identify who had written each story that was read out by someone else. Despite the necessary Covid precautions we all par took in festive food & chat and with Christmas hats, jumpers and Reindeer antlers a plenty, we had a jolly nice time.
26th October 2021
Members of the writing group in our new meeting venue at Lutterworth Town Hall
October Meeting
28th September 2021
September Meeting and AGM
The group held its first in person meeting since February 2020. The new venue at Lutterworth Town Hall worked really well. After a successful AGM, the group enjoyed a chance to finally have a chat over tea and biscuits followed by members reading their work on what lockdown had meant to them. We were so excited about meeting up again, no one took any photos!
27th July 2021
Tea & Cake Catchup
Members from the group enjoyed meeting up in person for the first time in well over a year due to COVID restrictions. Conversation flowed as we discovered what we'd all been up. Tea & cake was enjoyed and 3 lucky people received a copy of 'Taking Off', an anthology of short stories previously compiled by the group.
22nd June 2021
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June Meeting
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A most enjoyable evening was had by all who attended our June Zoom meeting, taking part in a variety of writing games and challenges.
27th April 2021
New Meeting Venue
A new venue for our return to in person meetings has been found. Meetings will be held in the Denbeigh Room at Lutterworth Town Hall. Hopefully we will be able to begin this in September, Covid restrictions permitting. In the meantime we continue with our Zoom meetings
23rd February 2021
Meeting Venue
Sadly the group has been informed that the venue for our meetings, The United Reform Church, Lutterworth is to close permanently. We will therefore be searching for another venue to hold our meetings when we are once again able to meet again in person.
8th December 2020
December Meeting
A jolly good evening was had by all who attended the groups December Zoom meeting. We didn't let being on Zoom spoil the mood. Liz organised entertainment and fun games to get our writing ideas flowing. As no one had to drive home, a glass of what they fancied was enjoyed by all to get into the festive spirit.
24th November 2020
Annual Short Story Competition Ajudication
This year's competition was judged by local writer, Mary Byrne. Mary is an accomplished writer of short stories having won many competitions with Leicester writers and also has had a lot of short stories published.
Mary provided a brief synopsis together with a summary of each of the entries providing a brief synopsis together with a summary of what she enjoyed about each story and providing useful constructive feedback.
Mary explained her choice of winner was based on the structure, development the plot and being transported to another place.
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The winning entry was announced as 'A Life Imagined' by Sylvia Smith.
27th October 2020
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Guest speaker Madalyn Morgan
The group enjoyed a fascinating evening with local author
Madelyn Morgan. With stories from her childhood and life as an actor, to the creation of her novels, Madelyn gave the group valuable advice and suggestions on writing and self publishing.
23rd September 2020
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1st Zoom Meeting
We did it! We enjoyed our first meeting back with 10 members using the Zoom Platform. After a successful AGM, we were treated to members work in a variety of styles based around the topic of 'Lockdown'.
6th July 2020
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1st Zoom Committee Meeting
The Writing Group Committee have now held two meetings via Zoom. They have been busy planning how the group can restart its meetings with the AGM on 22nd September under COVID restrictions
Bede Roberts with Group President Cathy Mansell
14th March 2020
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Writing Workshop with Bead Roberts
Local writer Bede Roberts held a workshop for the group on 'what is specifics', looking at improving bland dialogue. everyone enjoyed the writing exercise and feedback from Bede.
December 18th 2019
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Cathy Mansel Award
Group President, Cathy Mansell presented the Cathy Mansell Award for outstanding achievement to Sylvia Smith.
