Newcastle Writers Group was established in 2009 by Karen Crofts.
Karen is a teacher, a writer and a graduate of the masters in creative writing program at the University of Newcastle.
Members of Newcastle Writers Group have usually completed one of the courses at Hunter Writers Centre and want to continue to develop their writing. Writing can be a lonely pursuit so this group enables writers to study published works and share their own in a positive and supportive atmosphere.
At our gatherings we share book reviews, our short-short fiction pieces (Flash or Nano Fiction) and give structured feedback to each other on our longer works (novels, novellas, short stories).
We also read and discuss a published short story each week. Over the years we have enjoyed works by Hemingway, Wolff, Malouf, Garner, Marquez, Carver, Bausch, Byatt, Levy, Proulx, London, Carey, Nam Le, Orwell, Leavitt and many more.
Our gatherings help writers improve their skills and share their love of reading and writing. Our writers enjoy a range of genres including fiction, creative non-fiction, sci-fi, travel, memoir and the personal essay. Authors, editors and other specialists visit us from time to time.
Whether you write fantasy, life writing, poetry, short stories or are attempting a novel, we welcome all styles. The courses and groups help you make your writing better. It's not what you write about, it's how you write it that makes your story engaging for the reader.
We also hold Live Reading Nights twice a year to celebrate the best of our works and pieces are also published on this site - stay turned for new works for 2012.
Karen Crofts, co-ordinator, is based at Hunter Writers Centre, 90 Hunter St, Newcastle.
Here are testimonials from Newcastle Writers Group members:
Tony: I enjoy the choice of writing subjects and the variety of stories written by the other members. The feedback on my stories has been a great help to me. I look forward to every meeting as Karen has a nice relaxed way of instructing and helping us with our writing.
Denise: I enjoy being with people who want to write. I love the discipline of having a flash fiction piece done each week. The input and encouragement from Karen is invaluable as are the comments from the other writers. I love the differences in age, styles of writing, genres and depth of knowledge within the group.
Megan: I really enjoy the company of other people who are passionate about writing. I am awestruck and inspired as I listen to others' writings - so many different styles! I believe that the discussions, tips, readings and guest speakers add depth to my writing.
Nicola: Having a regular group helps me to keep putting pen to paper. Hearing other peoples writing and discussing writing method, style and techniques help me to refine my work. My confidence is also growing from being in the group. It’s a scary thing to put your writing out there for critique and comment but this group is very supportive and constructive but also honest.
Josh: When I first attended Newcastle Writers Group, I was a little apprehensive. I have never been one to share my writing with any degree of confidence and the thought of a room filled with strangers passing judgement on my work, or worse yet, me, was horrifying. But I did attend and, with a healthy dose of trepidation, I shared my writing for the first time. Since then, I have not looked back.
See our home page for details about upcoming courses:
Travel Writing Course
and
Creative Writing Course
Both are one day courses.
Karen is a teacher, a writer and a graduate of the masters in creative writing program at the University of Newcastle.
Members of Newcastle Writers Group have usually completed one of the courses at Hunter Writers Centre and want to continue to develop their writing. Writing can be a lonely pursuit so this group enables writers to study published works and share their own in a positive and supportive atmosphere.
At our gatherings we share book reviews, our short-short fiction pieces (Flash or Nano Fiction) and give structured feedback to each other on our longer works (novels, novellas, short stories).
We also read and discuss a published short story each week. Over the years we have enjoyed works by Hemingway, Wolff, Malouf, Garner, Marquez, Carver, Bausch, Byatt, Levy, Proulx, London, Carey, Nam Le, Orwell, Leavitt and many more.
Our gatherings help writers improve their skills and share their love of reading and writing. Our writers enjoy a range of genres including fiction, creative non-fiction, sci-fi, travel, memoir and the personal essay. Authors, editors and other specialists visit us from time to time.
Whether you write fantasy, life writing, poetry, short stories or are attempting a novel, we welcome all styles. The courses and groups help you make your writing better. It's not what you write about, it's how you write it that makes your story engaging for the reader.
We also hold Live Reading Nights twice a year to celebrate the best of our works and pieces are also published on this site - stay turned for new works for 2012.
Karen Crofts, co-ordinator, is based at Hunter Writers Centre, 90 Hunter St, Newcastle.
Here are testimonials from Newcastle Writers Group members:
Tony: I enjoy the choice of writing subjects and the variety of stories written by the other members. The feedback on my stories has been a great help to me. I look forward to every meeting as Karen has a nice relaxed way of instructing and helping us with our writing.
Denise: I enjoy being with people who want to write. I love the discipline of having a flash fiction piece done each week. The input and encouragement from Karen is invaluable as are the comments from the other writers. I love the differences in age, styles of writing, genres and depth of knowledge within the group.
Megan: I really enjoy the company of other people who are passionate about writing. I am awestruck and inspired as I listen to others' writings - so many different styles! I believe that the discussions, tips, readings and guest speakers add depth to my writing.
Nicola: Having a regular group helps me to keep putting pen to paper. Hearing other peoples writing and discussing writing method, style and techniques help me to refine my work. My confidence is also growing from being in the group. It’s a scary thing to put your writing out there for critique and comment but this group is very supportive and constructive but also honest.
Josh: When I first attended Newcastle Writers Group, I was a little apprehensive. I have never been one to share my writing with any degree of confidence and the thought of a room filled with strangers passing judgement on my work, or worse yet, me, was horrifying. But I did attend and, with a healthy dose of trepidation, I shared my writing for the first time. Since then, I have not looked back.
See our home page for details about upcoming courses:
Travel Writing Course
and
Creative Writing Course
Both are one day courses.
