Stories for Carers

October 14, 2026

Janet Maile says:

I thought the members of Croydon Writers might be interested in a project I have started. I am looking for short stories suitable for reading aloud to loved ones who are sick or have lost the ability to read for themselves to publish on my website. There is no charge to readers or writers.

Hearing is the last sense to disappear. I was inspired to start the project by my niece, who sat reading to mysister during her last days. Although she could not move or speak, I am certain it brought her comfort. 

I would welcome any contact from your writers

https://caringstories.weebly.com/submissions.html

12 October – Ethel on self-publishing

September 29, 2026

Besides being a stalwart, long-time member of Croydon Writers, and our Treasurer for many years, Ethel Corduff achieved international recognition with her book Ireland’s Loss Britain’s Gain, about Irish nurses in the UK. She has also published Blackberries and Crubeens, a charming memoir of her childhood in Tralee.

On 12 October she gave us a very interesting account of her personal experience with self-publishing. Several members have considered or taken this route, so it was a useful discussion as well as being entertaining.

The Essex Tapestries: the Life of Julie Cope

September 16, 2026

An unusual kind of fiction is currently on show at Croydon Museum, where large tapestries (like the Bayeux one, these are not strictly tapestries) together with an extended poetic ballad tell the life story of Julie Cope, an everywoman invented by Grayson Perry. He has invented characters to situate his art or be proxies for him previously as well as producing large tapestries. The show is recommended.

It’s free, until 19 September.

14 September – Workshop meeting

September 15, 2026

Nikki led a helpful and enjoyable writing workshop, the first part about facing the empty page and the second half on giving good feedback. A copy of her handout is below.

We also chatted about progress, or lack of it, with our current projects over the summer. Members are working on poems, stories, and memoirs, and finding the Writers’ Forum a useful source of feedback.

Story and PlotDownload