Author: Croydon Writers

A writer’s group based in Croydon

A Croydon Writing Competition?

Jan 8, 2025

We are thinking of running a writing competition this year and would be interested in views. We provisionally thought that the competition should:

  • be called ‘The Michael Round Prize’,
  • be free to enter,
  • offer a first prize of £100 and a second prize of £50,
  • open for entries in June and close in September,
  • be open to anyone (ie not just members),
  • accept prose pieces between 1,000 and 3,000 words,
  • require pieces to be on the theme ‘Far and Wide’,
  • be judged by a panel responsible for producing a shortlist with final placings decided by a ‘celebrity’ judge (if we can get one),
  • require entries to be submitted by email, and
  • allow only one entry per person.

All of these points are very much open for discussion – let us know your thoughts in a comment, email, or at our next meeting.

Update: we discussed these suggestions at the January meeting. Members were broadly in agreement but thought the suggested theme sounded old-fashioned, and that a small entry fee was worth considering. The idea of a competition anthology was popular and members thought we might need to establish a competition sub-committee.

This will be discussed again at the February meeting – if you have ideas for a theme in the meantime, please email them to ecorduff@hotmail.com

10 February meeting

Jan 6, 2025

Jo Bodley performed her comedy routine to an appreciative audience.  Her quick-fire gags, infectious take on life, mental health and the horrors of the hospital ward were punctuated with clever use of props and audience participation. She had us in stitches!

The following Q and A session was lively, informative and funny. Jo outlined some of the many genres of comedy and gave a frank description of her journey through the process of becoming a stand -up comic. Favourite comedians were reflected on, with wide- ranging styles discussed. 

Members read self-penned pieces with a comic flavour. Phil’s take on the life of a fountain pen was thought-provoking, whilst Nikki ended the meeting in style with an extract from the inimitable Dorothy Parker. 

 Thanks to Jo for an uplifting session!

13 January Meeting

Jan 1, 2025

Simon led our January meeting, and asked members to bring along a pen portrait of someone to capture something of their character or story which we could share and discuss. Interpretations of a pen portrait varied and pieces in a range of different styles and interpretations were read, from brief biographies to evocative poems and a humorous obituary, Private Eye style.

Members also talked about progress with their latest projects, and the suggested competition.

Kishōtenketsu

Oct 30, 2024

Another item that might be of interest. We are used to stories that follow a ‘three-act’ structure, but East Asian cultures often use a four-part pattern, called ‘Kishotenketsu’ in Japanese. This is a brief introduction, and there’s another here.

11 November Meeting

Oct 25, 2024

Our November meeting will be led by Stella, and there will be two parts.

  • A poem. Please bring a short poem. We’d like to hear one you have written yourself, but if you don’t write poetry, bring one you particularly like or that means something to you.
  • Feedback. Please also bring a short piece of writing (about 200 words) for us to practice friendly peer review. It could be a short piece of fiction, an extract from something longer, non-fiction or anything else you’d like to get constructive feedback on.

If you don’t feel comfortable with either of these, you’re still welcome to come along and join in, but the more input we get the better it will be.

2411 November AgendaDownload

Michael Round

Aug 31, 2024

We will greatly miss Michael Round, our energetic chair, who passed away on 6 July, leaving a gap which will be very hard to fill.

After a life of military and teaching service, Michael became an invaluable mentor to many local writers. He published some of their books as well as his own, the latest of which, entitled Genius, came out very recently.

Donations in his memory can be made to Help for Heroes .