Welcome to the Hastings Writers' Group website

Please note, this site is currently under construction.

Our group was established in 1947, so we can claim to be one of the longest-running writers’ groups in the country. Sixty-two years later we are still going strong. We meet fortnightly at the White Rock Hotel, Hastings, on alternate Monday evenings, and our programme of guest judges and speakers, competitions, manuscript evenings, fun evenings and workshops aims to offer something for everyone who enjoys writing.

Late patrons include the well-loved Catherine Cookson, who was a founder member, and David Gemmell, popular best-selling author of many heroic fantasy novels. Both of these have supported and encouraged the group over the years and neither will be forgotten.

Our current patron is Sussex-based author Tamara McKinley, best known for her Australian sagas, particularly Matilda's Last Waltz. Her latest books are the Oceania trilogy, two of which, Lands Beyond the Sea and Kingdoms of the Brave, were nominated for awards in Australia.

We have a number of successfully published authors amongst our members: Andy Oakes, who is credited with inventing the new genre ‘Chinese Noir’ with his books Dragon’s Eye (winner of the 2004 European Crime and Mystery Award) and Citizen One ; Monica Tracey, whose novel Unweaving the Thread was recommended on the Richard and Judy TV show; Kate O’Hearn, whose exciting children’s fantasy adventure Shadow of the Dragon – Part One – Kira won the 2009 1066 School Book Award, with Part 2: Elspeth published in May this year; and Richard Holdsworth, whose book Six Spoons of Sugar is an evacuee story with a difference.

Honorary member ‘Johnnie’ Johnson has a number of true crime and local history books to his credit as well as winning the NAWG most promising novel award for And Such Great Names As These written as Allen Makepeace.

Other members have been successful in national competitions or have had stories, articles, poems and letters published in national magazines.

We also have members who are still aspiring to publication and these enjoy the support and experience of the published members.

We are an active group – we have published seven issues of Strandline, our anthology of members’ work (two of which won national awards) and compiled Diamonds – A Collection of Childhood Memories, our charity anthology, to celebrate our Diamond anniversary in 2007.

Diamonds has raised £3000+ for charities helping children: Demelza House Children’s Hospice, RNIB Talking Books and Xpress Yourself magazine for children in care. Diamonds was also selected for RNIB Talking Book production and is now in their library where it can be enjoyed by visually-impaired people across the country. Additionally, we have sponsored Kate O’Hearn’s Shadow of the Dragon’ as an RNIB talking book.

We run the national Legend Writing Award short story competition, established by David Gemmell in 2001 and named after his first and favourite award-winning book Legend. This year, as well as the 2000 word max short story competition, we are introducing a new section for the growing in popularity genre of flash fiction and this is for a short, short story of 100 words exactly (excluding title). Closing date is 31st August and full details of prizes, entry fees etc are on our competition website: www.legendwritingaward.co.uk

January 12th – Fun Flash Fiction Competition: Bring something of EXACTLY 100 words (excluding title). Own choice of subject – entries judged on the evening.

January 26 – Entries due for Competition 1 – Non-Fiction Personal Opinion Piece: Maximum 1000 words. To be judged by Brion Purdey, ex-principal librarian and well-known local speaker.

February 9 – Manuscript Evening: Maximum of FOUR manuscripts can be discussed, with a maximum of 1200 words each. If you wish to bring your ms for discussion, you MUST reserve a place in advance. Please bring 12 copies of your ms for group members.

February 23 – Results Competition 1: Brion Purdey will present the results of the Personal Opinion Piece competition.

arch 9 – Entries due - Competition 2: A Piece in the Style Of....': 1000-word maximum fiction piece in the style of a well-known author of your choice, eg, Nabakov, Christie, Blyton, etc. To be judged by Andy Oakes, group member and award-winning author.

March 23 – How To Write A Novel: Workshop presented by HWG members Andy Oakes (Citizen One, Dragon's Eye, Pan Books) and Monica Percy (w/a Monica Tracey, Unweaving The Thread, Marino Books.') Bring pen and paper!

April 6 – Results – Competition 2: Andy Oakes will present the results of 'A Piece in the Style Of....'

April 20 – Entries Due – Competition 3: A 2000 word maximum mystery story. To be judged by Dr. Cathy Watts, Head of English Language Studies at Brighton University, and writer of children's stories.

May 11 – Workshop – Writing Children's Fiction: Presented by HWG Chairperson and author Kate O'Hearn (Shadow of the Dragon series, Hodder Children’s Books.) Bring pen and paper!

June 1 – Results – Competition 3: Dr. Cathy Watts, Head of English Language Studies at Brighton University and writer of children’s stories will present the results of the short Mystery Story competition.

June 15 – Manuscript Evening: Maximum 4 manuscripts can be discussed, with a maximum of 1200 words each. Places MUST be booked in advance. Please bring 12 copies of your ms for group members.

June 29 – An Evening with our Patron, Tamara McKinley Tamara will talk on Characterisation and the ability to make a person real to the reader in the fewest possible number of words.

July 13 – Entries due – Competition 4: Poetry A poem with a maximum of 40-lines on an open theme, to be judged by Bexhill poet Richard Evans. July 27 – Workshop with member David Buchan David will run a workshop/information evening on Journalism. Bring pen and paper!

Aug 10 – Results – Competition 4 Richard Evans will present the results of the poetry competition.

Aug 24 – Manuscript Evening. Maximum 4 x 1200 word manuscripts. Please book in advance.

Sept 7 – Entries due – Competition 5 – Dialogue-based A 2000 word max/10 minute max piece on the theme of ‘an argument.’ To be judged by Dr. Katy Shaw, Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Brighton. NB This argument may be mainly dialogue or dialogue only.

Sept 21 – Workshop with member Kay Green Kay will be run a two-part workshop - ‘Reading your Work,’ and ‘Beating the Block.’ Bring pen and paper!

Oct 5 – Results – Competition 5 Dr. Katy Shaw will present the results of the dialogue-based competition.

Oct 19 – AGM and/or Programme Meeting Further details will be confirmed.

Nov 2 – Workshop with member Linda Cunniffe Linda will present a workshop on ‘Self-Editing Your First Draft.’ Bring pen and paper!

Nov 16 – Entries Due – Catherine Cookson Cup An open-theme short story competition with a maximum of 3000 words, this year’s contest will be judged by our patron, popular author Tamara McKinley. Open only to those members who have attended at least four previous meetings.

Nov 30 – Manuscript Evening. Maximum 4 manuscripts can be discussed, with a maximum of 1200 words each. Places to be booked, bring 12 copies of your manuscript.

Dec 11 – Hastings Writers’ Group 2009 Presentation Evening Watch this space for further details!

Notes: Bookings to read at manuscript meetings should be made with the Deputy Chairman by the previous meeting.

The speakers and judges listed may have to be substituted in unforeseen circumstances.

Competition rules

1) No names of entrants to be included on manuscripts.

2) Double spacing to be used excepting poetry, which is single spaced

3) Pages to be numbered and stapled

4) Word count to be shown and to be within the limit stated

5) Entries to be handed in by the due date unless in extreme circumstances (eg sudden illness/ trauma etc) you have been granted an extension

As entries are sent to an external judge, presentation should be carefully considered.

For more information on the group, please e-mail Hastings Writers for more information.