About Us
A warm welcome to the Hastings Writers' Group website. Here you will find details of our current programme, activities, publications and other items of interest.

     Our group was established in 1947, so we can claim to be one of the longest-running writers’ groups in the country. Former patrons include the well-loved Catherine Cookson, who was a founder member and our patron for many years, and David Gemmell, best-selling author of heroic fantasy. Our current newly-appointed patron is author Tamara McKinley, best known for her Australian sagas, particularly Matilda's Last Waltz.

     We are a friendly crowd with wide-ranging interests, some of us published and some still aspiring to be. Meetings are held fortnightly at Alexander's, Masonic Hall, East Ascent, St Leonards-on-Sea, on Monday evenings from 7.30-9.30 pm. Our programme includes manuscript evenings, where members can read out extracts of their work for constructive criticism, guest speakers, workshops, and internal competitions with feedback from external judges. We have a 'Writer of the Year' award, presented to the member gaining the highest overall points from five varied competitions. Additionally, we hold a separate members' short story competition for the Catherine Cookson Cup. Prospective new members are very welcome to visit and try us out before deciding whether to join. We aim to have something for everyone.
     Our publications include Strandline - an anthology of members' work including fiction, non-fiction and poetry - and Diamonds, A Collection of Childhood Memories, our charity anthology, produced to mark our Diamond Anniversary last year. Further details of these are included in our Publications section.

     We run an annual national short story competition (open-theme, 2000 words max)  the Legend Writing Award, set up in 2001 by our then patron, David Gemmell, and named after his first, award-winning and favourite book, Legend.  Widely regarded as prestigious, the competition particularly aims to encourage new writers in the UK. Closing date is 31st August and entry fee £7 for first entry, then £5 for any subsequent entries. Prizes for 2008 are 1st  £500, 2nd £250, 3rd £100 plus 3 runners-up x £50.  Full rules and entry forms will shortly be available on our competition website www.legendwritingaward.com or e-mail legendwritingaward@yahoo.co.uk or send SAE to LWA, 39 Emmanuel Road, Hastings, TN34 3LB. 

For any further details about the activities and membership of the group please e-mail: hastingswritersgroup@googlemail.com