SPEAKEASY
Milton Keynes Writers' Group
We are a group of writers who love the written and spoken word. A group
with a great variety of writing. Some only write poems, some never write
poems. Some write books while others write letters. Short story writers
mingle with feature article writers. Some don't write at all - but like
to hear others read their work.
We are a friendly group who recognise that writing is a very lonely
occupation. That is why we gather together on the first Friday of the
month in Milton Keynes at 8 pm - for a bit of support, to share the joy
of success or the sorrow of rejection.
Our guest nights provide an opportunity for speakers from the literary
world to perform or read their work, as well as to offer advice and
guidance to up-and-coming writers. In 2005 Speakeasy played host to
chick-lit queen Carole Matthews, renowned poet and performer Martin
Newell, and the multi-faceted Jean Saunders.
To encourage Speakeasy members to develop their own voice as writers, we
also host two smaller groups: a poetry forum for aspiring poets and a
critique group for writers of short stories and novels. These meet on
the second and third Mondays of the month respectively. One of our
ambitions for 2006 is to establish a regular venue for "stand-up"
performance poetry; a number of Speakeasy members are well known on the
local performance circuit and our inaugural "From Bard to Verse" night
during the Stony Stratford Literature Festival in January 2005 attracted
a diverse crowd from across Bucks, Beds and Northants.
The Speakeasy open creative writing competition is an established part
of the annual competition calendar and attracts entrants from all over
the world. We have recently introduced a Young Writers' competition for
16s and under.
More information can be found on our website: www.mkweb.co.uk/Speakeasy,
or by emailing speakeasy@writerbrock.co.uk.