Riverside Writers are an enthusiastic and informal group who live and work on the Wirral Peninsula in Cheshire, England. They meet each month in West Kirby Library where they hold workshops, set group writing projects and offer constructive guidance.

The group was formed in 1998, and its members include published authors plus absolute beginners, people who are developing writing careers and people who write purely for fun. Non-fiction writers, poets and fiction writers of all genres are equally welcomed.

Group members are regular guests on 7 Waves Radio 92.1 FM, Wirral's community radio station which can be heard globally via their website.

In 2008, the group hosted "Words from Wordsmiths", an evening of readings of original poetry and prose before a lively audience in West Kirby Library. This event was part of Wirral Bookfest.

A similar event, called "New Tales for Old Byways", will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, October 10th, 2009. Everyone is welcome!

Chair: Adele Cosgrove-Bray.

Secretary & Co-Treasurer: Tim Hulme.

Treasurer: Peter Hurd.

Contact Riverside Writers:

Email: riversidewriters@aol.com

Riverside Writers' Aims:

1) To encourage people to write.

2) To offer constructive, polite criticism of each others' work with the intention of improving writing skills.

3) To offer useful advice about the publishing industry.

4) To encourage use of the internet as a networking tool.

5) To provide a friendly and informal atmosphere where writers of all genres and abilities can socialise.

To keep the group's focus on writing, rather than on merely talking about writing, each month we have a new project which involves producing a poem or short story--of any length or genre--on a set theme.

The theme could be an opening phrase, a particular location or a randomly-chosen group of words (such as piano, ballet shoe, bazooka, ufo.) Sometimes we've used an unusual photograph as a source if inspiration, as with the photo of a tree in the middle of a forest which had been decorated with ladies shoes. Or perhaps we've used a set challenge (such as 'The Literary Chicken' in 200 words.) The theme serves as a starting point from which ideas can flow, and a person is totally free too take the idea in any direction.

At our meetings, we read aloud our efforts from the preceeding month. Though we have all worked from the same starting point, nobody ever produces a similar story. The sheer variety of responses to the projects is part of the fun.

No-one is obliged to join in if they don't wish to. Maybe that month they simply haven't had the time. But those who do participate regularly have found that their standard of writing has improved. Also, over time they develop a portfolio of work which they would probably not have thought of if they hadn't joined in with the monthly writing projects.