Tag: writing groups

A Farewell to 2021

As we reflect on this particularly challenging year, when it seemed we were stymied in many aspects of our lives, we’re surprised by how much we have in fact achieved, both individually and as Elwood Writers, without actually meeting face-to-face.

We’ve attended online seminars, and taken part in literary festivals, panel discussions and readings; we’ve worked on first drafts of manuscripts, achieved publication in a variety of journals and anthologies in Australia and overseas, contributed guest blog posts, judged short-story competitions, and formed relationships with other writers’ groups here and in the US. And throughout the year, our anthology Every Second Tuesday has been selling from a number of independent bookstores and online platforms.

In spite of all that life and the pandemic might have thrown at us, we’ve kept on writing. Putting one word in front of another. We think it’s important to celebrate this.

We look forward to continuing to share our news and progress throughout 2022. In the meantime, we’d like to wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season. Here’s to another new year filled with the joy of reading and writing.

Take good care,

Elwood Writers

‘How to Maintain a Thriving Writers Group’, by Barry Lee Thompson

Barry has written the October guest post on Lee Kofman’s blog The Writing Life, over on Lee’s website.

‘How to Maintain a Thriving Writers Group’ offers practical tips to anyone thinking of starting a group, or for those who want to inject momentum into an existing group, or shore up their solidarity, or what have you. Maybe you’re curious about how we work. Or you might want to compare the group to your own experiences. There’s plenty in the post to think about. While you’re there, it’s worth checking out the rest of Lee’s website. Have a wander, linger a while.

Thanks to Barry for writing about Elwood Writers. And thanks to Lee for welcoming us to her blog.

Happy reading and writing to everyone!

Out and About

Every Second Tuesday in Readings, St Kilda

Our new anthology was spotted over the weekend hanging out in the new releases section of the St Kilda Readings bookshop. It looks at home and in good company. If you’re passing the store, why not pop in and pick up a copy to take home. Alternatively, you could have it delivered. If you’re in Australia you can order your copy here.

If you’re overseas, there’s a number of options. One option that offers free worldwide delivery can be found here (change the currency from the drop-down at the top of the page).

If ebooks are your preferred way to read, then simply visit your favourite online bookseller.

And don’t forget you’re invited to the online launch of Every Second Tuesday on Wednesday 9 December at 6.30PM AEST. It’s online, so location is no barrier. And it’s free. Though you must book in order to receive the event link on the day. If you’re concerned about a time difference, book a ticket anyway and you’ll receive a recording of the event whether you attend on the evening or not. Find more information here, and the booking page here.

In the meantime, happy reading!

Elwood Writers

Every Second Tuesday, update

The publication of Every Second Tuesday, an anthology of our writing from over the last ten years, is being held back until early November. By that time we anticipate seeing a little more stability in the literary landscape as new and exciting models of delivery are embraced.

In the meantime, here’s a peek at the book’s back cover:

And before the anthology arrives, we have the release of Barry’s collection of fiction to look forward to. Broken Rules and Other Stories is coming out on 1 September. More information is available at the Transit Lounge website, here.

So please stay tuned – there’s a lot happening this year, and we’ll be providing plenty more updates along the way.

Happy reading and writing.

‘Every Second Tuesday’ is coming

We may have been in lockdown for a few months but Elwood Writers has been busily putting the finishing touches to a project we’ve been working on over the past two years. We’re currently checking printed proof copies of Every Second Tuesday, an anthology of our writing drawn from over the last ten years.

Now we’re excited to share news of the anthology’s forthcoming publication in both paperback and ebook forms. We’ll keep you posted …

2019: Another Year Over

It’s been another lively year for Elwood Writers, both individually and collectively. There are too many highlights to pick and choose for an end-of-year wrap-up. But this might be a good opportunity to say special congratulations again to Jennifer, whose first novel Lily Campbell’s Secret was published in May, and launched at Readings in Carlton by Toni Jordan in June. And a happy hooray for Helen, whose poems were published far and wide this year, including two in the US. Two excerpts from Margaret’s full-length draft manuscript were published in American Writers Review (San Fedele Press). Well done, Margaret. And Barry had a short story included in the winter issue of Roomers magazine, and has also contributed to the brand new summer issue.

For a more comprehensive picture of all we’ve been up to, we’d invite you to take a look back at our posts over the year. You can access all our previous posts in the archives section on the right-hand side of this page.

Thanks very much for your company here on the website. We look forward to seeing you again in 2020. There are a couple of exciting projects lined up, and we’re itching to share more on these in the coming weeks. For now, happy reading and writing, and all the very best wishes of the season from Elwood Writers.

Poetry to our ears

Congratulations to Helen on winning ‘Poet of the Month’ at the July Chamber Poets meeting in Woodend with her poem ‘Stark Against the Sky’. If you use Facebook, you can find out about Chamber Poets here.

And Helen’s poems ‘A Friday, like any other …’ and ‘In Deep Blue’ are published in Poetry Matters Issue 36 – the 2019 Competition edition. You can read more about Poetry Matters here.

Update: Special winter edition of Cover To Cover | Friday 12 & Sunday 14 July 2019

There was a problem with our calendar and we initially gave the wrong dates for the special upcoming winter-themed edition of the weekly literary program Cover To Cover on Vision Australia Radio. The program will be broadcast on Friday 12 July at 8.00pm, repeated Sunday 14 July at 1.30pm and will feature the members of Elwood Writers performing their own work. There’s poetry, including haiku, from Helen, and stories by Jennifer, Margaret, and Barry.

Cover To Cover can be heard on the radio in Australia or online from anywhere in the world. For frequency and other information and to access online listening visit the station’s website below:

https://radio.visionaustralia.org

A podcast will be available shortly after the broadcast, and we’ll add it to our podcast page here on the Elwood Writers website, so if you don’t get a chance to tune in on the day you can listen at your leisure.

Cover To Cover is produced by Tim McQueen and recorded in the studios of Vision Australia Radio in Melbourne.