Network News Overview

by Gill James

This week we’re taking a bit of an overview of some of the activities that happen in the networks. Note how much food is involved...

Goal-Setting Brunches 

One popular activity in the London area is the goal-setting brunch. Here is what London coordinator Anita Loughrey says: 

Anita

"Are you getting behind with your goals? Do you need help to stay on track? Would you like to discuss what you aim to achieve in a supportive and friendly atmosphere with like-minded children's writers and illustrators? If you need a little motivation, or simply want to make new writing or illustrating friends, come along to one of our goal-setting brunches. We will give you all the tools you need to think about where you are at with your current project and how you can move it forward. You can come along to the mid-week brunch, or the weekend brunch, or both."

 Julie Day has found them very useful: 
"I have been all but one of the weekend goal-setting brunches (missed the last one being on the retreat) and have learnt a lot. Having goals set has made me realise what I want to write; non-fiction about me and Asperger's Syndrome as well as fiction, and letting others know about it. Writing down the goals keeps me on target to what I want to write and when. It has made me start my non-fiction freelancing. It also helps me to network and meet more people, and finds me contacts and information for my non-fiction writing. I can't wait to go to the next one." 

The latest mid-week brunch took place on Thursday 23rd May at Bill's, St Martin's Courtyard, 3 Slingsby Place, London WC2E 9AB at 11am and was chaired by Miriam Craig. Bill's Restaurant is just off Long Acre, turn into Slingsby Place by Banana Republic, or from the other side turn off of Upper St Martin's Lane by Jamie Oliver.

The next weekend brunch is Saturday 8th June, 10:30am at Fleet Street Bakery, 71 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2A 3JF London, which has delicious food and a homely communal table and is chaired by Michelle Newell.

Anita says,"This is a great way to help yourself stay on task and increase your productivity. Reflect on your May achievements and set fresh targets for June. Hope to see you there!”

Critique groups 

Steph

Critique groups are always popular. Steph Williams, north-west coordinator runs one in Manchester. We meet once a month in the events room at Waterstones on Deansgate. 

Anyone in the north-west wishing to join a critique group, contact Steph at northwest at britishscbwi dot org. She also runs one in Chester but is waiting for the confirmation of the next batch of dates. SCBWI members interested in joining, contact networknews at britishscbwi dot org.

Sue

In the south-east, Sue Shaw runs the Oxford Wordsmiths. An opportunity to join the group has presented itself. They meet monthly at George and Delilah's ice cream parlour in the Cowley Rd. They are a small but growing critique group with a little socialising sneaking in. If anyone is interested in joining , could they please contact Sue via southeast at britishscbwi dot org. 

Gill

If anything interesting has happened recently in your network, do let me know. Each week I feature a different network but there's also space for highlights from others. Contact me at networknews at britishscbwi dot org.
 

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Network News: London Network

Report by Anita Loughrey

 

I am the London Network coordinator, although I don’t live in London. I live in Thatcham, near Newbury. I write both fiction and non-fiction for children, as well as teacher resources and I have had over 50 books published. I have been a member of SCBWI for over ten years.

There is always, loads going on in the London Network. As well as the Writers’ and the Illustrators’ Professional Series, Masterclassesand crit groups, we have regular social events withan honorary guest. In March, we had a cosy fireside chat at the George on TheStrand with commissioning editor, Tori Kosara,from the new Bonnier imprint, Red Lemon Press.

The next social is not actually in London. It is Saturday 20th April at Heffers in Cambridge from 12noon to 2pm. Our honorary guest is Teri Terry who will be signing books and doing a reading from her latest novel, Fractured. Afterwards, Teri will be joining us for drinks at The Bath House Pub, five minutes’ walk from Heffers.

I am open to suggestions for who you would like me to invite as honorary guest. Some members suggested Frank Lampard. Sadly he is unable to make it! But, I got a nice reply from his agent, Liz Bonsor, from the BlairPartnership:

‘I am really sorry to say that Frank's unbelievably busy schedule at the moment unfortunately doesn't permit for him to make any other arrangements other than those that have already been organised or that he is committed to.

We are really sorry for the disappointing response and thank you for thinking of him for such a lovely invitation.’

This year we have started our new goal-setting brunch events suitable for both writers and illustrators. These happen twice a month on the first Saturday of the month and also mid-week mid-month. All SCBWI members are welcome to join us. You can come along to both or just one – it is up to you! The next brunches are: Thursday 18^th April and Saturday 11^thMay. (OK this isn’t the first Saturday of the month but, we wanted to avoid the Bank Holiday weekend).

We also hold regular Write-Ins, where writers and illustrators meet to work on their own projects motivated by the presence of other SCBWI members. Our next Write-In is Thursday 18^th April at Foyles café, Charing Cross Road from 3pm onwards – before the Undiscovered Voices event.

SCBWI London members will also be meeting up everyday at the London bookfair at the back of the restaurant at the top of the escalator. So if you are attending the London Bookfair please do pop upstairs and say hello.

If you are thinking about joining SCBWI and want to find out more about us you are welcome to join us at one of our socials. Just email london (AT) britishscbwi.org to let me know.

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Anita writes teacher resources, children's illustrated fiction and non-fiction. Her most recent achievement is re-telling a series of fairy tales for BBC AudioGo. The six discs were initially presented as special promotional CDs in the Guardian newspaper throughout the week. The stories were read by Tamsin Greig and Steve Mangan. She has two regular columns in the national magazine Writers’ Forum and has just completed a big commission for Harper Collins writing science teacher resources for the UAE. She is currently doing some consultancy work for Brilliant Publications.