WRITING GROUP.SAT 23 NOVEMBER,1-3.WRITING IN THE GAPS/CLAIMING THE SPACE.QUAKERS

REGULAR FOURTH SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH WRITING MEET: "QUEER THE PAGE"

{No meet in August and December}

SAFER-SPACE LGBTQ (18+) Group for writers at ANY stage/any genre: beginners to advanced.

*LGBTQ(18+) writers ONLY.*

* PLEASE NOTE: it can be a bit nerve-wracking to attend a group for the first time; but we are very friendly.

The group is suitable/welcoming to LGBTQ(18+) people who have just come out/just arrived in the area(as well as regular attenders!)*

PRIVATE ROOM
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VENUE:QUAKER (FRIENDS') MEETING HOUSE),22 SCHOOL LANE,Lpool L1 3BT.

Pls read directions section.

WE MEET BETWEEN 12.45 AND 1 PM, in the FOYER of the Friends Meeting House(entrance School Lane).

ONE OF THE HOSTS WILL BE IN THE FOYER TO GREET YOU:)

If you arrive after 1 pm , ask their Receptionist what room we are in, and knock on the door!
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COST
£5 PER ATTENDEE: covers room rental cost;no profit is made;we are wholly unfunded.
*Payable to Steve at start of the event, preferably CASH.(but bank transfer ok too)*
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FACILITATOR: Published writer: Steven Benson.

Steve has been published in several anthologies(including by Biennial Liverpool and the Modernist Society).

He Organises, and facilitates for,MERSEYSIDE LGBTQ(18+) Groups; and has worked for "Out on The Page" as a facilitator.

https://towardsutopia.wordpress.com/

TWO-PART STRUCTURE ON THE SAME THEME:

"Writing between the gaps; yet claiming our space".

This can refer to theme, and/or structure, and/or content, and/or page layout, and much else; it is all encompassing(if you want it to be!).

PART ONE:

PREPARED WRITING

Please PREPARE A SHORT(5 mins max) piece on "How I found my space as an lgbtq person and/or writer", or something related(another example/idea would be " I came out through writing about myself/a character in a story").

This can be for (constructive!) critique by group attendees, or you can just read it, or you can just listen to others; no pressure.

BUT TRY AND WRITE SOMETHING;it will warm you up for Steve's WORKSHOP IN PART 2:)

short break

PART 2

WORKSHOP:

We shall be looking at how we come to writing, how much our lgbtq identity figures in that (or not), how you can write in miniature(micro-poems, flash fiction )& still say much (gaps to filling the space);how your page lay-out can reflect your content; how you can use punctuation, brackets and much more.

We shall be (en-)queering up quite a lot!

This will be done by a SERIES OF WRITING ADVENTURES, based on VISUAL AND VERBAL PROMPTS (provided by Steve; just bring yourself and a notebook/device to write on!)
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OUR GROUP'S FEEDBACK MODEL:

CONSTRUCTIVE, DEVELOPMENTAL FEEDBACK: ie no feedback "sandwiches"(as filling is not often very tasty...);
so ENCOURAGEMENT; but ALSO, the way FORWARD for your peer writers, ie DEVELOP a character /image further.

YOU can also request the kind of feedback(or NO feedback) you want!

PLEASE REMEMBER ALL CRITIQUE/FEEDBACK IS SUBJECTIVE.
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OUR GROUP'S TRIGGER WARNING SUBJECTS:

ANY sexual or physical abuse.
Large amounts of violence generally
ANY references to suicide,including THOUGHTS of suicide(ideation)
ANY references to self-harm.

If any of these subjects come up- in the prepared or on-the-day writing- please alert the group,BEFORE you start reading your piece; and we shall decide(as a group) whether we-collectively-feel ok with you reading of this material.
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FACILITIES
There is no cafe; but we can use one of their kitchens(there is one on each floor;some rooms have one attached!)
Coffee(instant)/tea/milk(cows only) and sugar provided by our regulars:)
Venue kitchen has crockery cups cutlery.
U can bring take -out drinks and food.
If you want NON-cows milk, please bring ur own(there is a fridge)
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ACCESSIBILITY
THE VENUE IS COMPLETELY WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE: lift 2 all floors, room for wheelchairs in all rooms
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LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING NEWCOMERS AND REGULARS:)