Whoa, what's this? A writing group? 

That's right! Those paying attention to our social media will have seen we've set up a little club for writing here in the shop, run by our very own resident writer (who hates writing this).

Below is simply a helpful guide for those inquisitive people who want to learn more about what's going on. And for all those interested - thank you!

FAQ

Q: Is there a charge?

A: Attendance is free. However, we do encourage a small donation of around £5. This helps cover the costs of refreshments and the use of the space. It's not compulsory, but it will help.

Q: When is it?

A: The club will be held once a month, on the first Tuesday. This gives people time to write stuff in their free time to bring to the sessions to share.

The sessions will start at 6pm, and last until 9pm.

Please note - you are free to leave whenever, and you are free to arrive (quietly) whenever. 6-9 is simply when the session itself is running!

Q: I'm old, does that matter?

A: Not at all! The minimum age for the writing club is 18, but there's no upper age limit. Everyone is welcome!

Q: I'm not a professional, can I still join?

A: Please do! The club is open to ALL skill levels. Whether you're published or just dabbling for the first time, the club is a relaxed space for everyone. There's no expectation to be good, either - fun is the name of the game here.

Q: I write *insert genre here* is that okay?

A: Yep! Fiction or non-fiction, niche or otherwise, every genre is welcome and encouraged. Diversity in writing is important. Just be prepared that there's a cup of tea for everyone, and some others like coffee ;)

Similarly, poetry is more than accepted! Anything is welcome.

Q: What do we do during the sessions?

A: The first session will work as a small introduction to people - an icebreaker of words, as such. A chance for people to get familiar with the work of others. 

From there, the sessions will be loosely structured as:

A warm-up stream of consciousness activity,

Sharing progress of work/feedback if desired,

Small discussions about the art of writing,

Small writing activities (if there's time/interest) with some surprises and fun things I'll keep secret for now ;)

And other various little bits, depending on what people want and feedback, etc.

Q: I'm nervous, I don't want to talk...

A: Completely fine! There is absolutely no pressure to share work if you're not comfortable. Your presence is welcome regardless. This is designed to be an inclusive space - whatever you're comfortable with. We welcome the pushing of comfort zones, but respect that it's not always easy - just do what feels right.

Q: Are there any refreshments?

A: Hopefully! Depending on donations/budget, we aim to have a small selection of snacks and beverages to help fuel creativity. We will do our best to consider dietary restrictions, but we cannot always guarantee anything.

Q: What else can I expect?

A: We might occasionally talk about reading, or other such activities loosely related to writing.

We will also be able to offer a printing service for your work, though this will require a small fee, and we can't print entire novels out. 

Other than that, the club is pretty self-explanatory! 

Q: If I miss a session, will it matter?

A: Nope! This is simply a place to share work and get excited about writing. Don't feel bad about missing a session if it happens - if anything thematic DOES happen, it'll be recapped next time!

Q: Do you run any talks or have any guests?

A: At the moment, no guests are planned to attend - but who knows! maybe down the line we can get something sorted.

The same thing goes for talks - currently it's not the aim of the club, but perhaps we can host a few down the line.

Q: What do I need to bring?

A: The bare minimum is - yourself! If you have a laptop to bring, feel free to bring it. If you write with a pen and paper, that's also acceptable! Even if you have nothing, we can provide some writing supplies if needed.

Q: Is there a group limit?

A: Currently, no! That might change based on how big/popular this gets, but if that does happen, we'll post about it. 

Q: Is it online?

A: As of this moment, we can only do this locally, in-store. Currently, there are no plans to do this online - but the future is always murky...

Q: Why a writing group?

A: Why not? There's something for everyone here at Itemdrop, and it's always been our aim to be a space for the community.

Similarly, the person running it has a degree in creative writing and is frankly itching to use it more.

We want to foster creativity in any and every regard - writing is just another avenue to explore!

conclusion

We're super excited to get the writing group up and running, and the first few sessions are going to be pivotal in shaping what people want and how it runs. So we need your feedback! It'll help us help you. :)

Have we missed something important, or have a question not listed above? Feel free to comment below, and we'll reply asap. 

Thank you all - the Team at Itemdrop.