INT. A STAGE.
The stage is dark except for one spotlight.
A woman, mid-fifties, wearing gym clothes on the off-chance she may make it to the gym one day, scrapes a wooden box into view and stands on it.
It is A SOAP BOX.
TO CAMERA
“Hi, you may know me from the first season of The TEN writers group on Substack, or maybe from my days working as a journalist, or even as a scriptwriter. Or maybe you don’t know me at all. But the fact that you’re here and reading this today means that we have connected through writing.”
LOUD RECORD SCRATCH. LIGHTS UP.
Okay, that’s enough of that.
Bear with me, I’m feeling emotional.
We just wrapped on my in-person writers group for the year.
Writers group, which started in January, the same time as I launched The TEN, has given me so much joy and a sense of belonging.
And that’s important because somehow in this insane world we’ve become less connected as we’ve become more connected.
It’s been an absolute pleasure to share a love of books, writing and storytelling, whether fictional or real life, around a table at the wonderful Read-on-Sea bookshop every month.
Sharing such personal work is scary but we’ve managed to create a safe space where everyone has been able to allow themselves to be vulnerable, and yet remain open to constructive critique.
Progress was made!
As we move into 2025, the group is getting slightly bigger but that’s okay because it’s not an exclusive meet-up but - BUT - it is for writers who are serious about their work and I love that too.
I love that everyone who attends wants to create something special and fulfill a personal need.
Ultimately, it’s been a privilege to have a place to go to once a month to meet with real life humans and wallow in words.
The last year has been something of a weird annexe. It feels like people are becoming more hidden away somehow, so any kind of genuine community is a bonus.
This one has been life-enriching.
I don’t know if there are any writers local to me who want to join but if you are let me know. We’ll set our goals in January and then aim to meet them, jollied along by the support of some good people and the beverage of your choice.
Read-on-Sea do a marvellous hot chocolate. It always warms me up but what makes me feel warm and fuzzy is that every time we leave at the end of a session, everyone is happy, energised and smiling. It’s been such a tonic.
So go find your people. Let them in.
Make it happen if it’s not happening.
Enjoy the company of others.
Share the joy of the things you love.
Write like nobody’s watching.
Then share it with people who are.
INT. A STAGE.
The woman from earlier steps down from the box and starts to drag it off the stage. She pauses, then slowly turns to the audience and winks conspiratorially at them.
She smiles to herself.
Then exits.
FADE.
Love this. I’m moving to Essex. X
Wonderful Lisa!