About Word for Word

Introduction | Aims & Ethos | Notes for Tutors | Please Note

An Introduction to Word for Word
Word for Word was originally a one-off writing course led by prize winning author and lecturer Linda Leatherbarrow but at the end of her tenure the members decided to carry on with what she had started. There have been three other tutors since Linda and now the group employs specialist tutors for workshops. The group have so far published three anthologies: Scribes and Passions; Into the Empty Space and Life, Death, Sex and Chocolate (published 2002).

Fay Weldon wrote of Scribes and Passions:
'The contents of this anthology suggest the existence of a writers' workshop of considerable perspicacity, in which individual style is not rendered down; where reading aloud to the group does not inhibit; where public inspection fails to inspire good behaviour. Where, in fact the members get an energy going which would not otherwise transpire, and produce an anthology of value which otherwise would not exist at all”

Romesh Gunesekera described Into the Empty Space as a 'a true voyage of discovery' and Cheryl Moscowitz, one of the group's tutors, commented: 'What I am humbled by is the quality and the sheer power of what gets produced - not just occasionally, but on a weekly basis - by this group of talented individuals'

Sue Hardy-Dawson wrote of Life, Death, Sex and Chocolate "...an enjoyable read, the prose and poetry mainly well written and occasionally breathtaking.  It is truly an emotional roller coaster, from the hilariously irreverent 'Christ of Crouch End' by Tony Clelford to the poignant 'Prognosis' by Marina Sanchez and the whimsical and expressive 'Maps of Wisdom' by Marvin Thompson.  The book often illustrates several ways of dealing with the same subject and constraints, so creative writing students would find good starting points for discussion of pieces relating to a subject; individual styles are clearly recognisable and authors' ideas are in the main well developed.  A useful book for students and teachers alike".  (reviewed in Writing in Education, the journal of the National Association of Writers in Education)

The emphasis is very definitely on writing, we tend to just get pen to paper and see what happens. Once a month there is an opportunity to discuss work in progress with Judy Gahagan.  Writing sessions are either taken by a specialist tutor or are peer led. Four times a year we put on a free public performance of our work. The next one will be on Wednesday March 21st 2007.  Please come along and meet us.

Sometimes meeting with other writers is, by itself, inspiring, but we also place an emphasis on getting the pen travelling across the page no matter what. Many writers have found this to be a deeply creative and productive way of working. For anyone interested in joining the Wednesday group, the first session is free, after that the price ranges from £4 to £6 per session.
For further information, please contact info@wforw.org.uk.

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Aims & Ethos
The aim of Word for Word is simply to give and to get inspiration for writing. We invite tutors to lead sessions which set us off writing, send us in new directions and perhaps force us outside our normal patterns of thought and creation. We do not ask tutors to lecture us on their own work, literature in general, or anything at all – Word for Word is not that kind of group. You should always come to a session with a pen and loads of paper – expect to write!

Word for Word is run by and for its members, on an entirely voluntary basis. The only people who are paid are the visiting tutors – everyone else donates their time and labour. Haringey Library generously allows us to use the upstairs space free of charge and also allows us use of a notice board downstairs.
Every so often we publish an Anthology, to which Members are invited to contribute., however…

Please Note

This website will not publish Members Work, or indeed any writer’s work.

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Notes and guidelines for tutors

 We are a well established group, many of us have been writing for years, some of us are new to it, all of us relish the opportunity to spend two creative hours upstairs in the Library each week.   After the session, many of us go off for a coffee and a chat.

Here are some of the things we don't want  

•  a general discussion of any kind - we do that in the café afterwards - this is writing time.

•  too much instruction - it's inspiration we want

•  to hear a lot about your career or work.   Please don't be offended, this doesn't mean we are not interested in you and your work, it means this is not how we wish to use this valuable time.   If you join us in the café afterwards, we will certainly ask you lots of questions.

Here are the things we do want  

•  inspiration - we want to be kick started into creativity - to be given a starting point from which we can develop a piece of writing, and perhaps complete later in our own time.

•  a good solid chunk of time during which we can get something down

•  a chance to read back what we have written if we want to, and to get some feedback  

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