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Writing groups in Scotland
Wondering how to find a creative writing group near you? Here's our quick guide to in-person writing groups in Scotland.
A writing group can be a brilliant source of support and motivation. If you can't see a group in your local area here, try searching online, getting touch with your library or community centre, or consider setting one up yourself!
Online writing groups
If you prefer to practice writing from the comfort of your own home, there are plenty of online writing workshops and groups to get involved in.
Find a creative writing group near you
Groups are listed alphabetically under their local authority area. If you'd like to add your group to this page, please email [email protected](this link will open in a new window). We need to know when and where your group meets, what you do and how to contact you (either a website or email address). There is a 50 word limit for listings.
Nationwide
Open Book
Open Book organise and run weekly shared reading and creative writing sessions for a diverse range of community and public participants across Scotland.
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
The SCBWI Scotland network holds regular meet-ups and teach-ins, where we swap information on writer’s craft, such as dialogue, character breakdown and plot development. They have regional contacts and events across the country.
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) website
Aberdeen
Grampian Association of Storytellers
Grampian Association of Storytellers (GAS) is a group whereby people from all walks of life come along to listen to stories, and tell stories orally. We organise events, workshops and get-togethers, and provide professional storytellers. GAS meets monthly.
Lemon Tree Writers
The group meet at 11am on alternate Saturdays.
Visit the Lemon Tree Writers website
Email: [email protected]
Aberdeenshire
Huntly Writers
Huntly Writers is open to anyone over the age of 18 years who is, or wants to be, actively engaged in creative writing. We are based in the market town of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where we usually meet on a fortnightly basis.
(Visit the Huntly Writers website](https://www.huntly-writers.co.uk/)
Mearns Writers
The Mearns Writers are "a dynamic group of story writers, poets, and novelists predominantly based within Aberdeen and its surrounding areas". Welcoming all skill levels and walks of life, the Mearns Writers currently meet once a week every Thursday at 7:00 pm through Zoom meetings, due to lockdown.
North East Writers
North East Writers is a literature development agency aiming to support, promote and coordinate new writing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, working in partnership with venues, publishers, writers' groups and individual writers based in the region.
Spindrift Writers
Ythan Writers
Ythan writers have been meeting for over a decade. They currently meet every Wednesday at 2.30pm - 4.30pm at the Station Hotel in Ellon during school term times. £3.50 entry, includes tea and cake.
Email: [email protected]
Angus
Angus Writers' Circle
Angus Writers' circle meets at 7.30pm on the first and third Wednesday of every month at the Rosely Hotel. The programme of meetings includes speakers, workshops and club nights when members read their work and crits are given. Currently not accepting new members due to numbers.
Email: [email protected]
Kirriemuir Writing Group
All are welcome to attend the writing group - whatever genre or ability. Workshops are tailored to help both those who write for pleasure and those who wish to work towards publication.
The group meets every Tuesday, 1pm to 3pm, at Artspixels. £5 per session, including refreshments.
Argyll and Bute
Add[ed.]ition
A writing group near Oban looking for flash fiction, poetry and short stories.
Email: [email protected]
Clackmannanshire
Alloa Writers
Alloa Writers meet every other Wednesday in the games room of the Station Hotel. One of the aims of the group is to support one another by offering feedback on work brought to meetings, and to encourage each member to develop their skills.
Email: [email protected]
Dumfries and Galloway
Crichton Writers
Crichton Writers meet once a month all year round on Thursday mornings on the Crichton Campus, Dumfries. We operate largely as a peer-led group, using the considerable experience acquired over the 18 years the group have had work published and performed.
Lockerbie Writers
A friendly and supportive group that is open to writers of all levels and genres, including beginners. The group meets every second Tuesday from 10am to 12 noon at the Townhead Hotel.
Email: [email protected]
A Novel Approach
A friendly and supportive group for writers who are working on a novel or novel-length project. Open to writers of all genres. The group meet on alternate Wednesdays from 7.30pm at the Somerton Hotel, Lockerbie.
Visit A Novel Approach's Facebook
Email: [email protected]
Dundee
Douglas Writers' Group
An informal small group run as part of the University of the Third Age. We meet every Thursday in Douglas Community Centre Dundee at 10 am - 12 noon.
Email: [email protected]
Nethergate Writers
The Nethergate Writers meet on the last Wednesday of every month, in the Dalhousie Building at Dundee University. We welcome all types of writers, from those who have been or are hoping to be published to those who just write for their own enjoyment.
East Ayrshire
Write Here
Write Here is a poetry group run by Caroline Johnstone as part of her role as Poet in Residence at Dundonald Castle. It meets on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30, with a break for coffee at the cafe there. Places are limited but if interested please get in touch.
Email: [email protected] Phone: 07709408880
East Dunbartonshire
Bearsden Writers
The group meets fortnightly to take forward writing and publishing ventures. Join us on alternate Thursday mornings from 10-12, at the Burnbrae, Milngavie Road, Bearsden.
Emaiil Helen: [email protected]
Campsie Writers' Group
An informal group where Authors and prospective authors can share ideas and learn new skills. We meet in the Lennoxtown Library Hub on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month from 1.30 to 3pm from January to June and September to December.
To book a free place please contact Lennoxtown Library.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0141 7773151
Strathkelvin Writers' Group
Strathkelvin Writers' Group aims to develop and encourage all forms of writing by its members: fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's writing.
East Lothian
Tyne and Esk Writers
Tyne and Esk Writers comprises of eight writing groups, with around 100 members in total, in Midlothian and East Lothian.
All Write Now
All Write Now is an adult writing group for writers of all levels. It takes place the first Monday of the month at 6pm in Haddington Library.
Email: [email protected]
Edinburgh
Captain's Inkwell
The groups meets at Newington Library every second Friday at 2.30pm. Writers of any kind or level welcome.
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Connect and Create
A women only writing group (All women-only events are inclusive of Trans, Intersex women, non-binary and gender fluid people) on the first Saturday of every month at Edinburgh Central Library. It is currently fully booked with a waiting list, so will be readvertised in future when there are spaces.
The Diggers Writers
The group meets at the Tourmalet Bar every Tuesday from 7.30 - 10pm to share, discuss and give criticism. The group is affiliated with The Workers' Educational Association.
Email: [email protected]
Edinburgh Genre Writers
The Edinburgh Genre Group is a collaborative, Milford-style writing workshop for published and unpublished Edinburgh writers interested in writing, critiquing and publishing commercial genre fiction.
Edinburgh Writers' Club
We are a community of writers in the Edinburgh area and beyond, with an annual programme of competitions, workshops and expert speakers. We meet every second Monday from September to May.
Rogue Writers
The group is a forum for anyone who is interested in writing, both readers and writers – new and experienced – to come and read their work and receive helpful criticism in a friendly environment.
School of Poets
A Poetry group who meet on the second Tuesday of each month, 6-8pm at the Scottish Poetry Library (except for August and December).
Email: [email protected]
Scottish Arts Club Writers' Group
The Writers' Group meets on the last Wednesday at 7pm in the Studio. All are welcome, from new writers to published authors. Free for Members, £5 per session for non-Members.
Scottish Poetry Library
A variety of writing groups hold events at the SPL. Please visit their Events page for more information.
WHALE Poetry Group
A poetry group at the WHALE Arts Centre, 11.30am - 1pm on the last Wednesday of the month.
Write On!
Free and open to all, this group is run by Health All Round, a charity and community health project. Thursdays 3pm – 4.30pm, at Tynecastle Community Wing.
Email: [email protected]
Southside Writers
Juliet Wilson runs a weekly creative writing group on Fridays, at the Southside Centre, Nicolson St, Edinburgh. There is currently a waiting list for this group.
Email: [email protected]
Edinburgh SFF
A friendly community for Science Fiction and Fantasy writers of all levels, packed full of resource, writing chat and day to day help.
Visible Ink
Visible Ink meets on Tuesdays at 6:45pm, usually online, but in-person at Blackwell's Bookshop on the first Tuesday of the month.
Scottish Poetry Choir
The group follows the format of a community singing choir and meets regularly during the term time of the school year, with a performance scheduled at the end of each term. This innovative new format - the first of its kind in Scotland - gives members and the public opportunities to get involved and engage with poetry and spoken word in a fun and active way.
Find out more about Scottish Porty Choir
Email: [email protected]
Corstorphine Writing Meetup
A casual weekly group based in the west of Edinburgh, featuring a collective of creative writers who come together to share novels, short stories, poetry and scripts etc.
Mondays 2-4, at the Gift Tree, Station Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh
[Find out more about Corstorphine Writing Meetup)(https://corstorphinewritingmeetup.wordpress.com/)
Falkirk
Denny Writers
We are a Writers Group open to all no matter what age, gender or ability. Our meetings are held on Thursdays at 1.30 pm to 3.30pm.
Falkirk Writers Circle
The Circle meet every Tuesday evening in the Greenpark Community Centre, Polmont, at 7.30pm.
Fife
Fife Writes
Fife Writes aims to provide opportunities for local writers of all kinds and abilities to improve their writing and to perform in front of live audiences if they wish.
Email: [email protected]
Buckhaven Writing Group
Every Tuesday between 2-4pm at Buckhaven Community Centre. 50p per session.
Largo Library Writers Group
Every Monday, 10am-12pm, at Largo Library. £2 per session, including refreshments.
Burntisland Writers Group
Join other local writers for a chat and share your work (if you like) in a relaxed and friendly environment. The group meets at the Sands Hotel once a month.
Email: [email protected]
Glasgow
Gorbals Writing Group
A monthly writing group meeting on the first and second Saturday of each month, 10:30 to 11:30.
The sessions take place in the Community Meeting Room at Co-operative Store, 190 Crown Street.
Visit the Gorbals Writing Group website
Email: [email protected]
Glasgow Science Fiction Writers Circle
A fortnightly workshop for writers of Science Fiction and/or Fantasy. 7.45pm every second Tuesday.
The Glasgow Science Fiction Writers Circle website
Email: [email protected]
The Glasgow League of Writers (GLOW)
Currently, GLOW runs in iCafe Merchant City on the last Wednesday of every month, at 7pm. GLOW is a group for comic writers. There are no restrictions on demographics or level of experience, and submitting a script is not compulsory to attend. So long as you are interested in writing comics, and in engaging with scripts on the agenda, you're welcome to attend.
The Glasgow League of Writers (GLOW) website
Email: [email protected]
Highlands
Caithness Writing Group
We meet every second Monday at 7.00pm in Nethercliff Hotel, Wick.
Highland LIT
A literary group organising writers' events, open mics and writing groups.
Visit the Highland LIT website
Email: [email protected]
The Pen & I
A co-operative writers group in Nairn that meets weekly on Tuesday mornings (apart from the school holidays) and offers a warm welcome to anyone who wants to write in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
Email: [email protected]
Sunart Writers' Group
Sunart Writers' Group meets monthly, 3rd Thursday of the month, 7pm, Ardnamurchan Library, Strontian. New members always welcome!
Email: [email protected]
Words Writing Café
The Café runs once a month from 5pm-6.30pm upstairs in Waterstones, Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Kinlochewe Creative Writing Group
Meets at Kinlochewe Village Hall near Achnasheen, 1.00pm - 2.30pm on the third Monday of the month to work on monthly prompts and explore different writing tools and techniques at each session. New members welcome, and no experience is necessary. Refreshments provided.
Contact Kirsty McKay: [email protected]
Gairloch Creative Writing Group
This friendly group meets monthly on Tuesday afternoons at the Gale Centre in Gairloch (members are encouraged to buy something delicious from their cafe to support the Centre). New members welcome, no experience needed. For more information, please contact Eilidh Smith at Gairloch Museum on [email protected]
Inverclyde
Greenock Writers' Club
All welcome. You don’t have to be an accomplished writer to join our club. Our members are all at different stages and levels of writing. So whether your thing is poetry, short stories, writing articles or perhaps novels, please come along.
Midlothian
Tyne and Esk Writers
Tyne and Esk Writers comprises of eight writing groups, with around 100 members in total, in Midlothian and East Lothian.
Moray
Elgin Writers' Club
Meets on alternate Wednesday evenings usually in Elgin Library from March to December each year for those who wish to write for pleasure, and perhaps profit. Workshops, competitions, great chat and general support and encouragement to get writing!
ForWORDS (The Forres Writing Group)
Meets every Tuesday evening, 7-9pm, in the boardroom of the Royal British Legion.
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Stornoway Writers' Circle
Every Tuesday from 7-9pm at An Lanntair, welcome to anyone over the age of 16. No need to book, just turn up.
Uist Writers Group
The Writing Group meets at Taigh Chearsabhagh, usually on the first Saturday of the month from 10.30 am – 12.30 pm. It is a very informal, friendly group of people who want to write for many varied reasons.
North Ayrshire
Largs Writers
Largs Writers Group meet every Monday from 10a.m - 12 noon in Largs Library, Allanpark Street.
We are also affiliated with the local poetry group. "Poems & Pints" meet on the second Tuesday of every month, 7 - 9 p.m. in the Waterside Pub, Bath Street
Stevenston Creative Writing Group
A community group open to all engaging in a number of topics to explore creativity with words. The meetings are weekly - Friday (10-12) at Beattie Library and it is free to join in.
The Stevenston Creative Writing Group website
Email: [email protected]
North Lanarkshire
Writers Group - Cumbernauld Library
The Writers Group at Cumbernauld Library meets fortnightly from 11am to 1pm on Saturdays.
The sessions are suitable for beginners and for experienced writers.
Entry: free
Find out more about the Writers Group at Cumbernauld Library
Orkney
Stromness Writing Group
We are an informal, friendly group of writers who meet fortnightly to share writing exercises and feedback. The meetings are usually from 6.30pm - 8.30pm on Tuesday evenings.
Perth and Kinross
Perthshire Writers
A writing group with regular events, including critique nights.
Renfrewshire
Erskine Writers
The group meets on Tuesdays from 1.30 - 3.30 pm at the Bargarran Community Centre. We welcome people who are interested to attend our meetings to see if we are what they require.
Email: [email protected] Website: http://erskinewriters-uk.blogspot.com/
Scottish Borders
Borders Writers' Forum
A warm welcome to both established and beginner writers at 7pm every third Thursday of the month. See website for full details or email for up to date programme.
Visit the Borders Writers' Forum website
Email: [email protected]
Peebles Library Writing Group
First Monday of the month at 10:30am-12:30pm.
Shetland
Lerwick Writers' Group
Lerwick Writers Group meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in the Mareel cinema and arts venue (meeting in the foyer beforehand). All forms of writing and levels of experience are welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Unst Writers Group
Unst Writers Group meets once a month at Hamar, Baltasound, usually on a Wednesday evening. You can contact the group through the secretary, Gordon Thomson.
Email: [email protected]
Stirling
Callander Writers’ Group
Callander Writers’ Group is a group of aspiring writers who get together on Tuesday mornings, 10.30-12.30, sometimes via Zoom, but currently meeting in each other’s homes in Callander and surrounding area, to share our writing, and offer each other support, constructive criticism and encouragement.
Email: [email protected]
Central Poetry Club
A Poetry and Spoken Word group for beginners in Central Library in Stirling. It will run on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, from 5.45pm - 6.45pm.
Email: [email protected]
The Novel Pool
The group meets fortnightly on Thursdays at the Macrobert Centre to discuss and critique submitted work.
Email: [email protected]
Write Club
Meet every Thursday 5.30pm - 7pm at St Ninians Library, Mayfield Place, Stirling.
The groups sets writing challenges and (non obligatory) tasks to stimulate creativity, critique (helpfully!) each other's work and are seeking to publish an anthology of their work. Get in touch via email below or just come along on Thursday.
Email: [email protected]
South Ayrshire
Ayr Writers Club
The group welcomes new and established writers. There are speakers, workshops and informal read around nights.
Troon Writers
We are a small group of enthusiasts who enjoy story writing and meet every second Thursday at Troon Library from 4.30 - 6.30 pm. Should you wish further information, please contact Troon Library on 01292 315352.
West Lothian
West Lothian Writers
The group normally meet every second Tuesday to offer advice and support to each other.
Find out more about West Lothian Writers
Email: [email protected]