“The Walsall Writers’ Circle was formed as the Walsall and District Writers’ Circle in April 1966, following a short story competition organised by the Libraries Committee for National Library Week. Its purpose was to help keen writers build up style and creative writing.” So wrote Margaret Woods, past member and former chair of the Circle, in autumn 2014 as she began recording the history of the group.
Norrey Ford was the writer behind the Circle. She was a founder member and one-time president of the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association and with 42 novels to her name, was well placed to proffer advice on all writing-related matters. Sadly, she died in August 1985 but the Circle continued to meet once every month (except August) – even during the pandemic when the usual monthly meeting was replaced with an online session. These proved so successful that when face-to-face meetings resumed, they continued so that there are now two meetings each month, one in the Walsall College Hub on Littleton Street West and one via Zoom.
The meetings themselves have changed tremendously but we think that Norrey Ford would appreciate the need to adapt to today’s very different writing and publishing environment. Nowadays in addition to the feedback evenings and guest speakers, the Circle runs workshops, competitions and writing retreats and is involved in events such as the Wolverhampton Literature Festival and the Walsall Festival of Words.
For this year’s Festival of Words 2023 we are offering a wide range of writing and reading activities which are suitable for children, families and adults, although parents should note that children under 16 need to be accompanied by adults. Pitched towards different ages and abilities there should be something for just about everyone!
All events are free of charge.
