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Bute Writers' Group |
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All About Us The Group meets fortnightly on Wednesday evenings at Orissor House at 7.30 p.m. Meetings generally consist of a business meeting, a project or assignment (allocated at the previous meeting) and a workshop. During each year we try to arrange visits by published authors and encourage visits to/from other writers groups. On occasion we are fortunate to obtain 'outside' evaluation of our work. We are a member of the Scottish Association of Writers, and we welcome any contact with other groups particularly for the exchange of information, ideas and the evaluation of each others members' work. The group has published three anthologies of members' writing; Quill published in 1995, Quill2 published 2000, and All Roads Lead to Bute, published February 2008. The latter can be purchased online - click here for details. We have also organised Writers' Weekend Seminars on the island, the last bring a Crime Writers' weekend which was held in July 2005. Our current members are (at 05 July, 2006): |
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A retired registered nurse, Jenny first came to live on Bute in 1969 when her husband Jim entered general practice on the island. Shortly afterwards, she joined a creative writing class in Rothesay, run by her daughter’s primary school teacher, Jenny Chaplin, whose encouragement was invaluable. Jim’s job took them to London and abroad, and they returned home to Bute in 1990, when Jim retired. Jenny was introduced to Bute Writers group in 1998 by a friend and former member of the group – and has been published in The Lady, My Weekly, Annabel, and the Nursing Times. Jenny feels she owes her fellow members of BWG a huge debt for all their constructive criticism, writing friendship and continued motivation. She is currently the group’s Chairman |
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A founder member of the group, secretary for more years than desirable and council member of The Scottish Association of Writers which brings a bonus of meeting and enjoying the company of well known authors. A displaced Yorkshire tyke who left the rat race of commerce and industry 23 years ago to take up a lotus eating existence only to find there is far more to do on this offshore island than in any of the big cities of civilisation. An omnivorous reader - mainly fiction - a particular drawback is that now, following much editing and evaluation, every small error by Minette Walters, P D James, et al - or the publisher or printer - seems to leap at me from the page. Over the years I've had a great number of articles published, mainly in newspapers and some small success with short stories in magazines. I like (good) humorous writing and enjoy trying my hand at it but above all I prefer script-writing and usually enjoy the finished article, unfortunately no one else does. |
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I came to live in the village of Kilchattan Bay, Bute, four years ago from Lanarkshire where I had lived for the past twenty-six years. Retired so my time is my own. After my first year on the island I joined the Writers Group. Always interested in the written word I was eager to discover if I had any talent in that direction. I have always found it easier to express myself through writing rather than by speech. The group, with its projects, topics, workshops etc., instils the discipline required actually to put pen to paper. My favourite reading is anything historical - fact or fiction with a factual basis. For light reading I like a good detective/mystery story, even in this, however, I prefer it if the plot is set in the past. I also read a great deal of poetry and prefer writing poetry to any other form of composition. I find it deeply satisfying and cathartic. |
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I joined Bute Writers' Group in 2001 in what would best be described as the autumnal years of life. I had never considered writing as a hobby until invited by friends in the group to 'give it a try'. Before retiring to Bute 17 years ago my main interests had been music and theatre. I also took an active part in sport in my younger days. The opportunities to pursue my interest in music and the theatre are more limited on the island than on the mainland and my age now restricts involvement in the more active sporting hobbies. I look forward to the stimulating challenge presented by my membership of The Bute Writers' Group. |
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I’ve
been a journalist all of my working life. From Chief (and only) Rugby
Sub-editor on the Sunday Post through feature writing on the (Glasgow)
Herald to producing and directing factual programmes (Panorama,
Assignment, Undercover Britain) for BBC Television and Channel Four. Now
independent and working full-time some-of-the-time, if you see what I mean. Published
work: The Story of the Scottish Daily News, Canongate (co-author Ron McKay). Unpublished
work: Chapter 9 of an untitled novel. Sadly, chapters 1-8 and 10-16 remain
unwritten because I’ve no idea who the characters are, what they are
supposed to be doing, or what happened before and after the events of
chapter 9. Which I think is a clue to my problem with fiction viz an
underpowered narrative imagination. Joining the Writers’ Group will, of
course, solve my problem. |
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I came to live on the island in January 2004, one of my aims being to make more time to write. I've worked as a playwright, written and performed poetry and songs and turned my hand to the occasional piece of freelance journalism and book reviewing. I'm delighted that a non-fiction book which was 'in progress' when I came to the island is now published! It's called 'How to Stop Flogging a Dead Horse -The Business Owner's Guide to Creating Happy Endings.' and published by www.bookshaker.com. Although targeted at the actual or would-be self-employed, its themes of letting go and moving on are, I believe, of general interest. |
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Liam spent 30 years in Ayrshire looking at Bute before crossing the
Clyde to settle in Rothesay.
Main interests: modern performance theatre and playwriting. One-time management consultant in innovation and organisation
development. Very proud of two great daughters. Deeply indebted to
Bute Writers Group for encouragement and support.
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I
was born in South West London, but have lived in several places - including Cyprus and Germany. I was unable to read until the age of eleven
and was never encouraged to write - more like written off! I left school at
sixteen to be a rock drummer in a punk band called K-OS (pronounced
'Chaos'). |
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Born near Glasgow, Gordon spent more than sixty years in or around the city before moving to Bute where he had holidayed frequently since his childhood. He worked in a variety of jobs and ended up as a further education lecturer in Glasgow’s East End. Married with one daughter, his interests (apart from his family) are wide-ranging, with an emphasis on music and the arts. With the exception of a poem for the school magazine, a few songs and business reports, he had written practically nothing until he joined Bute Writers in 2005. Now we can’t stop him writing (fortunately). |
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I have always wanted to write - ever since my school days - and recall writing a Science Fiction drama with a small team of other kids in Primary School. This interest in writing, combined with my passion for music, resulted in twenty years of song-writing - the main outlet for my writing aspirations previously. The biggest project I have attempted in this field has been the writing of a full-length musical of some twenty songs, with the story set in ancient Egypt. The musical was premiered at the Commonwealth Institute, London, in 1995. I like writing short stories, articles and drama, and hope to become more proficient at this through the help and advice of my more experienced fellow writers and the visiting professional writers who tutor our club. Like most writers, I feel I have a novel in me somewhere waiting to get out. I thoroughly enjoy our meetings and feel privileged to be part of the Bute Writers' group. |
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