Our new peer-led community writing groups and peer buddying spaces are here!
We’re excited to launch a new, peer-led strand of our Space to Thrive programme.
In place of our old writing groups led by SBWN committee members, we’re introducing peer-led community writing groups and peer buddying – where you can build the communities and relationships that can best foster your personal creative development. Writing can be a lonely practice sometimes and we want to make it easier for writers to connect.
Please note that these are NOT facilitated workshops. We will still be providing workshops, seminars, panels, guest author events, and social gatherings alongside this strand of our programming.
Read on to find out more and to register your interest!
Peer-Led Community Writing Groups
Our peer-led community writing groups are online spaces where members can work on their own writing projects in a communal group setting, form groups around their particular interests, socialise, support one another towards writing goals, build networks, and make friends.
First Steps
If you’d like to be part of a peer-led community writing group, please first fill in our Expression of Interest form. On this form you can detail the genres and writing forms you’re interested in, as well as your experience level, creative goals, any aspects of identity or circumstances if you’d like to join a group based around these (this section is purely optional), and the days and times you’re available to meet. You can also tell us what online platform you’d prefer for group meetings and communications – Discord, Slack, etc.
If you’re interested in becoming a moderator for a peer-led writing group, please note this on the form as well. Moderators will be paid ad hoc and will be provided with training.
We ask that all expressions of interest be registered by 24 October, 11:59pm to give us enough time to create the groups that will best work together. The form will be reopened in approximately 6 months for a new round of expressions of interest.
What happens once I register?
Once we’ve matched up prospective group members, we’ll be in touch with everyone individually to invite them to join the group’s online space. If you applied to be a moderator, we’ll send you details on the moderator training as well.
An SBWN committee member may join initial group meetings in case moderators or others need support. However, the plan is for groups to meet, communicate, and operate on their own with minimal intervention from the SBWN committee.
While we will not be regularly monitoring group proceedings or communications, please note that all SBWN spaces must abide by our Safer Spaces Policy.
Peer Buddying
Our peer buddying initiative matches writers with 1-to-1 writing buddies. Peer buddying can help writers build new bonds, find a critique partner for your work, and potentially even make new friendships. Buddying meet-ups can take place online or in person, depending on your preference.
This is suitable for people who want to buddy-up and check in with each other weekly or monthly over a period of time, such as 6-12 months.
Please note that this is not a mentorship programme.
First Steps
If you’d like to take part in peer buddying, please first fill in our Expression of Interest form. On this form you can detail the genres and writing forms you’re interested in, whether you’d prefer to meet in person or online, your experience levels, and your goals and support needs regarding peer buddying.
We ask that all expressions of interest be registered by 24 October, 11:59pm to give us enough time to match up the most complementary buddying pairs possible. The form will be reopened in approximately 6 months for a new round of expressions of interest.
What happens once I register?
Once we’ve matched up prospective buddies, we’ll be in touch with everyone individually to provide further details and link you up with your buddy matches.
Please note that while we will strive to create the best possible matches, we will be selecting from everyone who registers interest. This may limit some factors such as geographical location. However, we will find ways to work around this as much as possible.
While we will not be regularly monitoring buddying communications, please note that all SBWN spaces must abide by our Safer Spaces Policy.
Questions?
Email us at scottishbpocwriters@gmail.com