We support a growing network of local groups across the UK and abroad, connecting SoA members at regular meet-ups and events. Run by members for members, local groups are a great way to meet fellow authors in your area, share knowledge, support and inspire one another.
Whenever a new group is set up or an event is scheduled in your area, we’ll email you to let you know. Local groups are currently running a mix of online and in person sessions.
- No group in your area? We can help you start your own
- Tips and ideas for successful meet-ups
Resources for current local group organisers are here.
Looking for a group near you but not yet an SoA member? You’re welcome to attend up to two local group meet-ups before we ask you to join the SoA to continue attending.
Find a group near you
Aberystwyth Group
Meet fellow authors in your area, share your work and discuss your current projects and publishing matters. The group is very well-connected with links to Aberystwyth University, local arts organisations, and Wales-based publishers.
The group are currently meeting online (June and December) and in person (March and September) usually from 5.15pm on the second Tuesday of the month.
Bath Group
The Bath Group was established in 2018 and usually meet for lunch in central Bath. Events include practical talks by guest speakers with time to chat to fellow authors.
Belfast & Beyond
The Belfast & Beyond group was established in January 2024 and meets for coffee on the last Saturday of each month in central Belfast. We provide a friendly, informal opportunity to connect and chat with local SoA members. All members welcome!
Brighton & Worthing Group
The Brighton and Worthing Group was established in November 2018 as an informal gathering of local members to socialise, support and advise one another.
We are currently looking for a volunteer to run the group and arrange quarterly meet-ups. Please get in touch if you’re interested.
Bristol Group
The Bristol Group was established in 2018 and currently host a quarterly coffee morning for members to chat and connect, share advice and celebrate writing achievements. All members are welcome!
Cambridge Group
The Cambridge Group are a newly established group. We are currently planning to host a meet-up every two months, primarily in person such as picnics, local walks and gatherings linked to local book events, with the option of online meet-ups in the future.
Canterbury and East Kent Group
Established in June 2021, the group meet in Canterbury, Whitstable and online for informal sessions to network, share and learn from one another.
Chilterns Group
The Chilterns Group was established in January 2021 and hosts a mix of online and in person meet-ups in Amersham. Sessions are informal and usually include a themed discussion or prompts to discuss our writing lives.
Cornish Chapter
The Cornish Chapter is an informal group which meets around five times a year for lunch in Truro, sometimes featuring a guest speaker. We also have open forums on themes including agents and publishers and offer advice and support to one another.
Cumbria and Lancaster
The Cumbria and Lancaster Group was established in October 2021 for members in the north west to share advice and support one another. The group are currently meeting on Zoom and host a range of themed discussions and informal sessions. All members welcome from the surrounding area!
Devon Writers Group
Established in 2010, Devon Writers Group host monthly online sessions for members to connect, chat and share advice. New members are always welcome!
Dorset Group
This group started meeting in March 2021 and are currently host a mix of online and in person informal monthly sessions for members to meet fellow authors in the area.
Dunfermline and West Fife Group
Established in June 2021, the group meets on the last Friday of the month from 11am. Our meetings are unstructured and usually start with coffee and end with lunch. We are a small informal group who encourage and support each other’s creativity and professional writing lives. All members welcome!
East Anglian Writers
East Anglian Writers, based in Norwich, was formed in the 1960s. We aim to bring together professional authors working or living in Norfolk and Suffolk. We host a mix of in person and online events including discussions, talks and socials in the Norwich area.
East Midlands Group
The East Midlands Group was formed in 2018 and runs informal sessions for members to share advice, experiences, questions and words of wisdom on all things literary. The group alternate between monthly online and in person sessions at The Broadway, Nottingham. All members welcome!
Eastbourne, Lewes & Seaford Group
Established in November 2020, the group run a mix of online and in person informal sessions to network, share and learn from one another. In person lunchtime and evening meet-ups rotate around the three locations. Sessions include themed discussions and socials, and sometimes feature guest speakers from industry.
Edinburgh Group
The Edinburgh Group was established in January 2023 and hosts a mix of online and in person meet-ups. We meet at Argonaut Books in Leith for an informal get together and both online and in person sessions offer member-led discussions and the opportunity to connect with fellow authors.
France Group
Established in August 2022, the group hosts monthly online meet-ups for members across France. Sessions take place on Zoom and feature themed discussions and short talks about writing. All members welcome.
Glasgow Group
The Glasgow Group includes a mix of published and self-published authors in all kinds of genres through fiction, non-fiction, books for children, young adults and adults. Our primary focus is to support and encourage each other with our writing and by sharing our expertise and experience with each other. We meet once a month and rotate our venue between the South side, the West end and Zoom in order to make it easier for everyone to attend meetings.
Gloucestershire Group
This group started meeting in December 2022 and host monthly in person meet-ups in Stroud for members to connect and share advice on writing. All welcome from the surrounding area.
Herefordshire Group
The Herefordshire Group was founded in 2019 and now hosts a mix of online and in person meet-ups to chat and connect. Meet fellow authors in your area, discuss your work and support one another.
Online sessions are every two months (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec) on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm. On the second Tuesday of the intervening months (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov) we meet face to face at The Green Man, Fownhope, HR1 4PE at 12pm for an informal lunch and a chat. Please email group organiser Marilyn Pemberton to attend the lunch.
Hertfordshire Writers
Hertfordshire Writers was founded in 2016. The group hosts a mix of online and in person meet-ups in Hitchin on the second Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm. Meet-ups are informal and occasionally include a short talk and Q&A with a group member or themed discussion.
Highlands & Moray Group
Established in March 2023, the group host monthly online meet-ups for authors across the Scottish Highlands to connect and support one another. Online sessions feature themed discussions and are friendly and supportive.
Ireland Group
The Ireland Group started meeting in September 2021 for informal, supportive online sessions for authors to connect, share and learn from one another. All members welcome!
London Non-Fiction Group
The London Non-Fiction Group was founded in 2019 and are currently meeting online. SoA non-fiction writers get together for an informal chat to share their work and current projects, sometimes including a short talk and Q&A with a group member or external speaker. The group is friendly and supportive and new members are always welcome!
Manchester Group
Established in January 2020, the group currently meet on the first Friday of the month from 10am for an informal coffee and networking session, and the third Thursday of the month from 6.30pm. Sessions usually feature a themed discussion or talk from a group member, with time for general discussion and networking. All members welcome!
Monmouth Group
The Monmouth Group meets on the first Friday of the month at 11am. This is an informal meet-up for authors in the area to discuss their work and share advice on publishing. Members from the surrounding borders with Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire are welcome!
Nice
We represent a wide variety of writers and usually meet for lunch at a Nice restaurant to discuss our work. All members are welcome!
North Derbyshire Group
Informal online sessions for members across the area to chat, connect, share advice and support one another.
North East Group
The North East Group was established in November 2018. This group hosts monthly informal in person meet-ups for members across the area to chat, connect and share advice. Meet-ups usually feature a themed discussion or talk, followed by a Q&A and networking.
North Wales Group
This group runs informal online sessions for authors across North Wales to connect and share advice, sometimes featuring a themed discussion or talk. Meet-ups are on the last Thursday of the month from 7pm on Zoom. All welcome!
Novelists in London
Novelists in London is a friendly, informal group for fiction writers to get together, discuss their projects and support one another. We meet online once a month and new members are always welcome.
Oxfordshire Group
Established in October 2020, the Oxfordshire Group host informal online sessions to chat and connect with authors in the area. Sessions usually include a themed discussion with time for social chat. The group also meet in person over the summer months, usually in central Oxford.
Scottish Borders Group
A new group for 2024. We meet on the last Monday of the month, 10am-12pm in Kelso for an informal get together to meet fellow authors, discuss our work and share advice. All members welcome!
Scottish Islands Group
The Scottish Islands Group started in September 2021 and runs monthly online sessions on the last Tuesday of the month at 7pm for members to connect, learn and support one another. Members welcome from all scottish islands including Orkney, Shetland, and the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
Scottish Non-Fiction Group
This new group began in April 2021 and hosts online sessions for non-fiction authors from across Scotland to discuss the business of writing, the publishing industry and share advice. We hope to meet in person in the future but will continue online sessions so as many authors from across Scotland can join.
The group is currently planning meet-ups for 2024.
Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells Group
The Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells formed in April 2022 and host in person meet ups in both locations for members to meet fellow authors in their area, network and make connections.
Shropshire Group
Established in March 2021, the group host regular online sessions for members across Shropshire to connect, share advice and support one another. Sessions include talks, discussions and workshops.
The group are in need of a volunteer to take over running the online sessions, so please get in touch if you’re interested.
Somerset Group
Established in March 2021, the Somerset Group hosts monthly online meet-ups for authors across the area to connect and support one another. Sessions often include a themed discussion or member-led talk to share advice and learn new skills. The group will continue online sessions to be as inclusive as possible and welcome new members.
Spain Group
Established in May 2023, the group host quarterly informal online sessions on Zoom for SoA members in Spain to meet fellow authors and share current projects. New members welcome!
Surrey Group
The group meet for lunch in Guildford, usually featuring a speaker from the group on wide ranging topics about writing. Members pay for their own food and drink and guests are welcome.
Tufnell Park Writers
Tufnell Park Writers is a vibrant local group that features guest speakers, themed discussions, social events including summer picnics, Christmas parties and even the occasional excursion. If you are a writer seeking inspiration, support, improvement of knowledge or you just want to make some more author friends then this is the place for you.
With usually meeting on the first Wednesday of each month for a Prompt 7pm start, upstairs in The Lord Palmerston, Tufnell Park, NW5 1HU. We also have ad hoc extra-curricular dates for special guest speakers and social events.
Warwickshire Group
Established in April 2020, the Warwickshire Group host a regular creative writing coffee morning on the last Friday of the month in Leamington Spa. We also host occasional events in Kenilworth and Warwick, alongside regular online sessions. Events feature a themed discussion or talk and are informal for members to make connections and share advice on writing.
West Midlands Group
The West Midlands Group meet online for informal discussions and in person social meet-ups to support one another, share advice and celebrate writing achievements. The group are starting to meet again from March 2024 for regular catch ups, so now is a great time to join. New members always welcome!
West Yorkshire Group
The group started in March 2022 as a space to to support fellow authors, develop friendships, and share opportunities in the local area. The group host a quarterly in person meet-up between Leeds and Ilkley. If you know of a venue in your local area which we could use to host a meet-up, please get in touch. All members welcome!
Winchester Group
Established in April 2023, the group host informal in person meet-ups in Winchester for SoA members to meet fellow authors and share current projects. New members welcome!
Writers of Essex
Come along and meet fellow authors in your area, discuss your current projects and ideas, and chat about the highs and lows of writing. The group host a mix of online and in person meet-ups in the café area at Colchester Library and Community Hub.