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thegrove.writes

@thegrove.writes

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🐊 Where writers gather & stories grow
😎 Run by writer @annadempsey
🥾 Dead Dad Walking Club 15 Nov
✍️ Sunday Sessions 8 Nov @set.social.peckham

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Back in March, I won the inaugural Hilary Mantel Prize for Fiction launched by @a.m.heath along with @johnmurrays and @arvon__ ✏️✨

It’s been a few months and I’m still taking it all in, folks! It was a massive honor to have my griefy Floridian novel, 'This Is About an Alligator and Nothing Else', chosen by a team of such talented, thoughtful judges. I still can’t believe @maggieofarrellofficial called me brilliant. It’s that kind of boost that will keep a girl writing and encouraging others to not give up!

It’s a huge deal for an unpublished, unknown writer to receive this boost and mentorship. I hope it encourages other writers to submit to the prize (or even show their work to a trusted friend).

It’s not lost on me that this award celebrates Mantel’s incredible legacy and that my novel is a tribute to my dad, who died suddenly in 2020. As part of my PhD, I spent years researching how my own fiction writing helped me process grief thanks to funding from @swwdtp and support from my supervisors Tracy Brain and @leseldawson. This prize and novel have made me closer to my dad, even in death 🐊

Thank you to the very kind and wonderful team behind this prize, and to Hilary Mantel and her passion for mentorship and supporting her fellow writers. I plan to carry this generosity forward as well.

To the readers and judges, thank you for your time with my work. Especially, Chetna Maroo, Ben Miles, Nicholas Pearson, Maggie O'Farrell and Chigozie Obioma.

A huge congratulations to @uduaque_ whose novel was runner up and has gone one to win more prizes 🎉🎉

Now comes the hard work of editing, querying and navigating the publishing world, ekk! Again, grateful to have mentors to help and the opportunity to go on an @arvon__ residential course!

Submissions for the prize will open again in late 2027, so get to it with that writing while I do the same ❤️

📸 @emmapublicity by @thegrove.writes

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13 days ago

6.30-8.30pm, Tuesday evenings in your new fav Brockley coffee shop @nusnuscoffee

🎃 Think Cher in Mermaids meets Hocus Pocus with the work of adrienne maree brown, Joyce Carol Oates, a touch of Stephen King and my queen of Halloween, Shirley Jackson.

Tuesdays: 13 Oct, 20 Oct, 27 Oct, 3 Nov, 10 Nov.

*Only 8 spots available*

More info & tickets in bio!
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#londonwriters #londonwritingworkshops #SE4 #Brockley #writingcommunity taken in Brockley, London SE4 by @thegrove.writes

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a month ago

Hey writer, let's get some words on the page! Join us on 8 Nov, 12-1.45pm at @set.social.peckham ✍️

This month our theme is ‘Dusk' which means we'll be getting inspiration from other people's windows, the poetry of Maggie Dietz and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Yellow Wallpaper.

Whether you have a serious writing practice or you're picking it back up from childhood this workshop will have prompts & guidance to help ya tap into your creative side!

Ticket link in bio @thegrove.writes

Materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own journal and pen.

#SE15 #creativewriting #peckham #amwriting #selondon #writersofinstagram #southlondon #southlondonlife #londonwriters #writersoflondon #londoncreatives by @thegrove.writes

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24 days ago

This crew of summer writers were something special!

We spent our Tuesday evenings @nusnuscoffee seeped in sticky summer nostalgia chatting about the work of Carson McCullers, @ladeehubbard, Joyce Carol Oates, @stella.blackmon and more!

They wrote thousands of words, gave hours of feedback, swam in ponds between sessions and embraced all that is 'adult summer.' It was a hot, sweaty and very tender time.

We ended our time together with a stoop party. The cement was warm and the chats were silly. More stoop hangs in Brockley! More people coming together to write!

Big love to @nusnuscoffee the *best* place to post up and write in SE4.

#londonwriters #SE4 #Brockley #writingcommunity #amwriting #SElondon taken in Brockley, London SE4 by @thegrove.writes

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2 months ago

Calling all Grove writers (of past and present) let’s gather and celebrate *TWO YEARS* of The Grove! 🍊🍊🍊

I’ve been running workshops, walks, bookclubs and griefy things for a little while now which means there are quite a few of you writers, grievers & readers and it's high time you all met each other!

If you’ve ever come along to a workshop, course, bookclub or walk then join us for our Summer Gathering!

🍊Sunday, 30 August
🍊Ladywell Fields near @fieldscafe
🍊3-6pm

The hope is you’ll walk away with an orange jello shot, new friend and maybe a new writing group?

Grab your free spot, and let’s send summer out with a bang or at least with the toss of a frisbee.

Free tickets in the bio @thegrove.writes

See ya there, writers! taken in Ladywell Fields by @thegrove.writes

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2 months ago

One of the best things that’s happened to my *creative life* in SE London was finding @set.social.peckham

They are currently under threat of demolition so give @save_our_set a follow and come along to upcoming meetings to help us save this community space.

Whether I'm writing solo, alongside @pageofwands.writinggroup or teaching (every second Sunday) I love seeing community in action rather than just a cool buzzzzzy word people toss around.

Next on my list is making it to the Feminist Reading Group which meets after my writing group @amelia.horgan_ 📚 by @thegrove.writes

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2 months ago

Our monthly Sunday Writing Sessions are back! Join us on 13 Sept, 12-1.45pm at @set.social.peckham ✍️

This month our theme is ‘Changing of seasons’ so we’ll be using poems and fiction to tap into our back to school, cooler nights and new gel pen vibes.

Whether you're an experienced writer or picking it back up from childhood this session will have prompts & guidance to help ya tap into your tender, creative side!

Ticket link in bio @thegrove.writes

Materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own journal and pen.

#SE15 #creativewriting #peckham #amwriting #selondon #writersofinstagram #southlondon #southlondonlife #londonwriters #writersoflondon #londoncreatives taken in Peckham by @thegrove.writes

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2 months ago

It was a very surreal (and very emotional) moment to be invited to BBC Radio London to talk with Shay Kaur Grewal about all things *grief* and Father’s Day.

We chatted about our wonderful dads, crying in public, grief rituals and the absurdity of the “5 stages of grief.”

Mostly importantly I got the chance to talk about the Dead Dad Walking Club which will walk with each other each winter, spring, summer and fall.

Our first walk was 21 June/Father’s Day ❤️

Thanks for having me @bbclondon and @shaykaurgrewal 🎉

#deaddadclub #londonwalkers #bbclondon #grief taken in BBC London by @thegrove.writes

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2 months ago

Our monthly Sunday Writing Sessions are back! Join us on 9 August, 12-1.45pm at @set.social.peckham ✍️

This month our theme is ‘Summer Nostalgia’ so we’ll be using poems and fiction to tap into our chasing the ice-cream truck/jumping in the pool with my friends/long hot days covered in sunscreen feelings.

Whether you're an experienced writer or picking it back up from childhood this session will have prompts & guidance to help you tap into your tender, creative side.

Ticket link in bio @thegrove.writes

Materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own journal and pen.

Poster made by @holly_hayess

#SE15 #creativewriting #peckham #amwriting #selondon #writersofinstagram #southlondon #southlondonlife #londonwriters #writersoflondon #londoncreatives taken in Peckham by @thegrove.writes

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3 months ago

Took myself on a *solo* sunny reading retreat for my birthday!

I flipping loved 'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evan’s and now have two pen pals in the US.

Next up was 'Wild Dark Shore' by Charlotte McConaghy which was an absolute *masterclass* in dialogue (and eco-grief).

@elmleynature 🌿
@womensprize ❤️
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#readingretreat #womensprize #isleofsheppey #londonlife taken in Elmley National Nature Reserve by @thegrove.writes

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3 months ago

6.30-8.30pm, Tuesday evenings in your new fav Brockley coffee shop @nusnuscoffee

🏄Think The Summer Book meets the Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations' with late night bike rides a la Now and Then

Tuesdays: 7 July, 14 July, writing week break, 28 July, 4 August, 11 August

More info & tickets in bio! by @thegrove.writes

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4 months ago

Who else has started to get the dreaded Father's Day email blasts? 🤬😭💔

If it's a day that makes you sad, come be sad with me and all the others in the Dead Dead Club. We can walk n talk while doing the Brockley Three Peaks (5mi/8km).

📅 21 June, 10.15am
📍Pistachios in the Park @ Hilly Fields SE4

Details/tickets in my bio ❤️

#deaddadclub #grief #fathersday #brockley #SE4 #griefsupport #brockleythreepeaks taken in Brockley, London SE4 by @thegrove.writes

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5 months ago