Current Courses

Short Story Course (Part One)

Starting in April 2021

10 Week Short Story Course (Part Two)

Reading and Writing Love Poetry

Starting in September (Details to be confirmed)

Reading and Writing 21st Century Poetry

How to Write an Engaging Opening Chapter

If you’re interested in taking a course in creative writing, even if it is a genre not listed here, please get in touch and email me at suffolkwritersgroup@gmail.com.

About Me

I love helping people to improve the quality of their writing as well as making the whole experience of being a writer more sociable and enjoyable. Writing can be a lonely business and I think everyone benefits from belonging to a supportive creative community.

I have a degree in English Literature from Kent University, am a trained teacher and have been running writing groups in Suffolk for the past ten years. I’ve won competitions for short stories, travel writing and poetry with my work appearing in Best Magazine, Let’s Talk, Suffolk Magazine, The Telegraph and The Fens. I have also had my poetry featured on local radio. (Examples can be found at the bottom of ‘group achievements’ lower down the page).

I have been a guest on Radio Suffolk’s Creative Corner, helped judge the 500 Words Short Story Competition for Children and regularly produce educational resources for CGP Publications.

Free Monthly Writers Cafe (on Zoom)

On the first Friday of each month, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, I hold a free Writing Cafe. This is open to everybody – whether you or not you are a course participant.

Each time there will be a special guest – a writer, publisher, agent or other industry professional – who will be there to answer your questions.

During the session, you will have the opportunity to share your work with others. You can choose anything up to 250 words, eg. a poem, short story or novel extract.

If you’d like to come along, email me for a Zoom invite. suffolkwritersgroup@gmail.com

Here’s some feedback I’ve received from group members

Jacqui Martin

Mai is so welcoming and, as new writer venturing into the unknown, everyone is reassuring, encouraging and also really constructive.

Barry Eley

I wholeheartedly endorse Mai as a tutor. She has taken my writing from a series of official-sounding reports to a fully-furnished novel, rich with descriptions and interesting characters. All done with gentle prodding and always a smile.

Megan Musgrove

I joined the Writer’s Group as way to improve my writing skills. I stayed because the encouragement is fantastic, it has inspired a lot of new ideas and the people are just lovely.

Graham Cleaver

The combination of a friendly group of like-minded people and expert, supportive tuition is just what I needed.

suffolkwritersgroup@gmail.com

Achievements of Group Members

• Cat Weldon has gained a literary agent and secured a three book deal with Pan MacMillan

• Kelly was a joint runner up in the Felixstowe Short Story Competition one year and on another occasion had a story shortlisted. She also won our concept competition and received very encouraging feedback from literary agent Meg Davis.

• Timothy Howard has published a number of novels including The Buried Man and Clockwork Hearts.

• Lesley won two hundred euros and had her travel piece published in The Telegraph.

• Aaron won our synopsis competition to receive feedback on his work from literary Meg Davis

• Teresa had a story published in Your Cat magazine.

• Megan Musgrove has had a number of novels published. Click here to take a look.

• William won a competition to be one of Suffolk’s Young Poets of the year and read his work alongside Allan Ahlberg

Cathy Grant had her poem ‘In the Care Home’ featured on Radio Suffolk.

Here are two examples of my own work:

Short Story in the Fens Magazine.

Travel piece in The Telegraph.

Examples of Recent Activities

Sometimes we have a competition to see who can write the most words in a week. Here’s a recent winner with his well-earned prize.

Sometimes we try out the famous ‘cut up technique‘ as used by David Bowie and TS Eliot-

Suffolk Writers Group Facebook Site