Back in 2014, 10 enthusiasts launched Frome Writers’ Collective (FWC) to support local writers. It now has 150 members.
Members participate in author events, monthly socials and writing workshops, have access to writing advice, and are offered help to join a writing group or partnership. There are currently 14 groups and four partnerships in operation.
Group member Brenda Bannister said: “A recently created poetry group is thriving, with the free tickets in demand, and our popular scriptwriting group staged its second event at the Merlin Theatre last March with Misconceptions, a collection of monologues brought to life by local actors. All writers, from highly experienced to just beginning, are made welcome.
“Talks by different authors were enjoyed throughout 2025, including Debbie Young, who brought along her range of ‘cosy mystery’ novels and shared writing tips; Marianne Hill, author of Healing the Shadow; Sara Louise Akrill, whose new book gave an insight into living with neurodivergence; and Roz Dace, who described the writing and publishing of craft books.
“Frome Writers’ Collective also partnered with Frome’s Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books to co-host Kate Lord Brown, whose novel The Golden Hour is a gripping story of love and war set in Egypt.
“Interactive events included an introduction to songwriting with musician Sue Harding, a workshop on editing with writer, editor and publisher Kylie Fitzpatrick, a festive quiz and buffet, and opportunities for members to share their ideas and discuss their work.”
Frome Writers’ Collective’s Silver Crow service continues to screen manuscripts and mentor authors during their journey towards publication. So far, 20 of the submitted manuscripts have proceeded to publication, with the most recent two titles, Dianne Sangster’s Flutter and Sian M Williams’ Bohemia, launched in 2025.
Frome Festival events organised by the Collective last year included the annual Frome Publishing Fair, a talk on writing political history by Peter Clark and David Lassman, a workshop with poet Dawn Gorman, and a discussion on writing about World War II involving authors Felice Hardy, Frances Liardet and Michael Phillips.
On the final day of the festival, the winners of the annual Frome Festival Short Story Competition were announced, together with the results of Frome Writers’ Collective Young Writer Awards and the annual Writers in Residence competition, which takes place in late June. “The event was a wonderful celebration of writers and writing,” said Brenda.
“This year promises to be a great year, with the Frome Publishing Fair and Silver Crow Books celebrating their 10th anniversaries, the poetry group going from strength to strength, the scriptwriters planning another evening of monologues and short plays at the Merlin in March, and exciting literary offers planned for Frome Festival, featuring both local and nationally known authors. We’re so grateful for all the people and businesses in Frome who support us.”
For more infor-mation, visit frome writerscollective.co.uk.
