A BAND of budding writers were so enthused by a creative writing course they were encouraged to form a club to expand their hobby. Now Wotton Writers' Group is in its eighth year with a membership boasting award-winning pensmanship.

Gazette feature writer KIRSTY RAMSDEN met two of the group's original members to find out about its beginnings and how it inspired one enthusiast to write a book.

EIGHT years ago Yasmin Freeman and Jane Gray-Wallis took a term-long Stroud College creative course.

They and others on the course were so inspired, their tutor suggested they form a writers' group.

As the course was held in Wotton-under-Edge and those attending lived in the town or close by, it seemed the ideal venue for such a club.

Since its launch, Wotton Writers' Group has grown into a successful club with a variety of activities.

Miss Gray-Wallis said: "It is quite informal. That is how we like it to be because it can be quite intimidating coming to this sort of thing.

"But, at the same time, we have quite a lot of talent in the group."

Once a month the club meets at Wotton-under-Edge Civic Centre.

Each month group members have an assignment which they complete for the following meeting.

Then, at the meetings, members take part in a further exercise, which could include writing a piece of prose or discussing a certain technique, how to handle dialogue or creating characters.

Meetings are organised by various group members.

The club will also invite speakers, which have included accomplished novelists, and run day-long workshops which are open to anyone.

The organisation has a membership of 12, resulting in seven or eight members attending each month.

"We would like more people to join," said Miss Gray-Wallis.

"Everyone is welcome regardless of writing ability, in fact most people who join are beginners."

She added membership was quite varied. It launched with more women than men but now that has reversed.

Members live in Wotton or surrounding villages such as Hawkesbury Upton and Wickwar.

The age range tends to be 40 to 60 although the club has attracted teenage members and budding writers in their 70s.

Miss Gray-Wallis said: "We have a lot of fun - it's serious but fun.

"We have people who want to publish a novel and others for who it is a diversion, a hobby."

The group has published a series of seven anthologies highlighting the best work of members.

The anthologies include writing as varied as poems, prose and even limericks.

The writers are now working on their eighth anthology.

About a third of each anthology is invariably inspired by the area, explained Miss Gray-Wallis.

The group will give constructive criticism to the budding writers.

Mrs Freeman said: "With new members we are very kind. We don't want to smash people's confidence."

The membership includes several competition winners - Mrs Freeman has won accolades for her poetry.

Miss Gray-Wallis wrote a children's book, Auntie Meg and the Dragon, which was published in 1998.

She said: "I would never have done this without having gone to the writers' group."

She added group members were particularly supportive, even helping at the book launch.

She explained she found writing relaxing.

Mrs Freeman added: "Sometimes I think I don't want to do it then you get down to writing and the time just whizzes by."

Wotton Writers' Group, which is part of Gloucestershire Writers' Network, meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at the town's civic centre.