It's said everyone has a novel inside them. Well, you may not think you're another Dickens or JK Rowling, but until you try, how do you know? There are no great novelists in our writing groups, just a bunch of people who love creating stories. At the end of each meeting, we're given a prompt for the next one. And the great thing is, it doesn't matter if you don't stick to the prompt. You can write a story on any subject you like.Or a poem, a playscript or even a novel! And if you feel your writing isn't up to much, don't worry. We'll give all the help you need to improve. At each meeting, we read out our pieces to the group, then discuss them, commenting on what's good & suggesting ways they could perhaps be improved. The joy comes when you've begun at home by staring at a blank screen or sheet of paper & ended up with a compete piece you're happy to read to the group.
| Status: | Active, not currently accepting new members |
| Leader: | |
| When: | On Friday mornings 10:00 am Weeks 1 & 3 |
| Venue: | Porthcawl Rugby Club |
We write on given or self-chosen subjects (eg see Crystal Ball). During the meeting we read and discuss work we have prepared. Time permitting, we do a writing exercise to give us confidence in putting pen to paper.
In July 2025, Claudette Evans' essay 'The Spark Behind the Sizzle'
won the National u3a Essay competition. Click here to read it (& essays by other finalists).
In early 2023, five members of Group 2 were shortlisted in the Awen Libraries' Crime festival ‘Short Crime Story’ competition. Group leader Claudette Evans won 1st Prize, and Chris Worth, John Coutanche, Verne Ferrugia and Bill Lenihan were runners up. Competitors were invited to submit a short story, a poem, a sonnet or limerick with a maximum of 500 words. The prizes were sets of books and writing materials, with the winning writings to be published on the Awen website.
Claudette's winning story is entitled "The Hotel Receptionist".
Marcia, the leader of Group 1, is also the u3a's National Adviser for Creative Writing,
so she helps U3A Writing groups throughout the UK.
Her latest National Newsletter can be read here.
| 17th April 2026 | 10 a.m. |