Mungrisdale Writers was founded in 1998 by Angela Locke with a few key participants, to enable local writers in the community to come together on a regular basis and expand their skills. The core participants were drawn from Angela's original Creative Writing Group in Keswick which was part of the Kendal College/Lancaster University Outreach Programme. With community support, the group rapidly grew in popularity, drawing participants from Northumberland and Cheshire as well as the furthest reaches of Cumbria. The group was originally based in the Mill Inn, Mungrisdale, which Angela felt was a suitably friendly environment.    It has now moved to the Recreation Rooms and Village Hall.  The group attracts established writers and poets, a few members of the Society of Authors, and a large proportion of new writers, many of whom have not written before. The group holds about 40 names on its list, and typically ten to fifteen people attend the fortnightly meetings. Angela has designed the sessions so that participants can 'drop in' when they are able to and pay when they come. She aims to make the sessions exciting enough so that people want to come back, and this has worked well so far. Mungrisdale Writers meet from 10.30am to 1.30pm on alternate Thursdays from September to the end of May  when Angela ceases to tutor until the end of September.  Members continue to meet in June and July with alternative tutors in order to broaden their experiences.   Many members stay after the session for lunch at The Mill Inn.  Occasionally day long workshop sessions are held which are open to everyone.

Angela uses her innovative techniques of guided visualisation, constantly challenging participants to find their own, unique voice. This has proved very successful, and three books have been produced by the group so far, all of which have shown a profit.

This is a genuine community group. Despite the wide catchment area, many people live in Mungrisdale itself or within ten miles of the village. There is a committee of long term MWG students who decide policy and pay Angela's fees and expenses, and publishing costs. The group has managed a high level of self-sufficiency since its foundation in 1998.

Achievements of the Group
Since its inception, four members of the group have gone on to achieve an MA in creative writing. A number of anthologies and leaflets have been published including 'Voices of the Mountain,” "A Cumbrian Kaleidoscope" and "The Wag's Tail".  “Earth Speaks” and “Christmas Celebration” were launched in Mungrisdale Village Hall in 1999 at an event staged by the group as an Inter Arts day and featuring painting and sculpture as well as poetry and prose readings.

There have been many public performances of members work in Keswick as part of the Water Margin festival and in The Theatre by the Lake as well as in the Museum, in Penrith and Carlisle and increasingly the group is being asked to contribute to Speak Easy and Open Mic Sessions. The group has compiled three radio programmes showcasing their work.  Most recently the group has published its first professionally produced book dating@60 and other tribulations which has just gone into its second edition (October 2009)

Several members have won prizes for poetry; had short stories or articles published in magazines and professional journals and two members self publish their poetry.  At least two members have published novels or contributed to other published works.

Membership
We welcome anyone to apply to join our group. This can be done by filling in the application form on line found under 'Membership'. There is an annual subscription of £15 (£20 for Virtual Members and a charge, currently £10 for each meeting. Dates and venues of meetings can be found under 'News'. Our tutor has set up a framework within which the group operates which is printed below. Every effort is made to respect and keep to this framework and the group reserves the right to cancel the membership of anyone unable to work within it.