About Us
How our little clan came to be
How did the group begin?
This group historically began as the Glasgow & West of Scotland branch of the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) organisation. In 2020 we moved our writing and social events online in response to the pandemic. Our numbers have increased every year and sit at 366 strong in 2024!
However, after a change in NaNoWriMo policy in 2023 (which you can read about here) we decided to break away from the organisation and forge our own path as an independent writing group.
If you wish for more information on why we separated from NaNoWriMo, you can read the letter Adam Connor Lewis sent to the organisation in 2023 and the full complaint here.
Since then, we have retained the seasonal spirit of NaNoWriMo, hosting month-long challenges in March, July, and November, and continuing to write casually in the offseason.
How we operate
We run Quests in March and July (when you can pick your own goal) and host the Main Adventure in November (when we invite you to join the challenge of writing 50,000 words!). During these months our events focus exclusively on writing, with some story-based challenges to keep up the motivation.
Throughout the rest of the year, it’s a balance of both writing and social events to keep those creative juices flowing; from Critique Club (lovingly known as the ‘Critiki Bar’), Narrative Telephone, Games Night, Movie Nights, and more!
For more information on our Events all year round, check out our Events page.
Our Theme
Every year, we select a new theme to inspire our writers as they forge on with their writing goals! This year, our members selected the theme of:
MYTH & LEGEND!
So expect tales of dramatic pantheons, extraordinary heroes, and perhaps a drunken song or two, all woven in-between your own storytelling journey.
This theme will inspire us throughout the year but mostly in our BIG 3 EVENTS.
Do you focus on a specific genre?
Entirely by accident, we’ve found that most of our group write Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels, but our cohort is large and varied, so don’t be discouraged if SFF isn’t your cup of tea. Many of our writers also dabble in writing novellas, fanfiction, romance, horror, comedy, murder mystery, YA/NA, screenplays, and the occasional academic dissertation. The ocean of creativity is vast!
Meet the Leadership Team
The WOSWG server is run by four volunteers. Get to know a wee bit about us, and where we are in our writing journey. If you’re coming to an in-person event, look out for us! We’d be happy to say hello.
Feel free to message any of us on Discord if you need support, or mention @Pantheon in any Discord channel to get our attention. You can also contact us here.
Adam Connor Lewis (@Adam)
Hebridean lost in the city, rewriting a magical realism novel. Aiming to have a query-worthy draft in 2025, if new ideas don’t distract him.
Alice (@AlicePages)
Creative Writing graduate, reader, writer, professional ghost-writer. Probably not actually a real ghost. Probably.
Anya (@lassify)
Anime-obsessed and based in Glasgow. Churns out fight scenes like they’re going extinct.
Tasha (@FitchersBird)
Big planner and post-it note connoisseur who writes about Scotland, fairy-tales and eldritch monsters. Hoping to start querying this year.
FAQs
How often do you meet?
We meet weekly on Wednesday and Sundays.
Can beginners join?
Of course! Writers of all levels are welcome.
Is there a fee?
Nope. Membership is completely free!
Do you have to be from the west of Scotland?
Not at all! The more the merrier!