Judith
Lennox was kind enough to answer our questions on the Cambridge Chapter, though
it would seem the borders are much extended
We’re the Cambridge Chapter, though
our members come from all over East Anglia – Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Norfolk,
Essex and beyond.
How
long has your chapter been running?
We’ve been meeting since 2006. Jan
Jones and I started the group with just a few people, meeting at my Cambridge
house. Expanding numbers and the problems of parking in Cambridge soon meant
that we looked for a different venue, with good transport links – and plentiful
parking.
Do
you have a schedule or are your meetings ad hoc?
Our meetings are monthly and always
include a lunch. We meet at the Red Lion pub in Whittlesford,
We alternate between Tuesdays and
Wednesdays so that those with fixed obligations have a chance of making a
meeting.
A
Thirteenth Century Coaching Inn! It sounds lovely. How many members attend your
meetings?
It varies, from around four to a
maximum of about twelve to fourteen. We’ve a mixture of men and women and a big
age range. Some of our members are just beginning their writing careers and
others have been published for decades. We work in a wide variety of genres.
Is
your chapter open to non-members of the RNA?
No, only RNA members.
How
long are your meetings?
Generally around two to two and a
half hours. Discussion is spontaneous rather than structured, and we cover a
wide variety of topics – for instance, during the last two meetings we
discussed the recent RNA conference, self-publication of eBooks through Amazon,
how Pinterest can help writers attract new readers, writing erotic fiction and
researching the laws connected with marriages licences.
Can
you give an outline of speakers/guests you’ve had in the past year?
Jean Fullerton, in her role as
Chapter Liaison, was a guest at one of our lunches earlier this year. We don’t
have speakers – we decided that what we wanted out of the meetings was informal
discussions about the subjects that concern writers, along with the support and
encouragement you gain from talking to others in the same profession.
What
have you planned for the rest of 2015?
Our monthly lunches will continue.
In December we have a Christmas lunch, complete with Secret Santa and turkey
and pudding for those who desire it!
What
would you say makes your chapter of the RNA so special?
I think some of our members enjoy the
fact that we’re a small group. It makes it easier to get to know people and means
that everyone, quieter people included, can have their say. Everyone
sympathises over the pressure of deadlines and shares the triumph of a contract
signed or a publication day. I feel that we are supportive and welcoming – and
we aim to enjoy ourselves!
Does
your chapter have a website, Facebook page or Twitter account?
No. We communicate through a Yahoo
group, which those who join the Chapter can take part in.
Who
is the contact for new members?
We always warmly welcome new
members. Anyone from the East Anglia area who is interested in joining us please
contact Judith Lennox at judith@judithlennox.com
or Jan Jones at jan@jan-jones.co.uk
Your meetings are obviously open
and expansive and the venue sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing
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2 comments:
Many thanks for featuring the Cambridge Chapter on the blog today. Our next lunch is on October 14th.
I always look forward to our #RNACambs meetings. I don't think any of us ever go away without learning something and passing knowledge on.
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