I stumbled across The Writing Clubroom when Steve and Ash, who run the organisation, were promoting their Christmas short story competition at the end of last year. They were lovely to deal with and I was delighted when my story was placed third. I’ve invited them to answer five quick questions about their quiet ethos and what they offer.
What are you offering to writers?
We offer a calm, supportive place to write and think. The Writing Clubroom is designed for people who want to approach writing without pressure, comparison, or urgency. We provide gentle guidance, clear starting points, and thoughtful spaces where writers can explore ideas, practise craft, and grow in confidence at their own pace.
Who is your target audience in terms of experience level, genre, or motivation?
We mainly support beginners, returners, and quieter writers who may have drifted away from writing or never quite felt they belonged. Some are starting for the first time; others are coming back after years away. Genre matters less to us than mindset. Our members tend to value kindness, seriousness, and reflection over competition or speed.
What makes you different from similar organisations?
We focus on removing pressure before adding structure. Writing doesn’t begin with productivity; it begins with permission. We avoid noise, performative sharing, and the sense that writers must constantly prove themselves. People are free to work privately, alongside others, or to step gently into shared spaces if and when they wish. There is no expectation to impress or to progress at a fixed rate.
How are you qualified to offer this service, in terms of experience or anything else?
Our qualification lies in long experience of working with writers as people rather than as producers. We understand how hesitation, confidence, and self-judgement shape the writing process, and how easily good intentions can be blocked by pressure. The Clubroom has grown from careful listening, reflective practice, and a commitment to treating writing as a human activity rather than a competitive one.
What is the single most important thing a writer should have, and why?
Permission. Before technique, before confidence, before ambition, a writer needs permission to begin imperfectly and to continue without judgement. Once that is in place, skills, habits, and confidence can grow naturally. Without it, even the best advice struggles to land.
Personally, I love The Writing Clubroom’s concept that writing should be enjoyed for its own sake without any of the outside pressure that we constantly feel in our everyday lives. Our writing can be our own personal retreat into calm, as illustrated by the two images Steve and Ash supplied to accompany this post.
If you would like to find out more, visit The Writing Clubroom’s website or their Facebook page.
Sally Jenkins 