Writer's Cramp show a way with words
 Detail of the Writer's Cramp poetry book cover. showing the six poets of the group
|  | Read poems by local writers, from a book, called Writer's Cramp. The powerful poetry explores Warwickshire, love, immortality, rugby and more.
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 | | A local poetry-writing group, called Writer's Cramp, have had a collection of their poems published in a limited edition book, of the same name.
We have a number of the poems from the collection for you to enjoy online. Simply press the images button below to read the sample.
Simple beginnings
The Writer's Cramp group formed as two of the members decided it would be a shame to lose touch after they all ended a teacher training session together.
Martin and David Curtis decided they would try to start an informal group, so the writers could support and inspire each other.
Members came forward quickly and immediately fell under the guiding influence of Heather Harrison, herself a published poet and someone with tremendous spirit and ability with words.
David Curtis remembers how the group got their name: "Martin Hayes came up with our name Writer's Cramp, and it stuck because it seems to catch the blend of self-mockery and seriousness about writing that has existed throughout the ten years that we've been meeting."
The publication
The writers in the published collection are Graham Aftleck, Glena Baptiste, Brian Chase, David Curtis, Martin Hayes and Theresa Jones.
The book's publication has been a turning-point for the group, consolidating their time together.
As David recalls in the book's introduction, the very survival of the group was in question at one point.
He said: "Had it not been for Brian it is unlikely that Writer's Cramp would have survived. Interest did begin to wane and attendance fell off.
"But he took over secretarial duties; we agreed to meet less frequently, about once every six weeks; and Brian's letters ensured that this ill-disciplined bunch of divergent thinkers (on a good day) had no excuse for forgetting the date of the next meeting."
Watch this space for more updates from the Writer's Cramp group.
Share your creativity
Please email us if you would like your artwork or poetry to be featured on the website. Follow the links on the left to enjoy some of the work already displayed online.
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