About Us

Welcome to the Higham Writers website.
Our small but lively writers’ group was formed several years ago with the aim of bringing together people living near Higham, (in Gravesend, Kent, UK,) who simply enjoy writing. The accent is on recreational writing – writing for pleasure, if not eventually – profit. The group is tutor led, by Denise Leppard, an established freelance writer, who used to write for a magazine market back in the 80’s and 90’s – a market which unfortunately is much depleted for today’s aspiring writers.

The opportunities for getting into print for writers who are starting out now is so much more limited than it used to be. This means that it can be a disheartening process, trying to get published for the first time. Or even subsequently. A lot of very talented writers are at it and not succeeding. However, as Higham Writers have discovered, there are other outlets, and over the years, we have directed our talents towards also writing for public performance. Our work goes down very well in front of an audience at our showcase presentations, which we produce from time to time in front of a public audience, or to other organisations in the area.

Some of our present writers have been with us since the group was formed, and will probably be there to the bitter end. Others come and go – which is the way of the world. Those that stay are helped to improve their work to a publishable standard – that’s what Denise is for, critique and encouragement. If no-one wants to go down the publishing route, it doesn’t matter, because the process is meant to be enjoyable, the writing exercises are challenging but fun, and we always have our audiences to put our work before in the long run.

We have had our successes; stories that have been short listed in newspaper competitions, stories, articles and memoirs that have been published, a short listed story for the Bridport prize as well as work which has been published in one way or another through the internet. Many of our members have written short plays and sketches which are performed in public; others have had poetry and historical research published. More than one hopeful novel is on the circuit, hoping to find an agent. Success through getting published is one thing; enjoying the writing process is more important, and we do enjoy the challenges, and hope that everyone will enjoy reading and listening to what we have produced.

This website has been up and running for just over a year now. We have posted a large selection of the day to day work produced by our writers and have received some good comments from visitors to the site. However, if you have never belonged to a writing group – you might be interested to know what goes on in a small village society like ours. JAY’s JOURNAL is the week by week account of one such writing circle, and the first episode will shortly be appearing on the website. We are hoping that you will find it enjoyable keeping up with the varied and colourful members of Jay’s Writing Circle, and that it will bring you back regularly to follow the Higham Writers themselves.

Happy writing everyone, and do get in touch, we would love to hear from you.