Young Writers’ Groups
If you’re a secret scribbler, vocal wordsmith, closet novelist or part-time poet, Hive runs a network of young writers groups in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham.
Come and build your skills and confidence, be creative and meet others with like-minded interests. You can join any time. (We also run projects for aged 14 up to 30 from time to time including a Poetry Collective for 17-30s and fiction projects too).
ONLINE WORKSHOPS (Note, we now have South Yorkshire wide workshops running on Zoom during autumn 2023 with support from Off the Shelf Festival of Words (who we’ll also be doing an open mic with on 17th November). If you’re based in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster or Barnsley, get in touch!
“I love how relaxed it is! Ideal if you’re socially awkward like me haha (and dyslexic), although my confidence has grown tons and I’ve made some great friends from the group too.”
Who & what are our groups for?
We welcome young people of all interests, abilities and backgrounds who enjoy any form of writing. You don’t have to think you’re a great writer to join, you just need an interest in writing and a willingness to try new things. Our groups are about sparking ideas and exploring the power of words through creative writing exercises and techniques and not about spelling and grammar. They’re also about being a fun part of a young writers’ community and the opportunities that come with it.
We attract plenty of shy and talkative people to the groups. Everyone is welcoming, accepting and supportive of each other. You can find out what past members of our groups have to say in interviews here (bear in mind these are young people who have been in the network a long time or have left so they might seem quite confident/old!)
Our groups typically run as follows:
Sheffield Young Writers (space for more!) fortnightly Wednesdays 5-7pm, Sheffield Central Library, first session free and then a small termly/or yearly cost.
Rotherham Young Writers
fortnightly Monday 5-7pm Rotherham Riverside Library. Free for the first year then a small termly cost.
Doncaster Young Writers
A new group has started on Zoom for a while, but will move to face-to-face in spring at Darts/The Point near central library/Cast/Hall Cross/Don UTC 5.-6.30pm zooms fortnightly Tuesdays. Free!
Barnsley Young Writer
fortnightly Fridays 5-7pm The Civic Barnsley, free!, see BYW page here for dates
Hive Poetry Collective online for ages 17 to 30s (currently once every 3 weeks on a Sunday on Zoom) Find out more>> here (small sessional fee)
Interested in checking out a group? Email us: with your name, age, writing interests, and the group you’re interested in to: hiveywriters@gmail.com
At our groups:
- Write, share and develop your interests with other young writers in a relaxed and supportive environment
- Explore a wide range of creative writing forms including fiction, scripts, poems, spoken word, lyrics, blogging, and journalism
- Meet fortnightly for two-hour workshops during term time
- Gain feedback and guidance on your writing from professional writers
- Hear about national and regional writing competitions and awards
- Access and take part in further writing opportunities such as themed projects, residentials, and open mics
- Gain a writing-focused Arts Award through an ongoing commitment to your writing
Writing successes
Members of our groups have been published widely and won poetry slams and writing competitions and awards such as the BBC Young Writers’ Award, the Orwell Youth Prize, Foyle Young Poet of the Year, New Poets Prize, Ledbury Poetry competition, Wales Young Poet Award and the Young Northern Writers Award. They’ve performed with top poets including Benjamin Zephaniah, Buddy Wakefield, and Hollie McNish, and interviewed favourite authors such as Malorie Blackman. Some have gone on to study writing at university or taken their writing further with a whole range of exciting opportunities. Several have even become young Poet Laureates. Membership of one of our groups has been something to feel proud of on uni statements and CVs. And we’re pretty sure, all long-term members would agree that the skills and qualities they developed from coming to a writing group have helped support their inspiration, confidence and journey into adult life. You can find some of your celebrated young writers here.
Still not sure? Listen to young writers tell you how they got involved here.
