If you’re thinking of taking up any kind of creative hobby, having a supportive network of like-minded people is imperative.
For creative writers in Deal, they should look no further than Dead Hoarse Writers, run by Gary Studley. CommunityAd chatted with Gary to find out more.
What prompted you to start Dead Hoarse Writers?
I belong to three other writing groups and co-run SoundLines with my colleague, Jeffrey Loffman. All cover aspects of writing but I wanted a group that wrote, critiqued and offered out-of-session tasks, so in 2018 I started Dead Hoarse Writers.
What are the goals of the group?
I run writing courses and notice that for many writers the activity can be isolated and frustrating. With Dead Hoarse Writers I provide opportunities for new and experienced poets or prose writers to work in a fun, invigorating and accepting atmosphere. I provide visual, literary and discussion based prompts that may help others get over a writer’s block, access fresh input, challenge their favourite forms or try an alternative approach or subject matter. In addition to writing every meeting, we voluntarily offer and receive constructive feedback.
What is your writing background and connection to Deal?
I’ve written since I was 12 and originally wanted to be a journalist. Instead, I went to art school where I combined text and images. I moved to the Deal area in 1995 when I became a primary school teacher. A few years later, I wanted to improve my writing and took a night-time BA in Creative Writing at UKC.
At the time UKC had no creative writing group, publications or spoken word events, so a fellow student, Luigi Marchini, founded the critique group, SaveAs Writers, and together we began publishing local authors. In 2006, we set up a live-lit event which has been running ever since. Shortly after, I led Deal Writers and later on ran Spoken Word at The Lighthouse.
In the last few years I’ve written on two local projects for The Marlowe Theatre – The Return of The Unknown and How Time Marches On. The latter writing can be heard in Deal Maritime & Local History Museum.
What have been your proudest achievements with the groups you run?
Through Writing For Life I’ve enabled pupils and people working with Porchlight, Shaw Trust, Suicide Prevention, etc, to find an ability to express themselves, thus promoting positive mental health. With DHW my proudest achievements are hearing members share work for the first time, supporting people’s return to writing after decades away and helping others seek publication and performance opportunities.