A COLCHESTER writing group is looking forward to scribbling their next book following the success of their first anthology.

The Scribbles Writing Group was formed just over five years ago when a group of students from a creative writing course at Greyfriars College in Colchester decided to keep up their weekly meetings.

While the small membership of between five and eight writers has changed over the years, the group's aims have stayed the same, to provide a supportive environment for writers to share their work and receive feedback and encouragement.

One of the members, Lorna Wright, says: "The group continues because we are all serious about improving our writing and so in that respect the criticism has to be constructive. We are most definitely not a book club.

"Members also have to produce material. It's no good just reading one person's work because that would end up being a bit boring so we do insist people write stuff. Meeting once a week also gives us great momentum in terms of creating work as well."

They've certainly put that to the test last year when the group decided to release their first anthology.

Another member Kate Scott adds: "We had been prevaricating for quite some time about publishing but then we had an evening of readings with the Mosaic Poetry Group as part of National Poetry Day and people really liked it.

"Before then we hadn't really shared any of the pieces outside of the group and so it seemed like an ideal opportunity to start getting something out there."

Scribbled Words was the result. A collection of short stories from the members of the group with a beautiful cover design by Wylva Andon, one of the founding members of the writing group, who sadly died last year.

Lorna says: "We didn't want a theme because we wanted the stories to best represent each author's work. There are 18 in all, some funny, some serious, all balanced out to give a good idea of what the group has accomplished in the time we've been together."

The group continues to meet every Thursday from 5pm in Colchester Library with a typical week including pre-reading a piece of work, providing constructive comments, followed by an exercise to develop an aspect of their writing skills.

"It's always a thrill to see your work in print," Kate says, "but we were particularly pleased with how the collection turned out, especially with Wylva's painting on the front.

"Hopefully it won't take so long for our next anthology to come out."

Scribbled Words is out now, available at Red Lion Books in Colchester High Street.

Anyone interested in the group itself can e-mail them at membershipscribbles@yahoo.co.uk