Chinwag

Who doesn’t like a chinwag?

Well, me, actually. Or I should clarify that. I like a chinwag with people I already know and particularly when it is 1-to-1. I am not so keen on chatting with people I don’t know and in groups. It makes me nervous and frankly I feel exhausted afterwards.

And that is why setting up a writing group for children’s authors seemed utterly impossible for me. But I woke up one morning at the end of April, with the clarity that what I needed was to have the chance to chat to other children’s authors. Two months later, I launched Chinwag. That’s crazy quick for me!

I have been attending a writing group since January, which I enjoy (even reading my work aloud isn’t too scary), but realise that there are writing chats that I’m missing out on because everyone else in the group is writing for adults, and obviously there are differences. The other writers are dealing with long chapters, sub-plots, foreshadowing and different POVs. My funny rhymes feel very foolish in comparison. I felt it was time to stop comparing myself and find my tribe. I found a couple of children’s authors locally who I had met previously (“Hello Ruth!” “Hello Doug!”) and asked them if they would be interested in Chinwag. They were, so I pushed myself a little more and posted a speculative invite on Facebook and Instagram. Real people who i don’t know responded positively. So that meant I had to stop procrastinating and actually make plans for a group meet-up.

So, Chinwag – obviously it is a great word and means to have a chat, but it is also an acronym (albeit a bad one!) for Children’s Authors Writing Group. I hope you like that! It pleased me

Before 2026, I wanted to hide away a lot of the time. I was lacking in confidence BIG TIME. I’m not sure that has changed very much, however, “fake it till you make it” is a saying (one that I have always been unable to put into action, actually), but more than that, I am remembering to celebrate each small wiin in my life and that has given me the confidence to do another thing, which leads to another, and then another. It’s a wonderful feeling!

With thanks to The Dragonfly Lounge, who are kindly hosting the group, I am pleased ot say that the first Chinwag meeting was held on 30 June, and we’ll meet again on the last Tuesday each month at 7pm.

Chinwag is a place to share your work, receive constructive feedback, discuss the world of children’s books, marketing dilemmas and feel less alone. Because being a writer is generally a solitary occupation. I do love the opportunity to work from home on my own, but it can be isolating and I am now embracing community.

The group is for published, self-published and aspiring children’s authors. All are welcome. Get in touch if you have any questions.

I’m nearly at my final instalment of this blog series – the sixth impossible thing – and then I’ll be able to set off for breakfast and a show at Milliways!