Who we are?
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We are the Pegswood Creative Writers, a group of individuals with a common interest in writing. We meet once a week to write and discuss ideas and themes for our scribblings: all of us have different interests and this makes for stimulating and thought-provoking meetings which fuel our work. 
The group started five years ago from two, ten week Creative Writing courses at the Hub: we all enjoyed it so much we decided to keep the group going. Since then, we have written material for shows and performances at the Hub, including the pantomine ‘Aladdin of Pegsabarr’ and a murder mystery evening, where the audience tried to solve the mystery – who was the killer, why did they do it and how? Another murder mystery is in development, so watch this space!
We have also had sessions on writing dialogue and scripts for radio, TV and the stage. The group then wrote 15 minute radio plays, which ranged from contemporary drama to a rather wry look at the Great Plague.
Two of our members have self-published their work on Amazon and it seemed natural to follow on with a book which showcased the talents of all our writers. The result was Scribblers Pen, an anthology of stories and poems from all members of the group and covering a huge range of subject matter and genres.  
So, if you are interested in writing stories, poems, plays… anything then please come and see what we do. Everyone is welcome: it really doesn’t matter if you haven’t written anything since school you will always find help and support. Remember, it doesn’t matter about spelling or grammar… just write! They say everyone has at least one book inside them – let yours come bursting out.
The group meets in the café at Pegswood Hub every Wednesday morning 9:30 to 11:30 during term times, with the obligatory coffee break halfway through. We look forward to seeing you.

A selection of our work

Climb higher

And here we are. I, here, the character hidden behind the interpretation, this fool's folly. And you there, the audience, in your cinema or theatre seat. We make eye contact and perhaps in that moment you sense something more than the actor's performance. You see me, torn from the script or stage play and paraded here before many, either in the spotlight or on the silver screen.

Would you be me just for a moment, to stand inside this charade and go through these motions? To have people gape and gawk and not understand? Would you be me, would you take that step and cross over from audience to true beating heart of this character? You could always step back, I could not nor would I hinder you.

The step is taken and I sigh as I settle back into my seat. Up there before me you take my place. Uncertain at first but then you begin to settle in as the actor stamps his mark on your soul. You follow him around, smiling, laughing, crying at his command. The eyes of the others taken from that page look back. They greet you and make you feel warm for you have taken that step and now stand where they tread. 

The story unfolds and you look at me, you play your part well and the others stand with you. You are not afraid for you know I will not desert you. And you now know what it feels like to stand naked and exposed, to say what you would not speak, to move when you should be still. This was the heartache we all shared, the anonymity we all bore. None knew what we truly felt, no-one heard what we had to say. The actor's parody, the anvil from which he beats and shapes his character.

Although at times alone and empty there is a camaraderie amongst us, one that is borne from shared experience. To play the hero and the villain, the King or the court jester, from all of this we are woven and from all of this we rise time and time again. Whether it be from tales around a camp fire long extinguished or verse written on dry parchment we are here.

And so my friend step back if you will for we have seen your kindness and your courage and you, have heard our song and joined our dance. Step over please and take your seat and I, my place upon the stage. And when we come and take the bow above that applause and cheer, a silver tap upon the shoulder there: "Thank you, thank you, thank you, for you have played your part


Heaven on earth

I am lying in my warm comfortable bed.

There is no pain, what bliss.

There is just sinking, relaxing, and thoughtful acceptance.

The dappled light is occasionally broken by birds flying part the window.

 The gentle breeze brings in fresh clean air, washed by the heavy rain last night.

Breathing calmly in and out makes me sink in duvet, and my eyes shut.

If I could see this moment it would be the swirling colours of a rainbow.

It smells of the flowers and freshly washed soil in the garden.

There is also the smell of warm bread and chocolate. 

Then I feel my soul mate, gently kiss and caress my forehead. My moment is complete. 

 I feel so grateful.

And sink completely into deep sleep………..



No one likes going to the dentists

“I hate the dentist,” he thought. “You sit in the chair, staring at the light and being told you don’t floss enough, or you’ve got acid erosion – whatever that is – and you need to see the hygienist.” He shifted slightly while the dentist put on a fresh pair of non-latex gloves and his safety glasses. “There’s nothing wrong with my teeth: I look after them really well – nice and sharp. Very proud of the fact that I’ve got no fillings, even at my age. I do hate needles, though.”

The dentist smiled at him. “Come on, now, Count. Open wide!”


Titles available from Amazon 

Santa, Aliens and War

Santa, Aliens and War is an eclectic collection of 29 short stories from the pen of a previously unpublished author. Inside you will meet Jason, who walks on the surface of the sun, Vreep and Denar trying to do a boring job in an ancient spaceship, or experience horror at the bottom of the sea. Carefully researched, you can fly in a damaged Lancaster bomber trying to make its way home, or sit in an underground bunker awaiting nuclear Armageddon, or join a Tommy about to go over the top into No Man’s Land in the First World War. Other questions will be answered, such as what really did happen when the snake tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden? And why you really should avoid pumpkins at Halloween. Things aren’t all serious, though: meet Aggie whose morning isn’t begun without a freshly make cup of tea, or Cyrus the sheep, worried about his appearance. Also inside are stories about candy floss (cotton candy to our US readers) mobile phones, one of the seven dwarves in therapy… There are even a couple of poems and a scientific piece on autumn! Some of the stories will make you laugh, some cry and some will make you think. It is designed to be dipped into when you have a few minutes to spare, or to binge read and finish in one glorious session. Enjoy!

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How Jimmy the Elf Saved Christmas: Volume 1

We all know the Christmas card scene of a jovial Santa sitting in his sleigh drawn by reindeer. But don't forget that the sleigh has a hard job to do, travelling very fast carrying a heavy load (and that's just Santa!). So what would happen if one Christmas, Santa lands back at the North Pole complex and the sleigh is just simply worn out... fit only for scrap? What would he do? How would Santa deliver all the presents next year? Well, the answer is to turn to Jimmy the Elf. Jimmy is one of the most unusual heroes you'll meet: an engineer par excellence who enjoys fine, single malt Scotch whisky and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Between them, can he and Santa come up with an idea to provide a replacement vehicle for next Christmas? Enjoy meeting a jovial Santa whose piloting skills are iffy, elves who work hard and love their food and drink and of course, Jimmy. Join them on a roller-coaster trip through the North Pole complex and the real world as they work to sort out the problem. Find out where drainpipes and bedsteads have their role in saving Christmas and hope that they succeed or you may be waiting in for the courier to deliver your gifts next Christmas! Developed from a short story originally written for a local Community Centre, Jimmy the Elf is the first in a series of books about the North Pole complex and its denizens. Health warning! It should be noted that Santa, Jimmy and the elves do enjoy a drink, especially at Christmas. This is not condoning drinking, it’s just a reflection of how things are up there! So, do Santa and Jimmy succeed? The only ways are to wait until next Christmas for the card to drop through the letterbox saying you weren't in, or to read the book!

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Scribblers' pen

Scribblers' Pen is a collection of poems and short stories written by the Creative Writing Group at the Pegswood Hub, a community centre based in Pegswood, Northumberland. The poems and stories in the book are a reflection of the broad interests of the members, ranging from lyrical to thought-provoking and personal. Travel back to in time to a day at the seaside with the church outing, never look at a cat the same way again and take a different view of the dead (they have rights too, you know). The inspiration for some of the stories and poems has, in some instances, come from the writer's own family history while some are true flights of fantasy. The 17 poems and 41 short stories provide the ideal book to dip into and find something different each time

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The Arcane Island Selkies and other stories

Short stories inspired by several things from randomly thrown dice, to quotes read or heard by chance. What would you have done with the same prompts?

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The Juicy Duck and other poems: Poetry from life experiences

A collection of poems written simply by a Mother of three boys. They a varied and have been inspired by many things, from paintings by local artists to general life with three growing boys and everything that entails!

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