Visitors are welcome to come along to Monday manuscript evenings. Although you need to be a paid-up member in order to read, you are most welcome to contribute to the discussion and we actively encourage you to do so. 

The manuscript evening is the heart of the Circle. Chairs are arranged in a physical circle so that everyone can easily see each other. The format consists of members giving short readings of their work, followed by a discussion. When a member has something to read they will sign in the book which circulates at the beginning of the meeting. The Chair will invite people to read in turn. After each reading the discussion is open to the whole room. Raise your hand if you have something to contribute and wait for the Chair to acknowledge you. You can expect the group to be supportive and encouraging while also offering frank opinion and suggestions. It’s not unusual for feedback to be contradictory. Readers are encouraged to accept the critique given with a minimum of comment back in return, allowing as many people to contribute as possible. Readers value all feedback. Please feel free to annotate the written copy with suggestions and comments and highlighting anything you particularly enjoyed. The great value of the Circle is getting different pairs of eyes on your work. We’re all learning. Whatever you write, and whatever stage you’re at in your writing, the Circle is here to provide constructive feedback. You will soon get the idea.

There are a few guidelines to point out when it comes to reading:

• Any form of writing is acceptable: prose, poetry, genre fiction, non-fiction, biography, memoir, script. 
• This is an important one. Please keep to a length below 1500 words of prose (ideally no more than 1200 unless necessary) or 40 lines of poetry. If it takes longer than five minutes to read, it’s too long. People will lose concentration and get restless! Consider reading just an extract or spreading it over a number of meetings. 
• It is standard practice to supply copies for members to follow as you read, allowing for the adding of notes. It makes discussion and critique easier and also gives you a record of the feedback people have provided. The copies get returned to you after the discussion. We suggest about 25 should be brought, which is the average manuscript evening attendance, but people don’t mind sharing if necessary. Seek out a committee member if this is a problem. Please use a standard font, ideally 12pt minimum. No handwritten manuscripts please!
• Although there is no censorship at the Circle, please be sensitive to the reading of any extreme material which holds the possibility of causing offence or anxiety. In this instance we would ask that you provide a warning before you begin reading.

We look forward to getting to know you and your work.