A parallel stream to the main book club is a Creative Writing Club. Taking inspiration from sessions like Shut Up and Write, these would encourage both beginners and experienced writers to create original sci-fi (sometimes interactive fiction) inspired by Hitchhikers.Earth. Writing sessions could run independently or alternate weeks with book club discussions, either as separate groups or as part of a single hybrid club. We’re looking to start these in locations such as Portland, Oregon, Scotland, and Norway but can also expand into Barcelona and London. The approach is to foster new writing and then publish and share the work collectively, including contributions from the H2G2 Community. - Writing clubs focus on producing new sci-fi work and games. - Activities run online and in locations across several countries. - Publishing and sharing output is a key aim, tying the community together.
## 2. Creative Writing Club A second dimension is the creative writing group, inspired by formats like Shut Up & Write and online writing sessions familiar to the Federated Wiki community. ### Structure - **Writing and Publishing:** Participants engage in collaborative writing projects, from drafting science fiction stories inspired by the Hitchhiker universe to developing interactive fiction games or even preparing material for publication. - **Online & Hybrid Events:** Sessions may be held via Zoom or in-person, welcoming writers of varying backgrounds to contribute stories, critique, and ideas. The goal is to publish new works—potentially as both digital and physical books—with a strong emphasis on community-driven, experimental science fiction. ### Locations - **Scotland:** Graham, connected via Liam (his contact), is exploring the integration of the Hitchhiker Book Club with an existing creative writing or sci-fi book club on Scotland’s west coast. This group is in touch with around 25 local bookshops, aiming to sell and potentially publish works. - **Portland, Oregon:** Zach coordinates with a local science fiction writing group, which holds a festival (with dates to be confirmed, possibly in December or January). There are plans to sync writing workshops with broader community events, building connections with local writers, readers, and booksellers. - **London (RSA) & Barcelona:** Additional nodes, involving Graham and others, are envisioned to expand the network’s reach. - **Norway (Oslo and Molde):** Sessions may run in various Norwegian cities, coordinated by Ingemetter. - **Integrated or Parallel:** Some events could alternate weekly between classic book club sessions and creative writing workshops, allowing members to choose their preferred mode of involvement.