Union Chapel Call Out with GAW

Celebrating Pride Month

Pride. Self-respect. Resilience. Change

LGBT+ Creative Writing Summer 2025

Past Events

Readings from Flash Dances

Past Event

February 2025

Several authors, featured in Flash Dances along with new members of Gay Authors Workshop, gave readings from the book at Lambeth's Minet Library to a crowd of readers.

There is a queer reading group based here which had chosen Flash Dances as the subject for that month’s meeting, and we hope to go back there in the future. The staff were really supportive, plus we had wine! The event was organised by Susan Miller.

Readings and Promotion of Paradise Press

Past Event

February 2024 at Hornsey Library

Jeffrey Doorn has been involved in the gay community for over fifty years. He was a regular at the Stonewall Inn before it became a world-wide symbol of resistance. He's edited several PP anthologies.

Attendees were encouraged to bring along a short sample of their own work to share with everyone.

Readings at Care Home

Past Event

February 2025

GAW/PP members Jeff, John and Micky read from recent Paradise Press publications at this monthly LGBTQ+ Coffee Morning held at Wandsworth Common Care Home.

Image: A previous coffee morning at Wandsworth Common Care Home

Creative Writing Workshops

Past Event

February 2025

Another series of Creative Writing Workshops took place at Maida Vale Library.

The workshop was designed for individuals who identify as LGBT+ or as straight allies, and want to express themselves through writing. There was also an opportunity for the best work from the workshop to be published. 

Through the series of interactive exercises and discussions, participants had the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and develop their skills in storytelling, poetry, and more. 

Lost Places

Past Event

February 2024 at Shoe Lane Library

A Lost Places presentation evening with V G Lee, Stephanie Dickinson, Jeffrey Doorn and Micky Silver.

Writing Proud

Past Event

June 2024 at Hammersmith LIbrary

Various members of Gay Authors' Workshop read from stories, poems and essays around the themes of Pride, self-respect and discovery. 

This was associated with an anthology called SHIFT_, about moments of change.

Creative Writing Workshops

Past Event

October to December 2024 at Maida Vale Library.

After three successful series, leading to a forthcoming anthology, Homo Promos and Gay Authors Workshop  joined forces for an autumn series of workshops.

Authors were invited to explore their creative side, use their imagination, and play with words within a safe environment with other interesting creative people.

It was open to all LGBT+ people and allies and no writing experience was needed.

Readings from Flash Dances

Past Event

July 2024 at Camberwell Library

This was a special invitation to hear readings from Flash Dances to be given in the presence of the Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Sunny Lambe.

Editors Peter Scott-Presland and Stephanie Dickinson introduced the evening; they were joined by Richard Thompson, Philip Inglesant and Bodicea Bactawar reading a variety of short pieces.

These readings of short stories and poems by members of the Gay Authors Workshop were selections from the anthology '100 Little Queer Tales' to be published later in 2024, and supported by Southwark Council.

Readings in Haringey

Lost Places: GAW at South London Group

Past Event

May 2024 at Bread and Roses

A bitter-sweet evening of reminiscence.

Lost Places is a collection of memories of such places by LGBT authors, published by Paradise Press. Poems, celebrations of collective endeavours, toilets, cinemas, bars ranging from Oxford to Paris.

Lost Places Presentation

Past Event

April 2024 at Somerset Day Centre

Jeffrey Doorn presented Lost Places to Older & Out, a meet-up group of 50+ LGBTQ+ folk.

Special focus was the writings of Jill Gardiner, who lived in Brighton and to whom the book is dedicated. 

Associates of Jill read her poems and sections of her prose piece Finding and Losing Lesbian Spaces in Brighton and Hove, and Beyond.

Adrian Risdon's Old Steine set poem One-way Transaction was also read and V G Lee join them from Hastings with a reading from The Last Gold Star Lesbian.

Poetry Evening

Past Event

March 2024 at Camberwell Library

Founded in 1978, Gay Authors Workshop is a cooperative of LGBT+ creative writers who meet regularly to discuss and develop their work.

Members presented a variety of their published and unpublished poems as well as examples by other members. Budding LGBT+ poets attending were also be invited to share their original work.

Writing on Health And Mental Health

Past Event

March 2024 at Westminster Reference Library

An evening of readings about LGBT+ health and mental health, headed up by Hastie Salih's presentation. Hastie is a semi-retired doctor who has specialised in this area.

She's also a member of GAW, a poet and author of the romantic lesbian thriller, Dahlia and Carys. 

Other GAW members read related stories and poems. Members of the audience were also invited to bring along their work and read short extracts from it.

Launch of Lost Places: An LGBT Anthology

Past Event

February 2024 at Carnegie Library

We all have places which hold special significance in our lives, places which often have disappeared, remaining only in our memories. Lost Places is a collection of bitter-sweet recollections of such places by LGBT authors, published by Paradise Press.

Reading from the collection were writers Ian Townson on Railton Road, John Dixon on public conveniences, Jeffrey Doorn on The Biograph, Peter Scott-Presland on The Cape of Good Hope, Oxford, and poems by Beth Lister and Stephanie Dickinson.

This was the first airing of this haunting collection.

Read Writing!

Past Event

March 2024

To celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, members of GAW read items from published and unpublished pieces including a chapter from a novel, flash fiction, poetry and monologues.