About

History

Originally founded in 2018 as a stand-alone book club, the London Fields Book Club, our community has grown over the years to include book meetings in multiple locations across London, writing group sessions, and social events.

We now run regular events in London Fields, Walthamstow, Bethnal Green and the City of London, plus the occasional social outing elsewhere in London.

Book Meetings

In order to attend any of our book meetings, you first need to register for the London Literary Community newsletter. This newsletter includes links to RSVP for the respective events with our London Fields, Walthamstow and Bethnal Green groups.

Our book meetings are all free to attend, so there is no financial barrier to join. However, we do ask that you buy food or a drink from the venue that hosts us (so they can continue offering us the space without a hire/booking fee).

We try to pick a wide range of books (always fiction) covering:
– Modern literary fiction (and literary takes on different genres)
– Genre fiction (from sci-fi and horror, to crime and historical fiction)
– Popular and lesser-known classics
– Books in translation
– Books from lesser-represented voices
– Books published by smaller, independent publishers

Our book picks are typically 300-400 pages max, so that members have enough time to read them ahead of the meetings. There is no expectation to attend every single meeting, so please feel free to attend only the book meetings that pique your interest.

Check us out on Instagram and Goodreads to see what we’ve read already.

Writing Circle Sessions

In order to attend any of our writing sessions, you first need to register for the London Literary Community newsletter. This newsletter includes links to RSVP for the respective events.

Our writing sessions are purely meant as a set space and time for you to sit down and write. They are not guided or taught sessions, but we do have a stack of prompt cards that you can make use of in case you need a creative warm-up or guideance on where to start.

We have writers working on a range of writing types, from fiction (novels, novella, short stories) to poetry and creative non-fiction (including essays, travel and life writing) to more academic and analytical writing too. You are welcome to work on any kind of writing that you like!

Our writing circle sessions aim to offer you:
– Accountability
– Mutual Support
– Solidarity in the (sometimes lonely) pastime of writing

Please note that our writing sessions to not involve any sharing or feedback on each others’ work. However, you are welcome to discuss this outside of the allocated writing session with whoever in the group might be interested.

Social Events

Alongside our book discussions and writing circles, we also organise regular socials. To attend our socials, we ask that you have attended at least one book meeting or writing circle session (or at least plan to in the future). Details of all socials are included in the London Literary Community newsletter.

Depending on the time of year, suggestions from members, and what’s on in the city, our social events include:
– Pub socials
– Brunch socials
– Cinema/theatre outings (usually to see a book’s adaptation for screen/stage)
– Attending book-themed talks, book launches, etc.