Glasgow Science Fiction Writers Circle
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow Science Fiction Writers’ Circle (GSFWC, aka "The Circle") is a group of amateur, semi-professional, and professional fiction authors that has met regularly in Glasgow
, Scotland
since 1987.
The purpose of the Circle is to provide a supportive, non-confrontational setting in which an individual's work can be reviewed, critiqued and discussed. The group's underlying emphasis on quality and professionalism has, in recent years, contributed to the commercial publication of novels and/or short story collections by members including Michael Cobley
, Hal Duncan
, Gary Gibson
, and Neil Williamson. Members have also had work published in magazines including Asimov's Science Fiction
, Interzone
, Analog and The Third Alternative
, and short story anthologies Other Edens II, Shipbuilding, Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
, and Nova Scotia: New Scottish Speculative Fiction
.
— that ran for several years in The Glasgow Herald newspaper (now, The Herald
). The winning entry was published in the weekend edition of the newspaper that coincided with what had effectively become, at that time, an annual science fiction convention known as Albacon
.
In 1986, Ann Karkalas of the University of Glasgow
Adult & Continuing Education Department contacted the competition's judge, the writer (and the Heralds then-Science Fiction reviewer) Duncan Lunan
, about the possibility of starting a science fiction writing evening class. Both knew each other previously from the Glasgow Science Fiction Circle, a group of readers and writers which had met during the 1960s and 1970s. Duncan was willing to teach the course, and indeed the classes would go on to run for the best part of a decade.
Many of those who attend the first year's class were so enthusiastic about writing that — once the class finished — they wanted to continue meeting. So they did; at the suggestion of Lunan, this new group began to refer to itself as the Glasgow Science Fiction Writers Circle, although it should be pointed out that the group remains remarkably anarchic and non-hierarchical in form.
Although the Circle's early membership largely overlapped with that of the evening classes, the two entities gradually became more distinct. After the evening classes were ended, the Circle has continued to attract new members through word of mouth, brochure entries, and its own website.
Having survived several changes of venue, frequency of meetings and an almost complete turnover of members, the Circle currently meets every second Tuesday. Venues have included St Aloysius Church, the Glasgow Film Theatre
, the city’s branch of Border's bookshop, and a smaller function room of a Glasgow church.
Method, where each person who has read the story gives their comments before the author’s final "right of reply" at the end of the session), the meetings are democratic in nature. The Circle does not engage in creative writing exercises: each meeting focuses specifically on the constructive criticism of an individual work, be it a short story, novella, or even novel that has previously been distributed by email or via the Circle's newsgroup. This said, many members of the Circle do also regularly socialize with each other outside of these official meetings.
Some members of the Circle have recently established a spoken word performance group called Word Dogs.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
since 1987.
The purpose of the Circle is to provide a supportive, non-confrontational setting in which an individual's work can be reviewed, critiqued and discussed. The group's underlying emphasis on quality and professionalism has, in recent years, contributed to the commercial publication of novels and/or short story collections by members including Michael Cobley
Michael Cobley
Michael Cobley, born on 10 October 1959, is a science fiction and fantasy author born in Leicester, England but living since the age of seven in Glasgow, Scotland.-Life:Michael Cobley was born in Leicester but moved to Glasgow at the age of seven....
, Hal Duncan
Hal Duncan
Hal Duncan is a Scottish science fiction and fantasy writer who published two novels, one novella, three poetry collections and several short stories.His works have been listed in the New Weird genre but he denies that such genre was even known to him at the time...
, Gary Gibson
Gary Gibson
Gary Gibson is a science fiction author from Glasgow, Scotland.- Life :After studying Sociology, History and Politics at the Glasgow Caledonian University, Gary Gibson worked as a "small press" comics magazine editor before following courses in desktop publishing and design and subsequently...
, and Neil Williamson. Members have also had work published in magazines including Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
, Interzone
Interzone (magazine)
Interzone is an award-winning British fantasy and science fiction magazine. Published since 1982, Interzone is the eighth longest-running science fiction magazine in history and the longest-running British SF magazine...
, Analog and The Third Alternative
The Third Alternative
Black Static, formerly The 3rd Alternative, is an award-winning British horror magazine edited by Andy Cox. The magazine has won the British Fantasy Award for "Best Magazine" while individual stories have won other awards...
, and short story anthologies Other Edens II, Shipbuilding, Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror is a reprint anthology published annually by St. Martin's Press. In addition to the short stories, supplemented by a list of honorable mentions, each edition includes a number of retrospective essays by the editors and others....
, and Nova Scotia: New Scottish Speculative Fiction
Nova Scotia: New Scottish Speculative Fiction
Nova Scotia: New Scottish Speculative Fiction is an anthology showcasing Scottish science fiction and fantasy, compiled by Neil Williamson and Andrew J. Wilson...
.
History
The origins of the Circle lie in a science fiction short story competition — originally suggested by the SF writer Chris BoyceChris Boyce
Joseph Christopher Boyce was a Scottish science fiction author and fan.He worked in the Reference Library of the Glasgow Herald newspaper, and was there when he died suddenly. His fiction works include Catchworld, for which he was best known, and which jointly won the Sunday Times/Gollancz prize...
— that ran for several years in The Glasgow Herald newspaper (now, The Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
). The winning entry was published in the weekend edition of the newspaper that coincided with what had effectively become, at that time, an annual science fiction convention known as Albacon
Albacon
Albacon is the Albany science fiction convention, held each autumn in the Albany, New York area, also called the Capital District.Albacon is the largest "Con" in upstate New York. It is hosted by LASTSFA, or Latham-Albany-Schenectady-Troy Science Fiction Association, a local science fiction fandom...
.
In 1986, Ann Karkalas of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
Adult & Continuing Education Department contacted the competition's judge, the writer (and the Heralds then-Science Fiction reviewer) Duncan Lunan
Duncan Lunan
Duncan Alasdair Lunan, who hails from Troon, born on the 24 October 1945 is a Scottish author, with emphasis on astronomy, spaceflight and science fiction, as well as astronomer, science reporter, and teacher...
, about the possibility of starting a science fiction writing evening class. Both knew each other previously from the Glasgow Science Fiction Circle, a group of readers and writers which had met during the 1960s and 1970s. Duncan was willing to teach the course, and indeed the classes would go on to run for the best part of a decade.
Many of those who attend the first year's class were so enthusiastic about writing that — once the class finished — they wanted to continue meeting. So they did; at the suggestion of Lunan, this new group began to refer to itself as the Glasgow Science Fiction Writers Circle, although it should be pointed out that the group remains remarkably anarchic and non-hierarchical in form.
Although the Circle's early membership largely overlapped with that of the evening classes, the two entities gradually became more distinct. After the evening classes were ended, the Circle has continued to attract new members through word of mouth, brochure entries, and its own website.
Having survived several changes of venue, frequency of meetings and an almost complete turnover of members, the Circle currently meets every second Tuesday. Venues have included St Aloysius Church, the Glasgow Film Theatre
Glasgow Film Theatre
The Glasgow Film Theatre or GFT is an independent cinema in Rose Street, , Glasgow. GFT is a registered charity...
, the city’s branch of Border's bookshop, and a smaller function room of a Glasgow church.
Structure
The Circle's workshops are neither instructor-led nor formally arranged. Although the group does follow a set routine (modelled on the MilfordMilford Writer's Workshop
The Milford Writer's Workshop or more properly Milford Writers' Conference is an influential science fiction writer's event founded by Damon Knight among others in the mid-1950s in Milford, Pennsylvania...
Method, where each person who has read the story gives their comments before the author’s final "right of reply" at the end of the session), the meetings are democratic in nature. The Circle does not engage in creative writing exercises: each meeting focuses specifically on the constructive criticism of an individual work, be it a short story, novella, or even novel that has previously been distributed by email or via the Circle's newsgroup. This said, many members of the Circle do also regularly socialize with each other outside of these official meetings.
Some members of the Circle have recently established a spoken word performance group called Word Dogs.