Hello! Welcome to The Good Egg Project newsletter!
It’s time for our second round-up of the season! And it’s a goodie!
While the Chicken Coop is officially on hiatus, there are plenty of other writing communities across Scotland that are still writing and giving you space to get your words on paper.
Below is a selection of writing groups, workshops, open mics, and community events happening around the country this month. Go explore and find new communities to connect with!
If you’re an event organiser, writing group or workshop host, and you’re doing a writing related event this month, fill out this Google Form and I’ll add your event to this round-up or future Good Egg newsletters.
Writing groups, workshops, and open mics
Coldwater Sessions
Daily until September 2026, Artisan Roast Cafe Bruntsfield, Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh
Coldwater Sessions is a nod to surf, music, and skating, where a session is as much the process as the result. These photographs follow that rhythm. They’re fragments from a morning half-happened, sitting somewhere between documentary and dream.
Now showing in Artisan Roast Bruntsfield through September. Thanks to Good Egg Community member Emile Young for sharing this with us!
Get more information and prints on Emile’s website
Loanhead Women’s Writing Group
Monday, August 10, 7 pm, Loanhead Library, George Avenue, Loanhead
Join Loanhead Women’s Writing Group for a fun and inspiring Monday evening at Loanhead Library. Maybe you are looking for a new hobby, or want to share book recommendations, or have a writing project you need some time to finish?
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this group is the perfect place to find your unique voice, share your ideas, and connect. Loanhead Women’s Writing Group wants to create a safe and supportive space for all women to explore their creativity through writing, have fun, and meet new people.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Trans Writes: Creative Writing Group
Tuesday, August 11, 6.30 pm, Glasgow Zine Library, Albert Road, Glasgow
Trans Writes is a creative writing group for anyone who identifies as trans or non-binary (18+). Glasgow Zine Library welcomes writers of all levels, including those who want to try writing for the first time. Together you'll explore trans identity and creative expression; this is a space for you to experiment, whether you’re writing something serious, something playful, or something in-between. Each session begins with a short reading or hands-on creative activity - no preparation required. Time is also set aside for free writing and optional sharing.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Conversation Café
Wednesday, August 12, 12.30 pm, Glasgow Women’s Library, Landressy Street, Glasgow
Conversation Café is part of Glasgow Women’s Library’s adult literacy and numeracy programme. Join them for conversation, tea and games while you use English and Scottish words and phrases, and learn about each other’s lives and cultures. Please note: This is a group for women who are new to speaking English.
Book tickets on the Glasgow Women’s Library website
Pluriversal Writing Group
Wednesday, August 12, 6.30 pm, The Loreto Club, Houston Street, Greenock
The Pluriversal Writing Group welcomes multilingual, English, and Scots speakers, novice and practising writers to join their free monthly sessions. Their relaxed, informal sessions provide dedicated time for writing, sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and community building.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Poetry Open Mic
Wednesday, August 12, 6.30 pm, Glasgow Zine Library, Albert Road, Glasgow
Join Glasgow Zine Library for a night of creativity and expression in the heart of Glasgow’s Southside. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or trying out the mic for the first time, this event is the perfect opportunity to share your voice and connect with fellow artists. Come along to Glasgow Zine Library and be a part of a supportive and inclusive space where all forms of art are welcomed. Don’t miss out on this chance to showcase your talent and be inspired by others. Sign up in advance through this Google form.
Book tickets on the Glasgow Zine Library website
Creative Writing: Metrics, Motivation & Productivity
Wednesday, August 12, 7.30 pm, Little Picardy, Greenside Place, Edinburgh
Writing a novel is tough — distractions creep in, motivation fades. Let Iain McKinnon show you how to establish powerful writing habits and make real progress on your novel.
In this session, published author and writing coach Iain McKinnon shares practical tools, motivational strategies, and productivity techniques that will help you build strong, lasting habits as a writer. This is not about gimmicks or unrealistic routines — it’s about creating a sustainable, tailored approach that fits your life and keeps you moving forward.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Sign Language Poetry Workshop
Thursday, August 13, 12 pm, Deaf Action - The Church, Albany Street, Edinburgh
Dana Callan-Farley, ASL performer and professor at Marquette University in the USA, offers to bring out the inner poet in you. To become a “person of the eye” is to challenge how you “see” art. Using historical and contemporary examples, you will explore the relationship between signed language and visual vernacular, the art of performance and understanding. The goal? To help you find the inner visual poet that you are and create your own poem.
By employing ASL/BSL signs alongside a visual vernacular, the poet transforms into the message itself. Other poets play a crucial role as receivers and interpreters of the poetry being created. Each individual will perceive things uniquely and uncover various meanings, both concealed and clear, leading to distinct artistic interpretations. This event is open to hearing and Deaf alike, young and old, new signer or expert signer – bring your open heart filled with poetry.
Book tickets on the Edinburgh Deaf Festival website
Story Café
Thursday, August 13, 1 pm, Glasgow Women’s Library, Landressy Street, Glasgow
Rediscover the joy of being read to, as we dip into stories and poems by some of the best women writers around. From action-packed adventures to tender love affairs, Story Café will spark your curiosity and freshen your perspective. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or completely new to reading, Glasgow Women’s Library would love to welcome you around the table.
Book tickets on the Glasgow Women’s Library website
The Raven Writing Group
Thursday, August 13, 6 pm, 226 Gallowgate, Gallowgate, Glasgow
Join poets Kaci O’Meara and Sarah Heitler at The Raven Writing group! The raven writing group is an alternative & queer run writers event based in Glasgow! Their mission and goal with The Raven writing group is to give members a supportive and dedicated space to work on their own projects while building connections and networking with the writer community!
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Granton Beach Creative Writing Walk
Saturday, August 15, 10.30 am, Granton Beach, West Shore Road, Edinburgh
Writing outdoors can be a great way to shift our perspectives, generate new ideas, and connect with each other and the world around us, especially now the cold winter months are over and summer is here. Let’s slow down together and take some time to reflect and create while walking along the promenade from Granton Beach.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Songwriting Workshop at SNUG Community Garden
Saturday, August 15, 1 pm, SNUG Community Garden, Seaton Crescent, Aberdeen
Free songwriting workshop from Elisabeth Flett and John Montgomery. All welcome - bring a notebook and pen. No instruments necessary! During this workshop you’ll work together to complete a group song!
Then there will be some live musical performances in the garden with the option to share what you worked on in the workshop – but no pressure to share if that’s not your thing! Tea, coffee and refreshments provided.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Perth’s Little Street Art Workshop
Saturday, August 15, 2 pm, Perth Art Gallery, George Street, Perth
Let your imagination run wild and create your own masterpiece in this Street art style workshop. Draw your inspiration from our Vennels: Perth’s Little Streets exhibition and the commissioned public artworks inspired by the city’s rich craft heritage.
Artist Gregor George will guide you through the process of making artworks using graffiti-like techniques and bold colours. Whether you are a seasoned artist or just love to get creative, this session is designed for all abilities. All materials will be provided. Please note that this event is recommended for ages 16-25 years. Under-16s should be accompanied by an adult.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Disability, Creativity, Advocacy
Tuesday, August 18, 7 pm, Glasgow Zine Library, Albert Road, Glasgow
Join Glasgow Zine Library for an evening with Ellen Renton that will focus on exploring experiences of disability through creative practices and advocacy work.
At this event, Ellen will share poetry and essay that focus on her experience of visual impairment, and discuss her practice with hearing-impaired poet Eloise Birtwhistle. Audiences will also be invited to participate in knowledge-sharing and discussions throughout the evening. This event will be accompanied by an Open Archive of zines about disability from the GZL collection, which in-person attendees will be given time to explore. Please note: this event will be held in person. This event will also be live-streamed.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Binks Hub Writing Retreat
Wednesday, August 19, 11 am, Main Library, George Square
Hosted in the University of Edinburgh Main Library, this session will be a relaxed environment with writing prompts, a chance to share and discuss writing goals, and regular creative activities to break up the session.
All are welcome and Binks Hub is hoping for a mix of practitioners, community members, academics and students. You are welcome to work on any kind of writing project you have. There will be opportunities to share your work but no obligation to do so.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Drop-in Zine Making
Wednesday, August 19, 4 pm, Glasgow Zine Library, Albert Road, Glasgow
Join Glasgow Zine Library’s monthly afternoon of zine-making. This is open to makers of all experience, whether you’re brand new, or in the middle of working on a zine already. All materials and basic instruction provided, with tea and coffee also available.
Drop in any time from 4-8pm on the night to join in. Celebrate self-expression, explore the art of self-publishing in a welcoming and inclusive space, and take home your unique creation at the end.
Book tickets on the Glasgow Zine Library website
Application Hub
Thursday, August 20, 6.30 pm, Glasgow Zine Library, Albert Road, Glasgow
Have you got an application you really need to finish… but you just can’t quite sit down and do it? Maybe it’s funding. Maybe a residency. Maybe an exhibition opportunity or that dream arts job that just opened up…and the deadline keeps creeping closer! If this is you, then Application Hub is just the ticket.
Application Hub is a peer-support collective for artists and creatives to support the hidden and unpaid labour of being an artist. All those applications for grants, residencies, exhibitions, and opportunities can be exhausting and often isolating. And when you don’t have financial safety nets, a quiet place to work, or the executive functioning energy to get started, the cycle of rejection and burnout can make staying in the arts feel impossible.
Book tickets on the Glasgow Zine Library website
Holyrood Park Creative Writing Walk
Saturday, August 22, 10.30 am, Holyrood Park, Queen’s Drive, Edinburgh
Writing outdoors can be a great way to shift our perspectives, generate new ideas, and connect with each other and the world around us, especially now the cold winter months are over and summer is here. Let’s slow down together and take some time to reflect and create while walking around beautiful Holyrood Park.
No previous writing experience is necessary. This is an opportunity to build or tend to your creative practice by cultivating attentiveness to the natural world.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Ann MacKinnon: The Great Tapestry
Tuesday, August 25, 7.30 pm, The Griffin, Bath Street, Glasgow
Ann MacKinnon presents The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Poetry and Pictures. Ann will talk through the making of the tapestry and touches on the significance of some of the panels to her. She intersperses her talk with poems form her book Warp and Weft which is published by Red Squirrel Press.
In the second half there will be a shorter but still spetacular speakeasy! If you would like to read please fill out the Scottish Writers’ Centre reader form.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Creative Writing: Plot
Wednesday, August 26, 7.30 pm, Little Picardy, Greenside Place, Edinburgh
Learn to build compelling narratives with structure, tension, and purpose. In this foundational workshop, Iain McKinnon breaks down the mechanics of effective storytelling, helping you move beyond ‘what happens’ to ‘why it matters’.
Using a blend of classic theory and modern techniques, this session explores the structure of stories from the three-act model to the five-act arc, the BMOC method (Beginning, Middle, Obstacle, Climax), and more experimental approaches like nonlinear plotting and the snowflake method.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Women Making It Special: Crafting Change
Friday, August 28, 10.30 am, Glasgow Women’s Library, Landressy Street, Glasgow
Join Glasgow Women’s Library for a hands-on craft sessions where you can try something new and make alongside others in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Activities include candle decoupage art, mandala stone painting, tote bag decorating, outdoor photography art, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just curious to give it a go, these sessions are all about creativity, conversation, and sharing ideas together.
Book tickets on the Glasgow Women’s Library website
Write Club
Saturday, August 29, 2 pm, Leith Library, Ferry Road, Leith
The first rule of write club is: I before E except after C. The second rule of write club, is write whatever you want! Write club is a relaxed space for writers to share work and get feedback on whatever it is that you’ve been working on.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Living Writing
Sunday, August 30, 1.30 pm, Leith Depot, Leith Walk, Edinburgh
Join host Anna Ball for an afternoon of sound healing and guided writing designed to help you remember your authentic voice and tune in to genuine expression. The August meet up for Living Writing features special guest Erica Grande, voice alchemist and sound healer of Into Your Harmony, offering a journey through sound with various modalities of music to accompany participants’ writing practice.
This session is intended for writers of all levels of experience looking to gently clear any obstacles to expressing their voice. Guided by the sounds of Erica’s music and a series of simple writing exercises led by Anna, writers will be supported to reconnect with the voice within, clarify its frequency, and say what you came to say.
Book tickets on Eventbrite
Thanks for reading!
For those of you in Edinburgh, I hope the first official festival weekend has been treating you well. If you’ve got any show recommendations for me, please let me know!
Let this guide help you find somewhere to carve out some writing time and a little quiet amongst the festivities. If you’re looking for show recommendations, you can check out this year’s Fringe guide, featuring almost 40 shows by Scotland-based artists.
I’ll be back in your inboxes later this week with our final round-up of the season, our 2026/27 writing and book festival guide.
Until then, take care of each other,
Naomi
P.s. Do you know someone looking for a place to write this month? Share this guide with them!