Present: Mary, Mandy, David C, Terry, Jo, Cath, Helene and Facilitator David R.
Brags: Terry read out a poignant poem he’d entered in an American competition titled “Inside the Black” about depression in his usual inimitable style.
Mandy: “A reverse brag” – entered a competition, didn’t win, but was recognised.
She told us she has now finished her novel of two years in the making on young adults named “Missouri” – Well done, looking forward to a read!!!
Mary: visited Kim after a long break went really well.
Cath: “Survived a Lebanese wedding” she reported lots of good food, exotic customs and a 1am finish – shows great stamina!!!
David C.: Encouraged us to submit between 50-100 words to local rag, naming yourself as a “Bay & Basin Writer, could be a saying, poem or short story – Let’s do it!
Jo: An auspicious event she attended, her granddaughter’s marriage at Kangaroo valley – Looks as if we may have a great grand mum in our midst shortly!
Word of the Day:
Terry – “RIPOSTE” – Retort or sharp reply.
Mandy – “CREPUSCULAR” – Appearing at Twilight.
Cath – “DENOUMENTE” – A final issue or solution of a Play or situation.
Mary – “LITTORAL” – Growing near a seashore.
David C. – “RETICENT” – Refraining from talking, keeping ones counsel.
Jo – “COMARADERIE” – Close friendship with a common purpose.
Helene – “CURLICUE” – A fantastic curl or twist.
David R. – Play on words – “EUTHENASIA” Young people in China.
& “WISTERIA”- A nostalgic form of panic.
Homework – Folklore meanings of a variety of words, set by Jo:
Terry – “FROGGIES” – A very witty & clever poem.
Mandy – “UNDERTAKER” – A well crafted story about an apprentice Undertaker.
Cath – “OYSTERS” A funny short ditty.
David C. – “EARS” – David’s wit at the fore, Adam &Eve, Marc Antony, Van Gogh & Prince Charles were notable inclusions.
Jo – “BALD” Jo’s infectious humour kept us all in stitches, a dream of a fellow watching his hair falling out, before him in the mirror!
Helene – Lovely quotes from her novel about “Maddie”, a dream about her wearing a hood.
David R. – “DUCKS” Use of Google to construct a factual poem.
General Business: We agreed Terry should download a course on “Romantic Writing” by Parnell for $37. A big thankyou Terry!
Exercise: Cath set us “A script or Scene from a play with no more than 5 characters”
Terry: An hilarious story “A bedroom somewhere 3am”
Mandy: “A sitting room in a cottage” Very funny with an excellent twist.
Cath: “A tramp calls at a house seeking work”- kept us in suspense.
Mary: “First airliner flight” excellent drama of a sick child”
David C.: A stage play of a Miners Tax Collector, murder & mayhem prevail!
Jo: “In the kitchen washing up” Yet again Jo had us fooled reading from two pages in her extremely clever style.
Helene: A true story about her sister Nina. Gripping story about her near death from “Prawn Poisoning”
David R: “A house somewhere in Sanctuary Point” – A blue about infidelity comes close to Murder.
We finished around 4PM our last meeting for 2009, David R thanked the group for his acceptance in the fold.
A very successful year & fun had by all full of skill & humour Happy Christmas & New Year to you All.
See you all again when we resume on 20th January 2010.
PS: My first go at this, apologies for any mistakes or omissions. David R.
17 December 2009
16 December 2009
Happy Christmas and a creative new year
To all people interested in the Bay and Basin Writers Group, happy Christmas and best wishes for a creative new year. We will reconvene our meetings at 1 pm on Wednesday 20 January 2010.
15 December 2009
B & B WRITING GROUP
MEETING – 9 DECEMBER 2009
Attendance: David C; Jo; Terry; Kath; Mandy; David R; Helene; Wendy; Mandy; Vala.
Brags:
Mandy – is in the process of acquiring a new puppy.
Jo – had visions of having struck a special with chooks as it turned out not as good as she first thought.
Helene - attended compost workshop and now is the proud owner of a new compost bin.
Cath – A new GPS is in her ownership.
David C – new knees from Knee-bay 20 January.
Vala – commencing Italian course next year.
Word of the day:
David C Expression – vent their spleen – pour out melancholy – escape - liberate.
Jo Slow coaches - derived from following a funeral coach proceeding slowly dragging the chain.Hundreds and thousands – pariels without equal pari – fairy – fairy bread!!
Terry Rambunctious – wild.
David R Play on WordsDe-liberate re in prisonDamnation HollandExtort exit schoolLamination New ZealandTeutonic order with 2 gins
Helene Curmudgeon surly ill mannered churlish killjoy wet blanket
Wendy Logorrhea excessive
Mary Imbroglio confused masscomplicated situationembroilment
Homework – Title “Who Done It”
Mandy - Lover’s Tiff;
David R - Who Done It – Poem;
Helene - People Change;
Wendy - Who Dun It – Poem;
Jo - She Deserves to Die;
Terry - Ending of Eve
Competitions: Several were tabled.
Exercise – Jingles – short stories – commercials all very witty.
Few options were tabled re courses for next year – will further discuss February 2010.
B & B Writing Group will celebrate its 10 year birthday February 2010.
Quick Write:
Various tales and poems incorporating “A Walk in the Wood”!
Homework:
Omens from your dreams
Next week Wendy Facilitator – Cath – Exercise
No homework – Yahoo!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR GROUP MEMBERS AND their FAMILIES
MEETING – 9 DECEMBER 2009
Attendance: David C; Jo; Terry; Kath; Mandy; David R; Helene; Wendy; Mandy; Vala.
Brags:
Mandy – is in the process of acquiring a new puppy.
Jo – had visions of having struck a special with chooks as it turned out not as good as she first thought.
Helene - attended compost workshop and now is the proud owner of a new compost bin.
Cath – A new GPS is in her ownership.
David C – new knees from Knee-bay 20 January.
Vala – commencing Italian course next year.
Word of the day:
David C Expression – vent their spleen – pour out melancholy – escape - liberate.
Jo Slow coaches - derived from following a funeral coach proceeding slowly dragging the chain.Hundreds and thousands – pariels without equal pari – fairy – fairy bread!!
Terry Rambunctious – wild.
David R Play on WordsDe-liberate re in prisonDamnation HollandExtort exit schoolLamination New ZealandTeutonic order with 2 gins
Helene Curmudgeon surly ill mannered churlish killjoy wet blanket
Wendy Logorrhea excessive
Mary Imbroglio confused masscomplicated situationembroilment
Homework – Title “Who Done It”
Mandy - Lover’s Tiff;
David R - Who Done It – Poem;
Helene - People Change;
Wendy - Who Dun It – Poem;
Jo - She Deserves to Die;
Terry - Ending of Eve
Competitions: Several were tabled.
Exercise – Jingles – short stories – commercials all very witty.
Few options were tabled re courses for next year – will further discuss February 2010.
B & B Writing Group will celebrate its 10 year birthday February 2010.
Quick Write:
Various tales and poems incorporating “A Walk in the Wood”!
Homework:
Omens from your dreams
Next week Wendy Facilitator – Cath – Exercise
No homework – Yahoo!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR GROUP MEMBERS AND their FAMILIES
04 December 2009
Meeting 2nd December 2009
Welcome back Mary
Those attending were:
Cath, Helene, Jo, Mandy, Mary, Robyn, Terry, Wendy and Dale.
Once again it was a fun meeting with lots of laughter and interesting writing.
Brag session:
Jo had her photo taken for committee
Helene has a new mobile phone.
The rest of us had nothing exciting to report.
Words of the day
Terry—supercilious—haughty, proud, contemptuous, disdainful
Cath - protagonist - proficient, adept, a leader, a chief actor of a Greek drama
Helene—pragmatic — treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes and anteceded conditions and results. Concerned with practical consequences or values.
Valla- disambiguation- is the process of resolving conflicts occurring when a single term can be associated with more than one topic, making that term likely to be the natural title for more than one article In other words, disambiguations are paths leading to different articles which could, in principle, have the same title. Eg. The words Mercury can refer to several different things, including an element, a planet, an automobile brand, a record label.
Thanks Valla for the full explanation.
Wendy told us about glamping- going camping in luxury-
And Mandy told us about several words from her childhood like plodging - paddling in the water and hodmadods -snails.
Dale—toxic friends—those who put you down, criticise and insult and generally make you feel inadequate and unsettled.
Wendy – kakistocracy-a government by the worst and least qualified citizens
Mary and others raised some words that are often misused by many people eg prostate and prostrate, quiet and quite, affect and effect.
No competitions to note
Homework or readings
Wendy - Merry Christmas Ho Hum – poem
Valla – A Christmas memory – poem
Cath- A Christmas Tale - prose
Helene- Christmas Past -poem
Terry – the origins of Ho, Ho, Ho - poem.
Mandy enjoyed the exercise so much she wrote 4 pieces but only read 1
of them
Mandy – The First Time- prose
Dale - The Christmas Owl - prose
As usual there was a wide a variety of subject matter and style, of humour, and pathos, true to life experience and fiction.
Jo told us a joke about a turtle and Dale for once actually remembered it to tell that evening or a reasonable fascicle of it. It sounded better when Jo told it.
Wendy was interested in the coining of the new words cargument as in an advertisement for NAV
A reminder about the Christmas ‘do.’ It will be on the 4th Dec at the Chinese restaurant at St Georges Basin Country Club, Sanctuary Point. 6.00 pm start.
Terry told us about a new member planning to start next year, which is good. She has previously run courses in right and left brain. He also gave an explanation of the Term French Letter which had come upon one other meeting.
Exercise by Terry
Each person had to choose a picture and using the senses, list smell, touch, sound, sight, and feelings evoked.
After we each had this information, we then wrote a paragraph or two using those senses.
The second time we did the same exercise Terry handed out the photos and we had to work with what we were given. The idea was to be able to incorporate it into something we are writing or into longer works eg maybe the start of a start of a story or poem or a scene in a novel etc.
Many of the pieces written could easily find their place in longer works. This was a valuable exercise.
Reminder
Our last meeting for the year is December 16 and we comeback at 1.02 on 20-01-10. So keep that in mind Wednesday January 20th, rather than the previously mentioned February date.
Mandy was disappointed no-one had any work for her on memory stick for the anthology. Due date February 2010 but the earlier the better for it to be in.
Robyn handed out homework which is Who Done it?
characters are Mother – Eve
father- Dave
Sons Alan 15 and Dean 17
Eve Murdered - bludgeoned to death
Dave was at the local pub playing darts and drinking with his mates, Alan out riding his bike and Dean taking his dog for a walk.
Forensic found DNA of Eve on some clothes of each of the sons.
Eve had transferred all monies into her own bank account.
Did one of the boys kill their mother? Or did both of them kill her?
Did Dave kill Eve – Or did he conspire with sons or is he completely innocent?
Eve was known as ‘Evil Eve’ and had a reputation as a vindictive disciplinarian- no-one liked her in the village.
Facilitator next week - Valla
Exercise - David
Homework - Jo
Welcome back Mary
Those attending were:
Cath, Helene, Jo, Mandy, Mary, Robyn, Terry, Wendy and Dale.
Once again it was a fun meeting with lots of laughter and interesting writing.
Brag session:
Jo had her photo taken for committee
Helene has a new mobile phone.
The rest of us had nothing exciting to report.
Words of the day
Terry—supercilious—haughty, proud, contemptuous, disdainful
Cath - protagonist - proficient, adept, a leader, a chief actor of a Greek drama
Helene—pragmatic — treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes and anteceded conditions and results. Concerned with practical consequences or values.
Valla- disambiguation- is the process of resolving conflicts occurring when a single term can be associated with more than one topic, making that term likely to be the natural title for more than one article In other words, disambiguations are paths leading to different articles which could, in principle, have the same title. Eg. The words Mercury can refer to several different things, including an element, a planet, an automobile brand, a record label.
Thanks Valla for the full explanation.
Wendy told us about glamping- going camping in luxury-
And Mandy told us about several words from her childhood like plodging - paddling in the water and hodmadods -snails.
Dale—toxic friends—those who put you down, criticise and insult and generally make you feel inadequate and unsettled.
Wendy – kakistocracy-a government by the worst and least qualified citizens
Mary and others raised some words that are often misused by many people eg prostate and prostrate, quiet and quite, affect and effect.
No competitions to note
Homework or readings
Wendy - Merry Christmas Ho Hum – poem
Valla – A Christmas memory – poem
Cath- A Christmas Tale - prose
Helene- Christmas Past -poem
Terry – the origins of Ho, Ho, Ho - poem.
Mandy enjoyed the exercise so much she wrote 4 pieces but only read 1
of them
Mandy – The First Time- prose
Dale - The Christmas Owl - prose
As usual there was a wide a variety of subject matter and style, of humour, and pathos, true to life experience and fiction.
Jo told us a joke about a turtle and Dale for once actually remembered it to tell that evening or a reasonable fascicle of it. It sounded better when Jo told it.
Wendy was interested in the coining of the new words cargument as in an advertisement for NAV
A reminder about the Christmas ‘do.’ It will be on the 4th Dec at the Chinese restaurant at St Georges Basin Country Club, Sanctuary Point. 6.00 pm start.
Terry told us about a new member planning to start next year, which is good. She has previously run courses in right and left brain. He also gave an explanation of the Term French Letter which had come upon one other meeting.
Exercise by Terry
Each person had to choose a picture and using the senses, list smell, touch, sound, sight, and feelings evoked.
After we each had this information, we then wrote a paragraph or two using those senses.
The second time we did the same exercise Terry handed out the photos and we had to work with what we were given. The idea was to be able to incorporate it into something we are writing or into longer works eg maybe the start of a start of a story or poem or a scene in a novel etc.
Many of the pieces written could easily find their place in longer works. This was a valuable exercise.
Reminder
Our last meeting for the year is December 16 and we comeback at 1.02 on 20-01-10. So keep that in mind Wednesday January 20th, rather than the previously mentioned February date.
Mandy was disappointed no-one had any work for her on memory stick for the anthology. Due date February 2010 but the earlier the better for it to be in.
Robyn handed out homework which is Who Done it?
characters are Mother – Eve
father- Dave
Sons Alan 15 and Dean 17
Eve Murdered - bludgeoned to death
Dave was at the local pub playing darts and drinking with his mates, Alan out riding his bike and Dean taking his dog for a walk.
Forensic found DNA of Eve on some clothes of each of the sons.
Eve had transferred all monies into her own bank account.
Did one of the boys kill their mother? Or did both of them kill her?
Did Dave kill Eve – Or did he conspire with sons or is he completely innocent?
Eve was known as ‘Evil Eve’ and had a reputation as a vindictive disciplinarian- no-one liked her in the village.
Facilitator next week - Valla
Exercise - David
Homework - Jo
30 November 2009
Meeting 25th November ATTENDING.Robyn, Helene, Terry, Dave C. Vala, Cathy Wendy, Dale, Mandy.
Apologies. Mary Melissa, David.
Brags of the Week. Nothing in the Literary field plenty in every day life. For one we were all alive so that’s a good brag.
Used the voice recorder to do the meeting and by accident erased it before I could listen so anything missing just remind Terry and he can add it to the Blog.
Word of the day:
Serendipity – Terry it has a nice ring to it this word and it means finding interesting things by accident. Bit like life really.
Precipitate – Dave. He hummed and hawed over not having a word then produced this one, typical Dave. It can mean rain wet condensed moisture or to make happen quickly.
Ubiquitous - Vala To be found everywhere.
Redeem. Cathy. Meaning to regain possession by payment. Paying a price or making amends.
Mawkish – Wendy. Very Dickensian type word but sometimes used. Means to be sickly sentimental which is apt to cause loathing.
Sanguine – Dale. Optimistic and Cheerful. Also ruddy or red in appearance.
Step Mother or Step Father – Robyn Discussed what the word originally meant. It was a person who stepped into the parenting role after a bereavement or when one parent remarried the person took this role on.
Eclectic – Helene. Something selected from Various Sources. Furniture that is mismatched can be called eclectic
Homework provided by Dale was about an open doorway with a broom standing in it. We had to say why what for and how.
Dave wrote a dark piece called A Fathers Grief.
Vala wrote Any ones Grandmother.
Cathy was simply called the Broom and was a good start for a story so give us the longer version next time Cathy.
Terry wrote a scene from his book The Sorcerer’s Coat. This is a good way of incorporating homework with work in progress.
Wendy. Bernie The Broomstick. This was a funny poem in her own inimitable way and gave us all a good laugh. Wendy you are priceless.
Dale. Also wrote about the subject but incorporated it into her work in progress.
Robyn. Hand smack no homework due to home pressures.
Helene. Wrote about The Broom also
Mandy Forgot what was for homework so wrote a short memoir called The Rolling Pin Doll.
The Exercise was organized by Helene. We all took an item out of the basket and were given three words that we have used in our word for the day. Each person had different items and words. Very interesting Exercise and much enjoyed.
Quick Write was When I was born I made a difference because: All of us had different ideas and stories some true and some fiction.
Homework for next week has a Christmas Theme and was set by Wendy. Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!. This will be interesting.
Don’t forget our Christmas get together is a dinner at the Country Club on the 4th Dec which is a Friday night at 6 to 6-30pm. All welcome no partners unless they cry and want to come, you better bring them then.
The group enjoyed a good laugh and laughter is the food for the heart so anyone who missed the meeting will be broken hearted.
Bye Mandy.
Apologies. Mary Melissa, David.
Brags of the Week. Nothing in the Literary field plenty in every day life. For one we were all alive so that’s a good brag.
Used the voice recorder to do the meeting and by accident erased it before I could listen so anything missing just remind Terry and he can add it to the Blog.
Word of the day:
Serendipity – Terry it has a nice ring to it this word and it means finding interesting things by accident. Bit like life really.
Precipitate – Dave. He hummed and hawed over not having a word then produced this one, typical Dave. It can mean rain wet condensed moisture or to make happen quickly.
Ubiquitous - Vala To be found everywhere.
Redeem. Cathy. Meaning to regain possession by payment. Paying a price or making amends.
Mawkish – Wendy. Very Dickensian type word but sometimes used. Means to be sickly sentimental which is apt to cause loathing.
Sanguine – Dale. Optimistic and Cheerful. Also ruddy or red in appearance.
Step Mother or Step Father – Robyn Discussed what the word originally meant. It was a person who stepped into the parenting role after a bereavement or when one parent remarried the person took this role on.
Eclectic – Helene. Something selected from Various Sources. Furniture that is mismatched can be called eclectic
Homework provided by Dale was about an open doorway with a broom standing in it. We had to say why what for and how.
Dave wrote a dark piece called A Fathers Grief.
Vala wrote Any ones Grandmother.
Cathy was simply called the Broom and was a good start for a story so give us the longer version next time Cathy.
Terry wrote a scene from his book The Sorcerer’s Coat. This is a good way of incorporating homework with work in progress.
Wendy. Bernie The Broomstick. This was a funny poem in her own inimitable way and gave us all a good laugh. Wendy you are priceless.
Dale. Also wrote about the subject but incorporated it into her work in progress.
Robyn. Hand smack no homework due to home pressures.
Helene. Wrote about The Broom also
Mandy Forgot what was for homework so wrote a short memoir called The Rolling Pin Doll.
The Exercise was organized by Helene. We all took an item out of the basket and were given three words that we have used in our word for the day. Each person had different items and words. Very interesting Exercise and much enjoyed.
Quick Write was When I was born I made a difference because: All of us had different ideas and stories some true and some fiction.
Homework for next week has a Christmas Theme and was set by Wendy. Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!. This will be interesting.
Don’t forget our Christmas get together is a dinner at the Country Club on the 4th Dec which is a Friday night at 6 to 6-30pm. All welcome no partners unless they cry and want to come, you better bring them then.
The group enjoyed a good laugh and laughter is the food for the heart so anyone who missed the meeting will be broken hearted.
Bye Mandy.
18 November 2009
Meeting notes 18th November 2009-11-18
In attendance: David C, special guest Alex (David’s daughter) Jo, Terry, Helene, Melissa, Vala, Kath, Wendy, Robyn, and Mandy
Well! What a meeting. Fun and frivolity. The odd story. An interesting exercise. A quickwrite to test us all. What a team.
Firstly Brags…Robyn got a ticket (that’s an unbrag) David…he brought Alex along…poor Alex oops I think I missed one or two…what the heck.
Thence to Words of the Day
David C…epitome of finesse (that’s two) epitome…a condensed account, miniature
Finesse…delicacy of execution, elegance,
Terry amenuensis…a person who writes down what another has said (shorthand?)
Helene esoteric… understood by or meant for a select few, a secret
Melissa skull doggery…devious, unscrupulous behaviour
Vala unfriend…to remove someone, previously a friend, from Facebook page
Intexticated…someone who is under the influence of texting
Tramp stamp…tattoo on a woman’s middle lower back
Wendy Hebetude…dullness of mind, lethargy
Robyn Ironic…expressing one thing and meaning the opposite (a tortoise
called speedy)
Emend…to correct, rectify
Mandy insouciance…without care (insouciant young bohemians who couldn’t care
less)
Homework readings…O’Reilly’s Clock…a story or poem in 50 words (David ????)
Like always a broad range of poetry and prose ranging from hanging to robbery to the IRA to the sun as a clock. Clever buggers aren’t we?
Exercise…Well! So many exclamations. You started it Jo. What a discussion this produced.
How we all laughed! How we all nearly cried! How we all nearly murdered Jo!
Then, as if to rub the proverbial salt into the wound (last cliché) Jo presented us with three pictures and a series of questions. I think the answer really was that the aged man and woman, after closely studying the sculpture of “Man is Mortal” got into their Mini Minor, drove along a bumpy road, with rocks falling all around, skidded almost off a cliff, and then went home and had three cups of tea.
Well! I don’t know about you but I was exhausted after that…but then came…
The Quickwrite…
(from Melissa’s Writer’s Block module)…Explaining the facts of life…
Some very interesting stories…tall tales and true from our legendary past…again prose and poetic versions…how did we ever past the teen years?
Homework (by Vala) A picture of a broom outside a doorway…Who left the broom? Who left the door open? What is happening in the dim interior? 9What will happen outside in the light?
Some admin. stuff…Last meeting for this year December 16th
First meeting for 2010 on first Wed. in February
Next week: Facilitator is Mandy Exercise by Helene Homework by Jo
Also have a great Christmas Melissa with your family back in the old US of A. See you in 2010
See you all soon, Terry
In attendance: David C, special guest Alex (David’s daughter) Jo, Terry, Helene, Melissa, Vala, Kath, Wendy, Robyn, and Mandy
Well! What a meeting. Fun and frivolity. The odd story. An interesting exercise. A quickwrite to test us all. What a team.
Firstly Brags…Robyn got a ticket (that’s an unbrag) David…he brought Alex along…poor Alex oops I think I missed one or two…what the heck.
Thence to Words of the Day
David C…epitome of finesse (that’s two) epitome…a condensed account, miniature
Finesse…delicacy of execution, elegance,
Terry amenuensis…a person who writes down what another has said (shorthand?)
Helene esoteric… understood by or meant for a select few, a secret
Melissa skull doggery…devious, unscrupulous behaviour
Vala unfriend…to remove someone, previously a friend, from Facebook page
Intexticated…someone who is under the influence of texting
Tramp stamp…tattoo on a woman’s middle lower back
Wendy Hebetude…dullness of mind, lethargy
Robyn Ironic…expressing one thing and meaning the opposite (a tortoise
called speedy)
Emend…to correct, rectify
Mandy insouciance…without care (insouciant young bohemians who couldn’t care
less)
Homework readings…O’Reilly’s Clock…a story or poem in 50 words (David ????)
Like always a broad range of poetry and prose ranging from hanging to robbery to the IRA to the sun as a clock. Clever buggers aren’t we?
Exercise…Well! So many exclamations. You started it Jo. What a discussion this produced.
How we all laughed! How we all nearly cried! How we all nearly murdered Jo!
Then, as if to rub the proverbial salt into the wound (last cliché) Jo presented us with three pictures and a series of questions. I think the answer really was that the aged man and woman, after closely studying the sculpture of “Man is Mortal” got into their Mini Minor, drove along a bumpy road, with rocks falling all around, skidded almost off a cliff, and then went home and had three cups of tea.
Well! I don’t know about you but I was exhausted after that…but then came…
The Quickwrite…
(from Melissa’s Writer’s Block module)…Explaining the facts of life…
Some very interesting stories…tall tales and true from our legendary past…again prose and poetic versions…how did we ever past the teen years?
Homework (by Vala) A picture of a broom outside a doorway…Who left the broom? Who left the door open? What is happening in the dim interior? 9What will happen outside in the light?
Some admin. stuff…Last meeting for this year December 16th
First meeting for 2010 on first Wed. in February
Next week: Facilitator is Mandy Exercise by Helene Homework by Jo
Also have a great Christmas Melissa with your family back in the old US of A. See you in 2010
See you all soon, Terry
14 November 2009
Record of meeting 11 November 2009
Present – Terry, Jo, David C, Mandy, Wendy, Cathy, Melissa, Robyn, Vala, Helene – the fun and laughter started before the meeting
Brags
Jo told us about a free 7 week course starting in December about community empowerment arranged by John Hatton – further details available from Jo
David C’s renovations are underway and should be finished before Christmas
Mandy met Margaret Britton (a former member) and told her the group is prospering
Melissa has finished and recorded to music Skeletons in the closet. Members of the group made suggestions that Bony M or the Living dead should record the single
Cath’s grandson was interviewed and had one of his group Czar Bomber’s song played on Power FM
Words of the day - an interesting mix of words
Terry – quasi – not real - from QANGO acronym for Quasi Autonomous Non Government Organisation
Dale – invidious – incurring or tending to cause resentment or unpopularity, unfairly or offensively discriminating
Jo – ravel and unravel mean the same thing - grey and gray Jo visualises different grey and gray hair Melissa confirmed the differences from her perspective
David C – gymnasium to exercise naked (we have no local gymnasium) and postulate and expostulate have the same meaning – to reason earnestly with a person against something they intend to do
Helene – exquisite – peculiar beauty or charm
Mandy – left her word on the table – we know what that means
Wendy – callipygian – having beautifully proportioned buttocks
Melissa – provided an article about popular Australian poets
Kath – loquacious – talking or disposed to talk much or freely
Robyn – greedy – acquisitive, rapacious (the strongest form of the word)
Homework
Many great stories and poems of buttons including a belly button, face buttons, flower buttons, tiny buttons, silver buttons, dog buttons, a nipple button, button fetishes and buttons with magical qualities.
News
Stories for 2010 anthology – Please email or give to Mandy on a memory stick your best contributions by February 2010 if you want to be published.
Melissa told us about a great band Beatels a covers band performing Beatles songs at Greenwell Point Bowling club on Saturday night 14 November.
Exercise
The two exercises provided by Robyn put some people out of their comfort zone. The first exercise was the possession game, to complete well know phrases, put us on a calm plateau. The second part comprising Alfakodo and Sudoku quizzes was not so popular with strong discussion about right and left brain thinking
Quick write
A number of favourite fairy tales were rewritten with humour– the fractured fairy tales included The Jolly swag man, Snow white, Little Red Riding Hood and a feminist fairy story
Homework
Write a 50 word story on O’Reilley’s clock.
Next meeting
Facilitator – Terry
Exercise – Jo
Homework – Vala
Present – Terry, Jo, David C, Mandy, Wendy, Cathy, Melissa, Robyn, Vala, Helene – the fun and laughter started before the meeting
Brags
Jo told us about a free 7 week course starting in December about community empowerment arranged by John Hatton – further details available from Jo
David C’s renovations are underway and should be finished before Christmas
Mandy met Margaret Britton (a former member) and told her the group is prospering
Melissa has finished and recorded to music Skeletons in the closet. Members of the group made suggestions that Bony M or the Living dead should record the single
Cath’s grandson was interviewed and had one of his group Czar Bomber’s song played on Power FM
Words of the day - an interesting mix of words
Terry – quasi – not real - from QANGO acronym for Quasi Autonomous Non Government Organisation
Dale – invidious – incurring or tending to cause resentment or unpopularity, unfairly or offensively discriminating
Jo – ravel and unravel mean the same thing - grey and gray Jo visualises different grey and gray hair Melissa confirmed the differences from her perspective
David C – gymnasium to exercise naked (we have no local gymnasium) and postulate and expostulate have the same meaning – to reason earnestly with a person against something they intend to do
Helene – exquisite – peculiar beauty or charm
Mandy – left her word on the table – we know what that means
Wendy – callipygian – having beautifully proportioned buttocks
Melissa – provided an article about popular Australian poets
Kath – loquacious – talking or disposed to talk much or freely
Robyn – greedy – acquisitive, rapacious (the strongest form of the word)
Homework
Many great stories and poems of buttons including a belly button, face buttons, flower buttons, tiny buttons, silver buttons, dog buttons, a nipple button, button fetishes and buttons with magical qualities.
News
Stories for 2010 anthology – Please email or give to Mandy on a memory stick your best contributions by February 2010 if you want to be published.
Melissa told us about a great band Beatels a covers band performing Beatles songs at Greenwell Point Bowling club on Saturday night 14 November.
Exercise
The two exercises provided by Robyn put some people out of their comfort zone. The first exercise was the possession game, to complete well know phrases, put us on a calm plateau. The second part comprising Alfakodo and Sudoku quizzes was not so popular with strong discussion about right and left brain thinking
Quick write
A number of favourite fairy tales were rewritten with humour– the fractured fairy tales included The Jolly swag man, Snow white, Little Red Riding Hood and a feminist fairy story
Homework
Write a 50 word story on O’Reilley’s clock.
Next meeting
Facilitator – Terry
Exercise – Jo
Homework – Vala
06 November 2009
Meeting Minutes: November 4, 2009
In attendance: Terry; Robyn; Jo; Dale; Helene; Cath; David R.; Wendy; Mandy; and Melissa
Brags:
Terry – Will be an ‘Old Age Pensioner’ effective tomorrow (Nov. 5)! Happy Birthday Terry! Dale – Awarded the pleasure of reviewing “Birds in Mind” a book of poetry by Andrew Landsdown Helene – Won money in the Melbourne Cup (she didn’t disclose the amount, probably doesn’t want us knocking on her door asking for some – LOL (reminder: LOL means Laughing Out Loud!) David R. – Transcribing his Great Great Grandfather’s diaries, finished another book: 1849-1850, detailing his voyage via ship from Sydney to San Francisco with two of his sons. Fascinating information! Wendy – Recently purchased a 1902 dictionary off of EBay for $8 – quite a bargain! Mandy – She’s here! Jo – May have found a lead in her quest to locate her aunt. Good luck! Melissa – Entered a song into a competition, it has been shortlisted.
WOD:
Jo – signet ring: a ring with a seal Dale – empyrean: highest part of the heavens; abode of God; containing the element of fire Helene – froideur: a chill Cath – sanative: healing; health giving David R. – scintillate: to talk cleverly/wittily; brilliant; sparkle; twinkle Wendy – draconian: an eponym (word taken from a name) from Draco – an Athenian legislator who made harsh laws Mandy – diablo: round thing juggled on a string; (Mandy heard the following description on a TV program: ‘a diablo of words’) Terry – harbinger: person/thing that goes ahead to announce the arrival of something to follow
Homework: Skeletons in the closet
We had a few poems and a few stories, all were entertaining, no bones about it! (Pun heavily intended)
Exercise:
Mandy gave us the topic: Write your own 10 Commandments
We were all brilliant as usual and agreed the world would be a better place if we were left in charge.
Quick Write:
Topic: Bachelor
Resulted in more poetry, descriptions, and stories of bachelors – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Extra:
Dale reminded us about registering to win a free book from the following website: www.1111freebooks.com, must register by Nov. 11th!
Wendy treated us to a reading of a Pam Ayer’s poem.
Homework for next Wednesday (November 11th, just to clarify for those of us who are confused about when ‘next’ Wednesday actually occurs!)
Dale passed out a tin of buttons with the instructions to choose one and imagine and describe the article of clothing the button came from, the character who is wearing this item of clothing, and to create a scene that shows them involved in some action or interacting with another character.
Roles for next week: Facilitator: Helene Exercise: Robyn Homework: Terry Until then, happy writing Melissa
In attendance: Terry; Robyn; Jo; Dale; Helene; Cath; David R.; Wendy; Mandy; and Melissa
Brags:
Terry – Will be an ‘Old Age Pensioner’ effective tomorrow (Nov. 5)! Happy Birthday Terry! Dale – Awarded the pleasure of reviewing “Birds in Mind” a book of poetry by Andrew Landsdown Helene – Won money in the Melbourne Cup (she didn’t disclose the amount, probably doesn’t want us knocking on her door asking for some – LOL (reminder: LOL means Laughing Out Loud!) David R. – Transcribing his Great Great Grandfather’s diaries, finished another book: 1849-1850, detailing his voyage via ship from Sydney to San Francisco with two of his sons. Fascinating information! Wendy – Recently purchased a 1902 dictionary off of EBay for $8 – quite a bargain! Mandy – She’s here! Jo – May have found a lead in her quest to locate her aunt. Good luck! Melissa – Entered a song into a competition, it has been shortlisted.
WOD:
Jo – signet ring: a ring with a seal Dale – empyrean: highest part of the heavens; abode of God; containing the element of fire Helene – froideur: a chill Cath – sanative: healing; health giving David R. – scintillate: to talk cleverly/wittily; brilliant; sparkle; twinkle Wendy – draconian: an eponym (word taken from a name) from Draco – an Athenian legislator who made harsh laws Mandy – diablo: round thing juggled on a string; (Mandy heard the following description on a TV program: ‘a diablo of words’) Terry – harbinger: person/thing that goes ahead to announce the arrival of something to follow
Homework: Skeletons in the closet
We had a few poems and a few stories, all were entertaining, no bones about it! (Pun heavily intended)
Exercise:
Mandy gave us the topic: Write your own 10 Commandments
We were all brilliant as usual and agreed the world would be a better place if we were left in charge.
Quick Write:
Topic: Bachelor
Resulted in more poetry, descriptions, and stories of bachelors – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Extra:
Dale reminded us about registering to win a free book from the following website: www.1111freebooks.com, must register by Nov. 11th!
Wendy treated us to a reading of a Pam Ayer’s poem.
Homework for next Wednesday (November 11th, just to clarify for those of us who are confused about when ‘next’ Wednesday actually occurs!)
Dale passed out a tin of buttons with the instructions to choose one and imagine and describe the article of clothing the button came from, the character who is wearing this item of clothing, and to create a scene that shows them involved in some action or interacting with another character.
Roles for next week: Facilitator: Helene Exercise: Robyn Homework: Terry Until then, happy writing Melissa
29 October 2009
Meeting 28th Oct 2009
Welcome back Mandy
In attendance were: Melissa, Dale, Mandy, Mary, Robyn, David C, Terry, Cath and Helene.
Once again a good meeting with much laughter and with just a smattering of literary genius.
Brag session:
Terry went to the FAW course in town on Crime Writing. He said he found it quite informative and imparted his knowledge throughout our meeting.
Cath said she had nothing to brag about but I’m sure given a few moments she could have come up with something.
Mandy said she read a book. So what, you say but Mandy said it was of a type she’d not read before. It was aimed at younger people with lots of expletives and in their idiom. Well done Mandy for persevering, although I think she said she couldn’t put it down once she got started.
Helene went to Canberra. Had a grandchild fix but also indulged in the arts by visiting the McCubbin display as well as Monet and cast her eyes on Blue Poles. I hope she genuflected. It cost us enough for such behaviour.
Melissa did a stint as a teacher at the local TAFE informing women who want to go back into the work force on how to set up resumes on the computer.
Dale was excited about having to do a book review on her favourite poet. Unfortunately she didn’t say who this poet is. Perhaps we’ll find out when the book is available to the public. I think there is a lot of hush hush here. Sounds like a plot for a novel, ‘Who Stole the Poems?’
Mandy wanted to know how do you get drunk without drinking as she had done a winery crawl. Really Mandy.!!!
Robyn. In my notes I’ve said Robyn knows a woman but I’m damned if I can remember what the significance of this is. I know some women too but don’t need to brag about it.
David C is off to Manly Leagues to be a roadie for the Dynamic Duo. He says with a little coercion he may get up on stage. I’d like to be a fly.
Mary went to Sydney to see Michael Parkinson. She and Rollin used their $2.50 tickets on trains and buses. Also took advantage of the free open Opera House tour.
Words of the day
Terry—muse—spirit that gives inspiration
Cath—miasma—polluting exhalations
Helene—antiquing—(not sure of spelling); making love to an old/older person, throwing flour into someone’s face while they’re asleep and watching the results. ‘strange’
Melissa—codswallop—nonsense
Dale--deracinate—tear out by the roots, expunge
Mandy ???
Mary—chauffeur—from the French to stoke the fire.
Davis—plagiarism—the act of literary theft.
Homework or readings
Melissa none
Dale read more of her novel
Mandy ‘Just one of those days’ well written as always
Mary Murphy’s Law
Robyn none
David awoken from a dream of Kylie, damn shame matey
Terry everything was going wrong, a poem
Cath a surprise
It was decided that our Christmas ‘do’ will be on the Friday 4th Dec at the St Georges Basin Country Club. A 6.30 pm start. Writers only…as partners feel out of the loop when we all get together. All writers welcome, old and new. Let Terry know if you can make it. Not sure if we have to book a table or not matey, so I’ll leave that up to you. O.K?
Terry furthered his crime course knowledge with our exercise. I didn’t copy down all the words we came up with but the deal was to find words that go from ‘calm to ‘horror with 10 points in between. Sometimes our vocab was wanting. Something to work on I feel.
Another point he made was to find plots from just putting a man in one car and a woman in the other. We came up with some quite, innovative ideas. Car accidents, towing, drag racing, liaisons and general murder and mayhem
Mandy brought along some scrumptious scones, recipe below:
300ml lemonade 300ml cream 3 to 4 cups S/R flour Handful of sultanas if desired. I would think chopped dates would be good to.
Mix well by hand. Shape and cook in, I think, hot oven for 10 t0 15 minutes. Ask Mandy for the fine details. All I can say is they were delicious.
Once again a good meeting was had by all.
Homework… Skeleton in the closet. Yours or someone else's. Maybe it's you.
Write about that person in a time of your choosing and include some or all of the following.
Name, physical description, why yhey are the family secret/joke, the way they speak, why you identify with them, remember them, and how the person affects/affected you.
Next week Facilitator is Melissa Exercise by Mandy Homework by Dale
Happy writing and I’ll see you in Dec. Mary
Welcome back Mandy
In attendance were: Melissa, Dale, Mandy, Mary, Robyn, David C, Terry, Cath and Helene.
Once again a good meeting with much laughter and with just a smattering of literary genius.
Brag session:
Terry went to the FAW course in town on Crime Writing. He said he found it quite informative and imparted his knowledge throughout our meeting.
Cath said she had nothing to brag about but I’m sure given a few moments she could have come up with something.
Mandy said she read a book. So what, you say but Mandy said it was of a type she’d not read before. It was aimed at younger people with lots of expletives and in their idiom. Well done Mandy for persevering, although I think she said she couldn’t put it down once she got started.
Helene went to Canberra. Had a grandchild fix but also indulged in the arts by visiting the McCubbin display as well as Monet and cast her eyes on Blue Poles. I hope she genuflected. It cost us enough for such behaviour.
Melissa did a stint as a teacher at the local TAFE informing women who want to go back into the work force on how to set up resumes on the computer.
Dale was excited about having to do a book review on her favourite poet. Unfortunately she didn’t say who this poet is. Perhaps we’ll find out when the book is available to the public. I think there is a lot of hush hush here. Sounds like a plot for a novel, ‘Who Stole the Poems?’
Mandy wanted to know how do you get drunk without drinking as she had done a winery crawl. Really Mandy.!!!
Robyn. In my notes I’ve said Robyn knows a woman but I’m damned if I can remember what the significance of this is. I know some women too but don’t need to brag about it.
David C is off to Manly Leagues to be a roadie for the Dynamic Duo. He says with a little coercion he may get up on stage. I’d like to be a fly.
Mary went to Sydney to see Michael Parkinson. She and Rollin used their $2.50 tickets on trains and buses. Also took advantage of the free open Opera House tour.
Words of the day
Terry—muse—spirit that gives inspiration
Cath—miasma—polluting exhalations
Helene—antiquing—(not sure of spelling); making love to an old/older person, throwing flour into someone’s face while they’re asleep and watching the results. ‘strange’
Melissa—codswallop—nonsense
Dale--deracinate—tear out by the roots, expunge
Mandy ???
Mary—chauffeur—from the French to stoke the fire.
Davis—plagiarism—the act of literary theft.
Homework or readings
Melissa none
Dale read more of her novel
Mandy ‘Just one of those days’ well written as always
Mary Murphy’s Law
Robyn none
David awoken from a dream of Kylie, damn shame matey
Terry everything was going wrong, a poem
Cath a surprise
It was decided that our Christmas ‘do’ will be on the Friday 4th Dec at the St Georges Basin Country Club. A 6.30 pm start. Writers only…as partners feel out of the loop when we all get together. All writers welcome, old and new. Let Terry know if you can make it. Not sure if we have to book a table or not matey, so I’ll leave that up to you. O.K?
Terry furthered his crime course knowledge with our exercise. I didn’t copy down all the words we came up with but the deal was to find words that go from ‘calm to ‘horror with 10 points in between. Sometimes our vocab was wanting. Something to work on I feel.
Another point he made was to find plots from just putting a man in one car and a woman in the other. We came up with some quite, innovative ideas. Car accidents, towing, drag racing, liaisons and general murder and mayhem
Mandy brought along some scrumptious scones, recipe below:
300ml lemonade 300ml cream 3 to 4 cups S/R flour Handful of sultanas if desired. I would think chopped dates would be good to.
Mix well by hand. Shape and cook in, I think, hot oven for 10 t0 15 minutes. Ask Mandy for the fine details. All I can say is they were delicious.
Once again a good meeting was had by all.
Homework… Skeleton in the closet. Yours or someone else's. Maybe it's you.
Write about that person in a time of your choosing and include some or all of the following.
Name, physical description, why yhey are the family secret/joke, the way they speak, why you identify with them, remember them, and how the person affects/affected you.
Next week Facilitator is Melissa Exercise by Mandy Homework by Dale
Happy writing and I’ll see you in Dec. Mary
25 October 2009
Minutes: 21.10.09
Present: Mary, Kathy, David C, Helene, Terry, Robyn,Jo,Wendy.
Brags: Kathy spoke with pride of her grandson's musical debut in Nowra - Tzar Bomber.
Helene: Saw whales up close on the weekend. Lovely.
Wendy: Wendy went away and saw koalas in their habitat in Strathmerton, Victoria. Koalas very friendly, or else they think we are koalas too??
Robyn's friend, who has been battling cancer for a few years, has been given a ray of hope. Joe has had a good report on his test again.
David went to see Toni Childs at the Country Club, reported it to be extra professional and not to be missed.
Jo won a $20 lottery voucher from local shop for being a loser.
Word of the Week
Kathy's: 'Antipathy': instinctive air of dislike, emotionally-based meanings for this word.
Helene's: 'Mosh': to move as a crowd at a musical function.
Wendy's: 'Uxorious': excessively fond or submissive to one's wife. (mm, a couple of comments from the male gallery).
Robyn's: 'Socialism': pertaining to differing theories, a most untidy word, with discrete connections, some of them dangerous.
Mary's: 'Volcano': odoriferous fumirole, pyroclastic flow.
David's: 'Caucasian'; one from the Caucuses - pertaining to European Aryans.
Terry's: 'Felicitous': one who has gift for speech. Promoting happiness.
Jo asked, who had an explanation of 'tarmac'. Different ideas.
Talk, show, etc: Mary read out a list of probabilities - e.g. drop a screw, it will roll to an inaccessible place. Jo showed two unfinished beadwork slippers and a cardboard picture depicting frame and subject all in one.
Homework was predominently about Lawson's 'The Post Splitter', read and write about the man suggested by the poem. Flesh him out a bit more.
Kathy painted a picture of Lawson's bush in prose. Helene wrote a poem but peopled with newer Australians. Wendy wrote a poem about gen X language. Robyn read out a draft of a story about country life, warts and all and the man's sorrow at the death of it anyway. David read a poem 'Lars', the Scandinavian woodcutter in Lawson's forest - a second migrant experience. Terry, also a poet, wrote about 'Clarrie', a dinky-di Aussie. Cedar cutting, later generations blame these men for forest devastation. Jo read 'My Old Age', a humorous look at getting old. Tongue-in-cheek.
Exercises: Terry outlined the advisability of pleasing all members if possible. This is not easy but commendable.
First exercise: Write a paragraph without using the letter 'e'. Oh, fun, fun, shoot me in the head please. Hard to do. But we tried and there were a couple of paragraphs that actually made sense. It's a good mind-bender and we should do it often. It sharpens.
Then, thirdly, a sentence was given by Terry and each word had to start a sentence. Trying to make a story? Not b.. likely, but of course a couple of clever little things did a good job.
It's all fun sometimes, and we love being silly anyway. Such an homogeneous group. Note 'homogeneous' all, note 'an'. Do you know there are moves about to get rid of 'ans' before 'h's'? I don't know who does these moves but I heard it on TV..SO IT'S GOT TO BE TRUE! 'Bye 'til next time. Jo.
Present: Mary, Kathy, David C, Helene, Terry, Robyn,Jo,Wendy.
Brags: Kathy spoke with pride of her grandson's musical debut in Nowra - Tzar Bomber.
Helene: Saw whales up close on the weekend. Lovely.
Wendy: Wendy went away and saw koalas in their habitat in Strathmerton, Victoria. Koalas very friendly, or else they think we are koalas too??
Robyn's friend, who has been battling cancer for a few years, has been given a ray of hope. Joe has had a good report on his test again.
David went to see Toni Childs at the Country Club, reported it to be extra professional and not to be missed.
Jo won a $20 lottery voucher from local shop for being a loser.
Word of the Week
Kathy's: 'Antipathy': instinctive air of dislike, emotionally-based meanings for this word.
Helene's: 'Mosh': to move as a crowd at a musical function.
Wendy's: 'Uxorious': excessively fond or submissive to one's wife. (mm, a couple of comments from the male gallery).
Robyn's: 'Socialism': pertaining to differing theories, a most untidy word, with discrete connections, some of them dangerous.
Mary's: 'Volcano': odoriferous fumirole, pyroclastic flow.
David's: 'Caucasian'; one from the Caucuses - pertaining to European Aryans.
Terry's: 'Felicitous': one who has gift for speech. Promoting happiness.
Jo asked, who had an explanation of 'tarmac'. Different ideas.
Talk, show, etc: Mary read out a list of probabilities - e.g. drop a screw, it will roll to an inaccessible place. Jo showed two unfinished beadwork slippers and a cardboard picture depicting frame and subject all in one.
Homework was predominently about Lawson's 'The Post Splitter', read and write about the man suggested by the poem. Flesh him out a bit more.
Kathy painted a picture of Lawson's bush in prose. Helene wrote a poem but peopled with newer Australians. Wendy wrote a poem about gen X language. Robyn read out a draft of a story about country life, warts and all and the man's sorrow at the death of it anyway. David read a poem 'Lars', the Scandinavian woodcutter in Lawson's forest - a second migrant experience. Terry, also a poet, wrote about 'Clarrie', a dinky-di Aussie. Cedar cutting, later generations blame these men for forest devastation. Jo read 'My Old Age', a humorous look at getting old. Tongue-in-cheek.
Exercises: Terry outlined the advisability of pleasing all members if possible. This is not easy but commendable.
First exercise: Write a paragraph without using the letter 'e'. Oh, fun, fun, shoot me in the head please. Hard to do. But we tried and there were a couple of paragraphs that actually made sense. It's a good mind-bender and we should do it often. It sharpens.
Then, thirdly, a sentence was given by Terry and each word had to start a sentence. Trying to make a story? Not b.. likely, but of course a couple of clever little things did a good job.
It's all fun sometimes, and we love being silly anyway. Such an homogeneous group. Note 'homogeneous' all, note 'an'. Do you know there are moves about to get rid of 'ans' before 'h's'? I don't know who does these moves but I heard it on TV..SO IT'S GOT TO BE TRUE! 'Bye 'til next time. Jo.
17 October 2009
WRITERS MEETING FOR 14TH October 09
Present at the writers’ meeting were: Terry, David, Jo, Cath, Helene, Melissa, Mary, and we welcomed Leonie who has recently moved into the area. We hope Leone will come back and join us.
Since nobody had any brags, Dale handed around some information about a crime writing workshop being held on October 24 from 10-4 at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre in Nowra. Cost is $25. Further contact details from Barbara Simmons info@fawnswhoalhaven.org.au
Word of the Day
Terry avatar - as we often see on the internet is actually an old word meaning an incarnation- the descent of a god -Vishnu to earth in human form.
David frenemy - a one time friend who has become an enemy
Retort - the crucible in which you heat elements or a sharp reply
Jo ructation - belching or burping
Cath feckless – indifferent, insipid, vain, uncaring
Helene d̩tente Рa relaxing, as of international tension
Leonie transference - to do with psychoanalysis, where feelings shift from one person to the other eg. A person may refer to their analyst as father.
Mary avuncular of or relating to an uncle especially in kindness or geniality
Dale nescient lacking knowledge, ignorant
Word Count
Jo produced an interesting piece about the way publishers work out word counts- not the same way that computer spell-check does. Terry is going to photocopy it for everyone.
Homework
David, Jo, Cath, Helene and Melissa produced an interesting array of stories and poems that dealt with a bet between two men, being trapped then rescued after an explosion, a mother and her two sons’ questions and answers, a gambler and a poem about Davy Jones’ Locker. It was as always interesting to see how each person tackled the homework topic so differently.
Broadband
David gave us some important information about Broadband and kilobytes and kilobits and what causes some computers to be slow downloading.
Abbreviations
David then produced a whole range of initials to see if the rest of the group could guess or remember what they stood for. Eg LSD is pounds, shillings and pence - the original Latin being Librae solidi denarai. GMT, LCD, GC, MVP were among the others. He gave the history behind abbreviations such as eg exempli gracia,
i.e. it est. and many others. Many of these originated from Latin.
He also explained how to do Suduko for those interested.
Terry posed a grammar question about the correct use of colons and semi colons.
A colon is used before giving a list. A semi colon which should be used d sparingly is a longer pause than a comma but not as long as a period. However often the long sentence involving a colon can be broken into two shorter sentences. We learned excessive us of the semi colons spells amateur to editors.
Jo also queried the use of that and which. That is usually an inanimate object which can be more do with a person. That does not have a comma before it. Whish needs the comma before it. Often that can be left out of a sentence without losing anything.
Clichés
Jo also produced a list of clichés and well worn phrases. Something for us all to be wary of using.
Childhood Games
We also had an interesting discussion about childhood games and rhymes and the difference some of us knew in them.
Quick Write
The quick write was based on I remember and produced some funny, some sad and some poignant pieces of writing.
Nobody read from any current projects.
David read the Henry Lawson poem provided by Robyn for next week’s homework. The aim is to write a story, or a poem if you like about the character in Lawson’s poem.
The Future
Terry asked about future ideas for Quick Write ideas and what to include in the group and ways to develop characters better. Predicably different people had different ideas about what they enjoyed and what they didn’t.
Melissa would be interested to know other people’s reactions to the movie Gone, Baby, Gone.
Next week
Facilitator – Jo
Exercise Vala
Homework Wendy
Present at the writers’ meeting were: Terry, David, Jo, Cath, Helene, Melissa, Mary, and we welcomed Leonie who has recently moved into the area. We hope Leone will come back and join us.
Since nobody had any brags, Dale handed around some information about a crime writing workshop being held on October 24 from 10-4 at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre in Nowra. Cost is $25. Further contact details from Barbara Simmons info@fawnswhoalhaven.org.au
Word of the Day
Terry avatar - as we often see on the internet is actually an old word meaning an incarnation- the descent of a god -Vishnu to earth in human form.
David frenemy - a one time friend who has become an enemy
Retort - the crucible in which you heat elements or a sharp reply
Jo ructation - belching or burping
Cath feckless – indifferent, insipid, vain, uncaring
Helene d̩tente Рa relaxing, as of international tension
Leonie transference - to do with psychoanalysis, where feelings shift from one person to the other eg. A person may refer to their analyst as father.
Mary avuncular of or relating to an uncle especially in kindness or geniality
Dale nescient lacking knowledge, ignorant
Word Count
Jo produced an interesting piece about the way publishers work out word counts- not the same way that computer spell-check does. Terry is going to photocopy it for everyone.
Homework
David, Jo, Cath, Helene and Melissa produced an interesting array of stories and poems that dealt with a bet between two men, being trapped then rescued after an explosion, a mother and her two sons’ questions and answers, a gambler and a poem about Davy Jones’ Locker. It was as always interesting to see how each person tackled the homework topic so differently.
Broadband
David gave us some important information about Broadband and kilobytes and kilobits and what causes some computers to be slow downloading.
Abbreviations
David then produced a whole range of initials to see if the rest of the group could guess or remember what they stood for. Eg LSD is pounds, shillings and pence - the original Latin being Librae solidi denarai. GMT, LCD, GC, MVP were among the others. He gave the history behind abbreviations such as eg exempli gracia,
i.e. it est. and many others. Many of these originated from Latin.
He also explained how to do Suduko for those interested.
Terry posed a grammar question about the correct use of colons and semi colons.
A colon is used before giving a list. A semi colon which should be used d sparingly is a longer pause than a comma but not as long as a period. However often the long sentence involving a colon can be broken into two shorter sentences. We learned excessive us of the semi colons spells amateur to editors.
Jo also queried the use of that and which. That is usually an inanimate object which can be more do with a person. That does not have a comma before it. Whish needs the comma before it. Often that can be left out of a sentence without losing anything.
Clichés
Jo also produced a list of clichés and well worn phrases. Something for us all to be wary of using.
Childhood Games
We also had an interesting discussion about childhood games and rhymes and the difference some of us knew in them.
Quick Write
The quick write was based on I remember and produced some funny, some sad and some poignant pieces of writing.
Nobody read from any current projects.
David read the Henry Lawson poem provided by Robyn for next week’s homework. The aim is to write a story, or a poem if you like about the character in Lawson’s poem.
The Future
Terry asked about future ideas for Quick Write ideas and what to include in the group and ways to develop characters better. Predicably different people had different ideas about what they enjoyed and what they didn’t.
Melissa would be interested to know other people’s reactions to the movie Gone, Baby, Gone.
Next week
Facilitator – Jo
Exercise Vala
Homework Wendy
Record of meeting 7 October 2009
Present: David C, Cath, David R, Wendy, Vala, Jo, Dale, Robyn and Helene as
facilitator, a merry band of writers and poets.
Special thanks to David and Cathy C for providing a warm and welcoming
meeting place on a cold rainy day when the keys to the church had gone on
holidays
Brags: Vala bought a glass frog which has facilitated encounters with
princes by email and on the beach.
David R was fortunate to attend today but has missed the group as a result
of recent dental surgery; he should be back in a few weeks.
David C has hearing aids and can now hear any whispers made about him.
Cath had a bee sat on her arm but no sting: maybe she is the new Dr
Do-little.
Wendy bought a new TV and when she took it home found the screen was
smashed. Wendy also has a new hearing aid.
Words of the day
Robyn - allegory - figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of
another; a presentation of an abstract or spiritual meaning under concrete
or material forms
Dale - mezzarine - Mazarine blue - a deep rich blue named after Cardinal
Jules Mazarin 1602-1661, He was a French Cardinal & Statesman, Prime
Minister under Louis X1V, real name Guilo Mazzarine. From Cath's
encyclopedia dictionary which is about 45 years old.
Wendy - burgeon - to begin to grow as a bud; to put forth buds, shoots as a
plant
David R - egalitarian - equal rights from the French
Cathy - Enigma - puzzling
David C - contumacious - insolent of legal authority
Homework - spring theme
Dale - a poem called Spun silk reminded us of mulberry trees and silk worms
Jo - Sometimes on a spring day - a story of bower birds and death
Vala - Spring has sprung a leak
Wendy - One spring morning
Helene - A spring fling - a romantic comedy
David R - two funny poems Getting old and Open door
Cath - Another day - about new life
Robyn - A cloudless sky
Exercise - We selected from a list of unusual occupations provided by Wendy
and wrote our own descriptions of the jobs.
Quick write - The topic of Meat pie and tomato sauce provided by David R
brought poems and stories of eating at the footy, the dangers of eating
pies, game pie, becoming an Aussie and calories.
Homework from Terry in absentia
One character asks another a question, who then answers "God no" What was
the question? Describe the two characters. Are they sitting/standing? What
tones of voice? What body language? Continue writing the scene.
Next week
Facilitator - Dale
Exercise - David C
Homework - Robyn (already given to Dale)
Helene
Present: David C, Cath, David R, Wendy, Vala, Jo, Dale, Robyn and Helene as
facilitator, a merry band of writers and poets.
Special thanks to David and Cathy C for providing a warm and welcoming
meeting place on a cold rainy day when the keys to the church had gone on
holidays
Brags: Vala bought a glass frog which has facilitated encounters with
princes by email and on the beach.
David R was fortunate to attend today but has missed the group as a result
of recent dental surgery; he should be back in a few weeks.
David C has hearing aids and can now hear any whispers made about him.
Cath had a bee sat on her arm but no sting: maybe she is the new Dr
Do-little.
Wendy bought a new TV and when she took it home found the screen was
smashed. Wendy also has a new hearing aid.
Words of the day
Robyn - allegory - figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of
another; a presentation of an abstract or spiritual meaning under concrete
or material forms
Dale - mezzarine - Mazarine blue - a deep rich blue named after Cardinal
Jules Mazarin 1602-1661, He was a French Cardinal & Statesman, Prime
Minister under Louis X1V, real name Guilo Mazzarine. From Cath's
encyclopedia dictionary which is about 45 years old.
Wendy - burgeon - to begin to grow as a bud; to put forth buds, shoots as a
plant
David R - egalitarian - equal rights from the French
Cathy - Enigma - puzzling
David C - contumacious - insolent of legal authority
Homework - spring theme
Dale - a poem called Spun silk reminded us of mulberry trees and silk worms
Jo - Sometimes on a spring day - a story of bower birds and death
Vala - Spring has sprung a leak
Wendy - One spring morning
Helene - A spring fling - a romantic comedy
David R - two funny poems Getting old and Open door
Cath - Another day - about new life
Robyn - A cloudless sky
Exercise - We selected from a list of unusual occupations provided by Wendy
and wrote our own descriptions of the jobs.
Quick write - The topic of Meat pie and tomato sauce provided by David R
brought poems and stories of eating at the footy, the dangers of eating
pies, game pie, becoming an Aussie and calories.
Homework from Terry in absentia
One character asks another a question, who then answers "God no" What was
the question? Describe the two characters. Are they sitting/standing? What
tones of voice? What body language? Continue writing the scene.
Next week
Facilitator - Dale
Exercise - David C
Homework - Robyn (already given to Dale)
Helene
23 September 2009
Meeting on 23rd Sept. 2009
Present: Terry, Mandy, Robyn, Vala, Ray, Melissa, David C, Helene, Kathy, Jo.
Jo explained the elitist rules of a competition which she didn’t win. Most of us agree that the rules are just too twee.
Discussion on uses of commas, colons, semicolons. Some of us figure that we are old enough and savvy enough to use punctuation as it should be used, as a means to indicate mood, or time, or a separation of things, if only for a second.
Word: Kathy: ‘idiosyncrasy’ – characteristic, mode of expression. Helene: ‘empirical’ –guided by experience or experiment.
We go to Robyn’s next Wed. Lunch first, l2
Jo
18 September 2009
Meeting held on 16th Sept. 09
Twas the bay and basin writers group, their abnormal meeting
the usual hacks and poets were there, lots of banter nods and greetings
there was Helene Melissa Kath Robyn and Jo, Vala and Dale turned up later
Mandy and Terry settled down, Tap Tap Tap Davids the facilitator
has anyone got a brag or something they can skite
David mentioned the radio show with a grin of pure delight
Terry told about a blog Helene about her two accidents
The destruction of her letter box she claims was innocent
Bra bombers and triple J were mentioned or something of that sort
Mandy went to Sydney and back no accidents to report
Many unusual words were discussed Mojo a sort of charm
Obloquy an unspoken word, a Nemesis could do harm
Little was said of Taciturn a Moron showed his stupidity as
Promulagate was proclaimed, or was it a tacit implication
A Capricious whim of change.
Homework, many versions were read about an open door
Mandy asked for a critique Kampong Wife was sugested from the floor
Write seven things about yourself, pick one and write a story
humorous rapore was the theme, we basked in all our glory
The metting ended in orderly Kaos, Melissa set the scene
For next week we write a sequal, A movie, book ,TV the next scream
Thats all folks to all the scribes happy writing to any one i missed sorry
Twas the bay and basin writers group, their abnormal meeting
the usual hacks and poets were there, lots of banter nods and greetings
there was Helene Melissa Kath Robyn and Jo, Vala and Dale turned up later
Mandy and Terry settled down, Tap Tap Tap Davids the facilitator
has anyone got a brag or something they can skite
David mentioned the radio show with a grin of pure delight
Terry told about a blog Helene about her two accidents
The destruction of her letter box she claims was innocent
Bra bombers and triple J were mentioned or something of that sort
Mandy went to Sydney and back no accidents to report
Many unusual words were discussed Mojo a sort of charm
Obloquy an unspoken word, a Nemesis could do harm
Little was said of Taciturn a Moron showed his stupidity as
Promulagate was proclaimed, or was it a tacit implication
A Capricious whim of change.
Homework, many versions were read about an open door
Mandy asked for a critique Kampong Wife was sugested from the floor
Write seven things about yourself, pick one and write a story
humorous rapore was the theme, we basked in all our glory
The metting ended in orderly Kaos, Melissa set the scene
For next week we write a sequal, A movie, book ,TV the next scream
Thats all folks to all the scribes happy writing to any one i missed sorry
15 September 2009
Meeting 9th Sept 09
Hi everyone, as usual we had a robust meeting with lots of laughs and interesting things.
Dale read from her current work which included some of the sentences too, we feel like we are listening to a serial it is very good
Helene read out two short poems One called Fur and the other Pain. Both were entertaining and funny
Chathy short story called the Doorman. We felt it showed you can make a story out of anything well done Cathy.
David R. Perfect Match. Short story very colourful.
Wendy. Poem called Being accepted, Our own Pam Ayres we now feel very good.
Robyn Piece from her current work.
Terry. Poem called Ode to Pommy Joe. A story in poetry which he does so well.
The 30th of Sept. is our fifth week in the month and we like to do something more entertaining. After several suggestions it was decided we will have lunch at Robyn’s then watch a DVD and have a discussion on how well or not it was written. Bring a plate to share for lunch. Starts at 11.30am Robyns place.
This provided a range of topics we are a talented bunch.
Homework: Joe. A man comes home and finds his door open….continue this into a short story.
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