Present: Terry, David R, Wendy, Mandy, Helene, Geoff, Robyn
We held a general discussion on critiquing of other people's work. It was agreed that we should directly ask a member if we want feedback.
In addition we had quite a discussion regarding the way we run the weekly meetings.
Excellent and important feedback was received from existing and other members currently not attending. It was agreed that the brag/news session at the beginning had got out of hand and was becoming a bit of a talk fest. We agreed to trial the following general outline in future meetings and modify it as we go to get the best outcome for all members.
1 pm – 2:30 pm
Short news (2 minutes max. each)
Word of the day
Quick write from words of the day (10 mins max)
Reading that quick write
Homework reading (allocated from previous week)
approx. 2:30 pm afternoon tea
Remainder of afternoon
Book/Author discussion ( share a taste of your favourite book or author)
Major project reading (share part of your bigger project)
Homework setting
Word of the day
Wendy – disingenuous - lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; false or hypocritical. Mandy – sagacities – foresight, good judgement.
Helene - abroad - English people going to Europe.
Geoff – sycophant – A person who uses flattery to gain favour with someone in power
Terry – vivify – to give life or make it more vivid or animate.
David R - Gordian knot – difficult or involved problem.
Homework reading
"What is the one invention I could not live without"
David R – The unicorn – prose on an explosion and a ship and a poem My vibrator
Wendy – a funny poem about the flushing loo.
Mandy – Being digested - memories of life before, and since, electricity.
Helene – the lovely one.
Terry – grey matter...my brain
David R read a poem about word homework.
Geoff read more of his novel set in Tokyo.
Quick write from words of the day
Helene – the Gordian knot.
Geoff - the tour guide.
Terry – poem on writing.
Robyn – on a tour.
David R – two poems about disappearing abroad.
Wendy – a poem - Vivifying my marriage.
Homework - A packet of nuts, 2 lbs of flour and a bag of fertiliser. What was it for?
12 October 2011
06 October 2011
BLOG FOR 5TH OCTOBER 2011
Attending Terry McLafferty . Leonie Worthy. Mandy Byrne
We were very light on the ground this week.
Word of the Day
Mandy…
Antebellum This refers to a house built during or after the American Civil War.
Cosy…The origin is Scottish and is used in different countries differently. You can describe a room as cosy and in America and Canada you cosy up to someone.
Leonne.
Extant…means existing now…it can be an old law still used today.
Akimbo…To stand with your arms up with hands resting on your hips.
Terry.
Cadre…It means a small cell of trained zealous revolutionaries.
Infant…An angel whose wings get smaller as its legs get taller. (Think about it)
Homework.
Terry…Unicorn Unicorn. A poem. A really funny poem and we loved it. Noah's Ark will never be the same again after Terry's poem.
Leonne. The Magic of colour. A short story. Dreams of Unicorns as in all dreams anything is possible.
Mandy. The Little Mother. A short story of a child that could imagine anything and lived her dreams.
Our Quick Write was No More Secrets.
We spent an hour doing this enjoying having time.
Homework.
What is the one invention you could not live without and why?
A short meeting but we spun it out till the time alloctated and enjoyed ourselves.
Terry is concerned that our meetings might be getting a bit same old, same old. If anyone has any new ideas for our meetings we want to hear about them.
29 September 2011
Record of meeting 28 September 2011
Big thank you to Melissa for hosting the meeting at her new house. It was lovely to be at home. Thanks to Terry for the great poem he wrote about Melissa leaving JB soon.
Present: Helene, Terry, Mandy, David R, Leonie, Jessica, Melissa, Geoff - almost got lost on the base.
News: Terry decided to go on a diet and tried to staple himself to the wall. Geoff went to the first day of a writing course at the Sydney Writers Centre and it started off with very basic information. The presenter spoke about Lyn Tranter her mother and a famous agent. Jessica is writing (with Melissa’s help) her auto biography which is about 80% completed and is going back to the Philippines. Leonie – frustrations with the house building. David R two OT's came from the hospital and gave advice how to manage after his upcoming surgery. Mandy survived a weekend with visitors including a 3 year old who had tantrums.
Word of the day:
David R - tonal – adj – the tone of music or writing. Helene - rebus – an enigmatical representation of a word or phrase by pictures or symbols eg two gates and a head = Gateshead. Terry - perniciousness – that which will destroy. Geoff – sabot – wooden shoe - sabotage comes from the word. Jessica - mananangal a mystical creature that resembles a vampire who sucks the fetus from a woman. Leonie - surreptitious underhand done by stealth. Melissa - lackluster lacking in conviction and dull.
Homework readings
David R – Water music – sounds of sea at the beach great description of waves clapping. Leonie – Madeline and Jonathan at the beach in a buggy Madeline running free and lost to the sounds of the sea. Terry - H2O a poem of rain, tap dripping, tears, water boiling, rain on hot tin roof. Helene – water a poem. Mandy – domestic violence and music. Melissa read from Jessica’s auto biography – Angels in the clouds. Leonie read two great poems about water.
Terry shared some information from an article on tone – attitude, take a position, what the characters sees etc.
Homework
Use the following five words to create a story or poem - unicorn, taxis, algebra, birthdays and cruises.
Present: Helene, Terry, Mandy, David R, Leonie, Jessica, Melissa, Geoff - almost got lost on the base.
News: Terry decided to go on a diet and tried to staple himself to the wall. Geoff went to the first day of a writing course at the Sydney Writers Centre and it started off with very basic information. The presenter spoke about Lyn Tranter her mother and a famous agent. Jessica is writing (with Melissa’s help) her auto biography which is about 80% completed and is going back to the Philippines. Leonie – frustrations with the house building. David R two OT's came from the hospital and gave advice how to manage after his upcoming surgery. Mandy survived a weekend with visitors including a 3 year old who had tantrums.
Word of the day:
David R - tonal – adj – the tone of music or writing. Helene - rebus – an enigmatical representation of a word or phrase by pictures or symbols eg two gates and a head = Gateshead. Terry - perniciousness – that which will destroy. Geoff – sabot – wooden shoe - sabotage comes from the word. Jessica - mananangal a mystical creature that resembles a vampire who sucks the fetus from a woman. Leonie - surreptitious underhand done by stealth. Melissa - lackluster lacking in conviction and dull.
Homework readings
David R – Water music – sounds of sea at the beach great description of waves clapping. Leonie – Madeline and Jonathan at the beach in a buggy Madeline running free and lost to the sounds of the sea. Terry - H2O a poem of rain, tap dripping, tears, water boiling, rain on hot tin roof. Helene – water a poem. Mandy – domestic violence and music. Melissa read from Jessica’s auto biography – Angels in the clouds. Leonie read two great poems about water.
Terry shared some information from an article on tone – attitude, take a position, what the characters sees etc.
Homework
Use the following five words to create a story or poem - unicorn, taxis, algebra, birthdays and cruises.
21 September 2011
Record of meeting 21 September 2011
Present: Mandy, Gary, Melissa, Helene, Terry, David C, David R, Leonie and Geoff. (More males than females.)
News: Gary has been to hospital and told us about his experiences. Mandy had someone look at her house but no offers yet. Leonie has had a frustrating week with her house construction but saw a great exhibition by Fred Williams in Canberra. David R is back swimming in the Bay and found money on the beach. David C saw Susie Quattro at the Entertainment Centre in Nowra and it was a great show. Geoff had reunion with his former writing group 11 people attended. Terry injured his knee last week but is recovering, and thanks Leonie for her input to one of his poems.
Word of day: Gary – hamartithia – being likely to make a mistake and gossypiboma a surgical sponge left inside after surgery accidentally. Mandy - monumental has many uses. Leonie – umbrageous – sense of fright, injury or offence and callow – inexperienced raw, unfledged. David R oenophile – connoisseur of wines. David – curt - short and sharp. Geoff outcome and fledge – tail feathers and arrows. Terry – from Donald Trump appreciates depreciation. Helene - Skittish – apt to start or shy, restlessly or excessively lively, fickle uncertain, coy. Melissa - in situ - a Latin phrase which translated literally as 'In position' It is used in many different contexts.
Homework readings
Leonie – Madeline deep in thought about her time in London and a chance meeting with Mr Jonathan Williams. David R – a poem Bridges – connect us our love is here to stay One thousand miles – I can live without you a humorous poem. David C - The best laid plans – A humorous story of Brandy and battery acid. Terry read a moving poem - Why – leaving his land and his love she stands beside me. Helene – thinking of many and varied things. Melissa –Wondering - lost thinking about her past 3 husbands and dinner. Mandy – the pirates – love making with an android and 10 years in space.
Other issues
Youth worker wanted 8 hours a week by the church. Contact Mandy for details if you are interested.
We discussed the definition of published work. Geoff will ask the NSW Writers Association.
Geoff also told us about a free primary school music concert at 10:30 am on Sunday at Lady Denman Museum Huskie.
Exercises
1. We wrote an internal monologue of a character in a social situation where they are extremely uncomfortable.Melissa – a weak handshake and banal banter. Gary – I wanted to stamp on his belligerent head. Mandy – how could she live here. Leonie – waiting in the doctor’s surgery. David R – situations and fit as a trout. David C – a gay man at a baby shower. Geoff – Does this suit me? Terry – Julia her inner thoughts was very entertaining. Helene – Humiliation at a make up party.
2. We described the smells we associated with the Moon –Sadness – Cowardice – Velcro – Silver and Sand
Homework- Write a poem or story about Water music
Reminder next meeting 28 September at Melissa’s house
News: Gary has been to hospital and told us about his experiences. Mandy had someone look at her house but no offers yet. Leonie has had a frustrating week with her house construction but saw a great exhibition by Fred Williams in Canberra. David R is back swimming in the Bay and found money on the beach. David C saw Susie Quattro at the Entertainment Centre in Nowra and it was a great show. Geoff had reunion with his former writing group 11 people attended. Terry injured his knee last week but is recovering, and thanks Leonie for her input to one of his poems.
Word of day: Gary – hamartithia – being likely to make a mistake and gossypiboma a surgical sponge left inside after surgery accidentally. Mandy - monumental has many uses. Leonie – umbrageous – sense of fright, injury or offence and callow – inexperienced raw, unfledged. David R oenophile – connoisseur of wines. David – curt - short and sharp. Geoff outcome and fledge – tail feathers and arrows. Terry – from Donald Trump appreciates depreciation. Helene - Skittish – apt to start or shy, restlessly or excessively lively, fickle uncertain, coy. Melissa - in situ - a Latin phrase which translated literally as 'In position' It is used in many different contexts.
Homework readings
Leonie – Madeline deep in thought about her time in London and a chance meeting with Mr Jonathan Williams. David R – a poem Bridges – connect us our love is here to stay One thousand miles – I can live without you a humorous poem. David C - The best laid plans – A humorous story of Brandy and battery acid. Terry read a moving poem - Why – leaving his land and his love she stands beside me. Helene – thinking of many and varied things. Melissa –Wondering - lost thinking about her past 3 husbands and dinner. Mandy – the pirates – love making with an android and 10 years in space.
Other issues
Youth worker wanted 8 hours a week by the church. Contact Mandy for details if you are interested.
We discussed the definition of published work. Geoff will ask the NSW Writers Association.
Geoff also told us about a free primary school music concert at 10:30 am on Sunday at Lady Denman Museum Huskie.
Exercises
1. We wrote an internal monologue of a character in a social situation where they are extremely uncomfortable.Melissa – a weak handshake and banal banter. Gary – I wanted to stamp on his belligerent head. Mandy – how could she live here. Leonie – waiting in the doctor’s surgery. David R – situations and fit as a trout. David C – a gay man at a baby shower. Geoff – Does this suit me? Terry – Julia her inner thoughts was very entertaining. Helene – Humiliation at a make up party.
2. We described the smells we associated with the Moon –Sadness – Cowardice – Velcro – Silver and Sand
Homework- Write a poem or story about Water music
14 September 2011
Record of Meeting 14 September 2011
In attendance: Leonie, David C., David R., Mandy, Helene, Geoff, Melissa
News: Leonie’s house is coming along; Geoff celebrated his son’s 45th birthday in Sydney; Melissa entered her song “I Know a Place” into a competition; Helene visited a naturopath who gave her a potion and now feels better than ever; Mandy has had a wonderful week despite not selling her house, and celebrated her granddaughter’s 18th birthday; David R wrote a limerick “The Vet From Tibet”; David C played bass guitar at a gig at the Husky Community Hall!
WOD:
Leonie: bohemian – socially unconventional person such as an artist/writer; boreal – of the north or artic or of the northwind Quiescent - peaceful
Melissa: blurple – a mixture of blue and purple
Helene: a quote: “Even silence has an end” – Enid Bechenthorpe
David R: sangfroid – in cold blood, composure, equanimity
David C: bombastic – in an inflated manner or style
Homework reading: What is a friend?
Leonie read last week’s homework about a dolphin, a magical story for children of all ages: The Story of a poster Dolphin
Melissa – a smart story using song titles based on friendship
Helene – a story: Like Minded Friends
Mandy – a story: What a Friend
David R – two poems: What are Friends? A Friend in Need
David C - a poem: What are Friends?
Exercise:
We used the words of the day to create a 5 line limerick - bohemian – boreal – quiescent - blurple – silence - sangfroid – bombastic.
David R - The group, David C - The man from Peru Leonie – Blurple lips. Geoff - the Canadian. Melissa – A man from Sydney. Helene – The boreal on my face.
Quick write - The city
David C – first time Jury duty in Sydney. Leonie – I want to go home. Geoff – Life in the city now impatient to leave. Melissa – limericks the man in the city and the woman who was pretty. Helene – the black heart. Mandy – Jack has been to the city. David R - dust, dirt and grime, painted claws.
Homework - She stands besides me a thousand miles away.
Special message - Meeting of 28 September at Melissa’s house 23 Benson Road Creswell. Plenty of time to work out how to get there or phone Melissa on 0404 985 616.
07 September 2011
Record of meeting - 7 September 2011
Present: Wendy, Mandy, Gary, Helene, Geoff, Terry, David R, Demetri (short visit).
News: Wendy can’t wait for the Rugby Union World cup to start, Mandy made cheese kisses and sausage rolls for her grand daughter’s birthday, Gary is amused at the sign at his sister’s house “beware of the vicious wife”. Helene has bought three e-stories to read on her holiday in October. Geoff had another letter published in the Fin Review and he read out the letter. Terry attended a very good 3 day seminar in Sydney. David R has a date for his op.
Words: Mandy fecundity – fertile, Wendy – Gammon deceit, David R – flatulence and inexorable – impossible to stop or prevent, Terry ignominious – shameful: enclosed and inclosed...mean the same thing. Geoff – atavistic – savage throwback. Gary – shattered – very descriptive needs no explanation.
Homework reading;
David R – Dolphin talk. Wendy – Guess what - an amusing poem about a non exotic pet. Mandy – Wave dancer (a moving story of a dying woman who is free to dance with dolphins in the waves). Gary the truth revealed – In Sulawesi dolphins are worshiped and scientific research into the true life of dolphins showed they are the only other mammals who have sex for pleasure. Helene – Surrounded by dolphins. Terry - Fear - swimming on a cold morning shadows in the dark – an excellent word picture.
Reading and training
Quick write - The night train
News: Wendy can’t wait for the Rugby Union World cup to start, Mandy made cheese kisses and sausage rolls for her grand daughter’s birthday, Gary is amused at the sign at his sister’s house “beware of the vicious wife”. Helene has bought three e-stories to read on her holiday in October. Geoff had another letter published in the Fin Review and he read out the letter. Terry attended a very good 3 day seminar in Sydney. David R has a date for his op.
Words: Mandy fecundity – fertile, Wendy – Gammon deceit, David R – flatulence and inexorable – impossible to stop or prevent, Terry ignominious – shameful: enclosed and inclosed...mean the same thing. Geoff – atavistic – savage throwback. Gary – shattered – very descriptive needs no explanation.
Homework reading;
David R – Dolphin talk. Wendy – Guess what - an amusing poem about a non exotic pet. Mandy – Wave dancer (a moving story of a dying woman who is free to dance with dolphins in the waves). Gary the truth revealed – In Sulawesi dolphins are worshiped and scientific research into the true life of dolphins showed they are the only other mammals who have sex for pleasure. Helene – Surrounded by dolphins. Terry - Fear - swimming on a cold morning shadows in the dark – an excellent word picture.
Reading and training
- Poetry reading in Nowra details on Arts in Shoalhaven site.
- Geoff has nominated for the Writing for Life course in Sydney to be held on two Sundays 25 Sept and 2 Oct full cost $290 and $175 member concession. Details can be found on the NSW Writers Centre website.
Quick write - The night train
Helene – Romance on the night train to Paris. Geoff - Failure to book on the night train from Tokyo. Terry – the night train from Melbourne. David R – the night training. Wendy – travel with Nick and Rosa – the Greeks. Mandy – death at midnight on the train tracks. Gary – Albert Einstein has no ticket but Gary knows where he is going.
Homework – What are friends?
31 August 2011
Record of meeting 31 August 2011
Present: Terry, Leonie, Geoff, Helene, Gary, Wendy, Robyn, David C, David R and Mandy.
News: Terry bought in the 2012 wildlife calendar from Wildlife Rescue South Coast for sale @ $10, great for gifts. Leonie - work is progressing on her house. Geoff went to the Art Gallery NSW and saw an exhibition of German art and bought a catalogue. Helene has had two sons staying and lots of fish for dinner. Gary loves Burma and told about a new line with a train that travels at 350 kph. Wendy has a new lap top and digital TV attachment (the attachment from EBAy was $20). Robyn’s youngest son is getting married again and has two new poodles in the family. David R’s eldest daughter sent her some photos of his grandchildren and ex wife. Mandy has just put her house on the market. David C is no longer king of the chamber pots and has the pots up for auction in Warrawong on Saturday.
Word of the day
Terry – bellicose – war like, fond of fighting - this word came to him after he woke one night. Leonie - phalanx – a line of battle. Geoff – sequestrate – separate and store. Helene –credenza - a sideboard used in domestic, office or restaurant situations. Gary chattel - any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc). Wendy – bromance – a non sexual relationship between men. Robyn – paragon – work beyond ones main work. David R – mellifluous – sweet or musical: expatiate – went into detail: hodgepodge and hotchpotch – a confused or disorderly state. David C hebetude - dullness or stupidity.
Reading of homework
Terry read us Guilt...a poem of murder and suicide. Leonie entranced us with the story of The ladies maid with ambition. Geoff a mini story of Jessica, drugs and drink. Mandy is she dead - a horse, day dreams and storm water drain. Gary - will she ever give up – an ex lover singing songs on the phone. Robyn a story told by Granpa of a strange creature with a purple eye. David R three short poems The deserted house, Manchancer a strange creature and The mouthy mother outlaw and the parrot who repeated phone conversations.
Exercise and quick write
We used the word president to make as many words as possible. Many people displayed their extensive vocabularies. We were asked to do a quick write using the words reliability and president.
David R wrote about the reliable ute. Robyn told us about graceful retirement. Wendy – a poem using the words of the day. Gary – President McCarthy in Zimbabwe. Mandy – broken dreams of a president. Geoff wrote about 2023 in Australia with Lucy Turnbull as President. Leonie wrote about President Obama. Terry wrote about the dummy spit at Parliament House. David C the buck stops here.
Homework
Write a story or a poem about a dolphin.
News: Terry bought in the 2012 wildlife calendar from Wildlife Rescue South Coast for sale @ $10, great for gifts. Leonie - work is progressing on her house. Geoff went to the Art Gallery NSW and saw an exhibition of German art and bought a catalogue. Helene has had two sons staying and lots of fish for dinner. Gary loves Burma and told about a new line with a train that travels at 350 kph. Wendy has a new lap top and digital TV attachment (the attachment from EBAy was $20). Robyn’s youngest son is getting married again and has two new poodles in the family. David R’s eldest daughter sent her some photos of his grandchildren and ex wife. Mandy has just put her house on the market. David C is no longer king of the chamber pots and has the pots up for auction in Warrawong on Saturday.
Word of the day
Terry – bellicose – war like, fond of fighting - this word came to him after he woke one night. Leonie - phalanx – a line of battle. Geoff – sequestrate – separate and store. Helene –credenza - a sideboard used in domestic, office or restaurant situations. Gary chattel - any tangible movable property (furniture or domestic animals or a car etc). Wendy – bromance – a non sexual relationship between men. Robyn – paragon – work beyond ones main work. David R – mellifluous – sweet or musical: expatiate – went into detail: hodgepodge and hotchpotch – a confused or disorderly state. David C hebetude - dullness or stupidity.
Reading of homework
Terry read us Guilt...a poem of murder and suicide. Leonie entranced us with the story of The ladies maid with ambition. Geoff a mini story of Jessica, drugs and drink. Mandy is she dead - a horse, day dreams and storm water drain. Gary - will she ever give up – an ex lover singing songs on the phone. Robyn a story told by Granpa of a strange creature with a purple eye. David R three short poems The deserted house, Manchancer a strange creature and The mouthy mother outlaw and the parrot who repeated phone conversations.
Exercise and quick write
We used the word president to make as many words as possible. Many people displayed their extensive vocabularies. We were asked to do a quick write using the words reliability and president.
David R wrote about the reliable ute. Robyn told us about graceful retirement. Wendy – a poem using the words of the day. Gary – President McCarthy in Zimbabwe. Mandy – broken dreams of a president. Geoff wrote about 2023 in Australia with Lucy Turnbull as President. Leonie wrote about President Obama. Terry wrote about the dummy spit at Parliament House. David C the buck stops here.
Homework
Write a story or a poem about a dolphin.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)