27 May 2015

Record of meeting 27 May 2015


The writers
Terry, Elizabeth, Cath, Pauline, Lynn, Helene, David C, Geoff

The words of the day

Curmudgeon = miserly, churlish
Capricious = impulsive
Capernoited = tipsy
Doggerel = trivial verse
Qualm = scruple or twinge of conscious
Poorly = feeling unwell
Alacrity = briskness or speed
Piqued = arose interest or curiosity, feel irritated or resentful

Stories from words of the day

From the interesting list of words the writers crafted a range of interesting stories - The Red Lion, The priest, About Joe, The hip shooters, Never know the difference, In the village and The words we bring along.

Reading of homework

Five writers read a range of stories covering the topics - The blue and white brick, Three cheers for dogs, High heels are false friends and a treasured gift, Dogs to the port side and How I quit cigarettes (a persuasive argument).


Two exercises of two words

We used the two words “pebble and salute” to write a range of amusing stories - Active and healthy, Men with medals, Fred Flintstone, Day dreaming on the beach, Ripples in the water, The morning sun, A beautiful scene and The passing out parade.

We also used the words “pet and slouch” and wrote - I do it every day, Old Fred, I had many pets, All stand up straight, at the dog show, Not pretty pets, Get me a cuppa and The youth and the ferret.

The homework

You are trapped – do you get out or not?

20 May 2015

Record of meeting 20 May 2015

The writers

Wendy, Helene, David R, David C, Cath, Geoff, Terry, Leonie, Lynn, Diane

 
The words of the day
 
 
Bucolic = idyllic rural life

Fluvial = fluid

Exponential = rapid

Secular = not connected with religious or spiritual matters

Illusion = false impression or delusion

Promulgate = promote or make widely known

Egregious = outstandingly bad

Predilection = a preference

Misanthropic = hater of human race

Incentivize = give incentive

 

The stories from words of the day

 We used the innovative list of words above and wrote amazing stories and poems on the topics of

Exhortation, Made up words, The shopping centre, Imbalance in the world, The leaders of our world, A rush, Bad moves, I had the flu, Harmony and I’ve tried to hug a tree.


The reading of homework

Seven excellent homework readings of George and Olive – Opposites attract; Living an illusion – a poem; Mother, Daughter and JJ - (very funny from David C); An abandoned chair; Michael, Myra and me; The liberation of Beryl and Reflected in the bar mirror.
 

Exercise 1 – include three objects

David R asked us to write a story or poem including a bucket filled with a mysterious pink substance, an unopened letter and elderly white horse.

A few writers were side tracked by pink poisons however, we created stories about Old Jack; Ben and Lady; Nellie and I are elderly; The wash; The white clothes horse; If I don’t open it; Bill licked his final gummy stamp; Fatal stuff; The horse looked bad; and Trouble followed.

Exercise 2 - select an object

We each selected an object from Leonie’s mystery bag and wrote stories about the items as if a fly on the wall.

The brilliant stories described Awoke to blackness, I’ve travelled many kilometres, I had to have the small vase (very witty from David C), Thinking of cuff links, Memories from buttons, Joy in moon light, The coolness of water and Two tattooed men in a motel room (very funny story from Terry.

 
The homework

Take one, some or all of the following and write a story or poem

  1. A sentimental object from home
  2. Your favourite song
  3. A bad friend or dog
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 May 2015

Record of meeting 13 May 2015


The writers

David C, Wendy, David R, Helene, Geoff, Diane, Leonie, Pauline, Terry, Cath

 
The words of the day

Burgeoning = flourishing

Honourable = high ranking, dignity, distinction

Admonish = to reprove sternly

Incorrigible = beyond correction or redemption

Specious = having a ring of truth but misleading

Cross bench = seat belonging to neither party

Panache = swagger, strut with style

Cacophony = harsh mixture of sounds, caterwauling

Nefarious = wicked, sinful

Ambiance = atmosphere, mood

 
The stories from words of the day

We used the words of the day and produced a range of interesting stories - Karen in power, The kids in neighbourhood, He was re-elected, A hive of people, Out the window, Destroying friendship, The symphony of sounds, Leaving the chamber, The budget and Charms of the group.

 
The reading of homework

 Six writers read out a range of stories and poems based on different inspirations - The photo shoot from a picture of a cruise ship, Paint a picture in colour – a real piece of art, Colour and light of the day – a poem, Cinematic – a dream in poem, Roadside bombs – accompanied by a small black and white picture taken in Yemen, The Gateway – a story based on a image of table and chairs on a sunny afternoon and Family History based research and on a drawing of a sailing ship.

 
The character exercise

We read out the descriptions of a male and female character we created and other members of the group suggested names for our characters.

 
The homework

Generate a male and female character (or use the ones you created today) and write a story including those characters.

 

 

06 May 2015

Record of meeting 6 May 2015



The writers

Wendy, Terry, Helene, David C, Geoff, Cath, Elizabeth, Leonie, Diane

 
The words of the day

Impinge = restrict, effect something, advance on an area

Purloin = steal or pilfer

Provocative = intentionally irritating

Embellish = decorate or add detail

Ellipsis = using three dots to indicate leaving something out

Fore-fend = to forbid, to ward off, to protect

Triptych = a picture on three panels, three panels of

Ostensible = appearing to be true but not necessarily true

Sublimate = to purify, an modify an unconscious action

 
The stories from words of the day

From the wonderful collection of words we wrote interesting stories - The Collector Pub; Your fantasy…; The portrait artist; Something I made up; The bedroom; Beautiful scenery; To be continued; Christine Milne; and Blood lust.

 
The reading of homework by a dedicated few

A few dedicated members brought inspirational items to display and read homework stories about Gatherings in the country, A home made trophy, The Storm, Two tapestries like family friends and Satyr in my garden.

 
The information

Terry read out brief information about copyright and the Byrne Convention. The basic point is copyright exists once you create something and lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. In case copyright is infringed it is wise to keep good records of your creations. Your computer keeps good records so don’t delete your works of art.

 
The Exercises – paint pictures with words

Leonie challenged us by handing out pictures and asking us to use words to paint the picture. The descriptions we painted were The serene pool; The outdoors lit with fairy lights; The table, chairs, glasses at midday; Birds in the trees;  The golden backdrop and a fisherman; Hedges, freshly cut grass, a metal table and chairs; Oh what a feeling; A modern elegant kitchen and the promise of nouveau cuisine; & Cycling in the Snowy Mountains.

Leonie gave a second exercise asking us to describe a scene or experience. Our descriptions covered The Sussex Inlet Picture theatre; Bea’s playground; My scan; Lunch is delayed; Excited anticipation; A red sunset over the hill; Rain down the car window; Pumpkin time in Collector; and Soft fluffy pillows then an explosion.


The Homework – more painting with words

Use your existing picture from the exercise above and write more or another story from the picture. Or choose a picture or magazine cutting and write a story about it describing the scene, the characters and what happens next.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

02 May 2015

Sydney Writers' Festival - 23 May 2015 - Wollongong

Merrigong Theatre Company presents

Sydney Writers' Festival – Live & Local

In association with the South Coast Writers Centre
Watch interactive live-streamed sessions from the Sydney Writers’ Festival with a live South Coast Writers Centre panel discussion and readings from local writers.
23 May – 23 May
TO SEE THE FULL PROGRAM OF EVENTS, CLICK HERE

In 2015, Sydney Writers' Festival is expanding its horizons withLive & Local – a new digital live-streaming initiative taking Festival sessions across NSW with selected events screened in real-time. Events are interactive, with the opportunity for audiences to ask questions of the guest authors in Sydney.

Hosted by Chloe Higgins, from the South Coast Writers Centre and Festival Coordinator for the Wollongong Writers Festival, festival goers can take part in live-streamed sessions featuring high-profile speakers, covering a broad range of interesting topics. Plus, come along to a live panel discussion and hear local writers reading excerpts from their works – all at the Wollongong Town Hall.

Featuring
• Live Panel Discussion: Brought to you by the South Coast Writers Centre, featuring an exciting line-up of local writers and experts.
• Book Lounge: In-between sessions you can browse the book stalls, listen to live readings, chat to published authors, have your book signed and more.
• Food & Drinks: Selected food and drink will be available onsite to enjoy between sessions or you can wander round the corner to The Social @ IPAC for lunch, dinner or just a coffee. 

Tickets
One session (morning, afternoon and/or evening): To purchase a ticket to a single session, click the BUY TICKETS button at the bottom or right of page. Session tickets allow entry to the live panel discussion presented by the South Coast Writers Centre, My Region: The Metropolis.

Full day package: To purchase an all-day, all-sessions pass, please click here.

MORNING SESSION

A Radical Rethink, 10am – 11amPanel | Genres: Nonfiction, Science & Environment
Speakers: Norman Doidge, Karen Hitchcock and Ranjana Srivastava

Imagined Futures, 11.30am – 12.30pmPanel | Genres: Fiction, Science & Environment
Speakers: Ashley Hay, Emily St John Mandel, Jonathan Lethem, James Bradley and David Mitchell

AFTERNOON SESSION
Ben Okri: The Age of Magic, 1.30pm – 2.30pmConversation | Genres: Fiction, Spirituality/Religion
Speakers: Ben Okri and Michael Cathcart

Give Me Back My Pre-Internet Brain, 3pm – 4pmPanel | Genres: Fiction, Genres: Nonfiction, Culture & Heritage, New MediaSpeakers: Adam Spencer, Douglas Coupland, Richard Flanagan and Sally Andrews

EVENING SESSION
Mistakes We’ve Made and Other Lessons in Feminism, 6pm – 7pmPanel | Genres: Nonfiction, Current Affairs, Politics
Speakers: 
Tracey Spicer, Annabel Crabb, Amy Bloom, Anna Bligh and Aya Utami

5 x 15: Adam Liaw, Richard Tognetti and More, 7pm – 9pm
Panel | Genres: Fiction, Genres: Nonfiction, Culture & Heritage, New Media
Speakers: Diana Jenkins, Richard Tognetti AO, Michael Connelly, Starlee Kine, Omar Musa and Adam Liaw

LIVE PANEL presented by the South Coast Writers Centre
My Region: The Metropolis, 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Panel | Genres: Culture and HeritageChair: Friederike Krishnabhakdi-Vasilakis, Director of the South Coast Writers Centre
Speakers: Merlinda Bobis, Bruce Pascoe, John Muk Muk Burke, Jeff Apter

WRITERS' NICHE – live readings, 11am – 3pm
Immerse yourself in new literature by hearing published authors read excerpts from their latest work.
Writers: Merlinda Bobis, Bruce Pascoe, Chrissie Paice, Jeff Apter

VENUE INFORMATION
Venue 
Wollongong Town Hall, Main Auditorium
Map

DETAILS
Pricing
ONE SESSION (MORNING, AFTERNOON AND/OR EVENING) – Adult: $20, Conc: $15. FULL DAY PACKAGE – Adult: $50, Conc: $40 (A $6.75 transaction fee applies to phone and internet bookings)
Performance Times 
General Public:
Sat 23 May
Running Time
All day.
Tickets On Sale
Available Now

30 April 2015

On line publication - opinion from NSW Writer's Centre


 "Unfortunately, the answer is it's up to individual competitions to define
what they see as "published". Many competitions do provide
guidelines, and just as many do not! But the Macquarie Dictionary
defines the word publish as "to issue to the public the works of (an
author)". I do believe I have heard of competitions defining
publication as the work being made available in any form, paid or
unpaid. So I would say, unless the author knows the specific
competition they want to enter and has confirmed how they define
"published", it would be better not to put the work online."

It's a good question but not one I would hesitate about. I see the
work as published if it appears online.

 Kind regards
 

 Kirsten

Kirsten Krauth

Editor - Newswrite magazine
NSW Writers' Centre
PO Box 1056
Rozelle NSW 2039

29 April 2015

Record of meeting 29 April 2015


Present

Wendy, David C, Elizabeth, David R, Helene, Leonie, Pauline, Geoff, Lynn, Cath, Diane

 
For sale

Mercedes Campervan and HP computer with warranty – See Gumtree or contact Diane for details





Short readings

We listened to a reading from Geoff on our alliance with Japan in WW 1. Geoff also read his story - Compacts - based on his observations of Anzac Day 2015
Leonie read a moving paragraph from “As it is in heaven” by Nial Williams, .

 
Words of the day

Snood = woman’s hair net

Relish = enjoy, like very much

Chagrin = annoyance, disappointment

Alumni = graduate from an educational institution

Profligate = depraved person

Importune = press, persist, insist

Ironical = use or prone to slightly sarcastic speech

Ephemeral = short-lived, transient, passing

Pessimistic = negative, gloomy

Bereft = deprived

Panoply = splendid array, complete suit of armour

 
Writing from words of the day

A great array of stories and poems - Coronation street, Ring the welder, Ill gotten gains, Looking her best, The boffins breeding program, The quest for a medal, The science class, Hippy behaviour, Beauty and gloom
and In the bath. 













Reading of homework

An eclectic mix of embarrassing homework - My head in the fog, A lost memory, My early cooking skills, M Barass not fit to run a circus, No other word, Life in a Nissan hut and Cutting the cake.

 








Exercise 1 – Physical activity

We took 15 minutes to describe in 100- 150 words a simple physical activity complete in itself.

Our brilliant descriptions included - A power failure and a dripping tap, The old dog snuffling, The patter of tiny feet and a smile, Rain drops falling from a leaf, Natalie cleaning her teeth, That smelly old dog, Cutting the wood, Searching for a memory and Wrestling and building with foam blocks.

Exercise 2 - Addictions

We created stories about addictions. Too much love, Exercise, Trivia, Coffee, The call of the sea, Caffeine and my I pad.

 
Homework

Write the story of a photograph, picture, press clipping or interesting object. Bring in the object to show after reading your homework.