RECORD OF MEETING 17TH JUNE 2015

                               

Wendy, David R, Pauline, David C, Terry, Geoff, Cath and Lynn all enjoyed a great days writing.

WORDS OF THE DAY

Prognosis    -   foretell

Staunch       -   loyal, firm or stop flow

Ambivalent -   contrary emotions

Pendulous   -   hanging down, swinging decision

Eclectic       -   made of different sources

Bloomsday  -   anniversary day for James Joyce Irish author

Addage        -   proverb or saying

Subdue        -   overcome

The group used various aspects of Bloomsday to create some interesting stories then homework was read the topic being Anniversaries  -

Anniversaries of marriage, disasters, belonging, political events and a poem on 'States of Mind' showed the eclectic thought processes of the group. 

EXERCISE

DARWIN AWARDS -  using one of five novel newspaper heading write the story behind the headline.

A two wheel wheely bin ride

Fake robbery goes wrong

Chile eating record broken

Midnight scooter ride down highway

Death in brewery

From this came wild stories of poor dead Jimmy, Dermot, lots of chile eating compounding the  nuts, that screws washes and bolts. 

EXERCISE

Write the shortest viable sentence possible using the words deduct, detail, defeat and defence.

EXERCISE

Compile a list within the group of words starting with mag. Then use this list in a quick write using at least three of the words.

HOMEWORK

'SANDCASTLES'                

  

Record of meeting 10 June 2015

The writers

Wendy, Terry, Cath, Lynn, Clare, Helene, Leonie, David C, Geoff, Elizabeth

The words of the day

Slew = turn or swing around on an axis and kill

Chigga = an uncultured person

Mesmerise = capture the complete attention of someone

Extemporize = improvise, adlib

Nebulous = indistinct

Acumen = sharp or quick thinking

Quasi-maliciously = deliberately malicious legal term

Beguile = to deceive by guile, cheat or mislead, to charm

Haggle = to cut into small pieces or difficult in bargaining

Impecunious = little or no money

The stories from words of the day

Some great beguiling story on the topics - No mercy for Big John; The deal in his favour; The rally car driver; The discovery; The handsome face; A toothless smile; Haggle with the Pope; Joe’s grim ideas; Sad to see; and Trying to trick.

The reading of Homework

Seven diligent writers read great homework stories - Time to ski; Body parts – a funny poem; The purpose of our being – a poem; One dark winter’s night; They met on the Internet; Fate intervened and The car accident.

We are/have been reading

Lynn is enjoying hearing “The death of a stock man” written by Hugh Anderson and is also reading work by Dorothy Wimple. Terry recommends reading “Being there” by Jerzy Kosinski. Helene is reading and enjoying “The goldfinch” winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize by Donna Tartt.

Exercise 1 - The stain will not come out

On the topic of stains we wrote a great array of stories and poems including - We’ve got things to discuss: The intruder: Tonight was the night: It wasn’t long: My white dress and mangos: The painting: Brand new carpet: Out dam spot and His mother is overprotective.

Exercise 2 – The inside of an egg

The sloppy topic of inside an egg produced the eggcentic stories of Hollow and slimy, I came first, Empty nest egg, My room, Only pale blue light, My egg is packed ready to go, Yellow white and Cooked chook.

Homework

Today marks the anniversary of two people …………..

Record of meeting 3 June 2015

The writers 

Wendy, Cath, Terry, Pauline, David C, Elizabeth, Leonie, Geoff, Lynn and welcome to Clare and Vivienne

The words of the day

Fulminate = criticise or denounce

Duplicitous = deceitful behaviour

Misogamy = hatred of marriage

Forefend = avert or keep off

Accrue = gain or collect

Astringent = cleansing, austere, severe

Prophetic = looking into the future

Impromptu = without prior planning

Mercurial = quick, changeable, volatile

Surreptitious = clandestine

Quintessential = pure and concentrated in nature, fifth essence

Procaffeinating = tendency to not start anything until after a cup of coffee

The stories from words of the day

We created duplicitous and quintessential stories and poems from our words of the day – A Men’s Meeting, A little bit mental, Before the house, First sip – read with passion, Impending doom, A leaky boat, No other than a man and a woman, Close the door, Dealing with life, Rare moments and Trapping men.

The reading of homework

Eight mercurial writers read their homework - Caving, Imprisoned in black, The blessed world of publishing, Dog paddling, The old lift, Lost head, A hint of anxiety and They are extinct.

The exercise - topic waiting

We used the word waiting to write stories and poems on the subjects Professional waiting, Green cap and gown, Cut the legs off, Alone with my thoughts, A pleasure, The ballet dream, Don’t be slow, Smarten up, There’s cool, Very still, My daughter will be here,

The exercise – topic losers using three word sentences

We wrote about losers of weight, time, lotteries,status etc

The homework

Kismet

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?

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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.