Record of meeting 23 September 2015

The writers braving the icy windy afternoon

Terry, Cath, Wendy, David R, Helene

Geoff get well soon and happy birthdays to Wendy and David R.

Words of the day

Quell = to overcome

Febrile = nervous energy

Loblolly = male surgeons assistant on a warship

Compel = force someone to do something against their will

Zombie = are undead creatures, typically depicted as mindless reanimated human corpses with a hunger for human flesh

Stories from words of the day

From our weird words we created glorious and gory stories and poems -Dreams of porridge; When I get up; The ship lurched; The good ship Bess and What is that smell.

Reading of homework

Three dedicated writers read their homework - Living in the Lodge; A whiff of this and that; and The vote.

Other readings

Acrobatic read by David R a great poem set in a Big Top. Later he read  Holy Dooly a poem without the letter e.

Exercise 1 – Oulipo pronounced ulipo

David R explained the oulipo is a gathering of mainly French speaking writers and mathematicians who seek to create works using constrained writing techniques.

Four dedicated writers concentrated hard to write stories and poems not using the letter e - Too much coughing; Don’t run with scissors; Colour; and It's fun.

Exercise 2 - I can’t put my finger on it

We started our second exercise with the words "I can’t put my finger on it" and came up with the gems - I will never drift off again; Sent me into space; Going to Paris; and Singing and dancing.

Homework

It’s all in my head

Record of meeting 16 September 2015

 The writers

David C, Leonie, Di, Lynn, 

Terry, Cath, Wendy, Helene, 

David R, Geoff

The words of the day

Ardour = passion

Aesthete = lover of art

Cynophobia = fear of dogs

Plebiscite = national vote

Accolade = honour conferred

Antimacassars = prevent staining

Numchakus = danger sticks or chain sticks

Despumate = to clarify or purify a liquid

Chimera = fire breathing female monster

Incumbent = person holding the office

Stories from words of the day

From the diverse list of words we created a range of weird stories - The Coffee Bean, Beating the dogs, Meeting the old boss on a dark street, I deserve it, Barely fitted through the door, The Dali Lama, The rose garden, Could not be used and Never put animals down.

Reading of homework

A small number of dedicated writers read their homework as follows - Emails between ex PMs, He almost hit her, The good old days, The loop, The three bores and Kev’s ditty.

Recommendations and local information

Leonie recommended listening to music by a group called “Time for three”

David C announced Basin Bites has reopened as “G&T” and recommended a visit.

David R recommended “Tea at Tiffs” at Sanctuary Point at the location of the former Purple Bean and near The Lodge.

Geoff discussed self publishing his novel and is looking at Xlibris and Balboa Press and will let us know about his progress.

Wendy will further investigate Grease at the Entertainment centre to be produced by The Albatross Theatre Company in November.

Exercise 

We wrote stories and poems using three word sentences starting “On the road” with stories meandering across the landscape.

Homework

I smell a rat or 
a letter from 
Kevin Rudd to
Tony Abbott

Record of meeting 9 September meeting

Present

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

Apology – Helene … we’re missing you still !

Words of the day

Impunity = exempt from punishment, disregarding

Quiddity = real nature (of a thing); or fine distinction

Orientation = relative position, inclination, attitude

Excoriate = criticize, sensure; or remove part of skin

Malign = slander, speak evil of

Salubrity = enabling health, healthy

Adduce = quote, or cite as proof

Double-speak = obscure speech

Writing from W o D

The Usual Political Targets were attacked by the Usual Assailants (David, Terry, Geoff); Wendy urned a laugh with her tale; Leonie revealed medical infighting, and Cath wrote of (in)mates

Member works offered

Leonie brought us more of her period tales ; Terry continues with his detective drama -  we await more from both.

Homework

Elizabeth revealed more of farming life, focus on working dogs. David C on the hazards of single and/or post marital life. Leonie gave concern at the health systems, and how their government support is lacking.

Fast-write on topics including ‘after all these years’

Homework for 16 Sep

Message – “I have your key”

Record of meeting 2 September 2015

Important details of the day

1. We missed you Helene 

2. Goodbye to Clare with tea and cake

Present

David C, Terry, Cath, Wendy, Clare and Geoff - a good strong mix of Poetic and Writing talent.

Words of the day

Fey: Vague near death

Adage: Proverb or saying

Pernicious: Wicked Evil hearted

Malediction: Evil speaking, a curse

Lachrymose: Tearful shedding tears

Recalcitrant: Obstinate Unco-operative

Stories from words of the day

The talented writers created some very interesting Quick Writes with a natural political bent.

Homework reading

Terry continued the saga of McCord. Clare wrote about falling in love. David was Touched by Angels

Tea and Cake to farewell Clare

Exercise - Six items

Write about six items found in a handbag or mans pocket.

Ventolin Puffer-- Coins-- Small Umbrella-- Check Book-- Personal Fan-- Opal Card. Poetic words of wisdom.

Final exercise - Five facts or statements about you

Four True - One a Lie - unbelievable so funny.

Homework 

TOMB 

Record of meeting 26 August 2015

The writers

Terry, Clare, David C, Leonie, Helene and Di

The words of the day

Shizzle = for sure

Estrade = a raised platform

Flamboyant = glitzy, showy, flashy

Quiddity = essential nature of a thing

Timorous = nervous or lacking in confidence

Paranoia = distracted, irregular, delusions

Stories from words of the day

The six water logged writers created flamboyant

stories from the words of the day - Bottom in Shakespeare, The speakers, Strut my stuff, Prancing around, Two peas in a pod and the Spelling bee.

Reading of homework

Five writers read out their homework on the topics - Having fun, Hope in Spring, Welcome to the cafe, No longer a bored walker and Another one.

Reading of other work by writers

Terry read out his funny political poem ‘Ned Kelly’s head” the topic suggested by Geoff.

Leonie read out more of the Madeline story about a visit to a boardwalk in Brighton.

Collaborative writing exercise

Each writer started a story with a paragraph and the other writers all contributed to complete the story. The collaborative writing produced the entertaining stories - The affair, Pay before you eat, Two heads, Time, A sparrows knee cap and Dog trainer to the gods.

Homework

Take a movie title and use that as a prompt for your homework.

Record of meeting 19 August 2015

 The writers 

 Wendy, Cathy, Terry, Lynn, Clare, 

David C, Geoff, Elizabeth, Leonie, Helene

The words of the day

Fetid = smelly, offensive odour

Festinate = to hurry or hasten

Consanguinity = related by blood

Curmudgeon = mean skinflint, churlish

Apprehended = to intercept or perception

Dialogue = conversation between two people

Mellifluous = sweet sounding, honey flowing

Luminescent = glowing, radiant, shining, bright

Dalliance = a casual, romantic or sexual relationship

Euphemism = inoffensive word instead of an offensive one

Stories from words of the day

The writers festinated through their luminescent dalliances to create the following stories - The ministers sermon, On the train – a great poem from Terry, Doubt and suspicion, He stinks over the fence, Personality transplant, The conversation with the fairy, Bron’s gone - but never forgotten by Geoff, The previous speaker, Oops and The magic morning light.

Reading of homework

Seven diligent writers read homework on the topics - Since I met Hannah, Home, A little mistake,
Dark Hazel eyes, I love you daddy,

The mysterious challenge and A good
day with a nourishing drink. 

Discussions

We discussed Opel cards and various other topics.  Wendy recommended the Warrilla Sports Club for meals.

Exercise – through the peep hole

We created a range of stories after looking through the peep hole to see - Ivan Milat's look alike, The family visitors & swine flu, The winner, Uncle Noel & his tart – another funny poem, My sister looking serene, Food first, Black negligee, I pushed open the door, The woman on the back deck disappeared and My uncle arrived.

Homework

The board walk, a bored walk or bore water

Record of meeting 12 August 2015

The writers

Wendy, David R, Helene, Terry, Lynn, Geoff, Cath, Elizabeth

The words

Salient = noticeable

Ambulant = able to walk

Expurgate = remove parts

Immure = imprisoned or fixed in beliefs

Linguist = person skilled in foreign languages

Cephalopod = molluscs with  tentacle heads

Dialogue = discussion or conversation between

Provenance = a place of origin, record of ownership

The Writing from words of the day

The writers ambulated through the salient words and created the linguistic masterpieces of - Greek lunch, The poli-linguist, The script, My nose, In the small tank, Next time, Memory and Nuclear weapons.

The Reading of homework

Five diligent writers read out their homework on the topics - Talk about it later; Bean stalk talk; What would Ms Marple think? A bank in Bridge Street; and Golden years.

The Exercise 

We selected five things to take on a desert island and wrote a story about our experience on the island. 

We created a range of a fantasy stories set on the island – The floating mattress and the lazy fish, Careless Cate, I sprayed my hair for George Clooney, Survival till the ferry arrives, Pizza and Liza, We will soon know and Plenty of water.

The Homework

Choose a book, go to page 58, and select the first complete sentence to start your story/poem.