Record of meeting 4 April 2012

Present: Jo, Terry, Robyn, Garry, Leonie, David C, Geoff, Helene, Wendy, David R and Di

News

Terry was pleased to get the conundrum on "Letters and numbers" last night. Di is going to visit her family in Victoria for Easter. David’s eye test was OK. Wendy went to Nowra players “Nearly the Eurovision” and could not stop laughing. Helene told about a letter she received from the Minister of Human Services about payments to aged pensioners and refugees. Geoff gave us bad news about the termination of literary awards by Campbell Newman in Queensland to save money. David C returned from his cruise Zealand and described the brilliant use of shipping containers as shops in Christchurch. Leonie’s mother is coming from Queensland to visit for Easter. Garry completed a comprehensive driving test and now has an Australian driving licence. Robyn has been away for several weeks, has had a cataract removed and a new lens installed and has now recovered from sinusitis - its scarey how well she can now see dust and everything so clearly.

Robyn read out the process and record for the election of new officer bearers. President Terry, Secretary Helene, Treasurer Wendy, Committee members David R and Geoff. Thanks to Robyn for her work as Treasurer for the group

Word of the day

Terry – bagatelle = a mere trifle, a game and a light piece of music. Jo – ensanguine = to smear or cover with blood. Enrockment = a rock sea wall. Di lyrical = enthusiastic or effusive pleasure gratitude. David R – nostrum = medicine not considered effective, a quack remedy. Wendy – carmageddon = a traffic jam. Helene – explicate = to develop a principle, to make plain or clear, explain or interpret. Geoff - protean = constantly changing from Protease the sea god. David C – fremescence = tumultuous noise. Leonie - obeisance = a gesture of respect a bow or a curtsy. Garry – A paraprosdokian = is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect by comedians and satirists. 

Quick write from words of the day

We created amazing stories about Goldilocks the girlfriend, A rock wall causing a wall of death. A beautiful woman bowing. A bag who was an engineer. Using quack medicine. The comedian. Rocks for murder. The Minister smiled. A musical evening out and a bleeding nose. Toad parking in Malibu and the professor.

Reading of homework

A range of interesting stories including a monument to irrelevance and how did I get here. Climbing a tree, marriage, strength and creativity. Decorum and lots of deca words ringing of bells. School as stability with a family of serial renters. A new decade. Madeline’s ten years and yes I can.

Reading

Di read from her story “Cooking from the heart” a lovely picture of a meal for three in a beautiful garden.

Homework

Write a catchy first paragraph of a story and then a short outline of the rest of the story or use a short story you have previously written. Give the story a few different titles and discuss what about the titles and first paragraph will make people want to read your story.

Record of meeting 28 March 2012

Present:  Geoff, Terry, David R., Wendy, Wendy G., Mary, Di, Leonie, Gary, Jo.

News:  Gary told us how pleased he was to get through his operation.  Di has been supporting a friend.  Terry was pleased with his son in law's decision re job, and has been pursuing his own work iinterest with good signs.  David R's nephew kayaked from Bawley Point, a race, came l3th, but stalwart effort.  Wendy - her husband had a form of lockjaw - unusual for these days.  All going to be okay.  Geoff went to a Youth Concert, Choral and Orchestral, very pleasing. He has sites, 'Arts in Shoalhaven' website, please look, Poetry, Art, and Poker (?) on this. Wendy G:grandson being taught chain-sawing, Awesome!  Mary, played Putt-putt golf with the grandkids.  Saw the thousands of bats heading south. Leonie, went to Melbourne, went out with kids, saw belly-dancer, grandson mesmerised!

Word of the Day

Dave: Impugn - Dispute the truth, or question honesty. Wendy: Recyclopath - militant about recycling, obsessive practitioner.  Geoff: discreet: wise, restrained, judicious .- discrete -separate, not continuous.  Wendy G: ubiquitous - to be seen to be everywhere at once.  Mary: reprobate - a person ordained for damnation, a scoundrel.  Leonie: pernickety - fastidious, over-precise.  Gary: frisbeetaranianism - soul being stuck on a roof after death.  Di: immutable - unchanging.   Terry: apropos - with regard to.  Jo: pounce - to jump physically or to conclusions, otherwise,bird's claw, or a drying agent (for ink writing).

We did a quick write based on Word of the Day.

Everyone performed very, very well.

Geoff did it cleverly, Wendy: a poem, good effort (missed two words): David: a poem, how do these poets do it, and so quickly! Jo, a crowd scene. Terry: a long poem, honestly, you people are too much!  Di: another clever tale.  Gary: Village life. Leonie:Recyclopath's habits.  Mary: Religious frenzy.  Wendy G: A street person inspecting bins. 

Then came the reading of the homework, 'Five Minutes to Go'. Leonie: the tension of waiting for cues in theatre. Mary: Emily of the theatre also, but many members described. Wendy G:  boy's impatience, chooses a puppy.  Wendy: Poem. 'The Blushing Bride' who only married old sick men..ultimately for their money.  David R Poem about us here and the time limit for exercises.  Jo: Bus stop evil.  Terry: 'Showtime' Burlesque ... hurry,hurry.  Di: a poem. The threatre, sing-song, rhyming. Good. Gary: On the beach, a lamp appears, has a wish, loses it when goes into dreams. 

Person Interest time, Geoff read more of his Japan novel, mainly concerned with politics in Australia in 70's.

After tea we did a write on 'Wandering through the bush'. 

All acquitted themselves as usual in a super form, all different as chalk to cheese as usual, how does that happen? 

Homework: My Decadal...(describe your life in increments of 10 years)

Record of meeting 21 March 2012

Present: Terry, Garry, Leonie, Mary, Wendy G, Helene, Wendy W, David R, Geoff and Di.

News: Garry had an email from Mandy with all good news and also good news about his sister’s health, Leonie has been to Melbourne to see her family and concreting of the driveway has finally been done at home. Mary went to a show in town last Wednesday and celebrated her birthday. Wendy also celebrated Mary’s birthday and is feeling better. Helene also had an email from Mandy saying they are happy in their new home. Wendy W is going to Nowra players next week. David R went to see the physio in Vincentia who gave him exercises to help his knees; he will also get hearing aids. Geoff had four days in Melbourne and had a reunion with people he used to work with 40 years ago and got a nice rejection on a story. Terry will have a stand at the “Shoalhaven on show” on Friday 24 March at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre and talked about his Wildlife rescue work. Di has found the house she is renovating is not worth as much as she had hoped.

Words of the day:
Gary goodification = noun the best.  Leonie – detritus = rubbish, debrie, particles or grains. Mary – bespoke = an item custom made. Wendy – halcyon = gentle calm. Helene – albedo (/ælˈbiːdoʊ/), or reflection coefficient, derived from Latin albedo "whiteness" (or reflected sunlight), in turn from albus "white", is the diffuse reflectivity or reflecting power of a surface. Wendy W - fatuous – silly moronic. David R – outraspective = opposite of introspective used to describe to listen to others and look out to others. Geoff – imbue = to infuse, fill or inspire. Terry – linguicide = disappearance of a language. Di – parlous = archaic, humorous, old fashioned dangerous.

Quick write from words of the day
We wrote about enjoying the sun and the beach, albedo clouds and the shed, the goodies on cruises, detritus in the garden, down by the river and the beach with white statues.

Homework
Mary - Lars the warrior a reason to fight. Helene – teenage logic. Wendy – sorry for saying you are fat. David R – enjoys being mischievous. Terry – didn’t see the old lady in the wheelchair. Di – I didn’t drink the gin. Garry – Odelia in the orphanage thinking of good things. Leonie – I wish I could write my grandson a story and I’m sorry mum.

Exercise
David R described two characters and a situation for us to write dialogue. We produced interesting and funny dialogue about controlling parents, grandparents, fortunes to be inherited and potential homelessness.

Good reading and writing 
Di recommende the book “The right to write” by Julia Cameron who also wrote "The artists way" both provide pratical and fun exercises to stimulate the creative process. Highly recommended to stimulate the creative process.

Terry will scan and send out information provided by Jo about publishers who are accepting unsolicited manuscripts.

Homework
Five minutes to go







“

Writers workshop Sydney 27 August 2012

Hay House is conducting a writers workshop in Sydney on 27 August 2012. Discounted price of $195 if you book early. For more details have a look at

http://www.hayhouse.com.au/event_details.php?event_id=274&utm_id=282

	Monday 27 August 2012  10 am - 5 pm  Location: Parkside Auditorium,  Level 1 Sydney Convention & amp;  Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour,  Sydney, NSW

Record of meeting 14 March 2012

Present: Terry, David R, Wendy W, Garry, Helene, David C and welcome back to Di

News: David C told the story about a friend's problems with email - the lesson is use the BCC option and don’t send on other people’s emails address. Garry was pleased he had news from Shoalhaven hospital that he has a date in March for surgery. Di has had lots of things going on while she has been away and is glad to be back. Terry had to jack up his car to get his old dog out from under it. David R’s sister has announced she is getting married again. David R also went on the Eco tour boat trip on the week end. David R also read a poem Aloe Vera about his sunburnt head. Wendy’s brother is down to the last 3 in a to "win a wedding" radio competition in the UK - lucky he is not married.

Words of the day

David R – culminate = to reach a climax or pinnacle.  David C - utopia = the place of ultimate perfection the word invented by Sir Thomas Moore and serendipity a gift of making fortunate discoveries by accident. Terry – Axiom = a statement taken to be true without proof. Garry – obfuscation = to make something unclear and muddy. Helene hectopascal = the international unit for measuring atmospheric or barometric pressure. Wendy – nugatory = trifling of no consequence.

Writing from words of the day

We produced a bunch of very interesting and amusing stories and poems after 10 minutes writing from words of the day.

Reading of homework and other readings

David R - Val, Hal and Allah go north, David C – the soldier and drug addict. Terry - the flying girl stealing from the butcher in Sanctuary Point. Di – the last quest a warrior with no heart beat. Garry – no regrets. Helene – My black sister. Wendy – Val Halla at school with other misnamed pupils.

Garry – Do you still beat your husband?

David R – Mesmerised

Quick write about Chinese zodiac signs - Di wrote about a beautiful wild horse in the mountains. Terry described the funky monkey. David C wrote about the horse, goat and pigs ass. David R wrote about the goat eating washing. Wendy described herself as a big kid. Helene wrote about the swimming rat.  Garry told us about the rooster who rises early and is highly revered.

Homework

1. Write a poem or short story around the topic - Sorry Mum, it wasn’t my fault.

2. Next week bring a couple of photos and or pictures of people unknown and unnamed. We will use the pictures to stimulate our imaginations and write stories about the unknown people next week and in the future.

Peter Cowan 600 short story competition WA

The closing date for the Peter Cowan 600 short story competition is 18 May 2012.

Entry fees $10 for one entry, $20 for three entries or $30 for five entries.

Further information at www.pcwc.org.au and email cowan05@bigpond.com

Fun and farewell to Mandy and Brian 6 March 2012

Mandy

On Tuesday night we said farewell to Mandy and Brian who are moving to the Central Coast. We had lots of fun and laughter and lovely food at the Country Club.

Mandy, Vala and Wendy W

Garry, Geoff and Brian