Record of meeting 24 May 2017

The writers

Helene, Terry, Cath, Trevor, Pauline, Pat

The words of the day

Legerdemain – trickery

Diffraction – spread of light

Preside – occupy a chair of authority

Persnickety -fussy about small details

Fettler – responsible for maintenance of railway line

Ultracrepidarian – giving opinions beyond ones area of expertise

Writing from words of the day

Helene – Happiness, Pat – I am invisible, Trevor – The judge, Cath – They need to be careful, Terry – A light appeared and Pauline – in the meeting.

Reading of homework

Pauline – In a metal hut, Pat – Noisy neighbours, Trevor – The horse race, Cath – Perfect day, Terry – A dream and Helene – Lightening

Exercise 1 – conflict – where have you been

The writers started the exercise with “where have you been” and wrote: Trevor – Down the pub, Cath – She bought a new dress, Terry – A win, Helene – the BBQ, Pauline – Near Palm Beach and Pat – Bruises on his back.

Exercise 2 – a place

The writers created stories about a place:  Pat – Portugal, Pauline – Berkley Square, Helene – Tuscany, Terry – A big hairy nose and Cath – The dance class

Homework

He had a scar or
another topic that inspires your creativity

Record of meeting 17 May 2017

The writers

Terry, Cath, Elizabeth, Helene,

The words of the day

Succour – help, aid, support

Nascent – having knowledge

Luddite – opposed to technological change

Bellicose – argumentative, hard to get on with

Plus Pink, Khaki, Purple and Café

Writing from words of the day

The four dedicated writers gathered the words of the day and quietly produced knowledgeable stories: Elizabeth – A young man, Terry – Alfie, Helene – A phone call and Cath The show must go on.

Reading of homework

Three writers shared their homework stories: Helene – Like a story from 17 Magazine, Elizabeth – A Yellow hibiscus and a caftan & Terry – The old man.

Exercise 1 – Look through the Peephole

Elizabeth – sounds of laughter, Terry – Into the night a funny poem, Helene – Thunder and rain & Cath – The police at the door.

Exercise 2 Not at all how I recall it happened

Helene – Childhood memories, Cath – I did not cry, Elizabeth – Not how I saw it & Terry – The scream.

Homework

My life flashed before my eyes or any other topic that contributes to your creativity

Record of meeting 10 May 2017

The writers

Helene, Cath, Juan, Terry, Elizabeth, Diane

Words of the day

Brazen – bold

Minatory - menacing

Denouement – final of a story

Churlish – rude, surly, mean spirited

Secular – worldly, material, spiritual, non religious

Writing from words of the day

The writers grabbed the words of the day and boldly created the following stories and poems; Helene – House Rules, Cath – Sandra’s behaviour, Juan – The widow, and Terry – On the political stage

Reading of homework

Four writers were brazen in reading their homework; Helene – Hello Elegant Lovely Ladies, Diane – never know your neighbours, Terry – The house near the park (a great poem) and Juan – School camping trip.

Exercise 1 - I thought I had been asking politely

The writers created a character choosing age, eye and hair colour, location, type of accommodation, the setting a prominent physical feature a name and a passion.

Helene – Trixie Bell, Cath – A cat off the roof, Diane – Short fat and hairy, Juan – Gina living in my house, Terry – Just the other day (another great poem) and Elizabeth – Grandad wheeled his motor bike.

Exercise 2 - On my way to the gym

The writers took each letter of the word gymnastics to start each sentence or other methods to write a story or poem

Juan – How are things Paul, Terry – Good old boys, Elizabeth – The tall agile man, Helene – Garry jumped in front of me, Cath – Got your mouth guard and Diane – Spring flowers.

Homework

I remember the hairstyle

Record of meeting 3 May 2017

The writers

Terry, Pat, Helene, Pauline, Diane

The words of the day

Falcate – bent like a sickle

Sublime – inspiring, uplifting

Gnostic – having a mystical knowledge

Temporal – fleeting momentary

Writing from words of the day

The writers bent the words of the day into amazing stories: Helene – Fading fast, Pat - There is something about a maze, Pauline I stumbled, and Terry – A passing phase (another witty poem)

Homework

A great response for homework: Helene – Sausage sizzle, Terry – Really tricky – another great poem, Pauline - In my younger years and Pat – Goldilocks the final chapter

Exercise 1 – When I asked

Using nouns, verbs, adjectives and names we created the following masterpieces

Diane – Playing in the water, Pat – When you wish upon a star, Terry - When I saw Paul and Helene – Fly to the moon.

Exercise 2 - The bigger they are the harder they fall

Helene – Zucchini picking, Diane – Rugby players, Pat – Saves what? and Terry – What happened to Humpy.

Exercise 3 - Traits from the writer you want to be

Diane – Bill Bryson, Pat – J K Rawlings, Terry – Dickens and Helene – Lilly Brett

Homework

Get into a routine and write every day to create The neighbour from hell

Record of meeting 26 April 2017

The writers

Cath, Pat, Helene, Terry, Pauline, Diane

The words of the day

Contumely – rudeness

Humanist – a classical scholar

Calamity – disaster, mishap, tragedy

Allegory – a story with a hidden meaning

Circumspect – cautious, prudent, careful

Esoteric – Obscure, understood by a few with specialised knowledge

Writing from the words

The writers carefully used the words in a prudent way and created stories and poems; Helene – Hank, Cath – Bogans, Pauline – A scholar, Pat – Mixed culture, Diane – Waiting to erupt and Terry – I have an allegory (a great poem).

Reading of homework

Three writers read out their homework; Helene – FOMO and other acronyms Part 2, Pat - Goldilocks part 3 and Terry The old man told me a story.

Exercise - I heard her voice or two things

Pat – If books could talk and I go to sleep in the daytime, Di – A cold voice, Terry – I had her measure (another great poem), Helene – Message from Fiona, Cathy – Message bank and Pauline – I saw what she had written on her I-pad.

Exercise - Quotes and saying

Cath – red sky, Helene – Clichés, Terry – a cat in gloves (very funny), Diane – You are what you eat, Pat – Lost time and Pauline – Temptation.

Homework

Select two chapters of a book. Take the first line first chapter and the last sentence of the second chapter you chose - write a story or poem using the sentences you in any way.

Shoalhaven Literary Award 2017 - including Geoff Bolton award

Shoalhaven Literary Award 2017 for Short Stories

Closing date: Friday 27 May 2017

The Shoalhaven Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers is excited to announce an increase in prize money for its prestigious Shoalhaven Literary Award, launched on 20 February 2017.

With the ongoing and valued support of the Shoalhaven Arts Board and Bundanon Trust, this year the writer of the winning story will receive $1500, together with a two-week artist residency at Bundanon, Arthur & Yvonne Boyd’s Gift to Australia, on the Shoalhaven River near Nowra, NSW.

Second prize is $250, third $150 and the Geoff Bolton Award for an entry from a Shoalhaven resident will receive $200.

Geoff & writing group May 2013

Further information is available from

http://fawnsw.org.au/shoalhaven-literary-award-2017-for-short-stories/

 

Record of meeting 19 April 2017

The writers

Cath, Pat, Helene, Terry, Lynn, Elizabeth

The words of the day

Quasar – energy

Enmity – hostility, animosity

Immutable – not susceptible to change

Risible – inclined to laugh or ludicrous

Meme – Image video spread by the Internet

Noble – dignified, gracious, righteous, self sacrificing

Writing from words of the day

The writers took the words and created a range of stories: Elizabeth – A few situations, Pat - Standing at the gravesite, Lynne – Unrealistic, Terry – Delirious, Helene – Moving to another planet and Cath – failing company.

Reading of homework

Three writers read out homework - Helene – FOMO, Pat – Goldilocks parts 2 and Lynn – Darcy continued.

Exercise – choose a colour

We selected a colour and five items in that colour and wrote the following stories

Helene – Silver stars, Cath – The greenery, Elizabeth – The dress covered in yellow, Pat – Fainted next to the fridge, Lynne – I looked at the art work and Terry – In a blue police box.

Homework

Travelling on the train I sat next to a woman writing her diary on a tablet/Ipad. I saw the words “I fear somebody will discover the body soon”. Write a story around the diary entry or continue your previous story and include the diary entry if possible.