Record of meeting 9 August 2017

The writers

Cath, Pauline, Dennis, Helene, Terry, Lynn, Pat, Elizabeth

Words of the day

Inhume – to bury

Unctuous – oily speech

Integrate – bring together

Watershed – ridge or crest line

Phantom – apparition or spectre

Plebiscite – agreement of the people

Earnest– money given in token, bargain making

Artificial – copy of something natural, contrived or affected

Writing from words of the day

The writers integrated the words of the day in a range of water shed stories - I’m going home, By the beach, New inventions, Moses and the 10 Commandments, In Canberra, Meeting for months and Was it possible.

Reading of homework

Six writers read out their stories - Pat and her bike, One of sixteen, Weight of history, Architectural horror and heads in buckets, Staying with Aunty Lilly and The last time.

The exercise

Dennis provided an excellent exercise with a choice of openings, some singing but no dancing plus an example of absurdist humour as inspiration. The writers created stories about -The house, The crash, Everything differently, Not kissing, In the lounge room, Cheating, I need to get home and You don’t know what happened.

Homework

The other week I read a book

Facilitator for 16 August

Helene

Christmas in August lunch

12 noon Monday 28 August 2017 Club Jervis Bay Huskisson

Record of meeting 2 August 2017

The writers

Cath, Dennis, Helene, Pat, Terry

Words of day

Multitude - abundance

Particulate – minute particles

Spifflicate – treat roughly or severely

Mews – row of houses converted from stables

Faience – a glazed and coloured earthen wear

Writing from words of the day

The writers created a multitude of stories from the words of the day.

Reading of homework

The writers read out compelling first liners and stories. Topics included dragonflies, drought, death, crying and a wristwatch.

unmese: the blog

Dennis shared his publication unmese: the blog. The day to day account of Elena and Dino in Italy, February- March 2010. Published through blurb.com

Exercise – Lake Tanganyika

Pat provided each writer with six pages of information on Lake Tanganyika from Wikipedia. The writers produced a wide range of stories on fishing, travel, a   monster, business deals and to the north.

Thanks Pat for a wonderful exercise.

Homework

Last night in Hampton Court

Hampton Court

Next weeks facilitator and exercise provider

Dennis

Peter Porter Poetry Prize closes 3 December 2017

First prize is $5,000; second prize $2,000

Entry is $25

Entries need to be no more than 75 lines

Meeting 26th July 2017

In attendance.
Kath, Lynn, Pat,  Roberta, Terry
Apologies. Helene

*** Item not discussed yesterday but important.
There is a problem with the date for the Xmas in July lunch so the 31st July is off. We'll come up with another date next Wed.
Terry

Words of the day.
Polemic...a controversial argument
Chime...harmony, to agree, to chime in
Fraise...a horizontal palisade (usually part of a wooden fortification)
Codger...an eccentric man
Adroit...clever, skilful,

From our words we had these little gems.
Kath...peace restored
Lynn...a politician
Pat...a word game goes mad
Roberta...Edward the codger

Homework was related to die or dye.
Terry...Life for sale...a poem
Roberta...a story incorporating a multitude of euphemisms for death
Pat...The Guild Master
Lynn...the junk mail lady

Post afternoon tea we discussed writing as being a craft which needs to be learned.
Lynn led a discussion on Unity in writing.
Unity in time...Unity in place...Unity in plot...
As an example The Drover's Wife by Henry Lawson the story taking place over one day, in just one place (home) and with one idea (to kill the snake).

We also read out and discussed some "First lines, paragraphs from published books.

Homework
Each of us to write six "first lines" of our own for next meeting.
Take one of those "first lines" and write a story.

Next week's meeting (3rd August) will be facilitated by Pat who will also provide the exercise/s for the afternoon session.

Record of meeting 19 July 2017 by Helene

The writers

Helene, Cath, Pat, Roberta, Terry, Juan, Lynn, Diane and welcome to Denis

The words of the day

Titular – in name only

Ogive – diamond like

Abate – reduce, end

Interweave – woven together

Exigency – urgent need or demand

Auspices – protection or patronage

Peripatetic – galloping all over the place

Omnipresent – present everywhere, infinity, eternity

Writing from words of the day

Juan – Full of painkillers, Roberta – The new housekeeper, Pat – The old church, Denis – Korean leaders, Lynn – Rome, Cath – Head of the group, Helene – The royal family and Terry – strange looking house.

Christmas in July lunch Monday 31 July 2017

12 noon Monday 31 July Club Jervis Bay Huskisson (previously named RSL club)

Reading of homework

Helene – My favourite things, Terry – Thin walls, Roberta – Open Road, Pat – Fishing and whales, Juan – An old tree (read by Terry) and  Denis - Legs and personality and Dust.

Discussion on future direction for the group

We held a discussion of future direction for the group and why we come to writers group and what we want to achieve from it.

As a result of the discussion Terry will prepare a spreadsheet so group members can nominate to provide exercises and other tasks each week. Terry also to set up a new private blog only for members.

Until the new system is in place Terry and Lynn to provide Exercises next week.

Homework

Dye or die

Record of meeting 12 July 2017

The Divas

Jenni, Pat, Helene, Lynn, Roberta, Pauline and Diane

The words of the day

Ness – a headland

Irony – a contradiction of terms

Frustrate – to thwart to balk a person

Diva – a celebrated female opera singer

Oblivion – forgotten, unknown, pardon, amnesty

Poorness – defectiveness or lack of good quality

Writing from words of the day

The Divas went into oblivion while writing the stories: Lynn – Pushed her over the edge, Pat – Dark and still, Roberta – Thrown herself off, Helene – The nurse, Pauline – I will not be a diva and Jenni – At Loc Ness.

Reading of homework

Four writers shared their homework on the topics: Jenni – Louise the Fairy, Helene – Choosi, Lynn – Light and easy, Roberta – M and Ms and Coles.

In addition Pauline read out her submission School day memories for her high school reunion.

Exercise - Stories of curly hair or blonds have more fun

After lots of discussion the divas wrote and shared their stories: Lynn – Your hairdresser, Pat – Dark curly hair, Roberta – Who had more fun, Helene - In my family, Di – Curly top and Jenni – Try convincing me.

Exercise - The first time I saw him

The divas shared the entertaining stories: Pat – the artist, Roberta – Red and green, Helene – On the wall, Di – A ketchup sandwich, Jenni – At school and Lynn – I was in disbelieve.

Homework

Do what you like

Record of meeting 5 July 2017

The writers

Terry, Helene, Jenni, Roberta, Pat, Lynn and welcome back to Muriel visiting from South Australia

Words of the day

Berate – rebuke

Grasses – common herbage

Cacoepy – incorrect pronounced

Vox – voice like, part of an organ

Precedent – previous case taken as evidence

Gloom – partial darkness, state of depression

Writing from words of the day

The writers were not deterred by precedent or incorrect pronunciation and produced Helene – Back Chat, Lynn – The English language, Pat – Repeat yourself, Roberta – The new Minister, Jenni – In a dream and Terry – In the hanging gloom.

Reading of homework

Four writers read out their homework : Helene – A visit to Nimbin, Roberta – Birdsong, Jenni – Lunch at the Rocks, Terry – A Ladies Glove  Part 4 of his train story,

Exercise – no matter what hire a hubby

The writers had fun with the topic to create: Jenni – We are all mad here, Terry – No matter what, Helene – Clean the bathroom, Lynn – Does he come with a stubby, Muriel – Ideal bed warmer, Pat – Stolen opportunity and Roberta – He was no good.

Exercise – Second hand coffin for sale

More fun and laughter with this topic: Roberta – A long time ago, Jenni – Never seen a burial, Terry – In the corner, Helene – Lingerie storage, Lynn – Surplus to need, Muriel –Give E Bay a go and Pat – A spare coffin.

Homework

Pick an annoying ad or a favourite TV program and rewrite it or another topic that stimulates your creativity