Felixstowe Scribblers Report of Meeting 2nd August
2005
Apologies
were received from Jacky who is on holiday and from
Judy who is probably somewhere in Norwegian waters at present.
Ruth is spending as much time writing at home as possible. She has an
agent interested who wants to see a draft of her new novel in September, Hope
this is good news for our Ruth.
There was a welcome to yet another new face at Scribblers. Bill writes
mostly short stories but has written one novel and a children's book without
success. Several years ago he was published in the Essex Countryside magazine
and more recently has written a number of modern parables for a Christian
agency.
A welcome too for Geoff who has threatened to sit in and listen to the
Scribblers before returning to Australia [hopefully without The Ashes] in a few
weeks time.
Joining them in our largest ever attendance were
Ellen, Rachel, Christine, Peter, Diane, Morag, Liliane, Les, Scott, Gordon,
Mark, Ken, Tony, Bill, Lisa, Ann, Louis, Alex, Sue, Kate, Dick, Mavis, Caz,
Jack, Belinda and Dave.
It was especially nice to see Jack looking so well after
spending such a long time having a blood transfusion at Ipswich Hospital on
Monday.
MEETING FORMAT
Popular or what? A burning question that remains unanswered is
how and why the Scribblers membership has increased so much over the last three
meetings? Whilst this is really brilliant and confirms the standing of our group
it has caused some concern over the extended length of meetings.
Our objective is to complete meetings by 10.00pm and certainly
not to restrict either attendance or membership. Comments and suggestions from
both Ann and Sue are being seriously considered along with some
others that were made at the 'Alex' after the meeting. It seems there are
various possibilities:
- The group splits into two at all meetings where attendance is over [say]
15.
- Members wishing in depth feedback at meetings could invite any members
interested to move to another part of the Library for this purpose.
- Members could form a small group to meet on other than Scribblers nights
for feedback or discussion at each other's homes or at a more convenient
venue.
- That we remain as we are and limit the number of readings dependent upon
available time.
- That we introduce a completely different meeting format.
- That work sent in from friends like Jan and Margareta may have to give way
those attending meetings. The Online Jotters will be a brilliant
alternative.
The general consensus of opinion seems to prefer the group
remains intact for the time being but the situation will be reviewed at our next
Committee meeting. Any comments in favour of, or against, any of these
possibilities would be appreciated. Remember that The Felixstowe Scribblers is
your writing group. You have made it such a success so it's all
your fault!!! Comments can be emailed to href="mailto:scribblers@ntlworld.com">face=Arial>scribblers@ntlworld.com
THE MINI-SERIES
As you know Felixstowe TV has been filming scenes from our mini serial and
has produced a very short clip that can be viewed href="http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/miniserial/">face=Arial>http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/miniserial/
face=Arial>
There are still some acting vacancies whilst extras will
usually be required for several scenes. If you think you can help then please
email Chris Gosling at
face=Arial>controlroom@felixstowetv.co.uk as soon as
possible.
It's great fun!
Little Lemur
If you haven't done so, then please visit the Little Lemur
website at face=Arial>www.littlelemur.com where you will find
details of Morag and Jan's books. Morag is their best selling author so far. If
you have written a novel and haven't yet managed to get it published, then this
is the site for you. It provides the opportunity to advertise your book on the
site and sell it too - the book is actually forwarded as an attachment and can
be downloaded to a computer. So rather than have your unpublished novel laying
around gathering dust you might just be able to sell a copy or three on line.
What you will need is a PayPal Account and details will be found on the site.
Little Lemur will donate 5% of all sales towards helping save an endangered
species.
NEWS
Congratulations to Sue who has just received some good
news that one of her short stories has been accepted for publication in "Aquila"
in their November 2006 issue.
After getting up at the crack of dawn Les had had his
operation cancelled and is now waiting for another date. We'll keep you informed
of developments.
Belinda and Geoff' farewell social has been booked
for Tuesday 23rd August at the Grosvenor in Ranelagh Road
Felixstowe. 7.00pm for a 7.30 start. It will be a sad occasion as Belinda
has really been a very popular member in our midst. Whilst Geoff doesn't get to
meetings they have been tremendous hosts and supporters of all our functions and
I know they will be missed.
Suffice to say there will be several members going along to the
social. So far they include Rachel, Morag and (possibly) Lewis, Liliane, Scott
and his better half, Ken, Tony, Dick and his fiancée, Kate, Ellen, Bill and
Maureen, Les and Joan, Caz and Jack (subject to hospital treatment) oh, and
Dave!
A menu is available.
Sue will be away and won't be able to make the social,
Diane too will be somewhere in the Cape Town area of South Africa but was
able to say her farewells at the meeting. Judy is another who will miss
the event but I understand from various sources she will be Adelaide early in
the New Year and it might just be possible for Belinda and Geoff to meet
up! They'll have to keep us informed.
A Beach Party?
There has been a suggestion for a special Scribblers 'Beach
Party' at a weekend lasting perhaps an hour or so to share some literary work in
the fresh air before adjourning to a local hostelry.. some may prefer such an
event the other way around. Thinking as I type, it might even blend in after a
Sunday filming session. Interested? Please email href="mailto:scribblers@ntlworld.com">face=Arial>scribblers@ntlworld.com .
Diane will be missing from our meetings for some time now
because, after her South African holiday, she will resume her serious studies
for her history degree at Suffolk College. Enjoy your holiday and best of luck
with the studies!
After their brief visit to Scribblers I met Denise [of
UNESCO in Paris} and her mother Mrs Grilli who are very close friends with a
former Scribbler Georgina Wroe. Georgina, who is a novelist, journalist
and broadcaster, cannot believe it is nearly four years since she last attended
a meeting! Denise will be keeping in touch with the Scribblers and is very
interested in joining the Online Jotters when she gets home to Paris.
Talking of the Online Jotters invitations will be sent
out in about two weeks time and I hope that you will all support Jan and
join up. The more the merrier. Don't forget to mention it to your family,
friends and colleagues too! By then Alex hopes to have the new website
more or less completed. I know he is working very hard on getting it all
together and when he does, I am certain it will be a great site.
Recently formed local writers groups in Suffolk are the
Clare Writers who were recently formed. They have a dedicated membership
of eight at the moment and can be contacted via their organiser Lynne Chiswick
face=Arial>chiswick.l@virgin.net
The Ipswich Writers meet in the lecture room at the main Ipswich
Library. Meeting days vary depending on the accommodation but they meet once a
month, not once a fortnight, as people felt that would be a more realistic
number of meetings. Their organiser is Rachel Fell and details of the group can
be obtained from face=Arial>starbuggy22@hotmail.co.uk
Invited onto BBC Radio Suffolk's Action Desk recently,
Dave gave some advice to a lady who was brought up in a Romany family and has
written an autobiography of her life. Looking for someone to read and offer
advice, she wondered if anyone could help her on the way to publication.
And so to the readings!
Owing to the numbers involved it is not feasible to give the
usual write ups. The two open themed topics were read by Sue with 'The
Red Shoes' and Ken with 'Side Effect' - two entirely different types of
story but both so excellently compiled.
The homework theme was Sunday Fun and Dave opened with
'Fun Sunday Fun' followed by Ellen with 'Gun Fun' and Christine
with 'Sunday Invitation'. Peter followed with 'Fun Adventures' and
Diane with 'All At Sea'. Morag shared 'A Step Back In Time' and
Liliane with another excerpt from her ongoing family tale. Les
came up with 'Beetle Watching', Scott 'Tall Tales' and Gordon with
'A Burning Issue'. Mark provided 'The World In Which I Write' and
Tony's classic 'It's Hard to be a Hero When You're 85'. Bill
shared 'Savannah Landing' whilst Lisa, Dick and Mavis shared the
same title 'Sunday Fun'. Ann related a true story, 'The Polish Girl' and
Louis 'Fun on a Sunday'. Belinda read 'Zamodic Sunday',
Alex '4.12pm' and Caz 'Not So Much Fun in the Sun'. Jack
actually wrote his own offering, 'The Sunday Fair' during the evening and made a
very good job of it! Last but not least, Kate read her 'Sunday'.
Unfortunately there was not time to share Jan's 'Family
Fun Day' nor Margareta's 'Fun and/or Sinning on a Summer Sunday' and I
feel rather guilty about this as they have both provided so many great words for
us in the past..
face=Arial>
A very high standard of writing once again, and a very enjoyable evening too.
It was rounded off after the meeting with a few of us just beating last orders
at the Alex!
The new homework assignment is 'Pirates' set by Scott
taken from all the skull and crossbones evident in the children's section
where we currently meet. There is a strict maximum
of 500 words for this whilst the open themed work of up to a maximum of
1,500 words will be created by Morag and Scott.
Our next meeting is in two weeks time on Tuesday 16th August at
the usual 7.30pm start time and the Social will be a week later.
Until then,
Keep Scribbling!
Dave.
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