We are a long established Writers Circle based in Felixstowe, Suffolk. This Weblog will be about us, Writing, Writing Competitions, Writing in Felixstowe, life and generally what we are up to as a Group and individuals and what interests us.
We are based in Felixstowe but our membership comes both from a wide area within Suffolk and we also have many 'online' members from around the UK, Europe and the US.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Please note our New! contact address is scribblers@btinternet.com . Please note all previous email addresses are now defunct.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Another new book from Rochelle Moore
- Congratulations to Rochelle whose new book is due out on 1st May. A short brief is included on the publishers website where advance orders are being taken. Go to http://www.andborough.com
Meridian Writing (www.meridian-writing.co.uk) have launched a new quarterly competition for short stories of up to 3,000 words for new and published writers, in any genre. Prizes are: £100, £50 and £25 for first, second and third places respectively, with the first deadline being 30th June, 2009. This competition is expected to be featured in the next issue of Writers' News.
NEW: WritingRaw.com is proud to announce the 7-Question Interview with the following authors, with more to come:
Tiffany Baker: Debut novelist and publishing sensation Rhys Bowen: Award-winning mystery writer Ramsey Campbell: International bestselling author of horror and Lifetime President of the British Fantasy Society Veronica Chater: Debut and highly praised memoir author Robert Ellis: Bestselling author of crime fiction Alan Furst: Bestselling historical espionage author Jasper Fforde: New York Times Bestselling author of fantasy Nikki Giovanni: World-renowned poet Jeff Kinney: New York Times bestselling author of children's books David Liss: New York Times Notable author of historical fiction Deanna Raybourn: Award winning romance novelist Donald Ray Pollock: Master of the short story
Also NEW at WritingRaw.com is our Store Page – where writers can sell their self-published or e-books. This is yet another FREE service that WritingRaw.com is providing for the community. Please contact us on how post on this page.
We also support other sites who help writers – With writing being such a solitary business, WritingRaw.com believes in reaching out to other sites, writing groups, forums, and organizations. Contact us on how you can put a FREE banner or link on our site!
WritingRaw.com is a FREE literary sharing website where writers can upload, view and share their writing. We do not judge or reject! Our goal at WritingRaw.com is simple - to serve the literary community with the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. With the disappearance of many literary magazines, WritingRaw.com is providing the blank pages for writers to fill. Feel free to post in any of the following categorizes:
Fiction Poetry Nonfiction Remembrance, and Assorted writings
To view someone's writing, just click on the link and a pdf version of the piece will open in your browser. Read it, comment on it and, most important, ENJOY IT.
Top Tips -------- Did you know we have pages of advice on the various genres that the BBC produces, and how to write for each? Includes a sitcom section by Paul Mayhew Archer, co-writer of The Vicar of Dibley. http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/tips.shtml
Blog ---- With this year's Drama Writers Academy opening its doors for submissions in about a fortnight, now's an excellent time to read about how the Academy works, and find out about The Perfect 10 helpful hints for writing your script. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/
I am writing to introduce myself and my company, CPI Antony Rowe.
Antony Rowe is acknowledged as the UK's (and probably Europe's) premier manufacturer of on-demand books and short run printing and we were the first to offer true on-demand printing. We are now also launching ‘Antony Rowe Publishing’ (ARL).
With ARL we can take care of the typesetting, design, ISBN numbers and produce marketing tools for promotion. We also can guarantee to get your book in stock with Gardners. This means your book will be available at WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon and 15,000 other book stores worldwide.
We can also produce books for self publishers. We have a wide variety of paper stocks, types of cover and binding. We can also produce any trim size you wish and fulfil direct to your customers.
If you would like more information on either Antony Rowe Publishing or how we can help self publishers please do contact me on nevans@cpi-group.co.uk or 01323 434700.
Also if you wish you and members of your circle can come and visit our facility in Eastbourne. You can view the production process, ask questions and see how we can help you turn your ideas into a selling book
Please contact me to arrange a time and date for your tour or if you have any further questions.
A reminder that, with an 'extra' Tuesday in the month, there is no meeting until Tuesday April 7th, That should give you the opportunity of creating your 500 words on 'SAFE', the same subject and length story as the Ip-Art Short Story Competition.
There is a meeting for Committee members only which will take place on Tuesday 31st March at Dick's starting at 7.30pm.
We hear that our dear friend and member Les has retired from ..... Age Concern. See the Evening Star report for 26th March on our weblog.
Don't forget to enter the Bill Budner Short Story Competition - see our weblog for details along with some other interesting items.
APOLOGIES: Trish (unwell), Morag, Caro, Connie and Alex (all unavailable)
ATTENDING Dick (Chair) Dave, Lauren, Barry, Peter, Sue, Diane, Tony, Liliane, Angela, Jane and Jack.
MATTERS ARISING and NEWS:
The Coast to Coast competitions for 2008 have been completed and organiser Maurice thanked everyone who took part. Approximately £800 was given in prize money so here’s looking to this years competitions.
Magpie books now welcome 70 word reviews of books that readers have enjoyed. The reviews will be placed alongside the books on display and make an interesting aid to choice. There is a small incentive that £1 book tokens will be given for each accepted review.
Still unable to get to our meetings, Christine Hughes, sends her best wishes to members old and new and looks forward to receiving a tape of some of Dave’s short stories that he has promised to record for her. This is something that Peter also did some time ago.
Now that’s an interesting thought for a project... recording our short stories. Any offers?
THE BILL BUDNER COMPETITION
Competition leaflets have been sent to some local libraries, the Ipswich Record Office whilst on line members have been informed via emails. Leaflets are being passed to the local papers as a Press Release along with Felixstowe TV. Full details were in the last report.
OUR PROPOSED ANTHOLOGY
Barry reported that he has now met and discussed the anthology with the printers, the cost including cover and photographs will be 5 pence per page so the cost will depend on the number of pages we finally decide upon. It is anticipated that around 25 writers will be involved although this can differ dependant upon interest and support.
THE COMMITTEE.
It is hoped that a committee meeting will be arranged in the next two weeks to discuss these items so, if you have any items you wish discussed please email or phone a committee member, Barry, Dick, Peter, Alex, Ruth or Dave.
OUR CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISE:
Members were asked to provide three words or phrases on a piece of paper, one in each of the three different categories:
Type of Person or career An event An emotion or feeling.
With these added to the envelopes provided, all members drew one item from each and the resultant work provided and extremely interesting evening with one member having to leave the room in laughter...
Rather than create a title for the exercise, it was decided to use the words or phrases drawn as the title. You will see the amusing subjects below that created a brain busting twenty minutes session of writing.
Dave: Nervous – Stone Age Cave Woman – Reaching Mountain Top Lauren: A Grave Yard – Dread – An Alien from the Planet Vask Barry: Archaeologist – Confusion – The Launch of a Groundbreaking Domestic Product Peter: Undertaker – Alienated – Weight Watchers Meeting Sue: Seamstress – Ecstatic – Night Spent in a Haunted House Di: Mental Care Assistant – Computer Crash – Sheer Ecstasy Tony: Embarrassed – Italian Estate Agent – At Duxford Air Show Liliane: Know-it-all Person – Volcanic Eruption – Weariness Angela: A Male Ballet Dancer – School Sports Day – Sadness Jane: Teacher – Football Match – Paranoia Jack: Historian – Crying With Laughter – Stuck in a Lift Dick: Window Cleaner – First Aid Competition – Miserable
Great fun!
Our Next Meeting
Takes place in three weeks time on 7th April at 7.30pm in the Café Libra, Felixstowe Library.
Ruth (subject to confirmation) will be in the Chair.
The two 1,500 word homework assignments will be undertaken by Liliane and Jane.
The subject for the remaining writers will be 500 words on ‘Safe’ ironically the same subject that the new 2009 Ip-Art Short Story competition takes
Until next time
Keep Scribbling!
***** Support those who support us! Have a look at Scott’s website at http://www.mrcobblerandmrlocks.co.uk Don’t forget that Scott has special ‘Felixstowe Scribblers’ mugs on sale at £5 each. Not only does it have the Scribblers logo on the front, but your name can also be added on the rear.
2009 Ip-art Short Story Competition launched! This years short story competition is on the theme of 'Safe' and entries are open in three categories 1) Adult 2) Young people (ages 12-16) 3) Children (ages 7-11)
Plenty of Prizes to be won so don't delay! The deadline is 2nd May 2009 so get your thinking caps on now!
Details available from their website at http://www.ip-art.com/ The Ipswich Arts Festival takes place from June 27th until July 12th.
*****
I am writing to introduce myself and my company, CPI Antony Rowe.
Antony Rowe is acknowledged as the UK's (and probably Europe's) premier manufacturer of on-demand books and short run printing and we were the first to offer true on-demand printing. We are now also launching ‘Antony Rowe Publishing’ (ARL).
With ARL we can take care of the typesetting, design, ISBN numbers and produce marketing tools for promotion. We also can guarantee to get your book in stock with Gardners. This means your book will be available at WH Smith, Waterstones, Amazon and 15,000 other book stores worldwide.
We can also produce books for self publishers. We have a wide variety of paper stocks, types of cover and binding. We can also produce any trim size you wish and fulfil direct to your customers.
If you would like more information on either Antony Rowe Publishing or how we can help self publishers please do contact me on nevans@cpi-group.co.uk or 01323 434700.
Also if you wish you and members of your circle can come and visit our facility in Eastbourne. You can view the production process, ask questions and see how we can help you turn your ideas into a selling book
Please contact me to arrange a time and date for your tour or if you have any further questions.
Starting at 7.30pm our next meeting takes place in the Cafe Libra at Felixstowe Library on Tuesday 17th March with Dick taking the chair. The evening will take the shape of one of our popular creative writing sessions so there is no need to worry about writing for the meeting. All you need to do is to bring along three words on small separate pieces of paper - this time the words should be:
A type of person or career (examples Librarian, punk, intellectual, hairdresser etc)
An event (eg. Royal Garden Party, church service, going shopping etc)
An emotion/feeling (eg. Sad, fed up, elated, bored etc)
A warm welcome to London based Rani, Liliane’s daughter, who came along for one of her infrequent visits.
Les, who had to leave the meeting early when feeling unwell, was collected by wife Joan and was feeling a little better the following morning. Get well soon Les and hope to see you next time.
An error was pointed out in the report of our last meeting. Connie’s work was entitled Chick Lit. Apologies!
Dick had a poem “The Highland Run” showing up in three different categories in the Coast to Coast competition. It took first place in one section and was paced in tow other sections. Heard of three-in-one oil, but three in one poetry? Someone had to invent it!
Best wishes and blessings have been forwarded from our overseas friends... from Rochelle in Ireland and Belinda in Queensland. Rochelle, author of “Witch” has produced a thoroughly comprehensive publication on the subject which has been a very informative read. Belinda has just gained her diploma as a Remedial Master Therapist which means that she can now go out and earn a few Aussie dollars at her art. Included in her writers group anthology she looks forward to adding a lines into our new one.
A kind offer was received from Tony Barley who has a complete set of Writers News magazines from 1995 up to the end of 2007 free to anyone wanting them. Most of the attending writers already subscribe and there were no offers. However, if you didn’t attend the meeting but are interested in his kind offer please email scribblers@btinternet.com and you will be put in touch with Tony.
Caroline’s Creative Writing Groups has finally moved premises to Brantham where she will soon be launching some new courses and promises to keep the Scribblers informed.
The next IPSWICH WRITERS CAFẾ to be held at Starbucks in Ipswich on Monday 16th March is so popular that it is already fully booked and, unless you know better, there will be no representation from the Scribblers.
Rushmere Players production of “Roots” which stars our own Ruth takes place at Rushmere School on Friday and Saturday 6th and 7th March. Owing to delay in the report, the production has already taken place and Ruth, once again, has shown her real potential on stage. The leading role, with almost continual dialogue, one is in awe of her abilityto learn such a demanding script and to portray her character so professionally. One has to ask the question, when is the next production?
Another production soon BECOMING ORWELL, a new play by Susan Hawkes. Walberswick 1930's, Eric Blair is fighting his demons and dreaming of becoming a writer Walberswick 2008 A boy on the run believes he has a destiny to fulfil Orwell's visions - but will Big Brother find him first.
Set in the most haunted village in England, this is an atmospheric play about life, love and CCTV.
OUR PROPOSED ANTHOLOGY
Barry, on behalf of Jane and Les who form our Anthology sub committee, explained that plans are now coming to fruition. He is meeting the printers in the next few days to gauge costs. The idea is that we cover the outlay with any profit being very welcome. It will loosely be styled on our first, and thus far, only anthology but will, hopefully include photographs of each of the contributors along with a couple of lines. Here is the report from the horses mouth, or at least from Barry’s computer:
“The preparations for the Anthology leap ahead at a snails pace but it would be appreciated if each and every one of you interested in contributing to above mentioned publication would prepare for perusal 1000 words or thereabouts comprising one piece, poems or even snippets (as requested by Rosie) of your best loved works.
“It is envisioned that it will not be a collection of regimented stories, but rather varied pieces that will amuse and give the readers an idea of what the writer's preferences are.
“It would be appreciated if you would also provide me with an up to date five or six word synopsis of your life and loves at present (not to be included in your allotted word count of course) and if possible a snapshot that can be included if costs permit in your synopsis panel.
“The cost of each book we hope will not exceed £5.00 and when the time comes there will be proposals put to meetings concerning the numbers required from members and hopefully by extension friends and families.
There is an army of three (Jane,Les and myself) working on this project and with luck we shall be able to enrol sufficient advertisers for the Anthology to ease the pain of publication but if there are any of you with ideas for extra advertisers then they will be accepted with alacrity.
“We hope to have all entries ready for printing by the end of August. For those of you with no e mail this message will be a trifle harder to receive so I shall turn off the computer and light the campfire.So get scribbling people and remember ‘Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.’"
Invitations will also be sent to former members and Scribblers friends to help bolster the submissions whilst we have an idea for a local celebrity to provide a forward for the publication.
So now we know! Perhaps our new motto should be ‘Get Scribbling’!
Our free to enter competition:
Bill Budner Short Story Competition 2009
Theme – ‘The Last Day of the Holiday.’
Entries are now invited for the Bill Budner Short Story competition, sponsored by Bill’s widow, Maureen and organised by the Felixstowe Scribblers.
The competition is for a fictional short story on the theme ‘The Last Day of the Holiday’.
You must create an original title for your story which should have a no more than 2,000 words.
Entry is open to all, with separate awards for children (16 and under at the closing date).
Prizes will be awarded for the three best stories in each category, as follows:
1st prize £25, 2nd prize £15, 3rd prize £10
• Each entry must be the original and unpublished work of the entrant. • All entries should be clearly typed in double spacing on single sides of A4 paper. • The author’s name, address, daytime phone number and (if possible) e-mail address should accompany the story on a separate sheet of paper. These details should not appear on the entry itself. • Please include age if 16 or under. Acknowledgement of entries will only be made if accompanied by a self addressed, stamped envelope or postcard. Entries will not be returned.
Competition entries should be handed in or posted to the staff at Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road , Felixstowe, IP11 7BY, clearly marked for the
‘Bill Budner Short Story Competition’, by the closing date of Saturday 25th April 2009
The winners will be chosen by a judging team headed by Bill’s widow, Maureen. The judge’s decision will be final.
The winners will be notified by Monday 11th May 2009.
The 1,500 word open themed work:
Because of a late commitment to attend a school meeting Jane was unable to attend and her slot was shared by Alex with an extended work and Dave.
Alex: Boat Train Dave: A Fleeting Moment
The 500 word ‘Trophy’ assignment on “Behind the Scenes” or “Comic”
Lauren: Peace Penguin Rosie: Cloak and Swagger Caro: Mr Bellamy Dick: Get a Grip Rani: Untitled Liliane: Ann-Marie’s Story Angela: Tangles Caroline: Behind Closed Doors Tony: Hunion’s Travels (continued) Connie: A Stitch in Time Stephen: The Ambassador Peter: Unseen Life
Our Next Meeting
17th March at 7.30pm in the Café Libra, Felixstowe Library.
Dick will be in the Chair.
The meeting will be one of our popular creative writing exercises but slightly adjusted from previous ones.
This time you will need to provide three specific words. These will be:
A type of person or career (examples Librarian, punk, intellectual, hairdresser etc)
An event (eg. Royal Garden Party, church service, going shopping etc)
An emotion/feeling (eg. Sad, fed up, elated, bored etc)
Three envelopes will be provided, one for each type of word. Then it will be drawing one from each envelope before the writing exercise of approximately 15 minutes begins.
Challenging but fun!
Until next time
Keep Scribbling!
***** Support those who support us! Have a look at Scott’s website at http://www.mrcobblerandmrlocks.co.uk Don’t forget that Scott has special ‘Felixstowe Scribblers’ mugs on sale at £5 each. Not only does it have the Scribblers logo on the front, but your name can also be added on the rear.
***** The Ads ***** NEW: WritingRaw.com is proud to announce the 7-Question Interview with the following authors, with more to come:
• Robert Ellis: Bestselling author of crime fiction • Jasper Fforde: New York Times Bestselling author of fantasy • Nikki Giovanni: World-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator • Jeff Kinney: New York Times bestselling author of children's books • David Liss: New York Times Notable author of historical fiction • Donald Ray Pollock: Master of the short story
Also NEW at WritingRaw.com is our Store Page – where writers can sale their self-published or e-books. This is yet another FREE service that WritingRaw.com is providing for the community. Please contact us on how post on this page.
WritingRaw.com is a FREE literary sharing website where writers can upload, view and share their writing. We do not judge or reject! Our goal at WritingRaw.com is simple - to serve the literary community with the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. With the saddened disappearance of many literary magazines, WritingRaw.com is providing the blank pages for writers to fill.
Feel free to post in any of the following categorizes:
To view someone's writing, just click on the link and a pdf version of the piece will open in your browser. Read it, comment on it and, most important, ENJOY IT.
Dates: Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July 2009 Time: 10am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4.30pm on Friday (an hour break for lunch) Venue: University College Falmouth, Woodlane Campus, Library Building. Price: £275
Have you always wanted to write a novel but don’t know where to start? Have you written one and all you have to show for your efforts is a pile of rejection slips? This is your opportunity to discover abilities you didn’t know you possessed while learning the techniques and skills every novelist needs, whether you are aiming for publication or simply wish to derive more pleasure and satisfaction from your writing. The course is a mixture of lectures, discussion, workshops, exercises, with additional tasks to complete at home overnight. Participants will have the opportunity on the final day to discuss work in progress individually with the tutor.
Day 1 Morning – Understanding your Market Understand your market and your reader. Assessing your writing strengths. Writing for different genres. Avoiding Trend traps. How to find ideas. Research. Brainstorming session: Genres, visualisation and the reader contract. Afternoon – Settings The importance of settings. Workshop activity – settings. How character and plot derive from setting.
Day 2 Morning - Know your characters. How to create vivid believable characters readers will remember. Exploring motive: What do they want, why do they want it? Workshop: writing and paired activity: Interviewing your characters. Afternoon First, second and third level characters. Workshop: experiment with different methods of revealing character. Discussion session on short extracts from published works which demonstrate these techniques.
Day 3 Morning – Dialogue The concept of register. Finding a voice for your chief characters and how to make sure this differs from your own. Interior monologue. Afternoon The function of dialogue in a narrative. The requirements of different genres. Workshop: Examining published extracts and writing a snatch of dialogue to indicate character.
Day 4 Morning - Beginnings and Endings. Grabbing your reader’s attention and keeping it. The five w’s. When to start and end a chapter. Workshop – Examining published chapter openings and applying the techniques. Afternoon – Plotting Point plotting. Pacing your story, raising the stakes, plot twists. Writing your story in one sentence. Brainstorming : Methods of charting highs and lows.
Day 5 Morning – Pace and Style The relationship between pace and style. Balancing dialogue and narrative. Adjectives and adverbs. Techniques for changing the pace of a narrative and why you might wish to do this.
Afternoon – Revising and submitting your work. Query letters- what to include and what to leave out. Ten ways to get rejected. Writing a synopsis. Outlines and jacket blurbs. Agents and Advisory Services. Acceptance and after.
Your tutor is Rosemary Rowe a pseudonym used by Rosemary Aitken, a highly qualified academic, who has written many best selling textbooks on English Language and Communication. Rosemary is the author of over twenty published novels including the ten historical crime novels in the Libertus series, starting with the highly praised ‘Germanicus Mosaic’. She has also written two prize-winning plays. Rosemary is an examiner for Trinity College London, specialising in English Language, Speech and Drama. Her novels have been translated into several languages and appear in large print and audio editions. Rosemary has had many years experience in tutoring adults. She ran the Quiller postal writing course for 15 years, has been a regular tutor on fiction workshops for various bodies, has run short story and non-fiction workshops, and is the author of 'Writing a Novel: A practical Guide', a hand-book published by the Crowood Press has been acclaimed as “offering exceptional insights and inspiration”. Many of Rosemary’s students are now successfully published authors.
For more information and a booking form please call Business Relations on 01326 370444 or email business@falmouth.ac.uk.
A new play by Susan Hawkes. Walberswick 1930's, Eric Blair is fighting his demons and dreaming of becoming a writer Walberswick 2008 A boy on the run believes he has a destiny to fulfil Orwell's visions - but will Big Brother find him first. Set in the most haunted village in England, this is an atmospheric play about life, love and CCTV.
This is also being performed at The Bell Walberswick and at The Swan Southwold on 17th and 18th March respectively.
Interested? Then why not join us at one of our meetings?
We meet on the First and Third Tuesday of each month at the Felixstowe Library in Crescent Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BY., meetings start at 7.30 pm and we endeavour to be finished by 10pm.
The New!2009 programme is:-
All meetings are held at Felixstowe Library
Start at 7.30 pm and finish by 10.00 pm.
Suggested 50 pence donation per meeting, includes tea or coffee
January
20 Bill Budner Trophy – Anonymous competition for attending writers only
24 Social meal at Castle Lodge Hotel
25 Group session with Maureen Blundell at Castle Lodge Hotel
February
3 Meeting
17 Meeting
March
3 Meeting
17 Creative writing exercise
April
7 Meeting
21 Meeting
May
5 Meeting
19 Bill Budner Trophy – Anonymous competition for attending writers only
June
2 Meeting
16 Meeting
Beach Party Social to be arranged June/July
July
7 Meeting
21 Creative writing exercise
August
4 Meeting
18 Meeting
September
1 Meeting
15 Bill Budner Trophy – Anonymous competition for attending writers only
October
6 Meeting
20 Torchlight Halloween Meeting
November
3 Meeting
17 Meeting
December
1 Meeting
15 Creative writing exercise followed by the Christmas party.
Remember, membership is FREE, so why not come along? We ask for an optional donation of 50p per meeting to help towards running costs but that does include tea or coffee and a biscuit!
New!IMPORTANT - you can help.....do you know information or content that would help other readers of the Felixstowe Scribblers Weblog?...mail us at Dave Feakes, scribblers@btinternet.com with your comments, additions and suggestions TA! The Scribblers.
Sponsored Links
The Felixstowe Scribblers are an initiative created with the support of Suffolk County Council to help, support and encourage writers living in Suffolk.
- Congratulations to Rochelle whose new book is due out on 1st May. A short brief is included on the publishers website where advance orders are being taken. Go to http://www.andborough.com
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