Although this week's meeting was a hot pen, 20 members still attended.
Nik presented a number of apologies from members and advised on several magazines recently received. One magazine that the group subscribes to, "Telling Tales", has folded and we hope to receive a refund of our subscription shortly.
Today's subject, chosen at random, was "Woman".
Chris's account of a bar room fracas and its effect on the remaining customers was quite compelling.
Anne F told of a woman's obsession to become an intellectual until she saw the light and settled for a more mundane routine.
Mary M's story of a woman shopper planting a bomb brought memories of Baghdad and Belfast.
Jane gave us a mild rant on a TV programme about woman giving birth to a child and the pressures under which the woman was put.
Pat's very short but very amusing poem about a female tennis superstar had everyone imagining Billie Jean King.
Alan's piece was a short history of woman in the Bible and the origin of their names.
Gerry told the story of an attempted street mugging where the victim was saved by a woman who had a black belt in judo.
Nan's effort was about family life and a conflict of conscience.
Stan related a nostalgic tale of a meeting a woman at the Palais de Danse. Very 50s/60s.
Autobographical? Nan says "No!"
Nik's tale was of a private detective being warned that he was about to be murdered. The warning came from the murderer's wife.
Maureen narrated a piece about a journey in South America and of a woman she encountered there.
Norma told the story of neighbours and in particular, Juanita and her outlook on life.
TJ started by apologising as his effort was about the chairman of a writer's circle and the choosing of the word "woman" as a hot pen. Sounded like inside information!
Glyn gave us a study of women from a man's point of view highlighting both their attributes and faults.
Heinke's usual "off-the-wall" narrative was about packaging and in particular a woman's effort to open a packet of firelighters.
Ian related what could be the opening of a longer piece about the discovery of a woman's body bricked up in the walls of a church partially destroyed in an earthquake.
Jenny gave us thoughts and regrets of being a woman.
Mary K's poem told of seeing a beautiful woman who turned out to be a drag queen.
Ann B's account of a TV interview with a sex change individual was most graphic and illuninating.
After these readings, there was still a little time left so Stan read a true story of his days working at the pits and in particular one of those incidents where there is a chance encounter with ...what? This was X-Files stuff.
As Norma will not be here next week, she told her very visual and true story of attending Buckingham Palace at her husband's investiture ceremony.
A really mixed bag of enjoyable contributions this week. But that's what you get from a hot pen.
- Ian
Showing posts with label Dragon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dragon. Show all posts
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Cavalry, crime and conflict
Meeting of 5 August
Only 6 attendees this time, plenty of apologies – domestic disasters and family visits, among them. It’s hot out there!
We had a general discussion about taking onboard comments and learning from any criticism. Bottom line is, if you haven’t got a thick skin – to face rejection, for example – then you’d better spent your time on other pursuits.
Ashes to ashes
Ann began with an amusing anecdote concerning her family and the spreading of a deceased’s ashes. This engendered many similar reminiscences.
Lure, not lurid
Mary K gave us a clever and amusing poem on the lure of the pen and how she looks forward to these weekly sessions. She apologised for not writing any sleaze for a while…
Cavalry trill
Gerry read out an 1870s tale about Joel and how he grew up outside Boston and finally joined the US Cavalry. Told from the omniscient point of view, it worked well but requires more emotion and detail to place the reader in that time and place. Put more emphasis on the particular rather than the general.
Criminal intent
Nik read out the beginning of his novel The Dragon Tree rewrite, concerning illegal immigration in Tenerife. Many illegals work for a pittance in those massive agricultural tents. Excerpt illustrates controlled switching of point of view in the narrative.
Training for the army
Glynn offered up a rewrite of first chapter of his Joining the Army novel. Starts with his train journey, leaving hearth and home. Great descriptions, as usual, with more characterisation of the narrator this time around. A few things still to tweak, notably story logic/chronology. Still, it’s shaping up very well.
Base character in basement
Heather, our new recruit, began reading her long short story about East/West and it had all of us intrigued. A neat twist, too, concerning the main character’s viewpoint. We’re all waiting to hear more.
A house is a home
Finally, Brenda presented an interesting exercise about the house and the home, two pieces concerning the same building but from two different perspectives. The family buying the house and then the final leave-taking of the place, using smells to evoke memories. Well conceived. And fancy that, an attic and a diary figured in the story!
Nik
Only 6 attendees this time, plenty of apologies – domestic disasters and family visits, among them. It’s hot out there!
We had a general discussion about taking onboard comments and learning from any criticism. Bottom line is, if you haven’t got a thick skin – to face rejection, for example – then you’d better spent your time on other pursuits.
Ashes to ashes
Ann began with an amusing anecdote concerning her family and the spreading of a deceased’s ashes. This engendered many similar reminiscences.
Lure, not lurid
Mary K gave us a clever and amusing poem on the lure of the pen and how she looks forward to these weekly sessions. She apologised for not writing any sleaze for a while…
Cavalry trill
Gerry read out an 1870s tale about Joel and how he grew up outside Boston and finally joined the US Cavalry. Told from the omniscient point of view, it worked well but requires more emotion and detail to place the reader in that time and place. Put more emphasis on the particular rather than the general.
Criminal intent
Nik read out the beginning of his novel The Dragon Tree rewrite, concerning illegal immigration in Tenerife. Many illegals work for a pittance in those massive agricultural tents. Excerpt illustrates controlled switching of point of view in the narrative.
Training for the army
Glynn offered up a rewrite of first chapter of his Joining the Army novel. Starts with his train journey, leaving hearth and home. Great descriptions, as usual, with more characterisation of the narrator this time around. A few things still to tweak, notably story logic/chronology. Still, it’s shaping up very well.
Base character in basement
Heather, our new recruit, began reading her long short story about East/West and it had all of us intrigued. A neat twist, too, concerning the main character’s viewpoint. We’re all waiting to hear more.
A house is a home
Finally, Brenda presented an interesting exercise about the house and the home, two pieces concerning the same building but from two different perspectives. The family buying the house and then the final leave-taking of the place, using smells to evoke memories. Well conceived. And fancy that, an attic and a diary figured in the story!
Nik
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)