Cleckheaton Writers Group meeting, Monday 2 October 2023

Cleckheaton Writers Group (CWG) met at 5.30pm on Monday 2 October at Cleckheaton Library with Gemma, Karen, Michelle and Molly in attendance, Alice, Cassie, Kathy and Paul having passed on their apologies.

Michelle was introduced to new member Molly and they each discussed their writing background.

The minutes from the last meeting were passed.

CW comps/workshops/events: NWN Prototype Award opens 12/9 (deadline 23 Oct) and Hachette Children’s Award opens 26 October (deadline 8 Jan), CBC Gillian McAllister novel-writing (deadline 29 Oct), CBC John Le Carre Scholarship (deadline 29 Oct), Birmingham Literature Festival (Karen has brochure), Prima magazine competition, 1k words and the Lancaster Lit event online (Gemma has the details for this)

Writing plans: Karen has entered The Pallbearer into Case Closed comp via submittable (find out Dec), Applied for First Break Screen Yorkshire opportunity*missed deadline but forwarded info to Bradford Screen Skills, Applied for Screen Skills York opportunity, Small new sections for Burning for You 124 words, Applied for Industry Transfer for Screen Academy, Bradford, Worked on Christmas Evie as a script, Worked on Space Cake Script, Attended Dream Author Zoom with Sophie Hannah, Bev Evans: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit that Lasts, Edited chapters 10-12 Christmas Evie and sent to her editor Cassiel, reviewed and gave Henri feedback on her first 3 chapters of Killing Your Darlings novel, Submitted Burning for You to Jamie at Valley Press, Entered Space Cake into C4 screenwriting course opportunity (12 writers find out mid December) plus written logline 50 words and Entered The Pallbearer into the Writers and Artists Working Class Writers Prize. Molly has written a dribble, a drabble and has come up with an idea to write a microfiction group of five little semi-autobiographical stories with the theme of a thousand days in Prague. Gemma has been researching books about being Victorian.

Feedback sessions: Karen shared her 50 word logline for Space Cake, her entry into the C4 Screenwriting course opportunity, which intrigued the members who wanted to know more. Molly shared her dribble and drabble. The Locket was intriguing and could have so many interpretations. Molly agreed to send this to Karen for the prospective CWG anthology. The drabbles about a drowning dream and a tic tac job were kafkha-esque and led to a discussion about the woman in the wall.

Karen agreed to send the link for the free Open University courses to Michelle and Molly talked about the Sculpture Park.

Writing plans: Karen will be editing. Michelle will write a drabble on the October theme. Gemma will conduct more research. Molly will be working on the five stories.

Writing challenge: Black History Month October theme

The next meeting will take place on Monday 16 October at 5.30pm at Cleckheaton Library