Sunday, 4 February 2024

Cleckheaton Writers Group minutes, meeting 22 January 2024

Cleckheaton Writers Group (CWG) met on Monday 22 January with Jack, Reuben, Karen, Molly, Kathy and potential new member Lucas in attendance, Michelle having passed on her apologies.

CWG members introduced themselves and their writing practice, and Lucas shared his writing history.

The minutes of the last meeting were passed.

WIP updates: Karen has been editing her sequel to Christmas Evie and has written a new poem on the January theme of intentions/new beginnings. Molly has been taking part int he Winter Writing Sanctuary course and started a Calderdale and Kirklees Wellbeing and Recover College one online with FB prompts. Jack has been reading which he feels helps his writing and has got to a part in his WIP with the champions and a sideline to distract from the Tournament of Affiliation. He has googled monster concept art and shared his Instagram details with members. Reuben has written the first draft of an epilogue on his WIP to be reviewed, chapter one edits and with prologue, chapter two is provisionally finished. He has had an idea to split chapter two and chapter five but he is not sure (happy WIP pending) man in black and wrote one more chapter and drafted two more. Kathy worked on a January new beginnings poem and been looking at her Detective story (Book Puppet) and edited Tobias. This led to a discussion on the book Engleby with an unreliable narrator.

CW comps/workshops/events: Mark Connors (who you can find on Facebook) is running both a course and a workshop in January via his Yaffle’s Nest. The What is Prose Poetry course starts Monday 15 January between 6.30pm and 9pm and there are only a few places left (message Mark or Gill Connors on Facebook if interested). The workshop Poetry Competition Tips is on Wednesday 17 January from 6.30-9pm and costs £20 and again, please contact Mark or Gill if interested as places usually sell out. FREE to enter Wergle Flomp Poetry Contest (see Karen’s blog 21/1/24). People's Friend short story competition, 2k words, deadline 5 February.

Writing plans: Molly will be expressive writing with the Wellbeing College and WWS with Beth Kempton Publishing, 5 day free course on FB, Wabisabi 15 writing prompts. Jack to get the first draft done- procrastination - and plan out the tournament and battle scenes. Reuben Man in black chapter to finish and chapter two/five and then a Justine chapter. Lucas written a few chapters of the book, to write 1 chapter each per POV and bring to read some, write story structure and key chapters (plot plan). Kathy to work on Book Puppet and splurge more of that. Karen to edit more of the sequel.

Feedback sessions: Kathy shared her new beginnings poem which had some great Americanisms, new me but in a writerly way. Members felt it was perfect with what she was previously saying about Book Puppet - I can't ditch my faults because the year's simply changed. Jack share the lead up to the tournament (preparations, salutations and negotiations). Members felt there was a good use of backstory without making it obvious as it was an historically important conversation between characters with great gore and interesting 'familiars.' The led to a discussion on natural dialogue and situation - Zara Baglin. This also led to Reuben coming up with a solution to his chapter two and five fix idea (chekov's gun conversation), for two pages rather than four or longer, with backstory dialogue between two characters catching up.

Writing challenge: Love/Valentine's.

Date of next meeting: Monday 5 February, 5.30pm











 January new beginning writing challenge:

New beginnings

 

Would you lie to Santa?

Tell him he is fat

That all he does for others

Never meant all that

 

Speak to his elves

One by one behind his back

Try take all his presents

To put in your own sack

 

Make him think his sleigh’s broken

Feed his reindeer trash

Walk unchecked in his workshop

Find his oldest tools and smash

 

Then cry when he finally finds out

When access is denied

Know friendship works two ways

And kindness stronger than lies

 

Please always remember

For it’s undeniably true

Santa isn’t real

And neither were you


No comments:

Post a Comment