Cleckheaton Writers Group minutes, meeting 19 August 2024

Cleckheaton Writers Group (CWG) met on Monday 19 August 2024 at 5.30-7pm in Cleckheaton Library, Ellie, Karen, Mollie and Reuben in attendance, Kathy and David having passed on their apologies.

The previous minutes were passed after a small alteration to the date.

WIP updates: Karen helped a fellow writer out with a MS appraisal, attended the 2024 RNA Conference with three 1-2-1s leading to 2 full MS requests, and she has been going over the MSs for submitting. Ellie wrote some sketches for IPM casting agency. Molly wrote a Summer poem for the theme which she brought to share but has not made progress on a short story. She has signed up for the Beth Kempton course Summer Light (if interested in details of this course, please contact Molly). Reuben has written a Vanessa chapter then editing a chunk back into his WIP.

CW comps/workshops/events: Magma Poetry Pamphlet competition Magma open poetry pamphlet competition 2024 - Magma Poetry and holistic writing class for women* https://nadiacolburn.com/free-holistic-writing-class/   National Poetry Competition that Michelle mentioned.  Submission deadline is 31 October 2024.  1^st prize is £5,000, first entry costs £8, subsequent entries are £5.  Any theme. Anna Chilvers writing courses (see agenda for full details or contact Karen), Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival 18-22 September: https://budlitfest.org.uk/, Birmingham Literature Festival 28 September - 19 October https://www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org/, Beth Kempton Summer Light (self paced) information on FB or Insta, 10 week creative writing course Bradford Libraries September 2024, Write Your Novel Course 6 weeks Shipley Library 19 September and Bradford Open Mic 4 September (see Karen's blog post on 19 August for full details)

Writing plans: Karen will be going through the two MSs she had full requests for, then editing her crime WIP. Reuben will finish the Vanessa chapter. Molly might try and work on the short story with the plot plan she has prepared. Ellie will be writing something. 

Feedback Sessions: Molly shared her Late Summer Far From Over poem which was inspired by a dog walk in Scotland and written for the CWG writing challenge theme. The scattered deer were evocative and the poem was well received, with a couple of members suggesting changes after reading it themselves from a print out Molly had prepared. Ellie shared two pieces in script format that she had written back to back: This is a Respectable Street was well received as a black comedy with a unique twist. The second piece was tweaked by Ellie and about Two Horrible Nights.

There was a discussion on useful writing workshops at the recent RNA conference Karen attended and around good (and not so good) TV and films: Summerhouses, Top Boy and The Room.

The next meeting will take place on Monday 16 September at Cleckheaton Library. New members always welcome.