04 September 2013

Record of meeting 4 September 2013


Present

David R, Jo, Leonie, Robyn, Jenny, Helene, Cath, David C

 
News

Jo dressed for spring today and in a blue and green theme, Leonie had good news from the eye specialist and went to Kangaroo Valley, sadly her aunt died in Victoria, Robyn unpacked her last box and has given away lots of stuff, Cath has been enjoying the weather and gardening, David R is walking 10 km per day, Helene went to see “the way, way back” at the movies, Jenny’s daughter and son in law visited at the weekend and David C found an Elmore Leonard book of short stories at the tip.

 
Words of the day

Juxtapose – close together, contrasting

Nadir – the place or time of deepest depression, lowest point

Suave – charming, smooth

Ludicrous – absurd, ridiculous

Bemoan – lament

Succinct – briefly and clearly expressed

Spleen – body organ, spite, pique,

Megalith – a huge stone used in ancient monuments

 
Writing from words of the day

We wrote a great bunch of stories - False friends, A visit to the dietician, On the stage, Seemed to have everything, Lamenting the past, The bunk beds and Steinbeck and Charley.

 
Reading of homework

David C – The sons of the father, Leonie – the blood test for cancer, Robyn – a parable a religious magical play, Garry – Home and away,  Helene – a modern play of the three rings.

 
Other reading

David R read two of his poems Free fall and Deceptive intentions.

Helene read her story Trees – based on the mispronunciation of the word three.

David C read “The cat walk” by Mary Jones from the Victorian FAW publication.

 
Discussion

Robyn brought in the software "Write your own novel" the group has purchased. We will ask Trevor our IT Guru to advise how to install and use the program.

Jenny proposed the group subscribe to the Victorian FAW publication and that we subsidises entries to competitions.

We also discussed membership numbers and reiterated the decision to divide the group for a meeting if we have too many people attending on a particular day.

 
Exercise

Jo gave us a test of words and we used those words to write stories about attitudes, waffle, looking at the sky, communication from 40 years ago, working at the Mint, travelling the coast, Too many beans and Going off the rails.

 
Homework

Show and tell - write about a favourite item, bring that item to the meeting and read your story.

 

 

 

02 September 2013

Writing competitions August to November 2013



30 August | Boroondara Literary Awards (VIC)

31 August | Scarlett Stiletto awards

6 September| Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award (ACT)

1 November | Margaret River Short Story Competition (WA)

15 November | EJ BRADY Mallacoota Prize - Short Story competition (VIC) 30 November | Blackened Billy Verse Competition

For details & links see News & Events column, Arts in Shoalhaven

(http://www.arts.shoalhaven.net.au/NewsEvents.html)