Record of meeting 19 December 2018

The writers

Helene, Pat, Terry Apologies Trevor, Pauline

First meeting in 2019

The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 9 January 2019. We will discuss preferences for a venue in 2019. Please attend the meeting if you are interested in this topic.

The words of the day

Sate – fully satisfy

Mille fleur - a thousand flowers

Rummer – large drinking glass

Cornucopia – an abundant supply

Salicin – bitter crystalline substance obtained from willow bark

Elixir – a magical or medicinal potion, a particular type of medicinal solution

Writing from words of the day

The three writers were satisfied as they wrote about - My beauty receptors, I brewed the elixir and drunk he was.

Reading of homework

The writers did not fully embrace the fan fiction technique and wrote about - Keep the fan fanning, Dracula & the stake and Little Red Riding Hood.

Exercise What’s the matter with Juliet

The writers investigated the topic and wrote stories and poems about - Not my kind of person, Kicking the dog and Something that she ate.

Homework

Let’s try fan fiction again. As a fan rewrite your favourite story featuring characters from a particular TV series, film etc

Record of meeting 12 December 2018

The writers

Helene, Pat, Terry, Pauline and welcome to Emily

Meetings over Christmas and New Year

We plan to have our last meeting for the year on 19 Dec 2018 and start back on 9 January 2019.

The words of the day

Ell – an old measure 45 inches

Malign – speak ill of someone

Fleek – perfectly groomed eye brows

Plagiarize – publish a borrowed thought

Shenanigator – a person who investigates shenanigans

Writing from words of the day

The writers did not malign as they wrote stories - I am a Shenanigator, I used my binoculars, Another one, Only four feet tall and The ACC.

Reading of homework

The writers read out homework on the topics - The minimalist Christmas, Cyril had a dirty tie, Christmas day in Vincentia, Baker girl foils a cake shop robbery and A dark dog on a dark night in the Piazza.

Exercise – A hold up at McDonalds

The writers used this topic to write about - Santa visits McDonald, Not going to plan, Chaotic but beautiful, Safety at McDonalds and He rarely had a shower.

Exercise – an object that symbolises your life

The writers had a variety of items symbolising their lives - I would rather write than learn, Things left behind in the UK, A wonderful machine, the mobile phone and a magnifying glass.

Homework -Fan fiction

As a fan rewrite your favourite story featuring characters from a particular TV series, film, book etc

Record of meeting 5 December 2018

The writers

Helene, Pauline, Trevor. Apologies Terry, Pat, Fran

Meetings over Christmas and New Year

We plan to have meetings on 12 Dec, 19 Dec 2018 and starting back on 9 January 2019.

The words of the day

Levity – light hearted

Merry – cheerful and lively

Tribunal – a body to settle disputes

Scrambling – climbing and altering a message

Leucocytes – white or colourless blood cells

Bullroarer – rhombus or ancient musical instrument

Using a bullroarer

Aboriginal bullroarer

Writing from words of the day

The triumvirate of writers were merry as they scrambled and wrote about - Through the mountains, In the children’s ward and red blood was running.

Reading of homework

The three writers read homework about - A visit to Sydney, Shapes in the square and A three month back packing trip.

Exercise – I caught Santa doing ………

The writers created stories about - Santa was filling his bag with our toys, Santa was using a bullroarer and Santa was a shoplifting.

Exercise – a sigh

The writers sighed as they wrote about - Churchill memories, He sighed many times and Call the ambulance now or wait.

Homework

Christmas – love it or hate it - Write another chapter of your novel or poem for your publication

Record of meeting 28 November 2018

The writers

Pat, Helene, Fran and Pauline - Apologies from Terry and Trevor

Overland Poetry $9,000 and Short Story $5,000 competitions

Last weekend to enter the Overland competitions closes 11.59 am Monday 3 December 2018

Meetings over Christmas and New Year

The writers discussed availability to attend meetings in December 2018. We have the following dates possibly available for meetings - 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec and starting back on 9 January 2019.

The words of the day

The writers used a lot of words – too many to record

Reading of homework

The writers talked about stories set in a piazza (village square) and other important topics.

Homework

Continue working on your piazza square story or holiday diary.

Meeting 21 November 2018

The meeting scheduled for Wednesday 21 November 2018 was not held.

Next meeting scheduled for 1 pm Wednesday 28 November 2018, Vincentia Golf Club, Murray Street, Vincentia.

Phone or text Helene on 0418 601 451 for further details and if you plan to attend.

Record of meeting 14 November 2018

The writers

Pauline, Pat, Helene, Trevor, Terry, Fran and welcome back to David C visiting from Queensland

The words of the day

Peculation – embezzle

Rumour – report, story, gossip

Friction – rubbing of two bodies together

Scaramouch – buffoon or boastful coward

Quirky – peculiar or unexpected traits or aspects

Affable – friendly, good natured or easy to talk to

Sequatious – following with smooth or logical regularity

Writing from words of the day

The writers peculated the words of the day and created stories on the topics - I do not cast aspersions, The extra éclair, My Fly buy subscription, The rotund man, Into the jail, I have an uncle and A never ending supply of caps.

Reading of homework

The writers told and read out stories about - Q equals HR squared, I have a little Queen, I saw three Queens together, Jai the hero in a bush fire, From a London Girl, I stayed in Queanbeyan and The door was closed.

Christmas lunch 2018

12 noon - Tuesday 20 November 2018, Vincentia Golf Club Restaurant. Past and present members welcome.  Choose and pay for your own lunch.

Exercise – Over the fence

The writers looked over the fence and wrote about Lusting after a spa party, Children started to play, And far away, Upsets my stomach, He talks to the birds, Chicken bones and Six and out.

Discussion of Pats story

Pat read two versions of the start of her story “Other places we can go” and the other writers gave feedback.

Homework

A story or poem set in a piazza (village square)

Record of meeting 7 November 2018

The writers

Jenny, Helene, Trevor, Terry

The words of the day

Timorous – fearful

Meandering – following a wandering course

Ossature – a skeleton or underlying framework

Eclectic – from a broad and diverse range of sources

Random – made, done or happening without method

Curry favour – ingratiate oneself through obsequious behaviour

Martyrdom – display of pretended exaggerated suffering to obtain sympathy

Writing from words of the day

The writers did not meander and were not timid when they wrote about -

The attack, The same parents, For dummies and The new tourist guide.

Reading of homework

The writers read out homework about - It’s just a phase, Show and tell, She couldn’t see his number, Fran told me to, and I want to be an Uber driver.

Exercise – A cockroach who is afraid of the dark

The writers scurried around like cockroaches in the Golf club and wrote about the runt of the litter, She tried to squash me in the corner, Big and strong and Craig Roach and the swarm of cockroaches.

Homework

Queen

Record of meeting 31 October 2018

The writers

Helene, Pauline, Trevor, Fran. Apologies from Terry.

The words of the day

Agonal – gasping

Souse – to plunge in liquid

Galoshes – waterproof overshoes, gumshoes

Supercilious – behaving or looking as if superior to others

Revamp – new and improved form, structure or appearance

Halloween – day before all saints day masks worn to scare away spirits

Sourdough – a fermented raising agent saving from the previous baking

Writing from words of the day

The writers swished around and produced stories about in hospital, play dough, Standing in the swamp and Mid Summer nights dream.

Reading of homework

Three writers playfully read out their home work about Toy policy, Books more than toys and So much going on.

Exercise – the words on your tombstone

The writers grappled with the concept and wrote about I like to be organised, Wait until I finish the row, May she rest in peace and Worked hard.

Exercise – The wedding

The writers happily embraced the wedding theme and wrote about The posh Frock shop, She looked under the doona, I kept putting it off (including singing of an ELO song) and I love watching the Royal weddings.

Homework

A taxi or Uber ride

27 October 2018

The writers

Trevor, Fiona, Terry, Helene

Terry, Helene, Trevor

The scrabble players

Margaret, Adrian, Helene

The writers and Scrabble players set up a combined stall at the Spring into Sanctuary Point event on Saturday 27October 2018.

Exercises

We created a sign from materials provided by the organisers and other stall holders.

We spoke to a number of visitors and handed out information about the groups and meeting details. Terry was interviewed by the local community radio station.

We also took pictures of Terry’s with the Alpaca and Fiona Phillips the candidate for Gilmore.

We participated in the community spirit and friendship.

Record of meeting 24 October 2018

The writers

Helene, Terry, Pauline, Fran, welcome back to Jenny and welcome to Brian

The words of the day

Slimsy -frail

Repudiated – to refuse to accept

Appellation – a name or designation

Passionate – strong feelings or beliefs

Agog – eager, full of intense interest or excitement

Esoteric – likely to be understood by a few people, obscure

Advocate – publicly support a cause or put a case on behalf of someone else

Writing from words of the day

Five writers used the words of the day and wrote about - Robotics, I sat in the window, She was frail, Peace and On the Barrier Reef.

Reading of homework

Five writers read homework about - With my pinkie, A pink car and pink ham, Pink walls, Six million dollars and The setting sun.

Exercise – use the words Jewell, eye, four

The writers eyed each other and wrote about - A model for Vogue, The fourth of July, Eyes hidden from the world, Her eyes were like jewels and Nappies to embrace.

Exercise – the visitor

The writers welcomed the topic and wrote about - Hardly ever get a visitor, Camouflaged in the dark, A lonely young man, Moving to Alaska and A mesmerising voice.

Homework

The toy

Meeting 17 October 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor, Terry, Fran

The words of the day

Nether – lower or under

Dubbo – red earth or idiot

Ermine – expensive white fur from a stoat (weasel)

Stoat, weasel - Ermine

Trend – a general direction of development

Partisan – strong supporter of a party or cause

Termagant – harsh tempered or overbearing woman

Piazza – public square or marketplace especially an Italian town

Weasel words – statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading

Writing from words of the day

The writers took the words of the day and wrote about - Please explain, Meaghan in Dubbo, The wife of the PM and By the lake.

Reading of homework

The writers read out stories about - Six million dollars, We will remember them, Kameruka and In Thailand.

Spring into Spring in Sanctuary Point

The group will hold a stall at the above event on Saturday 27 October 2018. We want to publicise our group and will need volunteers for the day. Further discussions next week.

Homework

Pink

Record of meeting 10 October 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor, Terry, Fran, and apologies from Pauline

The words of the day

Leery – cautious

Tinder – kindling

Ineluctable – inescapable

Belligerent – eager to fight

Rambunctious – wildly boisterous

Praline – a chocolate candy with a filling

Misanthrope – a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society

Writing from words of the day

The writers used the words of the day to write about - The former Boy Scout, Mother of the groom, Donald is a goose and Joined the dating scene.

Reading of homework

The four writers read out stories about - Murder by the double, Mike and Steve, Blood dripped from his nose and Identical hair styles.

Exercise –Happiness

The writers cheerfully wrote about - A happy rabbit, Self esteem, Empire day and A sunny morning.

Exercise - one thing you can change right away

The writers wrote about - I’ve had enough, On his game, The final answer and Magic weeding wand.

Homework

Setting sun 

Record of meeting 26 September 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor, Terry, Fran, Pauline

The words of the day

Albeit – although                                                 

Nobble – persuade, influence

Pathos – evokes pity or sadness

Abby – cloister, monastery, convent

Secrete – to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Glade – an open space surrounded by woods

Tautology – saying the same thing twice

Ranunculus – large group of herb plants

Writing from words of the day

The writers were not nobbled and wrote about - Liberal party funds, A good job, by the sea, In an Abby garden and Vegetarian cooking.

Reading of homework

Four writers read out homework on the topics - Battles with beasts in Rome, Eye lash perming, Getting ripped off and Beautiful blonde curls.

Exercise – Not to burst your bubble

The writers used an old neighbour, an overused expression, a physical attribute and personality trait and wrote about - On the insular peninsula, The envy of your friends, Fairy dust, 110% dangerous and At the airport.

Exercise – leap of faith

The writers took a leap of faith and wrote about Garden leaves, 12 boys in danger, When I hit the greens, Gold fell from heaven and He had to do it.

Homework

Investigate the discovery on a bush track of a shoe splattered with blood. 

Record of meeting 19 September 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor, Pat, Fran and Pauline and apologies from Terry

The words of the day

Psychosis – disconnection from reality

Ruminating – think deeply about something

Insidious – treacherous, proceeding secretly,

Crankle – turns and bends, to change the angle 

Inviolate – free from attack or disturbance

Writing from words of the day

The five writers wrote about – a shooting in Queanbeyan, Why I became a social worker, The Royal Commission into Aged Care, I hope it’s not catching and A long loaf of bread.

Reading of homework

Four writers read out clock related stories about – Cold Play on clocks, It’s dark in this box, Probably with baggage and Fifi loves clocks.

Exercise – your sports coach or the clock was ticking

The five writers shared memories and imagination with stories of - My hockey coach, London is changing, My PE teacher, My kitchen rules and Boot camp.

Exercise – I hung up on him twice

The writers happily embraced the role of a nurse and wrote about - He was allergic to peanut butter, The hacking cough, A huge bunch of roses, Allergic to shell fish and This place makes me crazy.

Homework

Write about three curly haired people and start with “It’s been said that blondes have more fun”.

Record of meeting 12 September 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor, Pat, Fran and Pauline and apologies from Terry

The words of the day

Ascorbic acid – Vitamin C

Culpable – deserving blame

Moral – ethical, good decent

Wedged – force into a narrow space

Ornament – something used for decoration

Acerbic – sharp and forthright way of speaking

Morphology – study of form, structure eg biology

Morpheme – smallest unit of meaning in a language eg word

Palpable – so intense as to seem tangible, able to touched or felt

Loop hole – an ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or set of rules or an arrow slit in a wall

Writing from words of the day

The writers wrote palpably about - Blood on the sand, Professor Peter – Orange man, Too seriously, Memories of lavender and So much has happened.

Reading of homework

Four writers read out crime stories about - Tom’s travel companions, Bianca, The explosion and Ode to M Beaton.

Exercise – The perfect plan

Juan emailed his crime story the Perfect Plan asking us to find forensic type mistakes in the story. Fran read out the crime story and the writers identified around 14 mistakes.

Exercise – Setting for a crime

The writers each created a crime scene as follows - The TV was on, Umbrella on the roof, Always a cliché, The waterfall and More mistakes.

Homework

Write a story or poem including a clock.

Big ben

Meeting 5th Sept 2018

Attending...Terry, Pat, Fran, Trevor....Apology from Helene

Words.
Parry..............       ward off
Qualm........           uneasiness, misgiving
Misnomer...          incorrect use of a name...eg French fries are actually Belgian fries and your "funny        
                             bone"
                             isn't actually a bone but a nerve as opposed to a malapropism which is replacing a
                            word with an incorrect one that sounds the same but is not. e.g. the boon on a yacht
                            is actually the boom, the mask is actually the mast.
Patronise...........belittle, demean
Contemporary...current
Derogatory........a put-down, compromising someone's dignity

As usual a range of subjects using these words

Homework.
Homework read by Pat, Trevor and Terry and Terry read Helene's contribution. All related to the
"Crime Noir" genre.
We discussed Helene's suggestion that if people don't want to write crime then they can do whatever they wanted. We agreed that selecting a particular genre, as we have done, allows us to focus better.

Homework.
Continuation of short stories in the "Crime noir" genre.

Record of meeting 29 August 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor, Pat and Terry.  Apologies Pauline

The words of the day

Germane – relevant

Nefarious – wicked or criminal

Chamois – small European Antelope

Chamfer – grove or channel cut on an edge

Mugwump – an aloof or independent person

Bagatelle – something of little value or importance

Jabot – Frill or ruffle at the front of a shirt or blouse

Exoplanet – a planet which orbits a star outside our solar system

Writing from words of the day

The writers wickedly used the words of the day to write about - No religion please, I was hunting, In the Pyrenees Mountains and Scandals in Parliament House.

Reading of homework

The writers were not afraid to readout stories about - A dark flash, Winter is with us, Dancing shadows and Shadows are my friends.

Exercise – Breath holding champion

The writers held their breaths while writing about - Free diving, The Guinness book of Records, Next to the WC and He always was political.

Exercise – the secret to a successful life

The writers concluded the secrets to a successful life are - Stick up for yourself, Bubbling with energy, Vivid imagination and Be tough.

Homework

Write the outline or a short story of crime noir. Pat has proposed we publish an anthology of crime – submissions welcome from past, lapsed and present members. 

Record of meeting 22 August 2018

The writers

Helene, Trevor and Pat met in the sunshine on the deck of the Vincentia Golf Club.

Apologies from Terry

The words of the day

Gyre – short for gyration

Gyve – to fetter (captive, bind)

Relish – flavour taste or enjoy

Scurrilous – making or spreading scandalous claims about someone

Misanthrope – a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society

Writing from words of the day

The writers relished the challenge and wrote about - Too much gyration, The budgie smuggler and The Catholic Church.

Reading of homework

Two musically gifted writers wrote songs about - I have MAD and The lady in white

Exercise - a body in the gutter

The writers used their gruesome imaginations and wrote about - In the laneway, Is it a trap? and A beautiful necklace.

Exercise – No bull

The writers grabbed the bull by the horns and wrote about short skirts, Buy me drinks and have olive skin.

Exercise – a visit to Collingwood beach

Homework

Shadows don’t scare me

Record of meeting 15 August 2018

The writers

Terry, Helene, Trevor and Pauline

Farewell to Garry who is returning to Malaysia for another couple of years

The words of the day

Pervert – lead astray

Copacetic - In excellent order

Offshoring – outsourcing off shore

Nocturne – dreamy musical piece

Umami – a savoury taste from Japanese delicious

Patronymic – family name derived from the name of the father

Kahuna – Hawaiian word, defined as a priest, sorcerer, magician, wizard, minister, expert

Writing from words of the day

The writers wrote in a dreamy way on the topics - Made the call, Take a turn, I am sick of the word pervert and I waited in a queue.

Reading of homework

Terry read out - The enriching fire written Juan – it was an interesting story about the importance of maintaining a group.  

The other writers wrote about Angel 732, Lost in the City to Surf, School holidays again and How to make a fortune while waiting in traffic.

Exercise - Sometimes things just

The writers created two of each of the following - characters, body of water, flowers and foods. The writers then created a story with those characters and other items. The stories included - Hugh Grant, Movie in the Marina, Marigold Pie and Tulips on the Thames.

Exercise – a visit from your friend’s father

The writers wrote about - Comedy interrupted, The mystery visitor, Look at the face and A weathered leathery face.

Homework

Write the lyrics of a song or a story about writing a song.