Sunday 5^th June 2011 11am – 1pm

Stockport Art Gallery

Wellington Road South

Stockport

1. Welcome

Attendees:

Nigel

Muriel

Linda

Meshach

Barbara

Joanne

Apologies:

Jayne

Frances

2. Any Other Business

Congratulations to Linda who has been kissed twice by Lady Good Fortune. Firstly, Linda informed us that she’s had four poems accepted for an anthology and secondly, that she’s been headhunted for a poetry recital expected to take place later this month. From all of us Linda, well done on your achievements and we wish you every success for the anthology and for the recital.

As you may be aware I’ve taken on the role of Interim Chair until September until Jayne is able to return to the group as Chair. I’d like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire group, to inform Jayne that she is in our thoughts, that we send our well wishes and that we look forward to seeing you as soon as you are able to rejoin us.

3. Prompt

The prompt, wishing on a star, was set by Nigel on 8^th May 2011. Please note that using the prompt is not compulsory and that you have the freedom to write about anything. The pieces brought in and read all contained the prompt and were:

Nigel read a poem I wish I was in the bed next door. The poem contained an adult theme and gripped its audience from its opening line to its end.

Muriel had written an article discussing Christmas cards and decorations and contained a succulent homemade Christmas recipe for how to make a wish.

Barbara read a draft story about a school boy called Donald whose father is absent from his daily life. Barbara requested feedback for her redraft, of which we gave and look forward to hearing.

Linda tantalized us with two poems: a tongue-twister Work wishes and Global warning an issue-based poem.

Meshach delivered a short story of wishes and None-wishes so that the life of the main character is able to continue on as he wished it to.

Joanne had written a Flash-Fiction story, Wishing on a star of a youth football player given the opportunity to trial for his favourite main league football team.

4. Writing and performing opportunities

Puppywolf publishes Manchester poetry. Their latest competition, the Best of Manchester Poets, has a closing date of 30^th June 2011. Poets must be aged 18+, live/perform/read poetry in Greater Manchester yet NOT submit more than two entries. Submit by:

Email to: submissions@puppywolf.co.uk

Post to: BoMP2, Submissions, Puppywolf, c/o OpenSpace, Unit 1, 41 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5RF. Include your contact details.

For Terms and Conditions and good submission advice please visit:

http://www.puppywolf.co.uk/news/?page_id=6  where you will be directed to the appropriate page.

5. Blog

Submit your pieces of work to the blog site available at: http.//stockportartgallerywritersgroup.wordpress.com

6. Wednesday Group

The next meeting will take place on 15^th June 2011 at its usual time and place.

7. Free Writing Activity

Writers chose one or more option cards from two envelopes marked Profession and Mode of Transport. These prompts were combined with a noun from one of the pictures or with an entire picture. Writers had twenty minutes to devise their creative writing piece and wrote:

Nigel chose Picture, Post Person, and Running and created a poem, Staving Eyes, about the rapidness of a postman whilst on his round.

Muriel selected Picture Desolate, Camel, and Bin Person and created a piece about what it entails to be desolate, yet how being desolate can appeal to the senses. Muriel cleverly used the camels to give visual incidents of them walking along the beach beside the promenade.

Linda used Hot air Balloon and wrote a poem containing an analogy conveyed in a light-hearted manner. I’ve not commented more as Linda wishes to redraft the poem.

Meshach chose Portrait, Tube Train, and Designer to devise a story whose character questioned his characters’ future and those of his fellow passengers of specific professions. This resulted in the character forging a new personal portrait of him.

Barbara used Actor and Roller Blades to produce a story of a family man who was not too content with his ex-wife’s escapades. However he took her absence as an opportunity to bond with his child.

Joanne selected Horse and Cart, Surgeon, Conveyor Belt, and Kite and wrote a story of Mr. Dimples, an 18^th Century a man attempting to woo a potential wife with his inventions.

8. Chair & Next Meeting

Joanne chaired the June meeting. The next meeting is on Sunday 10^th July and will be chaired by Linda. The prompt is: Wayward Daughters.

I got this from Blossom Dreams’ blog and she has given permission for me to share it.

• Your story should focus on one central idea.  Think of it like writing poetry, where you focus on only one theme.
• Are any words wasted in your story? If so, delete them.  They will not add anything to your story.
• Does every word move your story forward?
• Is your story set over a single time period?
• Has your main character identified a problem and resolved it by the end?
• Have you introduced your main character as quickly as possible?
• Have you kept additional characters to a minimum?
• Is your story written from your main character’s point of view?
• Does your story have enough dialogue?  If not, you need to add some more.
• Is any of your dialogue wasted on trivial discussions?  If so, delete it.
• Is everything said by your characters relevant to the story and does it move the story forward?  If not, why are you allowing your characters to waffle needlessly?
• Is your dialogue set out correctly?  Pick up a novel and take a look at how dialogue is presented, for guidance.
• Is your story idea original?
• Does your idea excite YOU?  If it doesn’t, how will it excite your reader?
• Is the background realistic?
• Have you provided enough information so that your reader can picture the background easily?
• Does your writing contain flowery descriptions – if so, you need to cut them down.
• Keep your descriptions brief but be as evocative with your few words as possible.
• Try to have at least one or two memorable images that will stick in your reader’s mind.
• Does your story contain conflict?  If not – you need to add some.
• Do you build up tension throughout your story?  Tension and suspense are essential ingredients for a good short story.
• Does your story have a Beginning, Middle and End?  If not, it will lack structure.
• Does your story have a satisfactory ending?  Has the problem been resolved?  If not, you will leave your reader very disappointed.

http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2011/05/26/5FreeEBooksEveryWriterNeeds.aspx?et_mid=506468&rid=3090813