Formed over forty years ago, our Writers Circle is based in Felixstowe, Suffolk. Meetings are held in The Room at the Top in Felixstowe Library, normally on the first and third Tuesday of each month commencing at 7.30pm and finishing by 10.00pm. Check this weblog for details of meetings.

There is an annual November to November fee of £30, April to November is £20 and June to November £15. For members preferring to pay at each meeting the charge is £5 per meeting. To contact Felixstowe Scribblers simply email scribblers.1@btinternet.com or the Secretary, catherine.stafford1@ntlworld.com

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Update on Les

It was nice seeing Les again, great that he was in good spirits and being his usual happy self - the life and soul of Claydon Ward! Tomorrow, Wednesday, he transfers to Papworth Hospital - the best in the country in my opinion. They will look after him well - I know that from my personal experience a couple of years ago.

Caz  visited him yesterday so he has had some friendly Scribblers faces with him during visiting hours. He said how much he enjoyed his Australian trip and felt absolutely fine until the day he arrived home. Now he is planning a comeback to the Scribblers for February 19th meeting. Now that is being positive.

Good luck Les... we all send our best wishes to you.

Dave and the Scribblers.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Our Les

Les presenting Ruth with the Bill Budner Trophy
Felixstowe Scribblers will know that our committeeman Les enjoyed a trip Down Under to see his relatives in Queensland over the Christmas period.

Since his return home to the winter chill Les has suffered a heart attack and is currently in Ipswich Hospital waiting for a possible transfer to Papworth.

One of the really good guys, amiable, full of fun, he deserves every good wish we can send.

Les, get well soon... the Scribblers wish you a speedy recovery.

Wigtown Poetry Competition 2013


Deadline:  31st May 2013
First Prize:  Main Prize £2000.   Runner-up £400.   Gaelic Prize £250.    Scots Prize £250.  Eight additional prizes of £25 each.
Summary:  The first poem submitted costs £7.00
Multiple entries: the first three poems cost a total of £19.00.
Each subsequent entry after the first three costs £5 or a total of £14 for every additional block of 3, ie:
1 poem £7; 2 poems £14; 3 poems £19; 4 poems £24; 5 poems £29; 6 poems £33; 7 poems £38; 8 poems £43; 9 poems £47; 10 poems £52; 11 poems £57; 12 poems £61 etc.

Main Prize Judge: Robin Robertson, Gaelic Prize Judge: Meg Bateman, Scots Prize Judge: Liz Niven.

Winners will be invited to read their poems at the Wigtown Book Festival 2013.  Winning poems will be published on the Festival website. 

For further details, rules and entry form, visit: www.wigtownbookfestival.com/poetrycomp

Tuesday 22 January 2013

The Bridport Prize



January 2013 Newsletter
Welcome to the first ever Bridport Prize newsletter!

The 2013 competition is now open for entries and we are delighted to announce our judges for this, our 40th anniversary year:  Wendy Cope for poetry, Michèle Roberts for short stories and David Swann forflash fiction.

For full details, please see our competition rules.
Have you re-registered?
 
If you haven’t already registered on the new site you will need to do so before you can enter the competition.  We were unable to transfer the accounts from the old website, so even if you were registered there, you will have to start again, setting up a new user name and password.

If you have any difficulties, please contact our web manager, Graham Shackleton:graham@bridportprize.org.uk


Should you have any queries about the competition, check our frequently asked questions, or contact the competition administrator, Frances Everitt: frances@bridportprize.org.uk

 
Closing date - 31st May 2013

 
Write that prizewinning poem, short story, flash fiction now - there's
£15,925 prize fund to be won!

MEETING CANCELLED...but...

Confirming that the meeting tonight has been cancelled. It is a shame because it was to be the prestigious Bill Budner meeting.  This will now take place at our next meeting which will be held on Tuesday 5th February when the same rules and conditions will apply. Efforts will again be made to provide an independent reader of the stories.

Hopefully we will also have the presence of a representative from Felixstowe Radio to explain how we may help with broadcasting stories.

The decision to select the Workshop for our sponsored event during the Felixstowe Book Festival,  was made democratically. The event will take place at the Library (home sweet home!) at 11 am, Saturday 15th June. Lasting up to 2 hours the speaker will be Cressida Downing who has over twenty years experience in bookselling and publishing, and runs an editorial consultancy, The Book  Analyst (www.thebookanalyst.co.uk ) advising writers on all aspects of their work. She provides editorial service for Writers' & Artists' and writes regular blogs on reading, writing and procrastinating.

The Workshop will consist of a general talk on how to submit, looking at covering letter, synopsis and how to find an agent, followed by exercises focused on summarising the participants' novels, with feedback. There is a maximum of 16 participants, so, as sponsors, the Scribblers members have free access
to the course but it is essential that definite bookings are made through Dave at scribblers@btinternet.com  by the 5th February. 


Regular Scribblers attendees will be given preference depending on numbers. If we fail to take the full allocation then the remaining places will go on general sale. It is essential these bookings are made as we have to declare final numbers by the middle of February.

Dave will also be meeting and greeting Cressida and making sure the event runs  smoothly.

Monday 21 January 2013

MEETING CANCELLED

Good morning Scribblers.

After a exchange of views on whether to hold the meeting tomorrow it has been decided that 


THERE WILL BE NO MEETING ON THE 22 OF JANUARY. 


It would be unfair to expect anyone to venture out at night when the roads and more particularly the pavements will still be treacherous. 

With the meeting being a Bill Budner evening neither would it be fair to have speakers attend and probably have the cup awarded with a very poor turn out.

We will therefore adjourn the meeting until the next scheduled one which on the 5TH FEBRUARY to give more members a chance to attend.

In the meantime keep warm.

Regards

Barry. 

Friday 18 January 2013

New Author Talk at the Library


Following the success of our last two author talks I am delighted to be able to tell you that writer, Liz Trenow, will be coming to give a talk at the library on Saturday 23rd March.  Liz’s first novel The Last Telegram was published last year. You may have heard of Liz as she received lots of publicity in Suffolk , having been brought up in Sudbury .  Her historical novel is based around silk weaving, an industry with which she has strong family connections. The book has been very well received and she has a contract for a further two. 

In The Last Telegram….
“The war changed everything for Lily Verner. As the Nazis storm Europe , Lily becomes an apprentice at her family's silk weaving factory. When they start to weave parachute silk there is no margin for error: one tiny fault could result in certain death for Allied soldiers. The war also brings Stefan to Lily: a German Jewish refugee who works on the looms. As their love grows, there are suspicions someone is tampering with the silk. Can their love survive the hardships of war? And will the Verner's silk stand the ultimate test? The Last Telegram is an evocative and engaging novel for fans of The Postmistress and Pam Jenoff.”

You might like to take a look at Liz’s website:    http://liztrenow.com/

Our event will be of a similar format to before in that Liz will chat about her book and career and there will be a chance for questions.  Also, she will be selling copies of The Last Telegram which she will sign.  The  event will start at 2pm and finish at approximately 4.  We plan to start publicising the talk more widely within the next 1-2 weeks and anticipate that it will be popular.  Tickets cost £2 (including refreshments) and if you would like me to reserve you any please get back to me asap.  Remember, we have limited places.  Also, if your group would like to read her book let me know if you would like any copies reserved. 

Debra Rowe

Suffolk's Libraries IPS Limited
Felixstowe Library
Crescent Road
Felixstowe
IP11 7BY

RETIRED HEAD OF ENGLISH TAKES TOP NATIONAL POETRY PRIZE


A powerful poem about the past has won the national Local Poem Prize and £1,000 for Terence Stanford of Coalville, Leicestershire.
This huge free competition has been running for many years and entrants from 10 to 100 from all the over the UK – many of them new to poetry - submit their work free of charge for it.
“It's the biggest free UK wide competition on a local theme,” said Peter Quinn, Managing Director of United Press which runs the competition every year.
“The idea of the competition is to encourage more people to get involved in poetry and develop their talent in this - the most accessible and simple art form. Anyone can write poetry and it's more popular now than it ever was thanks to innovations like the internet.”
Terence won this year's prize with a poem about a local carpenter.
“Much of my work is about my early life and my locale because I have a strong affinity with the Coalville area,” explained Terence (65) the retired head of English at Ratcliffe College in Leicester . “I have a collection of poems on the theme of a sense of place which I am hoping to publish in my own book.”
As his prize, Terence receives £1,000 and a framed certificate marking the fact that he has joined the select ranks of national poetry prizewinners.
“It's great that United Press runs this competition. Even though poetry is very popular, there are hardly any free competitions like the Local Poem Prize.”
Terence has been writing poetry for over 40 years and has had several poems published in magazines and books, but this is his first big prize.
“My poem Memento Homine, is all about a carpenter's shop. It used to stand next to the leisure centre where I regularly take my grandchildren to swim but every time I go there, I think about that place.”
“It's great that poetry like Terence's can bring places back to life and both crystallise and preserve our sense of heritage and history,” said Peter.
Submissions are open for the next Local Poem Prize. All you have to do is put “Local Poem” at the top of your entry and post it to Admail 3735, London, EC1B 1JB or email info@unitedpress.co.uk or ring 0844 800 9177.
You can read Terence's winning poem below:

MEMENTO HOMINE
For years, most childhood winter evenings I
Would sidle past the yawning gable door
Of Reg Baxter’s gloom-laden workshop where
He bent, when the orders came, gimlet-eyed,
Planing curled feathers of weathered timber
Cascading slivers of mortality.
Carpenter, Joiner and Undertaker
His once-gilded sign flakily declared.
Laid on trestles, the oaken coffin shone
As the blade-edge sliced through the circular
Wrinkles of ageing, each ring of years gone
Knelling the imminence of life’s closure.
A sharp rebuke to Golden Youth’s trust
In its power to brush off gathering dust.

Next meeting

I hope the weather has not stopped the fingers and the hands from the scribbling needed to complete your Bill Budner entries. Hopefully the snow will not stop most of you from attending next Tuesday.

Keep warm, and keep scribbling.

Barry.


Tuesday 15 January 2013

Tribute to an old speedway rider





Dave's obituary for one time Ipswich Speedway rider Rod Laudrum is displayed on the club's website here 

Friday 11 January 2013

BATTERED MOONS POETRY COMPETITION 2013


The fourth Battered Moons Poetry Competition is now open to all UK residents aged 18 or over and accepts poems on any topic and style of up to 40 lines. Main judge Alice Oswald and Cristina Newton will read all the poems.

The 3 winners and 4 commended poets will be invited to read their poems at the Swindon Festival of Poetry on Saturday 5th October 2013, when Alice Oswald will present the prizes and read from her own work. Winning and commended poems will appear in the Battered Moons pamphlet and website.

First prize, £300; second, £150; third, £75. Entry fee: £3 each poem or £10 for 4. Closing date for entries is 31st May 2013. Online and postal entries accepted.

For further information and to enter, visit http://batteredmoons.com. Queries to Cristina Newton on cristina.ne.newton@gmail.com. Supported by Swindon Artswords, the Swindon Festival of Poetry, and Arts Council England.

Wednesday 9 January 2013

AGM and meeting report



Members present
Dave, Dick, Rhani, Liliane, Barry M, Tony, Martin, Ray and yours truly.

We had apologies from Beryl and from Caz who is unwell. We started the meeting with a short AGM, the report by Dave follows.


Felixstowe Scribblers AGM
Held in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library
Tuesday 8th January.

1.       The Committee was re-elected unopposed and remains thus:
Dave Feakes                      Chairperson
Barry Darnell                      Secretary
Beryl Sabel                         Treasurer
Les Smith                            Social Events Organiser
Dick Bradshaw                    Record keeper
2.       Committee Reports
The Secretary’s report was short and though he would like to stand down from the post agreed to continue with some help from the Chairperson.
The Treasurer’s report showed a fairly healthy balance but it must be taken into account the amount of funds needed to cover the Library hire charges.
3.       It was agreed that, subject to Library hire charges increasing our membership fees will be:
Annual membership, November to November  £25.
Eight months membership April to November    £20.
Six months membership June to November        £15.
Meeting by meeting fee                                      £  3.
Under 16’s and guests                                       free.

4.       The Chairperson reported an upsurge in the weblog views with an increase of over 4,200 visits in the last twelve months.  December 2012 showed the highest monthly views of 1,477 with the top three countries being the UK, the USA and, incredibly, Russia.
5.       The Felixstowe Book Festival in June 2013 (see link on our weblog) is approaching rapidly. Originally we had hoped to have an anthology of some description available for sale but the cost would be prohibitive and the time limit too short to provide a quality publication. Instead it was suggested and agreed that we provide some Felixstowe Scribblers publicity leaflets and handouts for use at as many events as possible.
6.       It is confirmed that the Bloomsbury course, which we have sponsored allowing our members free admission, will be held at the Library on Saturday 15th June at 11.00 for 1-2 hours. We have a choice of a Workshop which would have a maximum of 16 participants and would last about two hours. It would consist of a general talk on how to submit, looking at a covering letter, synopsis and how to find an agent followed by exercises focused on participants novels, with feedback. The alternative would be a Talk with a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation on the pitfalls of submission followed by questions and answers. There is no limit on the number who could attend the talk. We will circulate members for their preference.
7.       Although tickets are not yet on sale for the individual events the Festival Director, Meg Reid has asked that we mention weekend passes can be purchased from now onwards at a cost of £30. These passes will entitle you to entrance to all events except for specialised food events. Early purchase will help secure writers requiring payment and to pay for publicity.
8.       Please sign up for the free e-newsletter via the Book Festival website (see the link on our weblog). This will keep you informed of all developments.
9.       It is noted that our membership attendances have generally been in decline in recent months. A suggestion has been made that we provide a regular press release in such publications as Spotlight, Felixstowe Flyer, The Town Crier, perhaps the Ipswich Star. Additionally we could contact Radio Suffolk presenters who have been so good to us in the past, Felixstowe Radio and perhaps Ipswich based Town Radio. The provision of a poster for the Library would be a valuable advertisement.
10.   Radio Felixstowe have mentioned that they may like to broadcast some of our stories. The general consensus of opinion was that many, in fact most, of our stories are suited for radio. A representative was due to attend one of our meetings prior to the Christmas break but was unable to attend.  Consequently the Chairperson will contact them directly.
11.   A suggestion was made for the Scribblers to produce an online newsletter containing our stories. This was tried about three years ago but did not have the support it needed. However our weblog does have a short story section where stories can be displayed. It was agreed that the winning Bill Budner story should be posted there. Anyone wishing to display their work should contact the Chairperson on scribblers@btinternet.com.
12.   The Bill Budner competition has really improved since introducing independent readers. Hopes are that our friends Jacky and Giles Meehan may be able to help at our next meeting. If not it may be possible to arrange for someone from the debating or public speaking societies to help. A former Scribblers member, Debbie may be a good contact.  Failing this Beryl and Dave have agreed to read out the stories. 
There being no other business the AGM was closed.

The four word exercise produced some more excellent work from our members, work produced in half an hour with some very unusual word mixtures.

Tony's words were LONESOME GARGOYLE STABILITY and GHOST
In his own inimitable style Tony gave us the short story called 'The future of Mankind' and told of a long trip (1000 years) in a spaceship, the human contents of which were meant to colonise a new planet as the Earth was supposedly heading for extinction.

Rhani had BLONDE FEATURING HAGIOGRAPHY and a word which escapes me as I could not read my own writing. This was a short story five pages long, how she ever managed to write that much is a mystery to us all but in essence it was a letter sent from Dot to Gussie of the most whimsical kind on the eve of what could be her last days on earth. I imagine it to have been written on Tony's spaceship.

Liliane had UNIVERSITY AGENDA OINTMENT and UNIVERSITY
A short piece on a  University committee unable to decide on suitable celebrations for a 50 year celebration.

Barry M had CAPACITY AUDACITY SNOW and STALLION
A piece concerning a young girls wish for a horse for her birthday and how, unable to afford a real one, the parents gave her a stallion.

Martin had MAMMOTH HIT MEETING and FOG.
'The horse' An amusing tale of reindeer meeting up during the year and remembering happy and sad times while on delivery duty.

Ray's story was called 'Decisions, decisions' and his words were HAIL BLURB CHARACTERISTIC and EVENTS.  This was a tale of a shy, usually retiring author and his request to read at a Book Festival

Dave had EXCORSIST BATHTUB ICE and SAXAPHONE, and gave us 'Cool Musician', a story of a detective fetched from a meal to find a murdered man in a bathtub filled with ice.

Dick's words were RELILAQUARY YOUNGSTER DISHWASHER and ANTEATER. and the story called 'Never use the zoo' Another amusing tale of a burglar and his attempt to hide looted valuables in the vet's surgery in a zoo and his foolish attempt at escape.

My words were SNIPER ASSASSIN DISHONOURED  and DAMNATION and concerned the thoughts of a police marksman as he prepared to use his skills to save a woman from harm.

As I said the exercise brought out some imaginative work from all.

The next meeting will be on the 22nd of January and will be a Bill Budner evening where we all bring along an anonymous piece of 1000 words or less on a subject of our own choice, to be read out by a person or persons as yet unknown.

See you then.

Barry

Tuesday 8 January 2013

The AGM

A full report will soon be posted.

Essentially the committee have been re-elected en bloc and main points referred to the membership fees, the forthcoming Felixstowe Book Festival in June, publicity via local press and radio and the possibility of posting stories on our weblog.

A good meeting with another splendid four word creative writing exercise though attendance was a little disappointing. Looking to improve through the coming meetings.

So, Scribblers, do just that...

Keep Scribbling!

Monday 7 January 2013

TODAY, TUESDAY 8th JANUARY

Our AGM is being held this evening at 7.30 pm in The Room at the Top Felixstowe Library. Following the AGM there will be a short four letter creative writing exercise which is always fun.

A reminder that our meetings are out of sequence this month and our following gathering will be on 22nd January after which our meetings revert to the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Keep Scribbling!

Sunday 6 January 2013

A very sad day...
















The shutters have gone up at the Spa Pavilion today, such a sad event at a theatre packed with so much history. One event that springs straight to the hearts of many Scribblers and companies around the town - this is where The Lost Sock had its big screen première.

Perhaps, and with all the luck in the world, someone, somewhere, will have the heart to reverse the closure decision, or private enterprise will come to the fore.

Memories of the theatre will remain with us infinitum, lets hope for that flash of inspiration which will open the doors once again and rekindle theatre in Felixstowe.

Full house...


Community Website


A community website called IPscene www.ipscene.co.uk) IPscene represents all known groups, clubs, support etc., in IP1 – IP17.  It is only 4 months old, but already contains information on lots of various groups etc., in this area. Our own Scribblers group has requested to be included. The website is comprehensive and is well worth a look for almost any group you can think of. It also does a weekly newsletter. A great idea and well worth investigating!  http://www.ipscene.co.uk/

Felixstowe Book Festival



This note comes from Felixstowe Library and though it really refers to reading groups it may also be of interest to others:

Following my recent email about the Felixstowe Book Festival this is to let you know that the festival read will be Brighton Belle by Sara Sheridan.  Sara is one of the writers taking part in the festival and amongst other things she will be taking part in a creative writing workshop and hosting a vintage tea party linked to this book.  The book has been categorised under crime and is the first in a planned series of books featuring the character Mirabelle Bevan.  (The second book is due to be published this year.)  We currently have copies of the book on order and Felixstowe will be assigned 2 sets of 10 copies which we will make available to reading groups.  If your group would like to read this in preparation for the festival please let us know asap.  If you have a preference for the sort of time between now and June you would like to borrow the books that would be helpful although we can’t guarantee a time slot.  The books are still on order at the moment but it would certainly be worth putting your request in now.  I will send out a reminder as soon as the books arrive.   Don’t forget to take a look at the Book Festival web site and sign up for the E newsletter – www.felixstowebookfestival.co.uk

So, in Brighton Belle….
Former secret service agent Mirabelle Bevan retires to Brighton . It's 1951, the war is over and she thinks she will put the past behind her by taking a job in a debt collection agency. But the case of Romana Laszio leads her to discover that her old skills may be needed after all, as a trail of gold sovereigns and corpses unravels. This is the first in a series, featuring strong female characters and a fascinating look at Austerity Britain.


The Stour Valley Landscape Partnership

An Arts Exhibition for the Stour Valley in 2013. The exhibition will take place at St Peter’s Church, Sudbury on 1st to the 13th March 2013 

An open, unselected, exhibition for residents of the Stour Valley, to celebrate the landscape, people, history and heritage of the Valley. We are putting together an art exhibition in Sudbury this spring and welcome everyone to take part. 

Reminder...


 Hope you all had a superb Christmas and wish everyone a productive New Year.

Just to remind you that next Tuesday's meeting, the first of this new year will consist of an AGM for the first half and then a short four word exercise, so bring along your words and writing material.

See you all then,

Barry.

Workshop with a difference...


Tuesday 1 January 2013

First competition of the new year


from Grace Dieu Writers' Circle
What better way to start the year than to write a Short Story or Poem and submit to our 2013 competition, details below.
Grace Dieu Writers' Circle 2013 Short Story and Poetry Competition
Poetry Competition: A poem on any subject - maximum 40 lines
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize: £75; 5th Prize: £50
Entry Fees: £4 for one poem or £12 for four, £3 for each additional entry over four
Short Story Competition: A story on any subject - maximum 2,000 words
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 4th Prize: £75; 5th Prize: £50
Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories
Closing Date: 28th February, 2013
Full details and entry forms can be found on our website at www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk
Alternatively to receive a competition leaflet, please send a SAEto:
The Competition Organiser, 23 Henson Way, Sharnford,Leicestershire, LE10 3PN