Felixstowe Scribblers 2021: About Felixstowe Scribblers

The aim of Felixstowe Scribblers is to provide a platform for writers to share their work and receive feedback and support. We aim to help writers improve their creative writing. Some things we do are:

1,000 word homework assignments that are based on a chosen word or phrase

· Homework on either a geographical, historical or given genre.

· ‘Flash Fiction’ creative writing exercises.

· Critique meeting for work in progress novels by our writers..

· Anonymous competitions for the Bill Budner Trophy and The Jack Wilkinson Memorial Trophy for attending writers only.

A number of our members, past and present, have published books, been published in magazines and newspapers whilst some have won writing competitions.

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in writing be they published or hobby writers. There is no onus on the number of attendances but a small donation of £5 per meeting is raised to cover the cost of the room at the library or an annual fee (November to November) which reduces through the year.

Some of our achievements through recent years:

Anthologies:
2004,
2010,
2014,
2017,
2019.

Plays:

‘Kissagram’ 1999 by Edward Giles, Marilyn Lamond, Verena Dahl and Dave Feakes.

‘The Crabby Arms Affair’ 2009 Tony Shearman, Dick Bradshaw, Trish Barnard and Dave Feakes.

Mini Serial / DVD

The Lost Sock’ 2004/5 from a challenge by Chris Gosling of the former Felixstowe TV. Writers Tony Shearman, Dick Bradshaw, Ken May and Dave Feakes.

Felixstowe Scribblers Newsletter 2000-2003 – publication including members’ stories issued free to local Libraries and Suffolk Record Office.

Worked in collaboration with a local artist who was doing a project about the seashore.

Ran an online ‘Writeathon’ for members who were new to the Internet and email.

Organised ‘Culturama’ in 2004 at the Trinity Methodist Church. Local arts and crafts, museum, Record Office photographic display, live music, Scribblers readings, and a play by Rushmere Players.

Experimented with ‘Online Scribblers’ for those unable to attend meetings.

Sponsored ‘Writers’ and Artists Yearbook guide to submitting your manuscript’ workshop for the Felixstowe Book Festival 2013.

REPOSITORY

The Jack Wilkinson Competition for stories about children for an adult reader, is open for entries until 1st June. Stories should be emailed in the usual way to Georgina, making clear that it is a competition entry. Your entries can be in any genre of writing and should be no more than a maximum of 1,500words. Once all entries have been received, they will all be posted on the Repository. Members will have a week to read and choose their favourite three stories. Please do not vote for your own story. Your top three choices should be emailed to Georgina stating 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the corresponding story titles. Please don’t make any comments below the stories until the outcome has been announced. All stories will be published anonymously, with only a story title and a corresponding letter of the alphabet. Once all votes are in (and scores have been double checked) the winning entries will be announced. As we are unable to present the trophy due to the existing situation, an e-certificate will be awarded to the winner. The more entries, the better, so get those scribbling sticks out! Please email all contributions to Georgina Dave

CORONAVIRUS

Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, Felixstowe Scribblers have sadly cancelled all future meetings until such time as Government advice and restrictions are lifted.

This means a great upheaval to many of our writers, but we will do our best to keep you updated both on this weblog and by email.

We intend to maintain our writing with 500-750 word assignments that may be posted on here for a short period of time whilst our WhatsApp group will have regular 100-200 word exercises to help keep our creative minds working.

Further information will be released as soon as possible.

30 March 2020

Gipping Press

Felixstowe Scribblers chose Gipping Press to publish their 2014, 2017 and 2019 anthologies. Our reasoning was based on their enthusiastic help, great track record and, more than anything else, the quality and high standard of their work. Our anthologies are testament to their expertise.

We anticipate another anthology in 2021 and will be seeking the help once again, of Gipping Press.

We can honestly recommend Gipping Press to anyone seeking advice in publication and for their very competitive prices.

Thank you Gipping Press.

http://www.gippingpress.co.uk/GPselfpublshing.html

Where we meet

Felixstowe Scribblers meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month in The Room at the Top in Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road. Meetings start at 7.30pm and end at 10.00pm.

Details of the library are on their website at https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries/felixstowe-library/.

Felixstowe Scribblers are indebted to the Library and its helpful staff for all their valuable assistance.

Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, our annual membership fees have been reduced from £30 to £15 for the coming year until November 2021.

Meetings, when they are able to be organised again will allow people preferring to pay at each meeting a charge of £5.

Our writing programmes are available via our two avenues, The Repository and our WhatsApp group.

Membership is open to both published and hobby writers and whilst there are no age limits it is wise to be aware that there may be adult content included in some work.

For more information about Felixstowe Scribblers simply email our Secretary catherine.stafford1@ntlworld.com or our Chairman, Dave, at scribblers.1@btinternet.com.

Committee Members:

Hon President: Ruth Dugdall.

Chairman: Dave Feakes.

Secretary: Cathy Stafford.

Treasurer: Beryl Sabel.

Scribblers Repository Editor: Georgina Salmon.

Weblog Co-ordinator: to be arranged.

Anthology sub committee:

Beryl Sabel,

Georgina Salmon,

Dave Feakes.

WhatsApp administrator:

Justin Keogh

In Memory

Martin Enticknap One time member of the Scribblers who stayed in touch from his home on Sanday in the Orklands. 2003.

Nobby Clarke A keen sailor, he relayed many amusing tales from his past life. Died tragically in a road traffic accident in 2004.

Bill Budner A lay preacher who joined the Scribblers and provided so many prolific words in his short stories. 2006.

Jack Wilkinson Our youngest member for four years, he provided so much laughter and talented creativity before losing his life to cancer at the tender age of twelve. 2006.

Allen Williams Our Welsh wizard had a wonderful wit that kept the group in fits of laughter. 2007.

John Crowson At 97, our most senior member. He passed just a week before he was published for the very first time in the 2010 Felixstowe Scribblers Anthology. 2009.

Doreen Rayner Published and very knowledgeable Felixstowe historian and former member of the Scribblers. 2012

Les Smith Such a welcoming and endearing character, his laughter, matched with his personality and his humorous writing leaves the Scribblers much poorer for his loss. 2015

Mairead Reidy Such a warm hearted and generous person who was both extremely talented and knowledgeable. Liked and loved by all. Another very sad loss to our creative group. 2018

Dick Bradshaw A warm and friendly long term member. A wonderful and published writer with a wealth of knowledge and so many humorous tales. A very sad loss of a good friend. 2018

It is fitting that we also remember Liam Fairhurst of Soham who died of cancer in 2009. He raised enormous sums of money for charity all beginning in memory of his friend and ours, Jack Wilkinson.

Maurice James, the creator of the Coast to Coast competitions and a great friend to the Scribblers. 2010