Apologies: Trish and Stephen.
Yet again a meeting with a brilliant turnout. The subject matter for the homework could not have been more ordinary or mundane but the content of pieces that were on offer was tremendous. Sitting as an observer (until it was my turn to offer a rendition) and obviously to Dave and Dick who followed me, I was struck by the quality of the work from our group. The youngest [a big hello and thanks for coming back to Lauren] who had returned after a period of time in which she seems to have grown two feet in height, at 14 years she shows great talent and our next newest member Gemma who has grown in confidence since the last meeting, the offerings were received with admiration and much laughter.
On a sadder note we bid goodbye to Rosie, who has been a staunch supporter of the group since her arrival in 2007. She left us last night with regret but with great hope and expectations from us all as she begins life at Nottingham Uni at the end of September. She is reading law and we wish her well.
Rosie won the original Bill Budner children’s' short story competition that Maureen set up in memory of her husband. Rosie was announced as winner in April 2007 with her work "Driftwood". She first attended Scribblers on 15th May 2007 not having known about our group previously and became the second winner of our inhouse Bill Budner Trophy competition on 4th Sept the same year with "Wooden Roses".
Such a talented writer - there's a small piece on this weblog - scroll down to read it - I'm sure we'll all miss her but wish her well on her journey in life.
I think our other new member, Beryl, has settled into life within our group having now understood the implications of being associated with a bunch of off the wall, but basically very friendly characters. We wish her luck also, and the stamina to keep attending the meetings.
Everyone seems to think that their own piece somehow detracts from the tone of other offerings but as I said, our group seems to have the talent in just our few members to keep an agency busy for life. (Perhaps we should advertise for one?)
This brings me to the final part of the meeting synopsis. Ruth has had her latest book published and following a bubbly interview on BBC Radio Suffolk she will be in Felixstowe Library to give a talk to those interested in Agents, Publishers etc. This will be from 11am on Saturday 11th September.
Also I can confirm, the next Scribblers Social is as follows:
Saturday 16th October. Arrival 7.00, for dinner 7.30.
Evening Meal at the Castle Lodge Hotel, with guest speaker Maureen Blundel.
£15 per person for 3 courses.
Everyone welcome - friends & partners too.
Please book directly with the hotel (tel: 282149 or pop in). Bookings will be taken on a first come, first served basis. 20 places available.
On the Saturday & Sunday Maureen will be running group workshops, and individual sessions. She still has spaces available. To book please contact her on liberato@talktalk.net.
Scribblers as a group, has had a request from Maurice James for any of our members to enter the Coast to Coast competition. The details are shown below. Your support for worthwhile causes would be welcomed.
Coast to Coast Writing Competitions
BUDDING writers, and prospective poet laureates, are invited to sharpen their quills and submit their original work for entry in the Coast to Coast Writing Competitions.
The competitions, which have five separate categories, are held monthly throughout the year.
Each month, a winner, along with a minimum of three runners-up from each section, are selected. These finalists will have their work re-read throughout December when the finals take place.
Entries may be either published or unpublished pieces, including work that may have been submitted to other competitions, and be typed or legibly hand-written.
There is an entry fee of £4.50 for each category - a portion of which will benefit various charities.
The five categories are:
a. short stories up to 2,000 words.
b. rhymed poetry - up to fifty lines.
c. free verse-up to fifty lines.
d. anything humorous in poetic or prose form.
e. young writers up to and including seventeen years of age are invited to submit entries for the above categories – date of birth essential for this category.(Entrance fees from this category will benefit the East Anglian Children's Hospice).
Winners will receive prizes of book gift vouchers and publication of their work.
Entries should be posted along with an entry fee of £4.50 made payable to Ouse Valley Poetry to: Maurice James (Writing), Flat 1, 9, Wellington Street, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 8QL.
For further information email Maurice at: ousevalleypoetry@yahoo.co.uk or call 07780 642 086.
Well Scribes, after a report like this I'm due a few days off so I shall leave you in the hands of our ex/standby secretary, Dave, to hold the fort for the Bill Budner meeting which takes place on Tuesday 21st Septmeber and I shall return for October 5th.
Keep scribbling.
Barry.
