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

Wednesday 27 February 2013


Felixstowe Mind Body Soul Expo

10am-5pm Sunday 3rd March

Felixstowe Leisure, Sea Front, Felixstowe IP11 2AE

For info www.lifearts.co.uk

Thursday 21 February 2013

Would any Scribblers like to book in in advance to the other 3 
workshops?


Tickets would be £8 each unless they have bought one of the bargain 
weekend £30 tickets which are on the latest newsletter?


These are the other Workshops:


Workshop on Setting – Rosy Thornton

“The impression produced by a landscape, a street or a house 

should always, to the novelist, be an event in the history of a
soul, and the use of the ‘descriptive passage’, and its style
should be determined by the fact that it must depict only what
the intelligence concerned would have noticed, and always in 
terms within the register of that intelligence.” 
(Edith Wharton, The Writing of Fiction).

This workshop will explore in a practical context the challenges of 
establishing setting in the mind of the reader.

What is the relationship of setting to character and viewpoint? 

How can landscape be used to reflect mood, heighten emotion 
or enhance dramatic tension? What specific methods may be
employed to conjure setting in the reader’s imagination without 
resort to excessively long description?

Other particular issues may be addressed, according to 

participants’ preferences. For example:

    Writing a story with a foreign setting
    Conveying historical settings
    World-building for fantasy, sci fi or futuristic stories

Participants will be invited to submit in advance (anonymised if 
desired) a sample of their writing in which setting or landscape 

are described; *these will be used as a basis for feedback and 
discussion. Writing exercises will also be undertaken during the
workshop.

Sunday 16th June Felixstowe library


> Up to 1000 words by 1st June and she will give feedback on as
> many as possible. in the workshop.

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SARA SHERIDAN  Literary Bootcamp


If you're finding it difficult to complete that book, this is the workshop 
for you. Taking you through a range of planning techniques and dealing with the thorny subject of inspiration, author Sara Sheridan helps you make a plan that will set you scribbling. All writers write differently – let's find out how you do it.

2pm Saturday 15thJune Felixstowe library


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Linda Gillard
REACHING YOUR READERS

How to write, market and sell your self-published ebooks. Make your 
book “discoverable”!

Linda Gillard, award-winning author and UK poster girl of self-publishing tells you how to get your book into the public domain and find your readers. She concentrates on writing and editing, genre issues, the importance of getting the cover design & sample right, pricing, reviews, how to market & sell ebooks (including use of social media and building an author platform).

Linda will not be dealing with technical issues. A handout will be provided directing authors to websites that provide technical information and advice.

Sunday 16th June Felixstowe library

Blackadder...


This is to let you know that the next Rushmere Players production will be ‘Blackadder – Through the Ages’ based on the BBC television series by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton.  We have chosen an episode from each of the second, third and fourth series: ‘Bells’, ‘Amy and Amiability’ and ‘Major Star’, all fast moving and great fun.  

We will be at the Sir John Mills Theatre in Gatacre Road, Ipswich  from Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th March, starting at 7-45 p.m., tickets £9-50 and £7-00 student concession.  The production will be in support of Comic Relief – and rumour has it that Mrs. Miggins will be serving her delicacies during the interval. 

Tickets are now available from the box office by calling 01473 211498 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays or on-line at www.easternangles.co.uk

We hope you, your family and friends can join us!

Goff Hill and all the cast

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Meeting Report from the Secretary...

Members present were Angela P, Mai, Martin, Tony, Barry M, myself, Dave, Caz, Beryl, Liliane, Dick and Les.

The meeting was well attended and produced writing of the usual excellence.


Angela gave us a moving tale of a shepherds meeting round a fire and the ensuing fight between a troubled young man and his tormentor and the care taken of the young man's hand by his sister.

Mai read her piece called The Destruction of Gomorrah which told of a woman called Mariah and the sacrifices she made to the Mother of bull calves and sheep and then the shock of her son being offered for sacrifice. She then fought her way from the crowd captured a horse to flee with her son from the destruction of Gomorrah.

Martin's story was called Blood Fire and Thunder and gave us a modern day slant on Margaret Catchpole, a young girl who was lured by the wrong sort of man into crime only being saved from the death penalty in the 1700's by a wealthy benefactor and subsequently transported to Australia where she became a respected midwife.

Tony's piece was the usual eclectic mix of names places and ideas involving the ABC(sea) and an old merchant ships, hammocks and the eventual destruction of an approaching pirate ship by his command to 'Fire'.

Barry M gave us Up In Smoke, a story of Richard, a hard of hearing writer who loved to sit in his thinking chair and had a room piled high with manuscripts. He would not entertain computers until the day of the fire, when all his work went up in flames. As they watched the firemen a heartbroken Richard was told by Martha, his wife that she had copied every piece he had ever written and was therefore saved.

My piece was a trip through Greenwich and a young welder who wondered if he was responsible for the fire that almost destroyed the Cutty Sark.

Dave gave us 'Muffled Explosions in the Night' a tale based on fact from his earlier days when a fire had been carelessly started by the 'posh gits' who lived nearby and the son throwing a cigarette down in the garage and the resulting conflagration that nearly destroyed a whole street of houses.

Caz told of her battle to stop smoking and the way her mother, herself a smoker for many years, became converted and spent countless hours trying to convince Caz and any other smoker of the folly of the smoking habit.

Beryl gave us a tale called Fever, regarding young Jess and her fight with the nightmares brought on by a high fever and the demons she fought with while sick.

Liliane continued her family saga with 'Now we're all together again' and the morning meeting of the family for breakfast of hot drinks and warm rolls.

Dick went out of his usual comfort zone to write a piece called 'A problem for Rick' Rick was a drunken cowboy on a cattle drive, and how in Millers Creek, he lurched from the saloon and kicked over a lantern in the livery stable causing the building to burn and the way the whole town came together to fight the fire and release the horses.

Les gave us 'The trouble with Paradise' a tale of his last Christmas when he visited friends and family in Australia and how although he experienced sights he would never see in England, the dangers of living in such a hot and dry country far outweighed the life he knows in Felixstowe.

Thanks to all who attended and the next meeting will be on the 5th of March with the homework subject being a piece of 1000 words or less from a part of history of your choosing.

There is also a meal being arranged for all members and their spouses to be at the Book Hotel on the 12th of March. Les would like to know the numbers interested so if you could let him know (or me) we would be grateful. 
His e mail is lessmith485@yahoo.co.uk  

See you at the next meeting.

Barry.    

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Another excellent evening of creativity...

For those who missed this meeting let it be known they missed one of the highlights of recent times with everyone present producing excellent and riveting tales on the theme 'Fire.'

It really was hot stuff...

Thank you Scribblers for another marvellous evening of entertainment - please keep the good work going...

The Scribe

Monday 18 February 2013

The Book Festival

Just heard that the Workshop we are sponsoring is full and already has a long waiting list!

Don't forget our own meeting tomorrow (Tuesday19th) in The Room at The Top - hope you are all FIREd up with your homework assignment!

Keep Scribbling!!

Friday 15 February 2013

The Book Festival


Very special offer for newsletter subscribers.

Weekend ticket available from now until 1st April

The weekend ticket will admit you to as many events as you can fit in over the weekend *including the writing workshops.
If you are accompanying children to the children’s events one child will be admitted free for each weekend ticket holder.
If there are particular events you really want to attend let me know so that I can save a place for you before tickets go on general sale.
*excluding the vintage tea party and the book feast event where the venues are charging for food. If possible there may be a discounted price for you at these events.                                        £30 per ticket

To apply for these very special tickets email meg@megreid.co.uk  

STOP PRESS IF YOU ARE A WRITER THERE ARE ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT ON THE BLOOMSBURY "HOW TO GET PUBLISHED WORKSHOP"
ON SAT15TH  11A.M.-1P.M.
IF YOU WANT TO SECURE A PLACE ON THIS WORKSHOP BOOK A WEEKEND TICKET NOW AND LET ME KNOW YOU WANT A PLACE SAVED FOR YOU.

Tuesday 19th...

Just to remind you that there will be a meeting next Tuesday on the 19th of this month. Hope no-one has burnt their fingers on the 'fire' homework.
See you there.

Barry

The Harry Bowling Prize for New Writing


New for 2014
 
This year we are very excited to announce that as well as our established novel writing prize we are breaking new ground and have a fantastic new flash fiction prize.
 
The winner of our novel writing prize will receive a cheque for £1000, an in-depth editorial consultation and exclusive lunch with publishing experts. While our flash fiction winner will see their work published online and receive £100.
 
Recognised by the publishing industry, The Harry Bowling Prize for New Writing was launched in 2000 and is an established award for talented new writers. Many of our previous winners have signed successful publishing deals as the result of winning this prize, including our two most-recent winners. We hope to continue our successful track record of finding talented new storytellers, who can inspire and entertain us, just as Harry Bowling did in his bestselling novels.
 
Visit www.harrybowlingprize.co.uk for all the information you need about the prize, including details of how you can enter, top tips on how to succeed and inspiring stories from previous winners.
 
Entries close on 30 September 2013 and you can follow us on twitter (@harrybowling) or on Facebook to keep up to date with all our latest news. The winner will be announced in February 2014.
 
The Harry Bowling Prize for New Writers

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Our Next Meeting

Next Tuesday, 19th February, The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library. Start 7.30pm.

This is the date of our next meeting. The homework assignment is set at up to 1,000 words on "FIRE" a subject that opens up a host of possibilities to the creative mind. Let's hope that the only 'FIRE' on the evening will be through the creative writing of our members.

Keep Scribbling!

The Book Festival: Scribblers update.

With our deadline now passed for Felixstowe Scribblers wishing to attend the Workshop, I can confirm that thirteen of us will be attending - so the final three places will go on sale via the Book Festival organiser at the beginning of next month.

For those who have been allocated places, I would ask that should anything happen to make you withdraw from the event, then please let me know at scribblers@btinternet.com thus enabling the place to go on sale.

Keep Scribbling

Dave

Alma Books Shortlisted...

independent publishers guild


We are delighted to announce that 
Alma Books 
has been shortlisted for the
IPG Trade Publisher of the Year Award 2013.
It is a shortlist of three, and in the running are also 
Constable & Robinson (who won in 2012) and 
John Blake Publishing (who won in 2010). The 
winner will be announced at the IPG Conference 
Gala Dinner on 7th March 2013.  Alma was already
shortlisted for the award in 2011.

Here is the judges’ comments on our shortlist:

“Alma Books is shortlisted on the back of a year of
commercial print success, exponential ebook sales 
growth and substantial critical acclaim. Judges 
admired its commitment to translated fiction and 
outstanding website, plus its instinct for picking up
little-heard-of authors who are likely to appeal in the UK. 
‘Alma is a small independent publisher with no obvious
weak spots. It is finding authors and books in a way 
most other publishers are not.’ ”

Fingers crossed and, as ever, thank you for your support
 (and all your emails this morning).
Elisabetta Minervini and Alessandro Gallenzi

Follow us @almabooks on Twitter
 
Comment on our Facebook page
  

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Report from the Bill Budner Trophy meeting

Members present at the meeting.

Dick, Tony, Les, Liliane, Angela, Beryl, Martin, Ray, BarryM and yours truly.

We had apologies from Susan, Carolyn and Dave.

As usual the Bill Budner evening produced a variety of work that was almost impossible to separate in terms of quality.

The eventual results was that a story entitled SOHO garnered the most votes and that proved to be from Tony.

This was a truly atmospheric tale from London of bygone years, of trams and foggy evenings and the thoughts and actions that led jack through a day of anticipation, when he was due to ring a good friend named Anna and how he had fill his afternoon with a trip to a bookshop then to the Little Savoy theatre for the latest in Pathe News. His wandering led him through foggy streets and eventually to his favourite restaurant, one of only a few that served game. After lunching he made his way home to his second floor flat and mounted the stairs thinking he should telephone Anna but not before her requested time. He had no idea at that time how the call would affect his life.

I will run through the remaining stories, not in so much detail and in no particular order.

THE RING, was a story from Beryl and told of Elise, who lived with others in a nursing home. Her memory was failing and she  thought Alex, the Greek helper in the home, had taken her ring, which she originally said was her engagement ring but an item  she won one evening at Bingo.

MISSED was a story from Barry M. This told of a son's regret at having not been closer to his parents through the last ten years of his mother's life. He visited home for the first time in ten years and found a grief stricken father who did not yet realise he was alone. The funeral service made him realise how bad a son he had been and afterwards vowed he would keep in constant contact with his father.

My own tale was called THE PIANO and told of how a small child was gradually diagnosed with autism and the introduction of an old piano to the house and how the sound of music proved him to be a prodigious savant when it came to playing.

HAPPINESS IS... came from Ray and told of a young girl who had experienced a turgid upbringing except for the old books she constantly read. She loved the classics and determined to follow her dream and become an English Literature teacher. She was encouraged in this course by her own teacher, George, and so she studied hard all the time understanding that she was falling in love with her teacher, Georgina Louisa...

CUPID came from Martin and told of love seen through the eyes of someone who believed wholeheartedly that it was possible to love more than one person and that Cupid did not just have a single arrow to his bow. There was Constance, the down to earth girl who loved nature, then there was Traci, a go-getter in real estate who wanted to make love on a rooftop, then came Emily, the love of his life and who proved to be a soulmate in a relationship between the two women.

BEGINNINGS was offered by Angela, on one of her few visits from her life in Tuscany. The story told of a cliff top cafe named Horizons and how, one afternoon the owner of the cafe decided he would try to get the same three customers talking, the three who visited every day, and sat, nursing a solitary cup of tea or coffee, he would try to get them talking so the door was locked and after some protestations the three told each other their names. It was a beginning.

THE LAST CHANCE HOTEL came from Liliane and told of an hotel, on the edge of an Australian desert and how Ted and Nelly bought the place, Ted trying to simulate the Wild West but with no real connections to the city the hotel had to be supplied by light aircraft and although the interior was clean and comfortable the guests never did stay long, there was nothing to do, as the children had told Ted and Nelly. They would visit but not for long. Perhaps introducing camels to the place would encourage more visits from the bus tours...

Dick's story LITERARY ENCOUNTER told the story of 34 years old Christine who had taken pity on her mother when father had died. Since selling her little flat, at mother's behest, Christine had settled down into a less than comfortable life of taking care of her mother, who refused to get out and become part of society once more. Christine was paying a visit to the library so she could read her copy of 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' in peace without constant interruption, when she met a man who sat with her at a small table. They found they had much in common and Christine found herself thinking this could be the start of a new chapter in her life. But she still remembered mother's prescription.

I can recount the whole story Les brought with him. He apologised for it's brevity but having recently returned from an excursion to Australia he had not had time to complete much.

This is it.  SHORT STORY. Once upon a time a boy had a girl. The end.

Once more we were are amazed at the quality of the work involved and I thank everyone who attended the meeting.

The next meeting will be on February the 19th and the homework subject is FIRE.

Regards

Barry.

Saturday 2 February 2013

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Friday 1 February 2013

Up for the Cup

Hi Scribblers

As you probably know the last meeting was postponed because of the weather, therefore the Bill Budner evening will now be next Tuesday the 5th February.

Hope you have all saved your anonymous works of literary art for then.

See you Tuesday.

Barry.

Les is home...

Glad to tell you all that our Les is at home again from Papworth. Doubtless we will soon see him back at Scribblers as is his intention!