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

Sunday 30 September 2018

Our Next Meeting.


Our next meeting is fast approaching... its this Tuesday, 2nd October, when the homework subject was set for us to write up to 1,000 words on the theme "I thought he would never change." This could highlight a few fascinating words I am sure! Remember that if the subject is not to your taste then it is quite alright to bring along another piece of your work providing you maintain the word limit.

Don't forget to look at the very interesting Crime Readers' Association website that also provides a link to the Crime Writers' Association.  Go to https://thecra.co.uk/CRA


Until Tuesday,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Sunday 23 September 2018

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on 18 September 2018
Present: Dave, Tony, Liliane, Beryl, Bridget, Steve, Ann, Liz, Thalia, Cathy
Apologies: Kay, Hazel, Jim, Derek
Business:
Dave has provided Jim with the winner’s certificate that he was unable to bring along on the Jack Wilkinson trophy night.
Ali, an ex-Scribbler, has told Dave that she hopes to return at some stage, but with her growing family, her time is limited.
We were all pleased (no, delighted!) to hear that Beryl has been in contact with the publishers who produced Tony’s book, with a view to getting her novel published. Fantastic news.
Dave gave us the happy news that his grandson, Noah, is making very good progress.
Discovered that the kettle in the kitchen wasn’t working, so we were unable to make drinks – Dave to report to Library Manager.
Readings of homework
As this was a flash fiction meeting, there was no homework to read out. Instead we asked Thalia, as our guest, to draw a topic from the selection available, and she drew ‘The end of the affair’. We set to and spent 40 minutes writing, then enjoyed listening to the results of our labours.
The tales were many and varied – including stories of online dating, funeral parlours, end of romances. It’s always amazing that the stories we produce in these sessions are complete, viable tales – no loose ends or unexplained elements – just good stories, well told.
As we were unable to have a coffee break and a our usual prolonged chat, the meeting ended early at 9.15.
Next meeting: 2 October, when the homework topic is ‘I thought he would never change’. Up to 1000 words.

Wednesday 19 September 2018

An interesting evening...

This evening's flash fiction meeting once again proved to be a successful event. Writing for some thirty five minutes the Scribblers produced a whole range of different interpretations on the theme 'The end of the affair.' It really was quite captivating how many avenues of endings were explained. 

It is true to say that the Scribblers proved their ability to write in what some would call a 'pressure environment.' Actually there was no pressure except for the first few moments when finding the first words to write. Shall we say there were many great words from our great writers!

The only downside to the meeting was the lack of refreshments as the kettle decided not to work... so, gasping, and one or two of us suffering from dehydration, our meeting finished a few minutes earlier than usual!

Next time, on Tuesday 2nd October, we will meet with the results of the fresh homework assignment, 1,000 words on the theme "I thought he would never change." Could be interesting!

Until then,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Thursday 13 September 2018

Hope


Amnesty International Ely City group is running its fifth short story competition (details below).

If you think that the competition would be of interest to the members of your writing group, we'd be grateful if you would publicise it to them.

best wishes,

Sally MacEachern
Secretary Ely Amnesty group

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

WRITE A SHORT STORY ON THE THEME OF “HOPE” 
FOR AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Amnesty International Ely City Group is running its fifth short story competition in memory of one of its founder members, Gareth Davies-Jones. 

The competition is for original, unpublished fictional stories written in English and a maximum of 1,500 words. They must be on the theme of “Hope” and can be set in any country or time. 

All entries will be shortlisted to 10 standout entries by Amnesty International Ely City Group before a final round judged by local crime and police procedural novel writer Jim Kelly, winner of the Crime Writers Association Dagger in the Library award in 2006, and the 2011 New Angle Prize for literature (http://www.jim-kelly.co.uk/). 

The author of the winning short story will receive £50 and a hardback signed 1st edition of Death Ship, Jim Kelly’s latest DI Peter Shaw and DS George Valentine novel and have their story published on the Amnesty International Ely City Group website. The runner-up will receive a copy of the Amnesty Group’s award-winning illustrated recipe book. 

Entrants must be 16 or over and based in the UK. 
No submissions should have been shortlisted for or won any other writing competitions. 
Writers can submit as many entries as they wish.  
Previous winning entries can be read on http://goo.gl/UrtfLx and http://goo.gl/HwPXZE.


How to submit your entry:

§  Submissions should be double spaced on numbered pages, typed in 12pt font and sent by email as Word documents or pdfs to info@amnestyely.org.uk
§  The name of the author and the title of the story should be supplied in the subject line of the email. 
§  The story title, author’s name, email address, telephone number and word count should appear on a front cover only. 
§  The story title only should appear in a footer at the bottom of each page. 

Entries must be received by 15 November 2018, the PEN International Day of the Imprisoned Writer.  The winners will be notified on or before 21 December. All other entrants will be notified shortly afterwards.

Entry Fees: 

Per story £3 (16-18-year-olds); £5 over 18s. 

Fees are payable via http://www.graftonart.biz/products/amnesty/or by cheque payable to “Ely Amnesty Group” and sent to Amnesty International Ely City Group Treasurer, 49 Ward Way, Witchford, Ely, CB6 2JR. 

ALL proceeds will go towards Amnesty’s human rights campaigns. 

Tuesday 11 September 2018

Rubery Book Award

Hello, 

We thought you'd be interested in the details of our latest book competition for independent publishers and/or authors.

The prize for Book of the Year to £1500 (approx. 2000USD) and category winners will win £150 (approx. 200USD) each.

As you may be aware The International Rubery Book Award is the longest established book award based in the UK for independent and self-published books. We receive entries from all over the world. The key to our success is having a keen eye for quality from distinguished and reputable judges. We pride ourselves on judging thoroughly which can certainly be seen in the quality of the books that have won over the years. This is an award to be proud of winning! Please see our website for the previous winners and write-ups on their books.

The award is now open and accepting entries. Details are below.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need any further details.

Kind regards,

Heather.


2019 International Rubery Book Award is now OPEN for self-published and independently published books 
PRIZES
Book of the Year £1500 (approx 2000 US$; 1800€ )
The winning book will be read by a top London Literary Agent

Plus a minimum of the 3 category winners each winning £150 (approx 200$, 180€)

Closing date 31st March 2019

Judges
We have secured three high profile judges:
Paul McDonald - senior lecturer in English and Creative Writing at the University of Wolverhampton. He is the author of fifteen books, including three novels and three collections of poetry.
Kerry Hadley-Pryce is a PhD student who has had two novels published; The Black Country and Gamble. She was awarded the Michael Schmidt Prize while completing her MA.
Clare Morrall - her debut novel,  Astonishing Splashes of Colour, was shortlisted for the MAN Booker Prize. Morrall was also shortlisted for British Newcomer of the Year 2003. Her fourth novel,  The Man who Disappeared, was selected for the TV Book Club 2010. In 2012 The Roundabout Man was released to critical acclaim.  

Please see website for more details: 

 www.ruberybookaward.com

Monday 10 September 2018

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on 4 September 2018

Present: Dave, Tony, Gerry, Liliane, Rani, Beryl, Bridget, Cathy
Apologies: Kay, Hazel, Steve, Jim, Anne, Liz, Derek

Business:
None this time, though Dave did share photos of his grandson Noah, and gave us a positive update on his progress.

Readings of homework
The topic for homework was ‘Tales of place’, and as expected, we heard some very different stories, plus one poem.

Bridget – A letter of introduction. This was an excerpt from a longer piece of work

Dave – Seventy miles to care

Gerry – Into the maze

Tony – We’re all going on a summer holiday

Liliane – Adventure in Monaco

Rani – The soundless city

Beryl – Tea at the ABC, 1951. This was an excerpt from her novel

Cathy – In a mother’s heart (a poem)

The readings and following discussions didn’t take as much time as usual, and since all present were happy to end the meeting early, we all headed home at about 9.30.

Next meeting: 
18 September, when we will be enjoying a flash fiction session. The topic will be drawn from the selection we have already prepared, so no need to bring anything along except writing implements! And no homework this time.

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Tales of various places...

A reduced attendance because of holidays, bereavements and wakes left plenty of time for commenting on all the work that was shared. It was nice to see Rani up from London again.

Once again every submission was so very different and ranged from the very real, the comedy, fantasy and a poem relating to the First World War making it another wonderful evening of creative work.

Next time we will hold a flash fiction evening when the theme for the evening will be drawn at the start of the meeting. It will take place on Tuesday 18th September starting at 7.30pm. No homework this time! As usual we will close the door at 7.30.

Until next time...

Keep Scribbling!!!



Sunday 2 September 2018

Our next meeting


Its a timely reminder that our next meeting is due this coming Tuesday, 4th September. The theme for the evening? Tales of Place. We are looking for up to 1,000 words on the subject. It can be close to home or anywhere in the world - or maybe outer space... who knows?

As always if the subject is not to your taste please bring along another piece of your work but please maintain the maximum 1,000 word limit.

The door will be closed at 7.30.

On a more personal note I am sorry I missed last meeting - but well done to Jim with his winning entry in the Jack Wilkinson Trophy - Over the past three weeks my family has been on an emotional rollercoaster with events surrounding our expected grandchild. Little Noah was born five weeks early by c-section at Ipswich Hospital two weeks ago today. Because he had a lower bowel blockage he was rushed, with his father, to Addenbrooks by the Neo Natal ambulance. His mother remained recovering in Ipswich but was discharged the following day for the journey to Cambridge. Noah had his operation on the Tuesday afternoon. Bless him, he came through but remains in the Neo Natal unit. His progress is slow but positive. 

All being well I will be at Scribblers on Tuesday in between Monday and Wednesday trips to and from Addenbrooks. I really do hope to see you there.