A good news message from our old friend Ray.

           A new book of short western stories will be coming out (hopefully) this month. 'The Shot Rang Out' by Scott Harris with 51 friends - and I am one of them.

           This book is intended to be the first of four issues that will be published on a quarterly basis. The proceeds of sale will be used to set up a trust to help aspiring young writers. I am quite overwhelmed to be asked to be a part of this venture. 

Ray

Date error...

Spotted by Scribbler Liz... our next meeting will be on 17 April and not as shown in the last meeting minutes (which have now been amended). Well done and thank you Liz.

Kate Worsley Creative Writing Course.

Dear all, 

Please forgive the global email approach, but if you know of family or friends who may be interested in my first beginners course, do forward or Facebook. I’d be most grateful. 

With very best wishes 

Kate 

@khworsley 

http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/authors-dh/kate-worsley/ 

‘Kate Worsley does just what a great historical novelist should do: she inhabits her characters without strain, without fuss, but with obvious assurance, making them and their period feel utterly close and convincing. I can’t wait to see more of her fiction.’ 

Sarah Waters, author of Booker-shortlisted Fingersmith and The Little Stranger. 

ONE FREE PLACE ON NEW BEGINNERS CREATIVE WRITING COURSE IN MANNINGTREE THIS SUMMER 

Always fancied writing but don't know where to start? Are you a secret writer but haven't dared show anyone your work? Prize-winning local novelist Kate Worsley is running a new beginners creative writing course at The Red Lion in Manningtree. She will help you explore what makes fiction work and how you can turn your ideas into reality.  

The course has been arranged by The Writers’ Company. Run by professional authors, the Wivenhoe-based organisation specialises in creative writing courses, events and manuscript services. All courses are taught by professional writers with years of teaching experience.  

‘Everyone is welcome,’ says Kate. 'I remember vividly how nervous I was, the evening I started my beginners writing course at Birkbeck. But now I realise, and I reckon most writers would agree, you feel like a beginner every time you sit down to face that blank page, however long you have been writing.’ 

And one free place has been reserved for someone who needs it.  

‘We are very aware just how hard it can be to get yourself onto a course like this,’ adds Kate. 'It’s not just the fee, but arranging and paying for transport and managing caring responsibilities. Let alone finding the confidence, the time and the energy!' 

The Red Lion is Manningtree’s oldest pub dating back to 1605. The Writers Company classes take place in the Pump Room, a quiet and private ground floor room with a small step to outside which is also the venue for a monthly poetry evening. There is plenty of street parking nearby and it’s a 15-minute walk from Manningtree station. 

THE COURSE 

The 10-week course takes place 7 to 9pm from 25 April to 4 July 2018 (with a break for half term on 30 May) at The Red Lion, 42 South Street, Manningtree CO11 1BG. For more details  www.thewriterscompany.co.uk/courses. Any questions, please email   contact@thewriterscompany.co.uk and we will call you back.  

KATE WORSLEY 

Kate Worsley's 18th-century Essex seafaring novel SHE RISES (Bloomsbury, 2013), won the New Angles Prize for Literature and the HWA Debut Crown, and was shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award in the US. 

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She is an alumnus of the Writers Centre Norwich Escalator literature development scheme, and was awarded an Arts Council Grant for the Arts to work on her second novel, set in 1930s rural East Anglia. 

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She was a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Essex University from 2014-2017, and has been a visiting lecturer in creative writing at City University London since 2015. She also works as a freelance mentor and consultant. 

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Kate Worsley is a course leader, manuscript assessor and mentor for The Writers' Company. She will also be running a Historical Fiction Day in Wivenhoe in September. 

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on 3 April 2018

Present: Liliane, Dave, Bridget, Cathy, Beryl, Di C, Tony, Anne, Kay, Derek, Hazel.

Apologies: Mairead and Jim.

Business:

Security – after the concerns at our last meeting when we thought an unauthorised person might have gained access to the library building during our meeting, Dave locked the outside door at 7.35 – this will be the policy from now on. Unfortunately the door bell doesn’t work, so latecomers may have to bang on the door to gain attention.

Excellent turn out for the evening, and we were pleased to welcome new member Hazel to the group.

Tony is seeing his publisher again this week – looks as if his book launch will not be too long in coming – all looking forward to it.

Ex-Scribbler Angela is running her creative writing course in Italy again this summer – Dave has already circulated details.

Readings of homework

The topic was ‘The best laid plans’

Dave – The best laid plans

Anne – The hairdresser

Steve – It’s just German culture

Beryl – Coalville

Di – a story from her published book

Kay – The celebration

Derek – Marford House

Liliane – Planning something different

Hazel – Gay Paris

Tony – Three days

Cathy – A good man

The tales were amazingly diverse; of a motorbike accident, a disastrous dye result at a hairdresser’s, and the mishaps of Celeste in Paris to mention but a few. Highly enjoyable.

Next meeting: This will be on 17 April, when the homework is to write up to 1000 words on ‘Tales from the past.'

Tonight's meeting...

Another good attendance this evening and, as you will guess, there was a plethora of some really excellent stories that amused and excited everyone.

That we had a new member arrive and quickly settle in added to the enjoyment of the evening.

Tony is expecting his book launch to be in May so watch this space.

 On the subject of books, don't forget that Ruth's new novel is due out at the end of this month. 

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 April when the theme of the evening will be 'Tales from the past.' It is a personal choice to decide on the period of you wish to write about. It can be creative fiction or fact. The choice is yours. As always, if this doesn't suit you then please feel free to bring along another piece of work, always remembering the maximum limit of 1,000 words.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm. Please be prompt as the door will be locked at that time. Currently the bell doesn't seem to be working but will be reported to the Library again.  

Until next time...

Keep Scribbling!!!

A Writers' Retreat...

We received this from one of our former members, Angela Petch, who has a short story in the People's Friend Special. It has a local flavour to it too.

Angela is also hosting a Writers' Retreat in her Tuscany home....

She says:

It will soon be time for us to return to Italy. May 1st in fact.

Two things:

1. I have a short story in The People's Friend Special at the moment and I wrote it as a slightly spooky story - about Freston Tower. So it's a local topic and might be of interest. 

 2. I am running a writers' retreat from September 11th to 18th in our place in Tuscany. I have an experienced tutor and author on board for the morning sessions and I wondered if any of the Scribblers might be tempted. The cost of £650 includes everything except flights. Tuition each morning, food and lodgings (except for two evening meals out and snacks on the outings we plan.)

I'll attach information about it all.

Anybody interested can mail me.

Thanks for spreading the word for me and good luck and fun with all of your writing endeavours.

Angela Petch

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Angela-Petch/e/B00GSN511Q

My Books: https://tinyurl.com/ya9mfrpb and https://tinyurl.com/y7alduqc 

https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

Our next meeting.

Happy Easter to everyone. Hope you have a good one!

Our next meeting is on Tuesday (3rd April) when the homework assignment is to write up to 1,000 words on "The best laid plans..." Life experiences could well help your creativity! Remember, if the subject is not to your taste you are quite welcome to bring along work on any topic providing it falls within the 1,000 word limit.

Rumour has it that we may see another of our former members return to the fold... Wonder who it is?

Until Tuesday,

Keep Scribbling!!!