This evenings gathering...

There was almost a full house this evening - with another new arrival making his first visit and bringing the attendance up to fourteen. That represents one of the biggest groups we have had for quite some time.

We were able to enjoy and savour eleven stories along with one poem that received generous applause all round. Well done Georgina!

There was time for a mini anthology discussion at the interval to ensure we have our plans for checking the work for any issues but, knowing the Scribblers, there will be few of those! A reminder was given about submissions for the anthology, our deadline being the final day of February.

Thanks were given to Liz for arranging and hosting the meal last week. She did an excellent job!

Next meeting is the Jack Wilkinson Memorial Trophy which is currently held by Jim. The competition to write up to 1,000 words on stories about children. Entries should be typed on one side of the paper and where there multiple pages, these should be stapled or securely clipped together. No marks or indication of the author should appear on the entries. Competition rules appear at the top of the page.

Until next time, 19th February...

Keep Scribbling!!!

Our 2019 anthology

Ahead of this evening's meeting, I would like to send out this reminder about our forthcoming anthology for this year. It is likely that we will produce an anthology every two years, alternating with our friends the Orwell Writers' League who have pencilled in their own work for next year.

I am hoping we have good support for our collection of stories both from current and former members. It was excellent seeing so many of our old friends included in our last anthology so how pleasing it would be to see their words included this time round.

We are asking for at least one short story from our former members and preferably two from current regulars. They can be new or old stories of homework length or longer, or perhaps you may like to include shorter stories. There is no overall theme, the choice of subject is completely yours.

Once again we will be placing our faith in Gipping Press who have done a splendid job for us in the past. I am certain their professionalism will help to highlight each and every one of your submissions. 

Yes, it is time to be published again - or perhaps for the first time. It is always exciting seeing your work in print.

We have set a deadline for the end of this month, 28th February, for your submissions to be emailed to scribblers.1@btinternet.com.

Until tonight,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Our next meeting.

It's back to normality on Tuesday (5th February). After such a lovely evening and meal at the White Horse, cups of tea and coffee in The Room at the Top might seem a little mundane! 

Yes, it is back to business this week when we bring our 'Best Friend' along. All that is asked for up to 1,000 words about 'My Best Friend.' Of course if you're 'Billy No Mates' then you'll just have to make something up! Mind you, if you want to bring your real best friend along then please do.

Our meeting starts at 7.30pm when the door will be locked. Late comers - dare you be late? - will find a bell on the wall by the door.

Until Tuesday,

Keep Scribbling!!!

The Xmas get-together (running a little late!!!)

Ten happy souls gathered at The White Horse in Felixstowe last night to enjoy our belated "Christmas meal."

Despite the weather outside, there was a genuine warmth in the restaurant area where, despite a few last minute changes and additions to our original order, all went extremely well. Apart from the food there was plenty of discussion, even more laughter and a real feeling of a pleasurable evening spent in some wonderful company.

Of course we must thank Liz for organising the evening and ensuring everything ran smoothly. We think she pretended it was a school meal time...! Seriously, thank you Liz.You did a great job. Now we know who to ask to arrange our next meal out!

Not a pen or pencil in sight... and they call themselves Scribblers!

Meeting report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on 22 January 2019

Present:  Dave, Tony, Beryl, Liz, Kay, Georgina, Liliane, Jim, Anne, Derek, David, Carole, Cathy

Apologies:  Jane

Business: 

We were delighted to welcome two new members, Carole and David.

Poetry reading - Dave had been contacted by a local poet asking whether or not we would be interested in having her attend a meeting to read one or two of her poems. The general feeling was that as we are essentially not a poetry group, it wouldn’t be appropriate, so Dave will decline.

Felixstowe Book Festival (FBF) – Scribblers and Orwell Writers’ League have offered to share a two hour slot at the festival, and Meg Reid has agreed to this. Scribblers will run a flash fiction session, while OWL will do a light hearted ‘fun’ session of some description. Cathy did remind members that volunteers are crucial to the successful running of the FBF – if anyone can spare even one hour to help out, then they can contact Meg.

2019 Anthology – Gipping Press have given us a very reasonable quote, so we will be using their services again. Stories for inclusion need to be emailed to Dave, either as an attachment or within the body of the email, quite soon. As a rough guide, each member of the group can have about 2000 words to work with, whether as one long story, or as a mix of shorter ones. Competition winners and runners up were asked (told!) to offer their winning entries for inclusion.

Post Christmas meal – Liz double checked orders. Tuesday 29 January at the White Horse pub, Church Road, Felixstowe, 7 for 7.30.

Review needed - an undisclosed magazine wants to print a review of Tony’s recently published book. If there is anyone in the group who can do this review for him, he would be grateful.

Flash fiction: 

Writing ‘on the spot’ isn’t everyone’s favourite pastime, and we had to admire our new members’ courage in joining us for this session – talk about throwing themselves in at the deep end! The topic drawn (‘You are the world’s worst …’) drew groans from most of us, but as ever, we buckled down for a little over twenty minutes to see what we could come up with.

The results were very satisfying. It’s always amazing to hear how differently we use the topic, and impressive that we almost always achieve complete stories. And congratulations to new members David and Carole, who did themselves proud.

Next meeting: 5 February 2019, when the homework topic is ‘My best friend.’ in stories of up to 1000 words.

The flash fiction evening

An excellent turn out for this evening's flash fiction event including two new members, David and Carole. With a challenging subject drawn as "You are the world's worst...." it was down to twenty minutes writing albeit with a groan or two from various quarters.

The result was a really enthralling meeting with so many wonderful and diverse short stories all created in such limited time.

The pick of the bunch had to be Jim's letter to the Chairman of Marks and Spencer concerning the closure of their Felixstowe Branch. It really was hilarious! Well done Jim! 

Next week, Tuesday 29th January, is our annual social evening with a meal at the White Horse in Church Road Felixstowe (IP11 9NF) at 7pm for 7.30.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 5th February when our 1,000 word homework assignment is "My Best Friend."

Keep Scribbling!

Dave 

Our next meeting.

Hasn't the fortnight since the last meeting passed quickly? It's already coming up to our second gathering of the year in The Room at the Top. This time, as you will know, it is a flash fiction event which is popular with some and not so popular with others. 

I wonder what you have found to do without any homework? You'll all be fresh with your creative talents ready to get into the zone of writing to a subject that will be revealed on the night. These sessions are quite a lot of fun. We'll have the draw for the theme of the evening, spend about 20-25 minutes writing, have a tea and coffee break, and then read out our work.

The meeting is on Tuesday 22nd January and starts at 7.30pm when the door will be locked for security purposes.

A week later, on Tuesday 29th January is our 'Christmas' social with a meal at the White Horse in Church Lane Felixstowe. Details will be confirmed at our meeting.

We have a very reasonable quote from Gipping Press for our forthcoming anthology which is acceptable. Now is the time to think about being a published writer - if you never have been before, then there is a really lovely feeling seeing your work in print. So please, on behalf of Beryl, Georgina and myself, start sending in your short stories, poems or other work for inclusion. At the outset we are suggesting two short stories of any length, which should be sent to this email address. Your work might be some of your homework from the past, or a completely new stories. The choice is yours.

The anthology will again include current and, hopefully, former members as in the past. The absolute cut-off time to submit work will be the end of February to allow time to check the work and formulate the contents.  More details will follow later.

Hope to see you on Tuesday complete with writing material...!

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave