Fast approaching...

A reminder that our ‘photographic’ meeting takes place on Tuesday next (18^th October) in The Room at the Top. For this meeting you should bring along a photograph or postcard that can be used as a writing prompt in what will essentially be a flash fiction evening. All pictures will be placed face down and shuffled on the table. Everyone will then select one and like magic, you will have your personal prompt. There will be a limited time to write your words before sharing them with everyone. This has always proved a popular exercise that has always provided many really great words. Don’t forget to bring pen/pencil and paper! The meeting starts at 7.30.

Here’s a website that will provide a list of competitions, some free to enter and might well give everyone the incentive to step out of their comfort zones and enter a few. Who knows? The standard of writing here at Scribblers is quite high and could result in a win or two. A stepping stone to real success maybe?

 https://www.dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-2016/

Coming up next month is our AGM. I would appreciate your candid views of the Scribblers, the programmes and homework topics that are set. Are the meetings correctly structured? Do you have any thoughts on making improvements to our format or introducing new topics?

On the question of membership, have you any thoughts on increasing numbers, possibly trying to attract a younger element to the fold? I have left sending out a press release until after the AGM.

I’d love to hear your thoughts that might add some spice to the AGM!

Until Tuesday,

Keep Scribbling!

On the radio,,,

Sorry I've been somewhat remiss in not putting this on FB for a while. So Friday, tune in to ICR on 105.7fm or via the internet, tune app, and various others at 12.30-1300. for The Suffolk Reading Festival.
On the show Friday:-

The Sword of the Kings by ADW Shearman.
(Chapter - Ambush pt1)
Beryl Sabel reads the book.
Tony Shearman the Brackets, and Man
Sheila Martin is Eimer Deville.
David Miller is Sam Wunnells
Martin Jarvis is Michael Kobblars
Brian England is Zschiddte ver Brainnze
Robin Saunders is Noel Hope

Oh Whistle and I'll come to you my lad by M R James.
Debbie Coveney reads the book
Brian England is Parkins
Robin Saunders is Colonel Wilson
Su Stedman is the Maid

Just a Suffolk boy
Written and read by Dave Feakes

Friday Evening by Beryl Sabel
Read by David Miller

Hope you enjoy them.

Tony

Meeting report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 04 October 2016

Present:  Dave, Mairead, Beryl, Liliane, Jim, Steve, Di, Dick, Jane, Cathy
Apologies: Carolyn

Business:  None

It was good to have a better turnout for this meeting, and we were all glad to that Dick was well enough to join us again. He thanked the group for the ‘get well’ wishes. Nice to welcome Di back after her absence too.
Mairead told us that her niece has a book due for publication in December – clearly good writing is a family trait!

Readings: the theme for the homework was either ‘election’ or ‘where’s the fire extinguisher?’, or a combination of both.We heard some excellent pieces – and such a variety. We had murder, organ donation, life from the point of view of a fire extinguisher (yes, really!) – and lots more.

Jim: - Vote – Vote!  A school dining hall is being used as a polling station and the smell of mashed potato annoys Tracey the bored Poll Clerk.

Steve: The fire extinguisher

Mairead: A dull week at conference

Jane: Broken waters

Di: My family

Beryl: The fire extinguisher

Dave: And the lights went out. Tom was chairman of the historical project group. He was resigning and that caused a lot of friction. Tonto, his opponent, wanted the job. Fights broke out before the election could begin. Tom tried to calm things, called for the fire extinguisher only to see it hurtling towards him...

Liliane: Of politics and religion

There was time after the readings and a good, chatty coffee break, to have a short flash fiction event. Dave tossed the words ‘café and generation’ into the mix, and we spent fifteen minutes scribbling – with some great tales emerging. A ‘well done’ is due to the members of the group who’ve never done flash fiction before, but had a crack at it anyway – very successfully.

Next meeting: that's on Tuesday 18th October – we'll be holding another flash fiction event, this time using a photograph, postcard or picture as a prompt. All you are requested to do is bring one of these items with you, we'll turn them face down, shuffle them up and then you will select one to become the subject of your story. No prizes just a whole lot of creative fun! Doesn't that make a pleasant change not to have any homework?  

A good evening...

A better attended meeting this evening, providing a really varied collection of gripping stories that took hold of the imagination...

Later we held another flash fiction exercise, about ten minutes of writing that had to include the words 'cafe' and 'generation'. The results were astonishingly good in such a short period of time. These impromptu writing sessions have closed up what sometimes seemed like wasted time and converting it into a very useful exercise in creativity.

Next time - that's on Tuesday 18th October - we'll be holding another flash fiction event, this time using a photograph, postcard or picture as a prompt. All you are requested to do is bring one of these items with you, we'll turn them face down, shuffle them up and then you will select one to become the subject of your story. No prizes just a whole lot of creative fun! Doesn't that make a pleasant change not to have any homework?

Until next time,

Keep Scribbling!!!  

Writing workshops

It is time for the reminder of our forthcoming meeting. Yes, it's almost here again. This Tuesday 4th October in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library beginning at 7.30 pm. The challenge for the homework assignment gave the option of writing about 'Election', or 'Where's the Fire Extinguisher?'  or as an alternative you could combine the two subjects together in one story of up to 1,000 words. Of course if these do not suit you then you can bring any piece of your work along providing it stays within the word limit.

After the disappointing attendance last time we are hoping to see a few more chairs filled this time. 

A sad note for some of us who have been interested and participated in MASH stories. It's the end of the line for the them unfortunately. Their team sent out a message that is reproduced in the next post down.

Hoping to see you all at Scribblers on Tuesday,

Until then,

Keep Scribbling!!!

End of the line

At Mash Stories, the day one competition ends is traditionally the same day the next one begins. On October 15, however, Mash Stories will close its digital doors. After one dozen competitions and 300 shortlisted stories(and counting), it's time for the Mash journey to come to an end. We hope you've learned as much from this talented, international community as we have. It truly feels like turning the last page on a long, intricate book in which we've been absorbed for years, and we've had the privilege of being characters, authors, and readers all at the same time. So, to answer some questions that are popping into your gorgeous minds: There's still one more winner to come, so take chicken, bathrobeand potato and craft them into the best gosh darn piece of flash you've ever written by 15 October.  The Mash Stories website along with all published stories and blog articles will stay online. You will still receive feedback on your submission. All Mash Club members will be reimbursed for any pre-paid quarters.  Don't unsubscribe! This newsletter will continue to send you new shortlisted stories and blog articles until the final winner is announced. I don't know about you, but we aim to cherish these final few weeks. Thanks for Mashing, Kate (yours truly since 2013) and the Mash Team