MINUTES OF WOKING WRITERS’ CIRCLE MEETING AT STROLLERS ON 19 OCTOBER 2017

Present: Greg, Hilary, Heather, Alan, Ramzan, Tricia, Liz, Carla, Sarah DD, Cathy

Apologies: Peter, Dermot, Sarah SH

News:

Alan has contacted Tara Stevenson, Woking council’s arts development officer, about his First World War story featuring the Pyrford Stone to see if there would be interest in making it into a play. There was plenty of interest within WWC and confirmation that there would be enough people to play the characters involved.

Greg advised that the agm of WWC would take place immediately before the start of the November meeting, at 7pm. He announced that he will be retiring as treasurer and we should think about appointing an acting secretary while Dermot convalesces.

Greg reported that it looked likely that WWC would be able to stay on in the present hall at the same hire rate. The meetings would need to start earlier, ie 7pm and finish at 9.30pm. Greg will clarify the position in due course.

Hilary won the NAWG David Nobbs short story prize with ‘My Friend the Enemy’, which was a brilliant achievement as there were some 400 entries. Her achievement was enthusiastically applauded by those present!

Hilary suggested that the group should think about producing an anthology. She will find out more about this.

Liz advised that the next meeting of the Book Group will be held on 27 November. The book to be discussed is Jodie Picoult’s ‘Small Great Things’.

Readings

Greg read his review of an evening with the performance poet, Roger McGough, at Farnham Maltings. Roger performed with ‘Little Machine’ blending music with poetry.  Greg enthused everybody with his lively account of what was obviously a most enjoyable evening, quoting some of Roger’s droll lines such as, ‘Lungs will be cloudy at first …’

Carla read her poem, ‘Ants’. This was a very well-written and enjoyable poem, conveying the struggle against an invasion of ants. Every non-toxic weapon was employed before finally an ant killer had to be put down. The precision of language and range of emotions in the poem were remarkable.

Ramzan’s story, ‘Friendship’, featured a recent trip he and his wife had made to China and Thailand. They had visited Beijing when people were converging in their thousands to celebrate the Chinese National Day. The crowds and queues were vividly described and there was plenty of Ramzan’s trademark humour, including the ‘full body massage’ episode!

Hilary had prepared an 800-word synopsis for ‘thefuturebookshelf.co.uk’ of her book, ‘Bin Liners’. One point for clarification was raised, but all agreed that this was a very skilful piece of writing which gave a clear summary of the novel without giving too much away – a difficult trick to pull off! ‘Bin Liners’ is a coming of age novel.

Heather read her poem, ‘A Messy Ending’, which remembered the unfortunate and painful conclusion of a close friendship. It was agreed that the emotional pain of the experience was conveyed in the poem.

Liz had drafted a speech for her daughter’s wedding in America. She wanted to tell the American family about the Lenny family, including how she and Robin met. Liz also was thinking of incorporating ocean imagery. Everybody agreed that the focus needed to be on Liz’s daughter and that it would be best to keep the speech short.

Cathy read her short story, ‘Take a Letter, Miss Jones’. This was about Sonia who is getting married. Her employer is intent on laying off workers, making use of new machinery to do their work. Sonia seizes an opportunity to warn her colleagues about these plans by replacing a slip in their wage packets with a note telling them what is planned. This was a hugely enjoyable and satisfying story which moved at a rapid pace. One or two felt that the pace could have been slowed slightly, with possibly fewer references to biscuits (which are an essential part of office life, of course!).

Alan’s story, ‘A Heartfelt Change’, featured the unsettling scenario of a man found dead by the roadside. The undercurrent of menace and the revealing insights into relationships between all characters were cleverly sustained and kept everybody hanging on Alan’s every word. The action is progressed mainly by dialogue without a word being wasted.

Sarah DD read a beautiful piece, ‘Friend or Foe?’ which featured another yoga adventure. She expressed the difficulty that can occur when trying to switch off the mind from busy thoughts during the relaxing practice of shavasana. Linking to the homework subject, the question was explored: does the mind serve us as friend or foe?

Tricia’s poem, ‘Fast Girls Walking’, about a group of women walking fast together and singing ‘in fellowship, if not in tune’ was enjoyed by all. It radiated camaraderie and good humour and reflected the pace of the walkers as they tackled the Two Saints Way.

Next Meeting: Thursday 16 November. AGM – 7pm, Monthly Meeting 7.30pm.

Chair: Ramzan

Minutes: Heather/Tricia

Wine: Shaun

Milk and Biscuits: Sarah SH

Homework: The Bamboo Curtain