MINUTES OF WOKING WRITERS’ CIRCLE MEETING AT ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL, HORSELL ON 17 MARCH 2022

Present: Greg, Peter, Amanda, Emily, Alan, Carla, Heather, and Liz (on Zoom)

Apologies: Dan, Tricia, Hilary

News:

Greg: The Woking News and Mail has published an article featuring Greg’s latest poetry collection, The Fall of Singapore’, marking the 80th anniversary of this event. The collection is available to buy from Greg or from Dempsey and Windle’s website. The online launch will take place on Wednesday, 30 March and Greg has sent the link to members. Attendees are required to sign up by 26 March on Eventbrite.

Greg advised that St Mary’s Church Horsell is making a tremendous effort to provide support to the Ukraine at this dreadfully difficult time.

Carla has had two poems published by the online Canadian magazine, Toasted Cheese and another article accepted by the Margaret Atwood Society. Carla is writing another article on Margaret Atwood’s poetry and has been asked to write several reviews. All were in awe of Carla’s achievements and industry!

Amanda reported that a review of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe had been requested. Emily said she would be going and would be happy to produce a review for the WWC website, which was greatly appreciated by all.

Heather had had a poem shortlisted for the Childhood Games poetry competition in Writing magazine.

Subscriptions: A reminder about subscriptions – Treasurer Hilary would be grateful if outstanding subscriptions (currently £30.00) could be paid, please. Hilary will be pleased to supply bank details if members contact her by email, or in cash at the next meeting.

Readings

Heather read a poem, Fallen Cedar, written after the 150-year-old tree in her garden had been felled by Storm Eunice. The sounds associated with the destruction and the scents and stirrings after the storm were appreciated.

Carla read two poems about memories of her mother. My Mother had been written after a dream in which Carla had felt surrounded by her love. The second poem, Hospital Nights, tenderly conveys her mother’s constancy throughout the three nights after Carla’s caesarean delivery, when her husband could not stay with her. The wording brilliantly captured the softness and helplessness of the babies, ‘curled up and soft like kittens’. Both poems powerfully conveyed the enduring strength of the relationship between Carla and her mother.

Greg read a prose excerpt followed by a poem, Liberation 1945, from ‘The Fall of Singapore’. A found poem inspired by letters from his grandmother to his father, Greg’s poem vividly captures her disbelief and excitement on hearing he is alive. The straightforward, everyday language gives the poem realism and depth. There was an interesting discussion about war as a universal experience and the power of writing as a way of relating to the experience.

Emily read a chapter from her book which she had revised taking account of comments and advice given at a previous WWC meeting. Greg and others congratulated Emily on having achieved far greater sensory depth in this version and Alan said how authors should consider the balance of dialogue and narrative to maintain interest and pace. It was suggested that references to eye contact could be a powerful barometer of feelings, as could half-finished sentences.

Liz read an Epistolatory Ode to Ollie, which was an affectionate farewell to her physiotherapist. This was a humorous, personal and warm piece; all agreed that it was no surprise that Ollie and her colleagues had enjoyed this tribute.

Alan’s story, Eye Contact, held everyone’s attention with its underlying anxiety about whether Toby’s sister could be aware that a will had been changed in Toby’s favour. The tense exchanges between Toby and Melissa combined with disturbing phrases, such as the ‘sloping landscape that seemed to slither rather than slope’ to heighten the uneasiness. The final shock of the unveiled portrait was truly startling, with some wondering if it could have been slightly too sudden.

Amanda has produced two reviews which appear on the WWC website. There was an interesting discussion about ways of dealing with a rather lack-lustre performance without being unkind to hard-working performers. It was agreed that positive points should always be emphasised.

Peter had written a fictional piece, 9 September 1939, written in the first person. Although this was fiction, Peter had drawn heavily on his father’s wartime experiences and the result was totally convincing. All agreed that the writing was very much in tune with the uncertainties of today. Again, an interesting discussion followed and Peter talked about several of his father’s incredible experiences, any one of which would have made a spellbinding story.

Next meeting: Thursday, 21 April at 7.30pm

Chair: Peter

Minutes: Greg/Heather

Carla: Wine

Amanda: Milk and biscuits