MINUTES OF WOKING WRITERS’ CIRCLE MEETING AT ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL, HORSELL ON 40th JULY 2023

Present: Peter, Sarah, Nathan, Tricia, Liz, Colette, Keith, Amanda, Simona

INTRODUCTIONS

The Circle welcomed two guests, Nathan and Colette and Peter invited everyone for a short introduction:

Peter, our member of 10 years and retired engineer, writes informally and is currently working on a novel. He sometimes writes poetry and has in the past written plays. Peter enjoys the group’s range of skills and diverse points of view and finds these beneficial in his own development.

Nathan, one of our guests, is 24 and has been writing poems since 15. He tried writing short stories but finds more connection with poetry as it is more entrenched in the human experience. He finds poetry realistic, connected to human emotion. He also enjoys writing haikus.

Tricia has been a member of the club for a while and has enjoyed writing a variety of genres. Recently she has written poems, short stories, and short plays.

Liz is longest standing member of the club and currently writes poems, short stories. She compares poetry to icebergs in the sense that there is more the lower down you go. She has in the past written plays. Liz thinks that the secret to witing successfully is sitting down and writing. Liz calls herself in jest ‘extremely talented and old’ and is currently writing her autobiography in free verse with the working title ‘To be continued’.

Colette, our other guest, writes poetry when it whizzes through her mind, and she likes to write difference pieces and then put it all together. She currently has roughly 50 poems and has had some published in her Chiropractors’ publications. She has been writing for 5/6 years.

Keith’s background is diverse and has trained as an artist in the past but switched to tech. During this time, he has written some poems painted some paintings but since retirement he became more invested and took up the pen again and put enough poems together to publish a book. He is keen on improving and found use in the feedback received from the Circle.

Amanda has attributed a lot of her writings to the Circle. She has written plays, theatre reviews, started writing a novel, like many of us, and has found her own writing style: satire inspired by her work life, some as therapy and some and entertainment. Watch out for her Tanzania Diary as she embarks on her new adventure. Amanda is thankful for everyone’s feedback and support.

Simona joined the Circle in 2022 in the hopes of getting feedback and some help in writing her own sci-fi novel. She is grateful for the feedback and encouragement received and is hopeful she can give some back.

Sarah has been a member of the Circle for 10 years and likes to write and experiment with short stories, poetry, little plays. The circle inspired her to look into other areas of writing and has helped with discipline in writing.

NEWS

With Amanda’s departure and the changes in management at Woking Theatre, Tricia has volunteered to take over and presented the new System. She then explained to the group that under the new system if a member expresses interest in different plays on at the theatre they should register this with Tricia who will then help fill a form in and submit to Woking Theatre. The theatre can give 2 tickets away and a review has to be written and published within 48 hours of attendance.

Simona presented the group with the business cards and distributed some. It was agreed that she will drop some off at the Lionsheart Bookshop

Liz’s book club next book to be read is Kate Atkinson’s ‘The shrines of gayety’.

Sarah’s Article was published in Woking News and Mail and a new member joined as a result. We are thankful to Sarah for putting it together and Liz for helping publish the article.

READINGS

Peter, in acceptance of our prior meeting homework wrote a poem, ‘Levelling (or power of poetry)’. In his opinion, poems should have no more than 40 lines and asks the group to help him trim his poem down post reading. Keith states that he takes a different meaning of the word ‘leveling’ as it puts the reader and the writer on the same plane bringing it all. Peter thinks his poem is chaotic and lacks direction but Nathan counters with the fact that poetry is art for the poet, poet’s own expression, and the poet’s mind doesn’t always run in a straight line. AT the end of the day, it is up to the reader to interpret. Liz enjoyed how Peter performed his poem and did suggest that some statements can be cut out. Sarah agrees the piece is a lovely performance poem and suggests adding a recording to the website. Amanda points out that the poem’s structure is great as on one hand he tells what poetry is on the other he shows what it is.

Keith’s two poems, ‘Barnsley Brian’ and ‘9 Carols and lesson Christmas Eve’ are in an exciting musical contrast, both part of Keith’s experiences. Keith’s performance of his first poem delighted the group but the group was more hooked on his second poem in which Keith tried to convey the image of his own experience and how he would have sounded like a boy. Tricia liked the repetition of ‘cassock and ruff’ as it brings memories and formality and rigidity to the poem but with so much emotion hidden beneath the surface. She liked the fact it inspires so much emotion to people listening. Peter stated repetition works extremely well. Liz enjoyed the simplicity, the accessibility, the pace, and thought it was magic. Keith was praised for his performance and confidence in performing his poems.

Nathan began by stating that a lot of his poems are melancholic, sad as he finds it easier to tap into these feelings. His first poem ‘Waiting for me’, was written when he felt doubt in regard to a person in his life. Liz thought it was very lyrical and could be turned into a beautiful song, with everyone else in agreement. Peter said that this could be another version of ‘Footprints in the sand’ and that he liked the rhyming pattern. Tricia stated that the contrast between all different situations and the way he chose to describe them worked really well. Keith asked how long it took Nathan to write to which Nathan replied that it took him roughly 30 minutes to an hour and that this is the only version with minor edits. Nathan then presented a haiku, ‘The great wave’ which the group found very inspirational.

Colette brought 2 poems to be read inspired by the skill of her chiropractor in helping with her pain. One of them was very well received by her chiropractor and was published in their magazine. Amanda suggested there is much humour in it and had a feeling of Pam Ayres to it. Liz said the poem was pacey and witty. Peter enjoyed that it was humorous and informative. Her next poem was well received but the group suggested it can be split into two as the part relating to golf was very humorous by itself.

Sarah read a poem Heather had written for Amanda. Amanda teared up. Amanda extending thanks to Heather.

Liz’s piece was inspired by her ‘Little red book’ in which, as a child she had kept a diary. Tricia thought it was very interesting piece and a little bit funny. Amanda found it is a beautiful piece of prose and suggested to keep the story focused on a single day. Tricia on the other hand thought that she enjoyed the individual days as they are nice and punchy and connects the reader to the individual situations. Keith asked if it was a challenge to write as an adult remembering what they thought as a child.

Simona read one of her chapters on which she was working to improve pace via dialogue. Peter suggested that Telin’s way of speaking may not fit into the context, but Nathan countered that since the genre is sci-fi there is more freedom on how the characters can speak. Amanda found the piece intriguing especially due to naming convention of fauna (‘firebellies’).

Sarah’s piece, ‘The woman and the vase’ was an intriguing story. Peter sked if there was something in the vase itself but Sarah kindly suggested that therein lies the mystery. Sarah’s next piece took as inspiration the ‘The Woking statues’. The group was divided in whether they can relate to their existence or not, but everyone enjoyed the piece suggesting this as an addition to the website. Peter thought that Sarah described them quite accurately.

Upon completion of the readings, Amanda was presented with a card signed by everyone. Amanda, we will miss you dearly but fully expect you join us sometimes via zoom.

Sarah gave Simona a card and played a song recorded by her as a present for her upcoming wedding. Simona was very grateful for the warmth and affection she received.  

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, 17th of August

Homework: Poetry is art for the wordsmith.

Chairperson: Tricia

Milk and biscuits: Liz

Wine: Simona

Minutes: Peter