APOLOGIES: Tricia, Keith, Alan

PRESENT: Catherine, Harry, Nathan, Liz, Heather, Simona, Sarah

NEWS:
1. Heather shared her latest project which she hopes to publish into a pamphlet which stemmed from her battle with cancer. The pamphlet will be titled Beware the Exploding Yoghurt Pot, where she aimed to capture raw thoughts, balancing light-heartedness with some darker aspects of her experience.

2. Heather also celebrated winning second prize in the Arundel Poetry Competition, part of the Arundel Literary Festival, for her poem Mouse Time.

3. Liz reported on her book group’s recent discussion of Blindness by José Saramago. The group found it deeply unsettling, with Liz describing it as “hellish” and Catherine noting that while it was an unpleasant read, it was still significant and worthwhile.

4. Liz also mentioned the upcoming 20th anniversary competition for Write Out Loud, which remains open for submissions until April 11. She invited members to attend the next meeting at the Fiery Bird in Woking.

5. Catherine introduced her new blog, The Heart’s Quiet Space, where she explores grief and mindfulness. The blog is accompanied by an audio-guided meditation and is available on Substack. If you are interested, here’s the link: https://theheartsquietspace.substack.com/

READINGS

HEATHER read her poem Boundaries, which, draws from her childhood memories of visiting her grandparents in rural Devon. The group responded warmly, with Liz describing it as “magical” and Catherine noting how vividly it transported her back to her own childhood. Simona appreciated the poem’s deliberate and systematic depth and inquired about its drafting process, while Harry praised its musicality and rich imagery. Liz highlighted the contrast in language throughout the poem, while Sarah particularly enjoyed the child like wonderous reference to a humbug snail.

HARRY: Harry shared a piece written for a competition, asking for feedback. He typically writes within themes of horror and grief but challenged himself with a different approach this time. Heather praised his powerful characterisation and the natural feel of it and making her visualise the people and the bay setting. Simona pointed out four lines that might not fit, but after Harry explained his intended irony, the group was more inclined to disagree. Catherine found the final two lines unclear, while Heather noted the poem’s reflection of the awkward realities of funerals. Liz found it powerful and natural, and Catherine appreciated how the poem subtly shifted in meaning without feeling jarring. Sarah was particularly taken by how Harry’s reading style, saying that it made it feel cinematic. The group also discussed whether certain words should be italicised for emphasis.

NATHAN read his poem Escaping the Cyber, a futuristic piece exploring fears for the future. Sarah found it dense with ideas, which Nathan explained was intentional to convey an overwhelming atmosphere. Liz noted that some words felt out of place, while Heather questioned whether the rhyming scheme in the final four lines dictated the word choices too strongly. Simona suggested that moving certain elements forward could build suspense. In contrast, Harry appreciated the structure and perspective shifts. Nathan also shared a second, more concise poem (clerihews), inspired by technical short forms from different cultures, which Heather described as “neat,” and Liz praised for its economy of language.

CATHERINE presented a short story based on historical events from Renaissance Poland. While the central elements were true, the story employed the legend of Pan Twardowski to give it a supernatural, mystic tone. She felt it might need further development, particularly in characterisation. Heather noted that the piece contained little dialogue and asked if Catherine planned to expand it into a larger work. Harry suggested it could be transformed into a horror story from a servant’s perspective.

LIZ read a piece praised for its striking contrasts and sharp, descriptive narrative. Simona particularly enjoyed Liz’s use of subtle jibes throughout. Sarah found herself engrossed, and the group appreciated how the story transitioned between personal experience and historical reflection.

SARAH concluded with a dream-inspired poem, A Recent Dream, in line with the group’s assigned writing homework. Simona and Harry found it dreamlike and surreal, while Heather asked if it accurately captured her actual dream, to which Sarah confirmed it did. The poem resonated deeply with the group, leading to a second reading. Liz described it as “quite beautiful,” and Nathan enjoyed its rawness, suggesting that further polishing was unnecessary. Heather remarked on its delicate dreamlike quality, which could be lost if overworked. Harry particularly admired the line dancing the waltz to invisible music, finding it both impossible and beautifully evocative. Liz summed up the poem as “very precious.”

The meeting concluded with encouraging discussions on each reading and an appreciation for the diversity of voices within the group.

Next meeting to be held on the 17th of April 2024

Homework: ‘History’, with the added challenge that it must be in a form that you would not normally write.

Chairperson: Harry

Minutes: Heather

Milk and biscuits: Simona

Wine: Nathan