Woking Writers Circle

A welcoming writing community where we share words and grow together and where creativity, feedback and encouragement come together

Tag: Haiku

  • MINUTES OF WOKING WRITERS’ CIRCLE MEETING, ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL, HORSELL ON 19th of SEPTEMBER 2024

    Present: Tricia, Nathan, Simona, Alan, Harry, Liz, Sarah

    Apologies: Heather, Peter

    NEWS

    Liz presented a leaflet advertising the Poetry Hub, due to be launched at the Woking Library on Fridays

    READINGS

    SARAH read a piece titled ‘A Postcard from…’ inspired by her recent trip to Agatha Christie’s place which encouraged visitors to be in the moment and write. Sarah also encouraged the audience to guess where the ‘postcard’ location might be. Simona found it impressive how Sarah describes mundane events with such exciting vigour and Tricia noted that the language and turn of phrases are quite powerful and that Sarah is very good at observing people and making them come alive in her writing. Liz said she found the piece very delightfully physical and noted that Sarah is becoming bolder with her imagery. Harry loved the mix between comedy and imagery and said specific descriptions bring him back to his childhood. Alana pointed at some vividly specific descriptions.

    HARRY read some of his older poems and described them as having a darker vibe. His first poem, ‘Spotlight’ was discussed by the group to gain an understanding of some of the imagery. Simona noted that the use of some of the first-person pronouns disrupts the immersion. Sarah liked the concept of the poem but encouraged Harry to build on the poem and create a little bit more suspense. Hi Second poem ‘All consuming darkness’ was noted by Nathan as being in contradiction with his first poem. Nathan also suggested that due it’s length it could easily be used as a book extract. The group agreed that the sinister presence was felt in both poems.

    NATHAN’s poem, ‘Approaching judgment’ was well received by the group with similar feedback from Simona relating to the use of personal pronouns when generating the context of the poem. Tricia praised the poem as really powerful and liked the imagery of the last verse and noted it is almost not noticeable. Harry noted the poem being very anti-establishment with French revolution nuances and liked the transposition between wealthy nobles enjoying life before being ‘cut in half’. Liz said that Nathan’s strength comes from conciseness and that some words should be considered for removal. Nathan’s haiku, ‘Embers of love’ was discussed at length and the group offered some suggestions for making it even more powerful.

    TRICIA delighted the group with a draft of the next instalment of her Tanzania adventures. All of her pieces will be posted on our website, so please do give them a read!

    ALAN’s piece was aligned with the homework set at the last meeting and was titled ‘No unauthorised entry’. Harry loved the snappiness of the dialogue and noted that it almost sounds rhythmic, poetic, and that he would love to see it as s skit. Liz noted the piece as really effective and enjoyed that she could follow. Sarah suggested that the piece has some performative attributes.

    LIZ, inspired by a recent museum trip wrote a series of seasonal ‘Haiku from the Hogsback’ grounded in her experiences and memories on the family farm (Blackwell Farm). Simona said that while Liz is skilled at condensing experiences into haikus, she prefers Liz’ memories in a longer format as they add significantly more detail and connect with the reader much more. The group noted that perhaps Simona’s feedback comes from having already been exposed to Liz’s memoir work hence the strong preference. Nathan suggested that Liz can intersperse her memoir with haikus.

    Next meeting: Thursday, 17 October at 7.30

    Chair: Sarah

    Wine: Nathan

    Milk & Biscuits: Alan

    Minutes: Simona

    Homework: Absent friends

  • MINUTES OF WOKING WRITERS’ CIRCLE MEETING AT ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL, HORSELL ON 18th APRIL 2024

    Present: Tricia, Liz, Alan, Nathan, Simona, Heather

    Apologies: Sarah, Keith, Peter

    AGM

    The next AGM will take place on 16th May 2024 at 7.30pm. The previous AGM was held on 17th November 2022 and Minutes of this meeting are attached for information. The AGM will be held immediately before the usual Readings meeting.

    There are important matters to be resolved, including the appointment of officers, future meeting venue arrangements and subscriptions.

    It is intended to circulate a financial statement and an email concerning the appointment of officers before the AGM so that matters can be dealt with speedily on the night.

    Future Library Event

    The sub-committee – Tricia, Liz, Simona, Keith and Heather – plan to meet via Zoom before 16th May to discuss having a WWC table at Woking Library, possibly in May and September. Simona agreed to email sub-committee members to agree a date and to set up the meeting.

    News

    Liz reported that the Book Group would be reading MAUS, a graphics book recommended by Lionsheart Bookshop, or a book chosen by the reader. The next meeting would be on 24th April 2024.

    Alan and Heather had respectively sent a flash fiction piece and a poem to Barbara Gurney at Gosnells Writers Circle in Australia in response to a request for submissions. These would be published in the May newsletter.

    Regular Events for Poets

    Write-Out-Loud open mic: The last Thursday of every month (25th April) at the Fiery Bird, Goldsworth Road, Woking, GU21 6JT (next to the Fire Station). Large free car park. Event starts at 7pm, but please try to arrive around 6.45 to put your name down for reading. The cost is £5, payable in cash, and hot drinks are available, price £1.50.

    Write-Out-Loud open mic Zoom meeting: Arranged by Greg Freeman, dates advised on monthly basis. Meetings start at 7pm.

    Lionsheart Bookshop: Lionsheart have generously welcomed WWC poets to read in the first half of their poetry evenings, held on the last Saturday of each month, (27th April) starting at 7pm. Food is available but should be ordered beforehand.

    Merrist Wood College, Worplesdon

    Lionsheart Bookshop have very generously agreed to give WWC members space on their table for publicity leaflets, publications, etc. at Shynefest on 31st May. More information to follow.

    Readings

    Nathan read his very enjoyable poem, Everyone Else is an NPC, educating several members of the group even while they were laughing at the humour in the piece. (Apparently, an NPC is a Non-Playable Character in gaming language.) The rhyming scheme worked well as did the scansion and the self-mockery in the last 2 lines were very clever and much-appreciated. Nathan also contributed one his skilful trademark Haikus, The Process, which captured the idea that by nurturing a flower, it blooms twice – a reflection of the old Japanese proverb along the lines of, ‘He who chops wood, warms himself twice’.

    Heather contributed 2 poems, both of which drew on the homework subject, Perception. Viewpoint was about a visit to a care home to see a much-loved friend in the advanced stages of dementia. The poet was distressed by the care assistant blowing iridescent bubbles in front of her friend, this childish activity contrasting with her memories of her friend before she became ill, but realises in the end that she herself needed to change her viewpoint. A Trick of the Light spoke of the magical effects of evening light on a journey home and the contrast between the poet’s delight and the driver’s irritation with the driver in front.

    Alan’s story, The Dimmer Switch, was a rich concoction and contained many of Alan’s brilliant descriptions, including ‘peering like an agitated woodpecker’, ‘resigned hiccup-come-shrug’ and ‘splay-footed two-left-wellied heartiness’. The story uses garden plants to great effect and the story was, as usual, extremely clever and hugely enjoyed.

    Liz spoke of her ambition to publish a small book this year, probably containing Haikus. There was lively discussion about a possible title, with Images featuring prominently. Liz had brought along a prop almost certainly never previously featured at a WWC meeting – a slice of Gala pie. There were interesting thoughts around the table as to what members saw in this, with suns, moons and eclipses being favourites. Liz then read out a Haiku inspired by the pie, proving beyond doubt that a real writer can find inspiration in anything!

    Next Meeting: Thursday, 16th May at 7.30pm

    Chair: Peter Morley

    Minutes: Simona

    Milk and biscuits: TBA

    Wine: Heather

    Homework: Dilemma