Hi everyone. You may have seen that I suggested for the 25-Jun meeting to look at what we do at future meetings. One idea we talked about was setting tasks either to be completed during the meeting or to bring to the next one.

Lets kick-off here with both task suggestions and other ideas for meeting activities. Oh, and do read Nic’s story for feedback on the 25th

A really interesting and enjoyable meetup today attended by Nic, Collin, Jim, Rose, Milton Brian and Alan.

• Alan was welcomed to the group and introductions made. Alan, a friend of Brian, is a seasoned writer to the level of a lot of the group.
• The Blog was discussed and it appears to be on the right track. Rather than reproduce here the explanations on what can and can’t be done, a help page will be added to the Blog.
• Agreed that stories can be emailed to Milton and an attachment will be added to the blog. These may be writings read at a meet-up so anyone who couldn’t make the meeting can enjoy it, or stories circulated prior to the next meet-up so members can give a more considered review and feedback.
• Readings
  • Colin: Read the first chapter of the book he’s been working on for some time ‘Act of Faith’ and is now inspired to crack on with his project.
  • Milton: Read his second short story ‘Rouge’
  • Rose: Read her story ‘Tea in a Badly Stained Cup’ which was published in a lottery funded collection of stories of ‘The First Draft Writers Group’. Copies were distributed to Wire Libraries
  • Alan: Read a short story that he wrote specifically for this meet-up ‘The Fright of His Life’
  • Brian: Read the first chapter of his work in progress book ‘The ‘Enemy Has No Face’
• Tips –
  • A free Open University creative writing course is available, Nic to try and get more details.

Let us know where you’re up to and what you’re bringing to, or hoping to get from, the next meeting on 11th June. With your input we can start to make the blog interactive.

As part of the Stockton Heath Festival and organised by Stockton Heath Writers Group, a story/poetry reading event is being held at St. Thomas’ Church on Saturday 6th July at 11:00 am.

A great initial meeting attended by Nic, Collin, Sylvia, Jim, Rose, Milton and Brian.

• Name agreed ‘Wonky Writers’.
• All genres welcomed.
• Meet every two weeks for two hours, Nic to ask Ann to discuss this with the Strategic Library Manager.
• Feedback on how the sessions should be run with a task based project idea well received. Agreed that for the first few weeks though, we would discuss any on-going writing projects of the group with readings as appropriate.
• Milton will set up a blog
• Tips –
  • Jim: Subscribe to ‘Crystal’ magazine for ideas and to get published
  • Brian: Keep an ideas book at hand (“waking up at all hours of the night and making notes until your head is empty” is optional)