Different doors, different viewpoints

If I lived in a town or a city and when opening my front door I heard gunshots, I’d run for cover and immediately phone the police. But where I live I regularly open my front door and hear gunshots and think nothing of it. Those guns aren’t threatening me, but causing serious concern for the bunnies in the fields.

It’s important when you’re writing to decide which viewpoint you are writing from and to stick to it. As you can see, same scenario but different viewpoint and you have a totally different story.

Chairman's Challenge

Last month's Chairman's Challenge was 'battlefields'. Our treasurer Bryan had the unenviable task of judging it. When he sent me the results his comment was

'It was really hard actually, I was staring at the last 6 for ages, and eventually just had to go with my gut feel.'

So, in the nicest possible way, well done Wrekin Writers for giving Bryan such a hard time.

1st - Di Perry

The atmosphere had already started to build even though the battlefield was empty. They waited, impatient for it to commence, but the pushing and shoving had begun. Eye contact had been made and now there was no going back. The desire to achieve their goal was obvious.

They all held their breath as the huge sword was lifted into the air and sliced down onto the blood red ribbon to officially open the W.I Jumble sale.

2nd - Nicola Vincent

Milan, January 1995. In the narrow confines of the apartment, five hundred miles from the battlefields of Yugoslavia, a truce is called . Serb and Croat recognise diplomacy as the only way to co-exist.

In a language foreign to both, courtesies are observed and, if unavoidable, the briefest of conversations.

The shared experience of destruction and loss counts for nothing. Only recently they were neighbours, if never quite friends. Now, there is only distrust; an unspoken hatred.

The world watches as tensions between Belgrade and Zagreb blaze out of control, while behind shutters in Milan a nervous peace is found.

3rd - Dorothy Vincent

Go on I dare you!

Take a peak in Simon’s bedroom. No you don’t need to leg it over to his place, all you need to do is get this month’s copy of Writer’ Forum. Featured in this month’s ‘my writing space’ is our very own Simon Whaley and yes you’ve guessed it, his writing space is in his bedroom.

An expose it is but don’t worry your blushes have been spared. The photograph shows Simon sitting at an incredibly tidy desk with the ubiquitous mug of tea clasped in his hand. The article tells how a small corner of his bedroom has been turned into his workspace and how his filing system works.

Does it matter where you work? No it doesn’t, what is important is that you write. Simon, when he saw my cupboard, said he envied my space, away from house and all mine. Sadly though, and now it’s confession time, I don’t do half as much work in there as I should. Which goes to prove the old saying ‘it’s not what you’ve got, it’s how you use it’ and look at how successful Simon has become from the corner of his bedroom.

Food for thought.

Chairman's Challenge

I judged last month's chairman's challenge and believe me it wasn't easy. As usual the group had interpreted the subject 'out of the comfort zone' in so many ways and the standard was incredibly hight.

However there had to be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd and they are as follows

1st Beverley Woodhead with 'Little Jimmy shares a problem'

The Cartwright family had made a lifestyle-choice move from one side of the globe to the other.

Compared to the rat race, climatic and economic gloom of Britain, Singapore was fantastic! Great climate, a lovely, reasonably priced home by the beach and many opportunities.

Something was bothering little Jimmy though.

“Mummy,” he announced “My jumper feels funny.”

“What do you mean darling?” Janet asked, perturbed by his unease.

“It’s all hard and itchy, Mummy.”

“Oh Jimmy. The problem is, we just can’t buy the fabric conditioner over here like we did back home. Singapore is unfortunately outside the ‘Comfort’ zone.”

2nd - Daryl Parker

Dear James,
I am writing to say we are over,
I have moved to the city,
And you have your sunflower fields.
And like the sunflowers we have had our season.
However don’t get me wrong.
What a season we had together.
My dearest love – Alice.

3rd - Mike White

Cutlery

We slept like spoons,
Secure and content.
But knives were drawn
And our ways forked.
Now we lie alone
In separate drawers.

Childhood Memories

Tonight I was jeered by a group of kids hanging around in Craven Arms, they called me a ‘spastic’ and made comments about the way I walk. Their comments really upset me. I haven’t been called that in years not since the taunts of the kids when I was at school. In those days it was deemed as not a nice thing to say but they did it anyway. Nowadays things are different, I have the right to make a formal complaint but that doesn’t mend the upset that was caused.

Driving home, the memories of my childhood came flooding back but I ended up laughing. When I was in primary school I had to wear orthopaedic boots and one kid really had it in for me. He called me all the names under sun until finally, aged about six, I totally snapped and kicked hell out of him. I can remember standing there before the headmistress as she said to me ‘Susan dear, I know what ******* said to you was not nice but really dear, you shouldn’t have kicked him.’ The gentle reprimand was not a problem but the satisfaction of getting my own back was immense.

The point of this, it takes real guts to be a writer. At times you have to kick out against everything you’d rather not do. It’s easy to write something and then hide it away rather that subject it to another person’s eyes, especially an editor for their comments, criticisms etc but that’s what a writer does – they throw self reservations to the wind and go for it and like I felt when I was six, the satisfaction of posting that envelope or pressing send, is immense.

Wrekin Writers go for it and I’ll look forward to the successes at the next meeting and remember our successes aren’t only the work that is accepted but you get points towards the Wrekin Writer of the Year Award for all submissions you make.

Good luck and keep writing but more importantly – enjoy it.

Wrekin Writers have a day out

And what a day out it was. The weather was perfect, the setting idyllic and thanks to the 08.53 train from Shrewsbury the chair was late. However, that didn’t spoil anything. Instead of our usual venue we had the pleasure of meeting in the tea rooms at Attingham Park. Fired up by tea, coffee, biscuits, a full house and three new members we began our meeting. After our usual ‘creeping death’ where we introduce ourselves to new members we went around the room with ‘successes’ and what a list. Wrekin Writers haven’t stopped scribbling since the last meeting – well done to everyone. As usual our Chairman’s Challenge provided both laughs and tears as members wrote their interpretation in 100 words on a single word ‘battlefield’. A read around with constructive feedback proved to be a useful exercise and one that was enjoyed by all.

After the meeting some of us stayed for lunch which was great fun. It gave us chance not only to share our writing but also to have a laugh, God we can be a noisy bunch at times but it was good to socialise outside the meeting.

When we finished lunch we made our way around to the side of the house where we met Martin. Dressed in the style of an eighteenth century gentleman Martin was our guide on a tour of the house and what an amazing guide he was. Leading us around the house he brought to life the story of the Berwick family who lived in the house for over 160 years. A story which included bankruptcy, love and political corruption, just the sort of thing to fire our imaginations which it certainly did. Then a stroll around the park in glorious sunshine brought to an end a perfect day out for us all.

My most sincere thanks must go to Wrekin Writer Dorothy Nicolle who organised the event for us and the staff at Attingham Park. Mark, the property manager, Catherine, who is helping us with the book fair in May and Elaine the catering manager who made sure we were all fed and watered.

If our day out was anything to go by, the Book Fair we are taking part in on the 3rd and 4th May will be fantastic. An event we are all looking forward to.


Attingham Park is a National Trust Property for more information please check out their website

My thanks also to Simon Whaley for the pictures I've used in this blog. If you'd like to see more pictures and a short video Simon took of our day out check out our website

Ten good reasons to enter the Doris Gooderson Competition

1. You have a deadline to work to. Okay you might think that the 13th July is months away, which it is and that you don’t need to worry about it yet but you’ll be surprised how quickly it will come around. So start writing now, you don’t want a mad panic on the 12th July.
   
2. Entering the competition will focus your mind and give you something to work towards.
   
3. The satisfaction of producing a finished and polished piece of work.
   
4. The excitement of waiting for the results to be announced.
   
5. It’s only 1200 words
   
6. You get four entries for £10 which is much cheaper to enter than a lot of competitions.
   
7. You will help keep your subscriptions down for 2010.
   
8. Your story could very well end up being published in the 2009 anthology. Fame at last.
   
9. You will get points towards the Wrekin Writer of the Year competition.
   
10. You will make Sue very happy
    

So log on to our website, download your entry form and get scribbling. You never know, when the results are announced – it could be you but you’ve got to be in it to win it.

Good luck