Next meeting 19 October 2012

I returned to Lanzarote on Monday 15 October and hope to see you as on Friday at the usual time, 11am, at my apartment.

Cancelled Sessions

Sadly I have to go to UK for a funeral.
Because of flight availability and prices I am afraid I am going to be away for two Fridays, 5th and 12th October.
Next session will be 19 October 2012
Hope to see you then.

Small is beautiful!

We had a smaller group this week as people had visitors and a couple still have not returned from UK but we looked at an example of a striking opening paragraph to a work in progress by one of our members, worked on a few common errors in English and found out the answer to, 'Which famous writer said that his best work was a six word story?' (which was asked in a previous blog.)

The writer was Hemingway and the story:
For sale, baby shoes, never worn.

We observed how, no matter how thoroughly we describe, how carefully we explain, there are always as many interpretations of a story as there are readers. Each reader brings something of themselves to the images and nuances of the text. Therefore, the six word story loses nothing by its brevity because it allows each reader to have a slightly different view of exactly why the shoes are unworn but nevertheless has the main ingredients of a story: a main character, or characters, action and reaction, pathos, empathy. I felt it was in a recognisable genre, as I saw it as a tragedy but Marc made us smile when he said he saw it as a comedy in which a baby was born with enormous feet! Which sort of proved the point, we all use our imagination to conjure up our version of a story.


Keeping it small we had a go at writing haiku (Based on a Japanese poetry form using 17 syllables)  before we moved to, what seemed by then quite a generous word allowance, 100 words, which non-the-less made us think about keeping our writing tight and not wasting words.

How did it go?

Week 1

We looked at some reflective pieces, done since we all met last, and examined the different styles of writing and use of language. Liz had used lots of sombre and at times quite ponderous, `over´ descriptive language to talk about her mother´s final illness. It was heavily laced with cliché, simile, alliteration and we decided that some of these literary devices might be used when it is so painful to explore your own feelings sufficiently to enable you to put them into your own words. Sometimes a cliché is needed simply because `everyone knows what it means´ and it really is the best way you can think of to transmit a feeling. It is best to avoid too many clichés particularly if the piece is to be read as opposed to listened to, they are more obvious on paper than when read out loud. Liz was writing as if speaking, telling the reader her story.

It raises a point to note: You should always consider the purpose of your writing and if preparing a speech, or anything to be read out loud do listen to it and note how it should differ from a prepared reading.

Marc´s piece was wonderfully evocative of his journey by train in Australia and captured the immediacy of writing in real time. His reflections were intrinsic to the clear description, his sense of wonder and appreciation coming across in very straightforward language with no use of cliché at all.

Sue´used a poem to deflect grief over Brian´s cancer journey, using humour and light hearted language to express admiration for Brian in a way that it would be impossible to do as straight dialogue. It allows for emotion to be expressed without becoming ´emotional´. ( Only one cliche´!)

Peter expressed his feelings well in a short piece demonstrating how much can be said in relatively few words. It was very expressive and came across as open and honest, almost like a diary entry, writing down his feelings without artifice. It seemed to be a desire to express, vent his genuine feelings rather than a desire to impress.

The writing exercise produced some varied responses, and some humour, also in reflective pieces although everyone had total choice and the brief was simply to write for 15 minutes on one of seven random headings.

Two people wrote about `Drinking Tea´, Lyn commenting on the enduring but changing nature of tea drinking amongst the British and Marc telling us about his father, a champion tea drinker whose ashes are stored in his favourite tea tin, in which every dent and smudge evokes memories.

Liz explored her fascination with `Crime´, Peter entertained us with a tale of waking up, after a boozy night to `The Smell of Nail varnish´ which he discovered he was wearing, Jackie made us laugh with a piece on `Running Water ´that began quite poetically and led to a need to run to the bathroom! Sue bemoaned the difficulties of finding appropriate `Plastic bags´.

Wrong date!!!!

Please note, the date on the previous blog is wrong. It should read 14 SEPTEMBER not December. Sorry!

Term Starts on 14 December 2012

In order to get in a minimum of eight, and possible ten sessions without a break we should start the new term on 14 September, with the option to have a couple of extras in December.
Ideas for this term include, 'Think Again,' which is about taking your first thought but giving it a twist.
We have thought about economy of language before but I bet you don't know which famous author said that his best work was a six word story! I have used Louise Doughty's column again for a couple of ideas, a three word starter and 'bad writing' which is about over use of adjectives and cliche. I am going to reuse a couple of very old sessions, as we have said before it is interesting to see how those who have seen them before tackle them as their writing has developed over time, and they will be new to some members anyway. We might have a look at verbs of movement, how many can you think of off the top of your head?

Having classes at my apartment seemed to work all right earlier in the year so I propose to hold the sessions there again, at the same time, 11.00 till 13.00 on Fridays. I have a small prize to present for the story competition from last term on Week 1. We are to have Lena back with us, arriving on the island on 27 September and hoping to join us for a couple of sessions from 28 September. (Pencil in 28 September for lunch after the session, Lena is on holiday after all!)

We could accommodate a couple of extra people, especially as one or two will not be back for the first couple of weeks. So, if you know anyone who is interested please encourage them to consider joining us. They have nothing to lose if they decide after a few sessions that it is not for them, there is no obligation to sign up for a  set number of sessions and if other commitments mean that they cannot come every week that should not be too much of a problem.

Looking forward to seeing as many as possible of the old crew on the 14th.
Sue

Due to some family problems and illnesses in UK my plan to resume Writing Group sessions on 11 May looks rather optimistic. Please keep a check on the blog and I will try to let you know, asap when I will be able to return to Lanzarote.My mum has been quite poorly and is still in hospital but I did think she was a little brighter today and we are hopeful that she will be able to return home soon. Steve's father is a different story. I have spoken to him and he sounds remarkably himself whilst saying to me that he is sure I understand that ' there is a lot of front involved'. So  I  will share the following if I may:


In the end-of-life care stage of his cancer journey Brian decided he wanted to go out on his own! No-one believed he had the strength to get onto his scooter. I had a phone-call from Steve saying he was on a stake out. He had tracked him to the garden centre and was hiding in the corner of the car park to see what he did. I had an image, which I have shared with some of you all ready of Steve peering through binoculars over the open car door with his beanie hat on, like some urban guerilla. Brian made his purchases, though he had to let Steve take them home in the car, just the purchases, not his Dad! The next day he went into the hospice. He is being amazing and has moved on from the anger. He wants to plant the flowers so that when they grow Bet will look at them and think of him. For the least sentimental or demonstrative couple I know this is some turn around!

 With apologies to Jenny Joseph this is my quick parody on a very famous, favourite poem and my little tribute to Brian:

Warning:

When I am an old geezer I shall drive a scooter

with a helmet and gauntlets that look ridiculous

I shall spend money on grow bags and plants

even if we only have a yard!

I shall park on yellow lines if I feel like it

and wave my stick at policemen and honk my horn at idiots on the road

in a gleeful, outrageous manner.

I shall wear what I want

insult who I want

and teach my grandson to spit.

 

You can sit about in your long-johns all day if you want

and smoke to your hearts content

You can drink whisky in bed

and swear at the computer

 

For years we conformed and paid the mortgage

and worried about what people think.

We socialised and kept abreast

but maybe it's time for a change;

Time to start being eccentric and vague

so people will come to expect

 to see me around, enjoying myself

running about on my scooter.

Sue Almond May 2012

For those who may not know the original:

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

By Jenny Joseph 

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin sandles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer mats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.