Newsletter-May 2010

NEXT MEETING DATES FOR JUNE

Exercise Group- 12th June 2010

Novel/Short Stories Group-26th June 2010

In this Issue:
Minutes on Meeting-Exercise Group
A few of the points-
Marketing of Fairfield Writers Group
Set up of a book club
Exercise for June
Story of the month
Hand over of secretarial duties
Author talk


NEWSLETTER - MAY 2010
FAIRFIELD WRITERS GROUP

Report: meeting of Fairfield Writers Group, 8 May 2009
Present: Carol, Helga, Rosemary, Findlay, Cecilia (new member).
Apologies: Lorraine, Anna, Rachel, Yolanda

1. Helga has printed a number of A5 sized sheets which advertise the Fairfield Writers Group. They can be distributed at the presentation on 22 May as well as being available to ongoing marketing of the group.

2. Pam’s idea of members sharing their thoughts, from a writer’s perspective, about books they had been reading, was endorsed and it was agreed that this activity could be included in discussion at the coffee shop after the meeting - making it an informal element of the group’s discussion. (Members could highlight passages or aspects of the book which they particularly liked/disliked.)

3.  June exercise Anna
   July exercise Rosemary

1. May exercise Lorraine

2.
Helga’s story to be placed on the blog this month.

Carol to read aloud her story: ‘Maddie and Mackie go to the beach’.

2. Carol needs to hand over her secretarial duties to other members. She is happy to continue as Treasurer.

The following tasks already have volunteers

Managing the FWG blog

Anna has agreed to take over

Answer any new member telephone enquiries

Anna already has her name as contact; Findlay volunteered to be a contact as well.

Copy and paste minutes of both FWG meeting reports into newsletter template

Rosemary volunteered to take this over from June.

The tasks below still need a person to take over:

Forward Queensland Writers Center magazine, and any other relevant information that comes via FWG’s email address to members. Forward FWG Newsletter to members at end of each month.

Maintain list of members email addresses
Check FWG’s emails every day or so. Email: Fairfield_writers@yahoo.com.au
Answer any prospective new member email enquiries
Email ‘Welcome Letter’ to each new member
Email monthly writing exercise to members directly after the Exercises meeting
Keep Australian Writer’s Market Place Online details for FWG up to date

Rosemary


REPORT: MEETING FAIRFIELD WRITERS GROUP 22 May 2010

Apologies: Yolanda
Present: Cecilia, Karen, Anna, Findlay, Helga, Lorraine, Pam, Rosemary, Carol

There was no Novel/Short Stories Group meeting today. We were treated instead to an author talk by Estelle Pinney, author of Time out for Living, House on the Hill and her latest novel, Burnt Sunshine. The talk was kindly organised by the Fairfield Library for us and was also open to members of the public.

Estelle gave a most interesting talk about her varied paths in life and how she came to be a writer. She also told us how the characters in her books developed.

Estelle is a delight to listen to and all our members enjoyed her talk very much. A few of us bought her books and the library put on a delicious morning tea.

I will write a letter on behalf of FWG to Linda at the library thanking her for organising the talk for us.

Please check out our blog http://fairfieldwritersgroup-queensland.blogspot.com There are some interesting posts on novel writing, literary agents, and a video on show don’t tell, plus more.

Until the next meeting, happy writing everyone.

Carol

Newsletter - April 2010

In this issue:
Minutes of meeting – Exercises Group
A few of the points -
Lorraine - news
Contributor to blog for April
Exercise for May
Guest Speaker – reminder
Meeting Report – Novel/Short Stories
Group
Blog Posts for Novel Writers
Meeting Dates

April 2010
Volume 1, Number 3

Meeting Fairfield Writers Group, 10 April 2010
Exercises Group

Apologies: Rachel, Gayle, Rosemary

Present: Helga, Anna, Lorraine, Yolanda, Carol

· Chairing this meeting: Anna

· Lorraine – news: Lorraine’s children’s book, ‘Melanie’s Easter Gift’, is to be marketed in America for both their Leukaemia Foundation and Children’s Cancer Foundation. That’s excellent news!

· Assignment this month: Two Portraits at the Art Gallery
This assignment was different from the usual exercises we have done in the past
wherein it was visual with the two portraits to write about. Some members had done
a little research that added to the interest immensely. This exercise made a nice
change from the usual.

· Yolanda read out her piece of writing “The Girl in the Mirror” in response to this month’s exercise.

· Helga to submit her writing of Two Portraits at the Art Gallery to FWG’s blog.

· Lorraine’s exercise for May: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (An Exercise in Characterisation)

· Exercise for June: to be chosen by Anna

· I reminded everyone interested in attending to put their name down at the library desk for the Guest Speaker, Estelle Pinney on 22 May 2010 @ 10.30 am. I urge everyone else to do the same. I think it will be a great event and also a good opportunity for us to promote our writing group and perhaps attract some new members. Helga is producing flyers and bookmarks to hand out on the morning. Thanks Helga.

Carol

Meeting Fairfield Writers Group, 24 April 2010
Novel/Short Stories Group

We had an enjoyable meeting yesterday. It got off to a late start due to some late arrivals, but there were five present: Karen, Anna, Rachel, Pam and Lorraine. Anna chaired the meeting and Lorraine took minutes.

Karen presented the first part of a children's story targeted at an as yet undecided age group, but intended to be enjoyed by adult readers as well. She has been studying C.S. Lewis and seeking to emulate that style. The piece was educational as well as entertaining.

Lorraine presented a scene from Chapter 4 of her novel, I Might Have Been Me;

Anna has started an as yet unnamed novel about a woman writing in her diary and the beginning showed great promise. She hadn't yet decided exactly what the story would be about, and appreciated some contributions of ideas for developing the story, naming the work, and defining the central character. The style was fresh and entertaining.

Pam elected not to distribute her work for comment at the meeting, but chose to pass out copies for reading and comment afterward. She is working on a magazine article.

Rachel presented a sci-fi piece inspired by the assignment for May.

The meeting continued until 1:10pm as the critiques were all very detailed and extremely helpful. Although everyone was tired and desperate for a cuppa by the end, I think the general consensus was that the meeting was very productive.

Lorraine

PS I just wanted to add that there are two very good articles on FWG’s blog about novel writing. One is called ‘Guide to Literary Agents – Successful Queries: Agent Ginger Clark and ‘A Match Made in High School’. The other post is called ‘5 Tips for Instantly Improving Your Novel.’ They are worth checking out.

Also a big thank you Lorraine for writing the Novel/Short Stories report this month.

Happy writing everyone.

Carol

Next Meeting Dates:
Exercises Group – 8 May 2010
Novel/Short Stories Group 22 May 2010

Newsletter - March 2010

In this issue:
Meeting 13th March 2010 -
Order for Anthology
Lorraine – News of Interview
Re Poetry Assignment for March
Newsletter
Exercise Set for April
Exercise to be Chosen for May

Meeting 27th March 2010 –
Report
Winner of Motto/Slogan Competition
Report – Shanghai Literary Festival
More news re Guest Speaker
This Month’s Contributor to Blog
Meeting Dates

March 2010
Volume 1, Number 2

Meeting Fairfield Writers’ Group, 13 March 2010
Exercises Group
Apologies: Yolanda
Present: Anna, Pam, Lorraine, Andy,
Rosemary, Carol and first time attendee: Rachel

· Chairing this meeting: Anna

· Lorraine had received an order for copies of the Anthology from NSW – however had not yet received payment. When contacted NSW provided details of a cheque sent for payment – said cheque has not been received.

· Lorraine – news: Lorraine was interviewed by a company from the US – the interview was published online. To read the interview go to http://www.ravensheadservices.com/lorraine_cobcroft_interview.php

· Assignment this month: Poem - ‘Looking in the Mirror’

· Poem from Yolanda: Yolanda forwarded a poem for discussion by the group – ‘Spring and Fall’ to a young child by Mr Hopkins, 1880

· Poetry assignments: it was agreed that as well as handing out copies of poems to be read, authors to read out their piece aloud ( or nominate another in the group to read on their behalf)

· To be published on FWG blog: Lorraine’s poem – ‘Advice from the Mirror’

· There will be one newsletter per month and exercises will be sent out separately.

· Exercise for May: Lorraine
. Exercise for April: Helga –
Two Portraits at the Art Gallery

Rosemary


Meeting Fairfield Writers Group 27th March 2010
Novel/Short Stories GroupApologies: Rachel
Present: Helga, Lorraine, Yolanda, Carol and first time attendees: Francesca and Karen

Meeting chaired by - Lorraine

· We had a very good meeting on Saturday where we welcomed Francesca and Karen to our group. Helga and Lorraine brought chapters from their novels. I brought along story No. 4 of my Children’s series. Good feedback was given by everyone.

· Yolanda was able to come to our meeting after suffering ill health for some time. It was lovely to see her back. As always we benefited from her excellent critiquing skills. Thanks Yolanda.

· Motto/Slogan Competition
The winning entry of our competition was submitted by Carol.

Our new motto is ‘Working With Words’ and will appear wherever our logo is shown.

· Report - Shanghai Literary Festival
Fifty one authors from twenty countries presented at the eighth annual Shanghai Literary Festival that closed today ( March 19).

The Festival, held over three weeks from March 5 attracted novelists, would be novelists, poets, journalists, intellectuals, historians and travel writers from many parts of the world and from throughout China.

There were four or more sessions held each day over the three week period and these included literary lunches, panel discussions, workshops, sessions for children – and more.

Some of the authors featured included Robert Dessaix (Australian writer, broadcaster, essayist and translator), Junot Diaz( Pulitzer Prize winner ), Tash Aw (Whitbread Young Novelist), Les Murray (Australian poet) and Linda Jaivin.

Findlay, one of our Fairfield Writers Group members, attended several of the fifty-seven Festival events.

Findlay, who is still in Asia reported today that he was amazed at the emphasis in some of the sessions on the need for today's authors to self-promote as publishing houses reserved almost all of their marketing and publicity funds for perhaps two or three of the big name authors like Dan Brown or J K Rowling.

One author Kristin Bair O"Keefe, an American living in Shanghai, was particularly forceful on the question of marketing and promotion, Kristin (author of "Thirsty" about a Croatian woman in an abusive marriage) gave an excellent presentation entitled "The Art of Shameless Self Promotion". She told how she used her own money for a seven week book tour of the US East Coast, hired a publicist at her own expense, and went to extraordinary lengths to sell her book and get herself known to the publishing world.

She reckons she spends up to two hours a day now chatting on Twitter, Facebook and other websites in her bid to get herself known to the reading public, She also places great store on networking with other authors and those involved in the literary world.

Findlay will provide further details at one of the FWG's meetings in May when he returns to Australia.

· More News Re Guest Speaker
Great news! Fairfield Library has booked a guest speaker for Saturday, 22nd May 2010 at 10.30 am with our writing group in mind. The speaker will be well known Brisbane author Estelle Pinney. She will be talking about when she started writing and will give us practical and motivational advice. I’ve met Estelle before, as well as reading a couple of her novels, and I’m sure you will find her talk interesting and helpful.

I was told by the library to make sure our members put their names down early to ensure their place, as the talk will be advertised to other groups and the general public.

Next Meetings:
Exercises Group – 10th April 2010
Novel/Short Stories Group – 24th April 2010

Until then, happy writing everyone.

Carol

Newsletter 27th February 2010

In this issue:
Minutes of meeting – Novel/Short Stories Group
Motto/Slogan Competiton
Monthly Newsletter
Submissions to FWG’s Blog
Meeting Dates

February 2010
Volume 1, number 1-2


Minutes of Meeting for Novel/Short Stories Group 27th February 2010

Present: Helga, Findlay, Lorraine, Carol

Apologies: Anna, Yolanda

Although the meeting was small in numbers today, we were big on enthusiasm and had a great time with helpful feedback given and writing problems resolved. Helga, Lorraine and Findlay are progressing well with their novels and I am steadily working towards the completion of my children’s book.

Afterwards it was coffee and conversation at our usual venue

Motto/Slogan Competition:Please find attached the entry form. I hope you will all decide to participate. This is the first time FWG has run a competition, so let’s make it a successful one and see what we can come up with. The winning motto/slogan will appear wherever our logo is shown e.g. letterhead, bookmarks, flyers, posters etc. I’m sure it will be included whenever we publish another anthology too.

Monthly Newsletter:
As of March there will be only one newsletter emailed out, with minutes of both the Exercises Group and the Novel/Short Stories Group meetings included. This will be sent to you after the meeting on the fourth Saturday of each month.

In the meantime, anything that requires your immediate attention will be emailed to you in the usual manner.

Submissions to Blog FWG’s:

As you know, everyone is more than welcome to submit something to our blog. I’m always looking for ‘writing things’ to post. Your Short Stories, poems, articles on writing plus good writing sites or anything you think maybe of interest to other members would be most welcome. Just remember – don’t send in anything that you intend to submit to a publisher. As I’ve mentioned before, I believe publishers have issues with work already published on the Internet.

Please send your submissions to me at annerleyoldie@yahoo.com.au

March Meeting Dates:

Exercises Group – 13th March 2010
Novel/Short Stories Group – 27th March 2010

Until then, happy writing everyone.

Carol

Newsletter 13 February 2010

Newsletter 13th February 2010
Fairfield Writers Group
Website http://fairfieldwritersgroup-queensland.blogspot.com/

In this issue:
Minutes of meeting – Exercises Group
Fees
April Exercise
Copies of Anthology
Guest Speaker
Lorraine - great news
Contributor to blog for March
Meeting Dates

February 2010
Volume 1, Number 1-1

Minutes of meeting Fairfield Writer’s Group – 13 February 2010
Present: Anna, Carol, Helga, Pam, Rosemary, Lorraine

Apologies: Leanne, Findlay, Gayle, Yolanda

Meeting chaired by Anna

Fees
If members choose to attend a single meeting per month the fee is $3.00
If members choose to attend both meetings per month the fee is $4.00 payable at the first meeting.

Set exercise for April
Helga to set the exercise – Carol to send the compendium of exercises to Helga.

Copies of the anthology
There are still a few copies available for purchase.
Helga to bring a few copies to meetings for display and sale.
Lorraine has received an order from NSW through the ISBN database for two copies – this was unexpected but a pleasant surprise.

Lorraine – great news
Lorraine had been so impressed by a particular software that she contacted the company and told them that she had begun a book on how to improve business administration and management based around the use of the software. She was asked to send a summary of her work. The company was so pleased that they requested her to complete the book and they will be publishing it world–wide. – Congratulations, Lorraine!

Guest speaker
Carol has been liaising with Fairfield Library who is arranging a guest speaker for May/June. The Library will fund the event. It will be open to the public and held at Fairfield Library.
The likely topic will be motivational and there may be a workshop element as well.

This will be an opportunity to hand out some flyers publicizing the FWG and to perhaps sell some copies of the anthology.

Next meetings:
27 February – Novel/short story
13 March – Set Exercise

The exercise for March is poetry (any style) – theme: the Reflection in the Mirror.

Work sample for the blog for March will be Anna’s.


Rosemary

Novel/Short Stories Group - Meeting Report 23 January 2010

Present: Findlay, Helga, Leanne, Lorraine, Pam, Carol
Apologies: Anna

Our first meeting for the newly formed Novel/Short Stories group was very successful with good writing presented for critique and helpful feedback given.

A warm welcome was extended to new member Pam. We hope that Pam will find our meetings enjoyable and useful to her in the future.

It has been decided that we will split up into smaller groups for critiquing at future Novel/Short Stories meetings due to the longer length of pieces presented.

Members wishing for feedback of extra long pieces, such as a whole chapter, to buddy up with other novel writers in the group and forward their work electronically to their buddies for preliminary reading/commenting before the next meeting. A brief outline of the 'story so far' to be included with the chapter.

Meeting Dates for February:
Exercise Group – 13th
Novel/Short Stories Group 27th

Until the next meeting happy writing to all of you.

Carol

MEETING REPORT 9TH JANUARY 2010/NEWS

Meeting Report

Present: Findlay, Helga, Leanne, Anna, Lorraine, Gayle, Carol

Our first meeting for the year was excellent and we extend a warm welcome to new members Leanne and Gayle.

The writing workshop held was most enjoyable and fun. Some great writing was done and ideas were triggered for future stories and poems. Everyone had a turn at reading out their writing.

You can check out the photos of the workshop on our blog.

The next Exercise Meeting is 13th February 2010. The exercise is to write a short piece, up to 1500 words in length please, using Emotional Body Language. Please see attachment of a ‘Table of Body Language for Various Emotions’.

As we require certain criteria for submitting completed exercises/short stories for critique at our exercise meetings, I have put the requirements on Google Docs and Spreadsheets for easy reference.

Please see the link, username and password in the email signature below.

Anna will be choosing the writing exercise for the March Meeting.

Findlay will be submitting a piece of his writing from the workshop today to be posted on our blog.


News

Many of you will remember that we have spoken about establishing a small library of our own consisting of books and magazines on writing for our members to borrow. Findlay has kindly offered to be our librarian. Thanks, Findlay that’s great! More updates on the library still to come.

Lorraine has compiled two files for future anthologies. They are ‘Template for Stories’ and ‘Preparing a Story for Submission to a Publisher’. Both will be extremely helpful when we next do an anthology. The ‘Template for Stories’ we can use for any stories that we write as of now if we wish. I know I’m going to. Thank you very much, Lorraine.

You can also view these two files on Google Docs and Spreadsheets.

Happy writing to all of you.

Carol

MEETING REPORT 12TH DECEMBER 2009

Exercise - In medias res (story starting in the middle of things)

Present: Lorraine, Anna, Andy, Findlay, Carol

Apologies: Helga, Yolanda

Our December meeting although only small in attendance was a great meeting with good feedback given on the exercise set (story starting in the middle of things). This exercise was intended as a starting point for the One Book Many Brisbane’s competition. Good luck to those who decided to enter.

Anna read out her delightful children’s story ‘Shnaily And The Berry Patch’, which we all enjoyed immensely. Good work, Anna.

Each of us had brought something along to eat for the pre Christmas meeting. As a result, we had enough food to feed an army plus plenty of tea and coffee.

MEETING REPORT NOVEMBER, 2009

Dear Fairfield Writer,
A meeting was held as usual on November 14th.
Present were Rosemary, Lorraine, Andy, Finlay, Helga, Carol and Martin.
Apologies from: Anna, Lauren and Yolanda.
Members commented on each others Voice and Intensity pieces. There was a variety of authentic voices presented. It was agreed that it was very important to develop a repertoire of voices. Thanks to Carol for finding this exercise.
Next month's exercise is to present our draft short stories for the One Book Many Brisbanes competition to the group for comment, if we wish to. See Exercise attached. The exercise suggests hooking the reader by beginning in the middle 'In Media Res'.
As next month's meeting is our last before Christmas, after the OBMB business, we should have time for some social writing, if members are interested. Can we discuss this next week? (see below).
Also distributed was a proposed agenda (see attached) for our very important special meeting on 21st November at 9.30am, at the usual place, to consider organisational arrangements for our future, perhaps for several years. Your attendance would be much appreciated.
Regards
Martin

MEETING REPORT OCTOBER, 2009

FWG Meeting Report
Saturday, 10th October, 2009
Writing Exercise - Voice and Intensity

Dear Fairfield Writer, There was large attendance at our meeting on Saturday 10th October. Present were members Carol, Helga, Anna, Lorainne, Findlay, Carol S, Lesley and Martin. They were pleased to welcome new members Lauren, Heather and Loise. The homework exercise was Effect From What Cause and the work presented illustrated the principle well. There was some discussion of alternative activities and it was decided to hold a special meeting on 21st November at 9.30am in Fairfield Library to reach decisions. In the meantime, members would put forward their proposals and contribute to survey questions so that the meeting can take into account all members wishes. Please indicate your wishes by email to Martin as soon as possible, who will relay these to everyone and attempt to organise the alternatives. Lesley surprised and saddened us with her news that she is dropping out because she wants to concentrate on her novel. She was one of the founding members, has filled a leadership role and will be much missed. Our Best Wishes for your future Lesley. Next month's meeting will be on Saturday November 14th at 10.30am when members' responses to the Voice And Intensity Exercise suggested by Carol will be discussed. The idea is that your writing style, or voice, should not be unsuitable for the topic you are writing about. Also, to verbify nouns. These are explained in the attachment. Happy writing.  Martin