tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32137747443212150382024-02-20T19:34:16.158-08:00 Wordsmiths of Melton Writers helping writers Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-87100991875010734762021-12-25T16:03:00.001-08:002021-12-25T16:03:26.932-08:00Goyder Girl Terry L Probert<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizg6dN2ORlg6xP3_WF7XSjdpBKBsUVidlR0nc_gRdKpR2cAURzwZVacYSwaqOG13eF2Vlo0zAQDKMpnnrfdOhh2UmPu2K99znOURKzhh_eaBfA7SCWI8Ks_xZsiUXWURadSrpdvYGJ_exHu1M_DHRIMl5L134ebPJUgz1c-4xlCPQCsiVnBK-cC--qoA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizg6dN2ORlg6xP3_WF7XSjdpBKBsUVidlR0nc_gRdKpR2cAURzwZVacYSwaqOG13eF2Vlo0zAQDKMpnnrfdOhh2UmPu2K99znOURKzhh_eaBfA7SCWI8Ks_xZsiUXWURadSrpdvYGJ_exHu1M_DHRIMl5L134ebPJUgz1c-4xlCPQCsiVnBK-cC--qoA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p><br /></p><p>She's living on the margin</p><p>Educated by the seasons, tempered by the dust</p><p>The farm split, by Goyder's bloody line</p><p>A line to determine your fortune, your fate</p><p>Not something in a good season you see</p><p>But in a drought year, it's heart breaking it's there</p><p><br /></p><p>Everything withers, only tough will survive</p><p>We have money to lend, the banker will say</p><p>Invest in more machinery, more diesel, and spray</p><p>We have faith in the farmer, his will and resolve</p><p>But if it don't rain</p><p>Our umbrella of faith, we'll rip soon away.</p><p> </p><p>She's living on the margins</p><p>And because of a line that exists </p><p>Once seen in an old surveyor's mind</p><p>Her tender young hands now grip like steel</p><p>Working two jobs on which they rely</p><p>Cause straddling the Goyder</p><p>The bank needs to see a steady income</p><p>For a farm to get by</p><p><br /></p>Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-35743620753448173912019-02-23T20:51:00.002-08:002019-02-23T20:51:39.687-08:00Weekly Round Up<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CAPTAINS LOG 22nd February 2019</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sorry for the delay in this weekly report but it’s been one of those weeks.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, on Wednesday, Terry was back, which is great, there was an apology from Kristen who is under the weather, Julee, Tracey, Sonia and Janeen were on deck. I had an appointment with the fang farrier, so I missed most of Julee’s critique, arriving just in time to hit her with mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Julee’s re-write is coming on very well, with very little to comment on. She’s hoping to have it finished by the end of the year and the way she’s going I feel she is well on track.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then it was my turn. I submitted a short story I’d adapted as the first chapter of a new book. I took a well-deserved canning and am unsure whether to continue on with it or not. I’ll submit my second chapter to see if the book has any merit and then I’ll make up my mind from there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My thanks to everyone for their well thought out comments and suggestions, a great help as always and much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next week, Janeen and Terry will be giving a combined workshop on publishing. Both have experiences which will prove invaluable to the rest of us, so it will be interesting and enlightening. I hope everyone can be there to support them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just a reminder that our first theme day will be held on the 13<sup>th</sup> of March.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writing genre: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_novel" title="Romance novel"><span style="color: blue;">Romance</span></a> - Maximum of 500 words - Beginning, Middle, Satisfactory end - No parts, or characters, from stories you are writing or have previously written to be used- No first drafts, polished, competition ready.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don’t leave it until the last minute because you think you have plenty of time, start now and be happy with what you’ve written. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finished pieces should be sent to me no later than the Sunday prior to the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope to see you all next Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Until then, ‘Live long and prosper.</span></span></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-23290416065070504462019-02-20T15:53:00.000-08:002019-02-20T15:55:50.360-08:00Changes for 2019<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A change has been made to our <a href="https://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com/p/ca.html" target="_blank">2019 calendar</a> to make space for more emphasis on short story writing and each month members will be challenged to write a 500 word FLASH FICTION story to a set theme.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please find below the details for our first theme day to be held on the 13th of March.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writing genre:<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>ROMANCE</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For Authors:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Writers will have one month to consider and write the piece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Stories are limited to a maximum of 500 words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Normal writing scenarios apply i.e. Beginning, Middle, Satisfactory end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Do not use parts, or characters, from stories you are writing or have previously written.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Submissions should be polished. The best you can do. Competition ready, not first drafts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Finished pieces should be sent to the facilitator via e-mail by the Sunday before the nominated Theme Day for distribution.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For Those Submitting their Critique:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Once received, please critique and review each piece in line with our <a href="https://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com/p/critiquing-guidelines.html" target="_blank">critiquing guidelines</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* A Verbal critique will be presented to all attendees on Theme Day for respectful discussion with each author.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Printed marked up copies of the critique will be presented to the author of the piece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Critiquing hints:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Condense your critique.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Ignore spelling, grammatical and layout errors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Comment only on readability, plot and setting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Are the characters believable?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Does it show not tell?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Does it make sense?</span></div>
<br />Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-60455499054312556752019-01-28T20:57:00.001-08:002019-01-28T20:57:16.312-08:00CAPTAIN'S LOG: 29th January 2019<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit;">Happy New Year to you all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">I hope you have all been working away over Christmas and have plenty to submit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">So, we are back on Wednesday the 6<sup>th</sup> February and I’m happy to receive work at any time now to pass onto the group for our first session. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">I confess, I’ve been slack and have not written a word.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">As you know, Meg will not be with us this year due to her new job. At this stage, I’ve had no word from the library about a replacement, or even if we want one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit;">Hope to see you all soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">Regards<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">Les</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</h2>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-39875808874411399552018-09-12T19:19:00.000-07:002018-09-12T19:19:49.494-07:00Captain's Log September 12th 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
G’day Wordies,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
We had six show up for Meg this week, Tracey, Sonia, Julee, Janeen, Terry and me. Apologies from Kristen. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
First up, we had a very interesting discussion about the ramification for writers of the closure of Dennis Jones and Associates, the book distributor. A sad and disturbing thing, which affects a great many Australian writers. Then we moved onto Meg’s writing exercise, and no, it wasn’t writing using the wrong hand while meditating by standing on our heads. It was, however, very different. In fact, it was quite interesting and thought-provoking.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
Meg is off to London next Wednesday, so I’d just like to wish her a happy and successful trip. London is a great city, with so much to do and see. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
Now – Warning – Warning – Warning. School holidays are approaching, and still no sign of any ‘kid raid’ shelters being provided by the council. So, we need to make a decision.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
Kristen, Sonia and Terry are unavailable both weeks. Janeen will be out for the second week, as will Julee and I. Therefore, I think we should still have a normal session on the 26th September as, Tracey, Janeen, Julee and I should be in attendance. I think that we should cancel the second week (3rd October) as only Tracey is available. However, with her ‘Big Day’ looming that Saturday, I’m sure she won’t mind cancelling that particular Wednesday as well. If I’ve mucked up, please feel free to let me know.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
A normal critiquing week next Wednesday, if anyone has anything, you know the drill. If not, I’ll throw myself down for sacrifice again. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
I hope to see most of you next Wednesday.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk519700334"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
Until then, ‘Falbh ann an sith.’</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Regards,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Les</div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-76033872321135310712018-03-21T23:30:00.003-07:002018-03-21T23:30:17.849-07:00New Calendar Update<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.1pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FEBRUARY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MATHEW</span><span style="color: #006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">14<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">21<span style="color: #006600;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CRITIQUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">28<span style="color: #006600;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CRITIQUE</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MARCH<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MATHEW</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">14<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">21<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">28<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">APRIL<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #006600; mso-highlight: yellow;">CRITIQUE</span><span style="color: #7030a0;"> -</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> School Hols<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">11<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #7030a0; mso-highlight: yellow;">MEG</span><span style="color: #006600;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> School Hols</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">18<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">25<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #002060;">ANZAC DAY</span></b><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Image result for australian flags" style='width:22.5pt;height:11.25pt;
visibility:visible'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/TERRYL~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png"
o:title="Image result for australian flags"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Image result for australian flags" height="15" src="file:///C:/Users/TERRYL~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="30" /><!--[endif]--></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.1pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MAY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">FUN DAY</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><span style="color: #ff0066;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">16<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">23<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">30<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">JUNE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">13<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">20<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">27<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">FUN DAY</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #006600;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>JULY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #006600; mso-highlight: yellow;">CRITIQUE</span><span style="color: #7030a0;"> -</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> School Hols</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">11<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #006600; mso-highlight: yellow;">CRITIQUE</span><span style="color: #006600;">-</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> School Hols</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">18<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span>
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">25<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.1pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">AUGUST<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">15<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span>
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">22<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">FUN DAY</span><span style="color: #006600;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">29<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SEPTEMBER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">12<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">19<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span>
<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">26<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #006600; mso-highlight: yellow;">CRITIQUE</span><span style="color: #006600;">-</span>
</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">School Hols<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OCTOBER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background: yellow; color: #006600; mso-highlight: yellow;">CRITIQUE</span><span style="color: #7030a0;"> -</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> School Hols</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">17<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">24<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0d0d0d;">31<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: blue;">FUN DAY</span></b><span style="color: #0d0d0d;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.1pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOVEMBER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">14<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">21<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0;">MEG</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">28<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE </span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DECEMBER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #006600;">CRITIQUE</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">12<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="color: #be2102;">LUNCH</span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 174.35pt;" valign="top" width="232">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-69982697203635902472018-03-21T16:34:00.001-07:002018-03-21T16:34:15.964-07:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Captain's Log: 21st March 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;">A full house yesterday for an
interesting session. First off, we welcomed our new mentor, Meg, a highly
qualified and motivated lady who has made writing the main focus of her life
(after her family of course). Meg will be conducting once a month
workshops/talks. for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;">First off, we had a
roundtable discussion get to know each other, to talk about our and Meg’s
various writing backgrounds. Then, Meg sat through two of our critiques: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;">Terry’s chapter 7 - <i>Hallelujah</i></span><i>,
praise the lord, Voss lives. I thought he was a goner for sure after the
four-wheel drive incident. Was it an accident or deliberate?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Julee’s chapter 39 – <i>As KT said, ‘What are you doing to
us? First Emma and now Violet.’ Oh, and don’t worry, even though the fire
brigade was called to attend the blaze caused by the unauthorised welding, no
real harm was done.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Two excellent chapter, which, with a little tweaking will
both be even more excellenterer (<i>I invented the word this morning and it
will be in the Oxford dictionary by tonight</i>).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Everyone was on their best behaviour this week, with no
verbal fights, swearing or punches thrown. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It certainly was nice to meet Meg for the first time and I
do feel, that after meeting us, she has our measure and will be able to put
together some interesting and informative workshops for us. I have promised to include her in our critique post outs so
that she can keep an eye on what we are producing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I’ve prepared a new calendar, reflecting Meg’s sessions and
am just waiting for her to get back to me about April (Meg can’t do the third
week) before I send it out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Congratulations to Janeen for the Hobart bookshops who have
asked to sell her book. And to Terry who’s first Voss is about to go into
print.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I look forward to seeing you all next week, until then <i><span style="background: white;"> </span></i><span style="background: white;">‘</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholem_Aleichem" title="Sholem Aleichem"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sholem Aleichem</span></a>’<span style="background: white;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Regards Les<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-16137885435031408192017-11-29T21:03:00.001-08:002017-11-29T21:03:32.257-08:00Judy Rigby Wins City of Melton Short Story Competition 2017Wordsmiths of Melton member Judy Rigby took out first place with her short story Clearing Session. Judy placed second last year and with this triumph is showing us the breadth of her ability to sum up emotion and place in lest than 1500 words.<br />
<br />
Short story is all about conveying the emotion of the characters, the tension within their dialogue and setting the story with enough economy of description to put the reader in the scene. In Judy's winning work, <b style="font-style: italic;">Clearing Session, </b>Ro, Ava and (call me) Ray come together in the clearing session where Ray hopes to resolve the impossible.<br />
<br />
Click here for the link to download your copy of Judy's Story.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out-n-About/Libraries-and-learning/Libraries/Library-news/Short-Story-Competition">http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out-n-About/Libraries-and-learning/Libraries/Library-news/Short-Story-Competition</a><br />
<br />
More of Judy's stories and musings can be found on her website: <a href="http://judyrigby.com/">http://judyrigby.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-64364165948960814592017-08-30T19:35:00.000-07:002017-11-29T20:42:25.477-08:00Captains Log<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Melton Library 29th November 2017</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo835wYVPWU9brze9X7srK7CHOMWyZtHdWEGpoPB8zc3h-s72pYo9wSBO6CdooBMB-eKalfNAUNGQxOKiKGiwSNorWtFgvToIC1pENFQTSSezLoQy69jgzc5mulam4Ks00ZQIkyrrYdCW/s1600/2016-11-02_10-31-30_382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo835wYVPWU9brze9X7srK7CHOMWyZtHdWEGpoPB8zc3h-s72pYo9wSBO6CdooBMB-eKalfNAUNGQxOKiKGiwSNorWtFgvToIC1pENFQTSSezLoQy69jgzc5mulam4Ks00ZQIkyrrYdCW/s320/2016-11-02_10-31-30_382.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Sometimes there's a bit of bovine <br />by-product in our sessions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
G’day Everyone,</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seven reported for duty
today, Tracey, Terry, Janeen, Judy, Lena, KT, Damien and me. With two critiques
sent in from our long-range sniper, Kevin and two more to follow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apologies from Julee and
Sonia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also had a drop-in visit
from John, to show us a copy of his new book which has just been published. It
looks pretty impressive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had four critiques to
cover, chapters from Terry, Janeen and me, plus Lena’s chapter from last week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each had good reviews with
only minor tweaking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought mine was doing
okay, until Judy and Janeen both jumped on me from a great height for lack of
emotion (Ouch, those steel cap boots hurt). I promise to do better next time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Congratulations again to Judy
for coming first in the Melton Comp, with her story – very exciting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">Mathew next week, hope to see you all there. <o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">Until then, </span><span lang="GA" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">‘</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">selami ke’ānite gari yihuni<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"> </span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">Regards Les</span><i><span style="color: #385623; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></pre>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!-- SPAMfighter Signature -->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnUf1yvPSG4icIiApQGa4yWYb9BKZd4vPvFRqaSXys3pJ9N7kb5poT32iL8wKmsDZ7Y3z_v9jZDlqsRf9B2knUNqyHEXnxBFyhq0eaPQ5lQgQ7Jwl7Hr0dB4uQvO10SIva21Fvwf9_hCj/s1600/20161123_131927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnUf1yvPSG4icIiApQGa4yWYb9BKZd4vPvFRqaSXys3pJ9N7kb5poT32iL8wKmsDZ7Y3z_v9jZDlqsRf9B2knUNqyHEXnxBFyhq0eaPQ5lQgQ7Jwl7Hr0dB4uQvO10SIva21Fvwf9_hCj/s200/20161123_131927.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mon Kapitan Les</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Five
yesterday – Tracey, Sonia, Judy, Terry and me. Apologies from KT, Julee and
Janeen. With long distance Kevin lurking on the email.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Terry’s
Voss is doing very well and I hear on the grapevine that Tracey’s Ruby (<i>great
to see Tracey pounding the old keyboard again with such vigour</i>) is
considering hiring him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">As
you can imagine, with three chapters and a poem to critique, the potential for
open warfare and bloodshed was huge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">However,
apart from a sprained wrist (from warding off comments), some cuts, bruises and
dented ego’s, all went well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Another
great session, with lots of chats and constructive comments, all designed to
improve our writing skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Next
week is Mathew. I have no idea what he has in line for us but I guess it’ll be
interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Hope
to see you all next week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f4e79; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><br /></span></div>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Until then, </span><span lang="DA" style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Fred være med dig.<o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span lang="DA" style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">
</span></pre>
<br />
<pre style="background: white;"><span lang="DA" style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">Regards Les</span><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></pre>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-7440066674527573322017-08-23T16:07:00.004-07:002017-08-23T21:20:39.482-07:00Captains Log 23rd August 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk490746764"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Dear Wordys,<o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today was ‘Exercise
Day’. On parade we had, Tracey, Sonia, Judy (welcome back), Terry and me.
Sadly, KT had hurt her back, Julee had a doctor’s appointment and Janeen was
studying for an exam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We started off with
a general chit chat about, of all things, just how useless Qantas Frequent
Flyer points are. After we’d had enough of that, we started work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this week, I
devised an exercise on words to avoid when writing. I gave an example of a piece
of writing full of bad words and invited everyone to re-write it and remove the
bad words. While not mind boggling it did give us all pause to reflect on the
words we use in our stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tracey had given me
a topic – A car found thirty years after the crash. We all wrote a short piece,
using the first exercise as a guide. As per usual, when we do these impromptu
stories, some good results were achieved and more than one of them could be
easily turned into a short story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The exercise can be found on our <a href="https://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com.au/p/matthews-writing-tips.html" target="_blank">Writing Exercise</a> page in the next couple of days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all, it was
a thought provoking session which, I hope, will improve everyone’s writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">Hope to see you all next week. Until then, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">aapako shaanti mile<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regards Les</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Just posted:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com.au/p/matthews-writing-tips.html" target="_blank">Writing Exercise Link: </a> </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><a href="http://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com.au/p/members-stories.html" target="_blank">Members Stories Link:</a> </i></span></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-54616067287759571212017-08-16T23:16:00.000-07:002017-08-16T23:16:27.684-07:00Captains Log 17th August 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dear Wordies,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, a great day yesterday (even though I was
outnumbered), with Tracey, Sonia, KT, Janeen and me in attendance. Judy isn’t
back yet, Kevin was an apology (although he was with us in spirit and sent in
two excellent critiques) and Julee had to look after our migraine afflicted
granddaughter. Terry was also an apology as he is suffering, ‘Man Flue’. But he
dragged himself out of his sickbed, crawled over to his computer and sent in
his critiques this morning. Dedication deserving of much praise. Thanks Terry,
much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also had a surprise visit from Caitlin, a past member who
had to abandon us to complete her studies. For those who know her, you’ll be
interested to know that she has a deal going with Penguin on her Batman/Robin
style book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was ganged up on almost from the get go and forced to
suffer the stings of my critique first. I must confess, even though I was expecting
a Battle Royale, it proved to be a skirmish with only a dozen band aids
required. Thank you, everyone, your input was, as usual, spot on and you will
be pleased to know that I have addressed all the issues you raised.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the conclusion of my critique, my chapter reared up,
pawed the air with its hoofs and with a, ‘Hi Ho Silver Away,’ raced off into
the sunset (<i>that was for Tracey</i>).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next, it was Tracey’s turn. Her chapter proved to be a hit,
with everyone overjoyed that she’s stopped mucking around and is back in the
saddle again (a motorbike though, not a horse). She did pretty well, with a few
good suggestions to push her chapter forward and very little bloodshed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When her chapter rode off on its bike, Tracey admired the
view. It was definitely a whole lot of chapter (<i>for Tracey again</i>). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Yoda would say, ‘Good chapter that was, Tracey. Herh,
herh, herh.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next week is <i>EXERCISE WEEK</i>. So be afraid, be very
afraid. No critiques, so if you have anything to send me, it will be held over
until the following week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until then, as Yoda would say’ ‘With you peace be.
Yes, hmmm.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regards Les<o:p></o:p></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-41014119993996114662017-08-03T18:31:00.001-07:002017-08-03T18:37:47.363-07:00Captains Log 3rd August 2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Captain's Log 3rd August 2017</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crew Assembled for Mathew’s Monthly session:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tracey, KT, Julee, Janeen, Terry and including our leader, Les. Apologies from Sonia, Judy and Kevin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, we had a general chit chat about the contracts some of us went into at Mathew’s last session. Tracey is firing with both barrels, shooting off her first chapter for some time, ready for critique next week. <i>Yahoo</i>. And I’m on track to complete the first draft of The Covent Garden Nun by December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We touched on Mathew’s challenge to put some short stories into various competitions. Several members have submitted stories, let’s see what happens there. Good luck everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mathew pointed out that the Melton Word Fest is running from the 19<sup>th</sup> to 26<sup>th</sup> August. Lots to see and do. Keep the evening of Monday the 21<sup>st</sup> free as Tracey is going to try to book us in for a trivia night at the Caroline Springs Library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The session finished with a flash fiction task to write something to the theme of: ‘<i>My Happy Piece</i>’ and we had ten minutes to complete. We had mixed results, all of them good. Some of us have our stories published on our <i><a href="https://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com.au/p/members-stories.html" target="_blank">Members Stories</a></i> blog page. Today was an afternoon with lots of fun and good fellowship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am attaching my next chapter and we already have Tracey’s offering, so that gives us two to critique for next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<pre style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.8px;">So, until then - </span><span lang="GA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.8px;">An tsíocháin a bheith in éineacht leat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span lang="GA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span lang="GA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regards Les</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.8px;"><o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.4px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-25686680780836083722017-07-27T00:22:00.003-07:002017-08-03T18:36:50.598-07:00Captains Log 26th July 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crew Assembled for Mathew’s Monthly session: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tracey, KT,
Julee, Janeen, Terry including our Captain, Les. Apologies from Sonia, Judy and Kevin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, we had a general chit chat about the contracts some
of us went into at Mathew’s last session. Tracey is firing with both barrels,
shooting off her first chapter for some time, ready for critique next week. <i>Yahoo</i>.
And I’m on track to complete the first draft of The Covent Garden Nun by
December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We touched on Mathew’s challenge to put some short stories
into various competitions. Several members have submitted stories, let’s see
what happens there. Good luck everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mathew pointed out that the Melton Word Fest is running from
the 19<sup>th</sup> to 26<sup>th</sup> August. Lots to see and do. Keep the evening
of Monday the 21<sup>st</sup> free as Tracey is going to try to book us in for
a trivia night at the Caroline Springs Library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The session finished with a flash fiction task to write something to the theme of: ‘<i>My Happy Piece</i>’ and we had ten minutes to complete. We had mixed results, all of them good. Some of us have our stories published on our <i><a href="https://wordsmithsofmelton.blogspot.com.au/p/members-stories.html" target="_blank">Members Stories</a></i> blog page. Today was an afternoon with lots of fun and good fellowship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am attaching my next chapter and we already have Tracey’s
offering, so that gives us two to critique for next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<pre style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">So, until then - </span><span lang="GA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;">An tsíocháin a bheith in éineacht leat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span lang="GA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></pre>
<pre style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span lang="GA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Regards Les</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Captain's Log 26th July 2017</b></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">G’day Everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a small group today, with Julee, Janeen, Terry and me
attending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sonia, Judy, Tracey and KT were apologies and Kevin was
missing in action. Lena will be off the books until October as she has managed
to secure a part time job for the next three months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First up, we had a chat about Janeen’s story. It appears to
be coming along nicely and she has some interesting new layout developments,
which I think will add an exciting twist to her story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we worked through the three critiques, one each from
Julee, Terry and me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each chapter was discussed and critiques given. There were
many good suggestions given and small errors highlighted, all designed to help
the writer improve their story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mathew's week next week, so no critiques.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hope to see you all there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until then,
amar amgalan ta nartai khamt baikh.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-3201660313290137842017-07-26T21:35:00.002-07:002017-07-26T21:35:39.555-07:00Judy Rigby does us proudWordsmiths of Melton love nothing more than sharing in the glory of one of our member's successes and today we are pleased to share Judy Rigby's latest triumph.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://judyrigby.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Judy-final-May2015-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://judyrigby.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Judy-final-May2015-1.jpg" width="154" /></a>Judy left, has followed her City of Melton Short Story Competition glory with her short story, Overboard accepted in the latest edition of literary journal, Backstory.<br />
<br />
To read <b>Overboard</b>, click on the link below:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.backstoryjournal.com.au/2017/06/17/overboard/">http://www.backstoryjournal.com.au/2017/06/17/overboard/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To find more articles and stories, go to Judy's website via the following link.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://judyrigby.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">http://judyrigby.com/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-68695303655402945172017-03-16T01:53:00.001-07:002017-07-19T20:05:40.148-07:00Captains Log 20th July 2017<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Dear Fellow Writers,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An interesting day yesterday. Apologies from Sonia, Kevin,
Lena and KT.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tracey, Julee, Judy, Janeen, Terry and I discussed our three
critiques:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Julee’s Chapter thirty-four, Janeen’s Chapter One, and my
Chapter seven.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, lively comments and much good advice was passed
on to the writers to use or disregard as they see fit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would like to thank everyone for the effort put into each
critique, not an easy task as we all know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a personal note, I’d like to give an extra big ‘Thank
You,’ for the good advice and kind words I was given about Lennie’s demise. His
funeral is… Well, perhaps we won’t dwell on that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went a little overtime and were forcibly evicted by a
group of ladies storming the room with cutlass and boarding pikes (well they
knocked politely and were very nice. But doesn’t it sound better the other
way?).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve e-mailed my latest offering for your dissection. So,
sharpen ya swords, load and cock ya muskets and prepare for battle. ‘Har, har,
Me Hearties. We’ll pluck a crow.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regards Les<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
G’day Wordies,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost a full house today, with Tracey, Sonia, Julee,
Janeen, Lena, Terry and me in attendance. Apologies from JT, Judy and Kevin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had three critiques today:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonia’s long-awaited critique of her Haiku piece went down
well, with Tracey standing on the table and demanding, in fluent Japanese, that
we include Haiku in a fun day. You little pocket rocket Tracey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="color: #1f4e79;">This proved a big hit<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="color: #1f4e79;">Was enjoyed by all today<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="color: #1f4e79;">Much more is required<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Arigatō,
Sonia. Well done.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Next was
Julee’s chapter 33. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This splendid
chapter caused much debate, with Robin being told to ‘Get your act together, or
get out of the book.’ And Julee saying, ‘No. I need him. He’ll do better next
chapter. I promise.’ I think her fingers were crossed behind her back, but I’m
not sure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Great chapter
Julee, keep them rolling in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Last in line
was Lena’s Prologue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A worthy piece
of writing, dragged from another dimension to titillate our senses. This also
caused much debate with sensible advice freely given from everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Wow Lena, you
certainly have everyone’s attention. Let’s see some more soon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As to next
week:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Julee’s next
chapter is attached. Hot off the press.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Janeen will
be submitting her revamped first chapter. I’ll send it on as soon as it hits my
inbox.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And, once I
get a few minutes, I’ll submit my next chapter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That will
give us three, which should keep us all busy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As you all
know, several of us went into contact mode with Mathew last week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I would like
to report that Tracey is up and running again, so we should be seeing some
chapters rolling in there, ‘Yay, Tracey’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And I am well
on my way to completing my deadline of the first of December. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Look forward
to seeing (nearly) everyone next Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Regards Les <o:p></o:p></div>
<!-- SPAMfighter Signature --><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Almost a full house yesterday, with only Julee absent
from place of parade.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We had one critique on the table. Danny’s first effort. A
5,000-word crime/comedy short story. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He received a lot of help and support and I do believe it
was also a good exercise in critiquing for everyone. Well done Danny, we all look forward to seeing the
rewrite in due course. I’d like to thank the Wordsmiths for once again, taking
time out to read, critique and help to improve someone’s work.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After the critique, we did a fifteen-minute writing
exercise, which, as per usual, produced some very interesting stories. In fact,
I think that several of them could be expanded into competition pieces. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the general discussion that followed, Sonia mentioned
that she would like to do some more exercises, as well as fun days. I won’t try
to hide the fact that I disagreed. I feel we are getting away from our core
principal of critiquing. However, as I was the only dissenter, that is what we
will do. I’ll work a new calendar out in the next day or so and email it out. Then Judy said we should do poetry. I shuddered, pouted
and cried, but she was most insistent. So, be it on your own head (drum roll),
I’m going to throw in a poetry exercise.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Next week (22<sup>nd</sup>) is a fun week, with both
Tracey and Janeen bringing in an interesting exercise each for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
See you all (except the ones I won’t) next week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, until then, <em>Pax tibi Wordsmiths</em><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Les<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-70764797242107664922017-02-09T14:48:00.004-08:002017-02-09T14:53:09.423-08:00Les' First report or 2017 <div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
G’day Wordsmiths,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second session for the year today, but my first. Tracey,
Terry, Judy and Kevin were in attendance. Sonia and Kirsten put in their
apologies and Joleen was missing in action.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a general chat, to catch up on everyone’s writing
progress and what we’ve been reading over the break. Tracey has suggested that
we start work on a new anthology and everyone though it a great idea. We threw
around a few ideas and then, as is generally the case, we found ourselves
talking about a dozen other things, all unrelated to an anthology. This
conversation is – ‘To be continued’.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We only had one critique to do. My ‘Contemplation’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tracey is suffering from battle fatigue from her cruise, so
she didn’t do it (she promised to do it over the next day or so and email it to
me). Thank you, Tracey, I look forward to seeing your critique in due course.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judy took me at my word and didn’t do it because it was way
too long (I don’t blame her). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had one from Terry and one from Kevin, so it didn’t take
too long. Thank you boys, much appreciated. I look forward to reviewing your
comments and improving my story. It wasn’t a long session today, but it was
good to catch up with everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Julee, Judy, Terry and I will be away next week, so it will
only be Tracey, Kevin, Kristen and possibly Joleen next week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hope to see you all the following week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regards Les<o:p></o:p></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-25225079719367122212016-12-29T20:53:00.001-08:002016-12-29T20:53:13.835-08:00The 2017 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's WritingOpen from the 3rd of January the 2017 entry form with terms and conditions is open to be downloaded now.<br />
<br />
Find the entry form here: <a href="http://text-publishing-production.s3.amazonaws.com/text-publishing/assets/39/0bee20164011e6bd695593dbaaab7f/TextPrizeEntryForm2017.pdf">http://text-publishing-production.s3.amazonaws.com/text-publishing/assets/39/0bee20164011e6bd695593dbaaab7f/TextPrizeEntryForm2017.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Good luck with your submissions.Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-79214000249077700322016-12-29T00:26:00.000-08:002017-08-03T19:28:41.623-07:002017 WRITING COMPETITIONS <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Voiceworks</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Voiceworks is for the first time in recent history seeking submissions for long-form short stories. For more information click on the link below:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.voiceworksmag.com.au/2017/03/longform-fiction-submissions/">http://www.voiceworksmag.com.au/2017/03/longform-fiction-submissions/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Lord Mayors Creative Writing Awards 2017</u></span><br />
This competition has a prize pool of $12,000 and is now open to Victorian writers it closes on the 31st of August, for more information, click on the link below:<br />
<a class="ext" href="http://melbourne.vic.gov.au/writingawards" style="font-family: helvetica, sans-serif;">melbourne.vic.gov.au/writingawards</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines" target="_blank">Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest</a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prize: US$2000 will be awarded the winner of each genre <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to
publish a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries open on 1 March and close 15 May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines">https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Raymond Carver Short Story Contest<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First prize is US$1500<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Open to writers from around the world and the guest judge for 2016
was Caitlin Horrocks<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries open on 1 April and close on 15 May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="https://www.carvezine.com/raymond-carver-contest/#.U1ec2_mSwSa">https://www.carvezine.com/raymond-carver-contest/#.U1ec2_mSwSa</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.shortstorycompetition.com/" target="_blank">Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prize is US$1500 and publication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dedicated to recognising and supporting the work of emerging writers
whose fiction has not yet achieved success. Entries must be less than 3500 words
and the competition is open to writers based anywhere is the world. The Lorian
Hemingway Short Story Competition first ran in 1981.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries close on 15<sup>th</sup> May<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://shortstorycompetition.com/">http://shortstorycompetition.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/series/FOC" target="_blank">Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prize: The authors of the two winning manuscripts will receive US$1000
and publication by the University of Georgia Press under a standard book
contract.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/series/FOC" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333333;">Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction</span></a> is a</span></u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> competition for unpublished manuscripts of between 40,000 and 75,000
words. Long stories or novellas may be included. Writers must be residents of
North America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries close on 31 May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/series/FOC">http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/series/FOC</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://decembermag.org/2016-curt-johnson-prose-awards/">Curt Johnson Prose Award</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The winner of the fiction section receives $1500 and publication in the
magazine; second place receives $500 and publication. Prizes are also offered
for non-fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Run by December magazine, a magazine whose many accomplishments include
being the first to publish the work of Raymond Carver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Open to stories up to 8000 words in length.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries close 15 June.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://decembermag.org/2016-curt-johnson-prose-awards/">http://decembermag.org/2016-curt-johnson-prose-awards/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://mastersreview.com/short-story-award-for-new-writers/">Masters Review’s Short Story Award For New Writers</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First prize of $2000.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Only open to writers who have not published a book and submissions may
be up to 6000 words. This contest is held multiple times throughout the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Summer entries close on 15 July.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="https://mastersreview.com/short-story-award-for-new-writers/">https://mastersreview.com/short-story-award-for-new-writers/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html">Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First prize is €2000 publication in the literary journal Southword, and
a week-long residency at Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Open to writers from around the world the <a href="http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html"><span style="color: #333333;">Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition</span></a>
is an annual short story competition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries close 31 July.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html">http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://indianareview.org/contests/" target="_blank">Indiana Review’s Half-K Prize</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First prize of US$1000 and publication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Writers can submit up to three pieces of writing of up to 500 words. There
are no genre or form restrictions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries open on in July and are expected to close on 15 August.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="https://indianareview.org/contests/">https://indianareview.org/contests/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/stefg/" target="_blank">The Sunday Times Short Story Prize</a></span><a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/stefg/"></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The world’s richest short story competition, with the winner receiving £30,000
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The 2016 prize was won by Jonathan Tel for his story ‘The Human
Phonograph’. The six stories shortlisted for the 2016 prize are </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://amzn.to/297SGhl" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">available
here</span></a>.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries for the next prize are expected to open at the end of June and
close at the end of September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/stefg/">http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/stefg/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/" target="_blank">Manchester
Fiction Prize</a></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The winner receives a cash prize of £10,000 (US$15,000).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A major international literary competition open to anyone aged 16 or
over. Stories can be up to 2500 words in length. The organisers also offer a
Manchester Poetry Prize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries will open in February and close in September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/">http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.all-story.com/contests.cgi" target="_blank">Zoetrope All-Story’s Annual Fiction Contest</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A first prize of US$1000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This contest is aimed at seeking out and encouraging talented writers. The
winning and runners-up entries will be forwarded to leading literary agents. Stories
can be up to 5000 words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries open on 1<sup>st</sup> July and close 1<sup>st</sup> October.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.all-story.com/contests.cgi">http://www.all-story.com/contests.cgi</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/our-projects/the-short-story/" target="_blank">Commonwealth Short Story Prize</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The overall winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize will receive
£5000 and the remaining four regional winners receive £2500.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Continues with its aim to bring stories from new and emerging voices,
often from countries with little or no publishing infrastructure, to the
attention of an international audience. Open to all citizens of the 53 Commonwealth
countries, the prize covers the five Commonwealth regions: Africa, Asia, Canada
and Europe, Caribbean and Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One winner will be selected from each region, with one regional winner
to be selected as the overall winner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries for the 2018 are expected to close on 1 November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/our-projects/the-short-story/">http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/our-projects/the-short-story/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.reedmag.org/submit" target="_blank">John Steinbeck Short Story Award</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The winner of the John Steinbeck Short Story Award receives a cash prize
of US$1000 and all entries are considered for publication<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of three prizes offered by Reed Magazine, this award is for a work
of fiction up to 5000 words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries open on 1 June and close 1 November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.reedmag.org/submit">http://www.reedmag.org/submit</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.boulevardmagazine.org/short-fiction-contest/" target="_blank">Boulevard’s Short Fiction Contest
for Emerging Writers</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prize: US$1500 and the story will be published in the magazine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Competition is open writers who have not yet published a book of
fiction, poetry or creative non-fiction with a nationally distributed press.
Stories may be up to 8000 words and must be previously unpublished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Entries close 31 December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Website: <a href="http://www.boulevardmagazine.org/short-fiction-contest/">http://www.boulevardmagazine.org/short-fiction-contest/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-52796041393139417932016-11-23T14:46:00.000-08:002016-11-23T14:47:09.418-08:00Captains Report 23rd November 2016Melton Library<br />
<br />
23rd November 2016<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello Wordsmiths<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonia, Kristen and Terry were apologies today. A great pity
because it was quite a vibrant session and I’m sure they would have enjoyed it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had critiques for today. From Terry, Kevin and me:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Terry fled the field of battle, preferring to live and fight
another day – Next Wednesday in fact.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kevin’s chapter rolled up in an immaculate, light green <span lang="EN-US">Ford Prefect. It stopped beside a
bright red telephone booth and our intrepid storyteller jumped out with his
caped crusader costume under his arm and dived into the booth. Sadly, as he
slammed out of the small edifice yelling, ‘Up. Up and Away,’ he tripped on the
undies still around his ankles and fell on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Kevin now
has a little work to do on his chapter: A few dents, scratches fixed, and a new
muffler will see it back on the road again, as gooderer (<i>special word for
Joleen</i>) as new. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZTMZ1O_H0yw2fgTaB3QZ4cVzi3kuURHJCr58xQDp2da6INroL2lVBDqq2RfkMB6H1dzagyk-WA1_1bNI8Ozcw_VXiS-AEz589w0DPXW5bYg8qUag-WR7Z7aeO2Zr3Z3mUoK19tQ-qM_2/s1600/20161123_131927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZTMZ1O_H0yw2fgTaB3QZ4cVzi3kuURHJCr58xQDp2da6INroL2lVBDqq2RfkMB6H1dzagyk-WA1_1bNI8Ozcw_VXiS-AEz589w0DPXW5bYg8qUag-WR7Z7aeO2Zr3Z3mUoK19tQ-qM_2/s320/20161123_131927.jpg" width="240" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my chapter was presented for critique and the air raid
sirens began to wail, I grabbed my helmet and waited in terror for the shot and
shell to pound my position. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With Captain, Please B. Gentle at the helm, HMS ICBO sailed
into a hell storm of fire, taking massive hits to her stout timbers (and a huge
Huuumf from Judy). Most bounced off harmlessly, and after replacing and
reconfiguring just about everything I’ve written, she’ll be even better than
when she was first launched.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On behalf of both Kevin and myself, I’d like to thank the
Wordsmiths for once again, helping to improve our stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next year’s calendar is done (attached). I’ve put a fun day
after every five critique weeks. Except for July. I’ve jumped a week there, as
the fun day would have landed on the school holidays. As the fun day is Sonia’s
baby and she can’t be there during school holidays, I’ve put it on the
following week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t forget lunch at Golden Fleas Hotel, 12.00 on Wednesday
the 14<sup>th</sup> December.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, a fun and helpful day today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See you all on Friday night to watch and support our
victorious Wordsmith Warriors - Sonia, Kristen and Judy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Les</div>
<o:p></o:p>Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-63611278346872972562016-11-16T14:52:00.002-08:002016-11-23T14:31:04.032-08:00Les's Weekly Roundup<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">MELTON LIBRARY</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">23rd November 2016</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello Wordsmiths<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonia, Kristen and Terry were apologies today. A great pity
because it was quite a vibrant session and I’m sure they would have enjoyed it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had critiques for today. From Terry, Kevin and me:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Terry fled the field of battle, preferring to live and fight
another day – Next Wednesday in fact.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kevin’s chapter rolled up in an immaculate, light green <span lang="EN-US">Ford Prefect. It stopped beside a
bright red telephone booth and our intrepid storyteller jumped out with his
caped crusader costume under his arm and dived into the booth. Sadly, as he
slammed out of the small edifice yelling, ‘Up. Up and Away,’ he tripped on the
undies still around his ankles and fell on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Kevin now
has a little work to do on his chapter: A few dents, scratches fixed, and a new
muffler will see it back on the road again, as gooderer (<i>special word for
Joleen</i>) as new. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my chapter was presented for critique and the air raid
sirens began to wail, I grabbed my helmet and waited in terror for the shot and
shell to pound my position. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With Captain, Please B. Gentle at the helm, HMS ICBO sailed
into a hell storm of fire, taking massive hits to her stout timbers (and a huge
Huuumf from Judy). Most bounced off harmlessly, and after replacing and
reconfiguring just about everything I’ve written, she’ll be even better than
when she was first launched.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On behalf of both Kevin and myself, I’d like to thank the
Wordsmiths for once again, helping to improve our stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next year’s calendar is done (attached). I’ve put a fun day
after every five critique weeks. Except for July. I’ve jumped a week there, as
the fun day would have landed on the school holidays. As the fun day is Sonia’s
baby and she can’t be there during school holidays, I’ve put it on the
following week. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t forget lunch at Golden Fleas Hotel, 12.00 on Wednesday
the 14<sup>th</sup> December.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, a fun and helpful day today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See you all on Friday night to watch and support our
victorious Wordsmith Warriors - Sonia, Kristen and Judy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Les<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Melton Library</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">16th November 2016</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hello Wordies,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be still my beating heart - A full house yesterday, with
even the sun tanned, rested and relaxed Terry in attendance. Kristen’s husband
tried to stop her from coming by stealing her car, but we foxed him and picked
her up – Ha, ha, ha (maniacal laughter). Point scored for the good guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Julee’s chapter was the only piece under the spotlight
today, sent in with a flourish and a terse, ‘<i>Do yer worse</i>.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I was able to bring our rioting crowd to some semblance
of order, we attempted to present our critiques. Easy you might say, but all <i>I</i>
can say is, ‘Hmmmm?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Julee’s sleek armour-plated limousine (model Chapter 28),
floated down Critique Road with hardly a pothole to spoil the ride. With only a
scratch or two at the finish, a tire change and cut and polish will bring it
back to showroom condition. Well done Julee, another great offering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As always, it was a great, fun session, with everyone
joining in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The NaNoWriMo writers - Judy, Tracey and Terry - are all
doing well and if not lighting the world on fire, are well on the way to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Lunch has been booked at the Golden Fleas Hotel (<span style="background: white;">257-263 High St, Melton</span>) for 12.00 on Wednesday
the 14<sup>th</sup> December. Mathew <i>will</i> be there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Lastly, I’d like to congratulate our three victorious
Wordsmith Warriors - Sonia, Kristen and Judy - for receiving a well-deserved
place in the Melton Writing Competition. I’m humbled in your presence and will
be there Friday week to bask in the limelight of your win. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> See you all (except the ones I won’t) next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Les</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-39580686893898155832016-10-24T20:44:00.001-07:002016-10-24T20:44:07.146-07:00Five Challenges When Shifting FromTraditional to Self PublishingThis link came into our inbox today and it makes good reading for writers unsure of which type of publishing works best for them.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.chatebooks.com/blog-5-Challenges-When-Shifting-from-Traditional-to-Self-Publishing">https://www.chatebooks.com/blog-5-Challenges-When-Shifting-from-Traditional-to-Self-Publishing</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Please leave a comment with what has been successful for you.Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-85576698835522967112016-10-21T21:23:00.001-07:002016-10-24T16:45:12.353-07:00Offset Sixteen Launch - by Les Stillman <div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8v8U-rzKt1OLxE6k1CQblHM6GfCNrKYTn1wNVghaVkQjKZu37niFdtKrFrmftfKQx1i9E2N8wq3ujGylAKG_FCfzoaLVPYmr9MFKl8hkEPXgwD7YkKixMJPkZh59hyW-l81qKGZnK7dJ/s1600/14716290_1452684098082299_2778227936807053009_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8v8U-rzKt1OLxE6k1CQblHM6GfCNrKYTn1wNVghaVkQjKZu37niFdtKrFrmftfKQx1i9E2N8wq3ujGylAKG_FCfzoaLVPYmr9MFKl8hkEPXgwD7YkKixMJPkZh59hyW-l81qKGZnK7dJ/s320/14716290_1452684098082299_2778227936807053009_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Julee
and I attended the <i>Offset Sixteen</i>
launch last night. Both she and Matthew had their stories published in the
book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Matthew
was already there looking quite dapper dressed in chinos, shirt and jacket. He
was standing aloof and intelligent his head cocked slightly to the side. Well,
we thought he was aloof, but in reality he was waiting for the bar to open,
listening for the tinkle of glasses – more shattered illusions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">We
had a great chat and a drink with Matthew before we separated to mingle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Matthew was in his element and it was fun watching him flit
around meeting old friends and colleagues. As Yoda, would say, ‘Hmmm, popular
our young Matthew is.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Once the crowd poured in and we had a drink in our hand we
started to mingle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Julee’s shoes hurt her feet, so she had to sit down and wait for
visitors. Of course, they flocked to her in abundance and she had a great time
chatting with some interesting people. Jessi, the young girl we’d dealt with
throughout, swept Julee away introducing her to the other girls on her team,
all who wanted to tell her how much they loved her story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I, on the other hand, had no restrictions. I slipped amongst the
crowd looking for interesting people, forcing them to talk to me so I could
bore them to death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">It was a most interesting group, full of very colourful
characters. I must say, everyone I spoke to was delightful. I had a lovely chat
with a girl who sported bright blue hair and dark blue lipstick. She was very
nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Anyway, back to the crowd. My favourite was a little lady who
looked like a lollipop stick. I say this in the nicest way I might add. She was
dressed in the colours of a rainbow, with leggings over her pants, a neck scarf
and a bandanna holding back a bird’s nest of hair with things sticking out of
it. She had a bright, intelligent face with huge glasses and she also carried a
walking/sitting stick, equally colourful as her dress. Somehow, it all came together
and worked. I had a great long chat with her and she was a delight. An artist
of course, who had one of her pieces on display. It was modernistic and
stimulating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Anyway, having said all
that. It was a great night, we had fun and more to the point, I’m very proud of
both Julee and Matthew for winning and grinning.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-5697597556064466562016-09-08T21:04:00.002-07:002016-09-08T21:04:39.499-07:00Local writer in the newsLocal writer Christine Mackley is featured in a story by Sumeyya Ilanbey in this week's Star Weekly.<br />
Christine, a multiple City of Melton Short Story Competition winner gave her views on what it takes to make a story stand out. She is proud that her work, <i>Fair Fight</i>, will be published in this year's <i>Award Winning Australian Writing 2016.</i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz6GUJJhcgwEd8WH_lIlMDaskzBuauxjctBoqonuu5QdMsF4abLntsLH478peS0SCE1_33ljjPMoyro7f98t1HOIBxMUmeA2aSlM4BxsbOvaGpv60XhKgv3l03wKDeZPF3Ndq0goj8mAw/s1600/Christine+Mackley+Star+Weekly+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz6GUJJhcgwEd8WH_lIlMDaskzBuauxjctBoqonuu5QdMsF4abLntsLH478peS0SCE1_33ljjPMoyro7f98t1HOIBxMUmeA2aSlM4BxsbOvaGpv60XhKgv3l03wKDeZPF3Ndq0goj8mAw/s320/Christine+Mackley+Star+Weekly+001.jpg" width="320" /></a>Christine made a point of saying different things had helped her writing. One was being part of a writing group, this had helped because she had other like minded people to read and critique her work. She advised writers to use all of the five senses to put the reader into the story, so they can see, taste, hear and feel what the writer is saying.<br />
<br />
Every word has to count in a short story so the writer needs to ask if it has a reason to be in your work.<br />
<br />
<i>Fair Fight</i> took weeks of work to get it into shape before she submitted it.<br />
<br />
Award Winning Australian Writing was launched at the beginning of Spring and should be available from a bookstore near you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-34531287270590306052016-09-08T19:53:00.003-07:002016-09-08T19:54:24.303-07:00Les' Report 7th of September 2016<h3>
Captains Log 7th of September 2016</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was Mathew’s day on Wednesday – as per normal,
interesting and helpful. We discussed our individual writing progress, short
story writing and competitions in general, then finished up with a discussion
on the Melbourne Writers Festival and its motivational implications. Everyone
joined in the discussions and as usual, it was frenetic and jolly, with a dozen
different conversations going at once. Of course, I tried valiantly to get
everyone on track and of course, as usual, I was completely ignored. Still, it
was all good natured, lots of fun and I think we achieved quite a bit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Mathew pulled out a punctuation exercise (cue dramatic
music – <i>Da, da, da, daaaa)</i>. It was, interesting to say the least and
caused an interesting differing of opinion and quite a bit of discussion.
Which, of course is exactly what we want.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please remember that entries to the Melton competition will
close on the 7<sup>th</sup> October. It would be nice if we could all put in
entries.<o:p></o:p></div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213774744321215038.post-25707222894804513232016-09-07T22:51:00.002-07:002016-09-08T21:05:16.457-07:00City of Melton Short Story Competition 2016<br />
The long running Melton Short Story competition is now open to entries copy and paste this address into your browser to access terms and conditions.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out-n-About/Libraries-and-learning/Libraries/Short-Story-Competition-2016">http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out-n-About/Libraries-and-learning/Libraries/Short-Story-Competition-2016</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="font-size: 1em; line-height: 1;">Thre are three categories again this year and are as follows</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Adult Section (18 years and over)*</strong>1st Prize: $500<br />
2nd Prize: $200<br />
3rd Prize: $100</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Teenage Section (13–17 years)*</strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1;">1st Prize: $250 (plus $250 for their school)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />2nd Prize: $100 (plus $100 for their school)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />3rd Prize: $50 (plus $50 for their school)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Junior Section (up to 12 years)*</strong>1st Prize: $250 (plus $250 for their school)<br />
2nd Prize: $100 (plus $100 for their school)<br />
3rd Prize: $50 (plus $50 for their school)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1;">Entries are open to any medium: print, illustration, video, verse, voice or combinations of any of the above. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1;">Each entry should be no more than 1500 words and, for other story formats, something that takes no more than 5 minutes to experience.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
<span style="line-height: 1.45em;">*First time entry encouragement award</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
*Prizes for all finalists in each section</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
In case of two winners in any category the first and second prize will be added together and divided equally between the two winners and there will be a third prize.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Read the conditions of entry before submitting your story</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Get some writing tips from a pro!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: opensans, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.45em; margin-bottom: 1em;">
Find out who's judging.</div>
Wordsmiths of Meltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979480320246888814noreply@blogger.com1