My Dear Fellow Writers,
An interesting day yesterday. Apologies from Sonia, Kevin,
Lena and KT.
Tracey, Julee, Judy, Janeen, Terry and I discussed our three
critiques:
Julee’s Chapter thirty-four, Janeen’s Chapter One, and my
Chapter seven.
As always, lively comments and much good advice was passed
on to the writers to use or disregard as they see fit.
I would like to thank everyone for the effort put into each
critique, not an easy task as we all know.
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.
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?).
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.’
Regards Les
G’day Wordies,
Almost a full house today, with Tracey, Sonia, Julee,
Janeen, Lena, Terry and me in attendance. Apologies from JT, Judy and Kevin.
We had three critiques today:
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.
This proved a big hit
Was enjoyed by all today
Much more is required
ArigatÅ,
Sonia. Well done.
Next was
Julee’s chapter 33.
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.
Great chapter
Julee, keep them rolling in.
Last in line
was Lena’s Prologue.
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.
Wow Lena, you
certainly have everyone’s attention. Let’s see some more soon.
As to next
week:
Julee’s next
chapter is attached. Hot off the press.
Janeen will
be submitting her revamped first chapter. I’ll send it on as soon as it hits my
inbox.
And, once I
get a few minutes, I’ll submit my next chapter.
That will
give us three, which should keep us all busy.
As you all
know, several of us went into contact mode with Mathew last week.
I would like
to report that Tracey is up and running again, so we should be seeing some
chapters rolling in there, ‘Yay, Tracey’.
And I am well
on my way to completing my deadline of the first of December.
Look forward
to seeing (nearly) everyone next Wednesday.
Regards Les
Almost a full house yesterday, with only Julee absent from place of parade.
We had one critique on the table. Danny’s first effort. A
5,000-word crime/comedy short story.
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.
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.
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.
Next week (22nd) is a fun week, with both
Tracey and Janeen bringing in an interesting exercise each for us.
See you all (except the ones I won’t) next week.
So, until then, Pax tibi Wordsmiths
Les
