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Erskine Writers meeting 16th April 2024

This week the group drew out one line sentence from the hat. They were give 20 minutes to complete a flash fiction story. We were then going to pair up with a colleague who drew the same one liner and then work together merging their stories into one piece. We took the collective decision that this was going to be very challenging so we were happy to omit this task. The one liners were;

A bolt out of the blue

One minute she was there the next she was gone

Such a gawky little specimen

Walking on eggshells

You have a one new voicemail

You haven’t changed a bit

Michael sat down in the middle of the road and began to cry

Your mother lied to you, that’s the truth

I was dressed in an inappropriate shade of pink

After only two months, Helen decided to become an exotic dancer

“I like hats” that’s what Derek said the day he killed Sally

On the following Friday we packed our bags and planned our escape

There were seventeen cats living in Harry’s basement

Out of sight out of mind

A very interesting exercise which produced great submissions from the group. Morag confirmed that we will be submitting 11 entries for Greenock Writers to adjudicate. Jeannie looking for volunteers for this years syllabus meeting which will meet in July. Mandy had good news that Wee Stoorie Press will be delivering 'The Aligrog' on 10th of May 2024. Sandra attending book event at The Ginger Cat Book Store, Bridge of Weir on 26th April 2024. Jeannie will also be giving a talk at the same venue the following week. 

Erskine Writers Meeting 26th March 2024

 Today's meeting was attended by eight members of the group. John reminded the members that the closing date for the Young Adult Short Story was midnight tonight. Lorna then provided feedback from the SAW Conference which was held at the weekend. She was delighted to announce that our president Jeannie received three awards in the competitions she entered. Highly Commended for historical novel. Second place for The Memoire, and first place for General Article. Fantastic achievement.

We then heard readings from Lorna, Donnie, Rob and John. The meeting concluded with a short exercise on 9 words from daily Quordle made into a short flash fiction of no more than 100 words. Great attempts from all the group.

The group returns on the 16th of April following on from the Easter break.

Erskine Writers Meeting 19th March 2024

Today's meeting was attended by 12 members of the group and the session was open manuscripts. Jackie had been successful with her one line submission that she had sent to Kathleen Jamie, our national Makar. She had invited lines of poetry from the people of Scotland to address concerns about conflict to the leaders of the world. She played the poem to the group. Her line was 'Do the ghosts of children haunt you in your sleep?' We all agreed this was a really powerful line and rightly included in the poem.

Rob read a short piece called 'One Man's Junk' based on his experience in visiting a small museum in Lancashire which informed us the fascinating memorabilia that you can find in these museums. John provided four more of his flash fiction offerings based on his daily wordle challenge. Sandra read two extracts from her new novel 'Out of Darkness' chapter 6 'December' and chapter 16 'The Big Yin' she has whetted her appetite and we look forward to getting our hands on the new book. Jeannie read out her poem 'The Magpie Bridge' which captured the names that the Chinese give to their satellites. A beautiful poem. The session was completed by John providing the group with the nine words from his fifth offering in which they had to write their own wee story. All readings were a great success.

The deadline for Young Adult Short Story extended to 26th March. SAW Conference this coming weekend. Feedback will be given to the group on the 26th.

Erskine Writers Meeting 12th March 2024

The meeting was attended by six members from the group. There were readings from Donnie, an update on his wonderful 'Falkirk Story'. We all agreed that this should be transferred to the small screen as it would be a great watch. Jennie read another compelling chapter from her novel,  and John presented three more Wordle/Quordle Flash Fiction pieces.

Next week is the deadline for The Young Adult Short Story.

Erskine e Writers Meeting 5th March 2024

We opened the meeting with birthday wishes for Rob celebrating his 21st birthday or maybe just slightly older than that. Box of Maltesers kept the energy levels up during the afternoon session this was on open manuscripts.

Sandra gave us a flavour of book 22 of the Lorimer series, reading the first chapter. Rob provided us with two  short pieces that he is writing for his granddaughters in Canada. The first entitled ' Lightening Strikes Out' based on the Komodo Dragon 'Calat' who sadly passed away this year at the age of thirty. 

The second was entitled 'Fried and Prejudice' this was informing us of Rob's love for a good breakfast which he has a top ten. This story was the breakfast he discovered at St Lawrence Market in Yianni's Kitchen a Greek Restaurant his piece left the group salivating but we had to make do with the Maltesers!

John provided a short flash fiction (100 words) based on the nine words extracted from Tuesday's Wordle and Quordle.

Jeannie read a new chapter from the book she is currently writing. The chapter was entitled 'The Hawk' which centred on the first night of the Clydebank bombings. A very powerful piece of prose.

Jackie read her Woman's Short Story entitled "Nobody's Trophy, very well received by all the group.

The meeting closed with Lorna providing feedback from the event she attended in Musselburgh which was informing the audience on Kindle Direct Publishing. The group appreciated the information and handout from Lorna.

Erskine Writers Meeting 27th February 2024

Our meeting today was attended by ten members of the group with eight apologies. There was clarification on dates and subject matter for competition entries and John will send an email out to all the group to update them on this. John will also update syllabus to reflect this.

The group selected two photos/pictures from the hat and tasked to write either short story or the opening of a story from what they had selected. We were given 20 minutes for the task and then read out our writings to the group. 

Once again we saw how much imagination and diversity we have within the group with all the members achieving excellent pieces within the time given. The one that had brought us to tears with laughter was Mandy's piece, based on the photograph below. Interpreting this as a lads day out to Millport.