Meeting Minutes, May 16, 2010

Harry was leading the last meeting. He hardly had a chance to open his mouth before a discussion about what is and is not appropriate to post to the group's blog began. We talked about some things being offensive to one person but not to another and how we should be encouraging each other and not try to censor. What it came down to was that everyone should use common sense when posting to the group's blog. Be aware that each of us represents a group of many other writers with many different voices. If something appears on the blog that any of us finds offensive, please feel free to discuss it with the author and the group.

We had a large group this meeting, which always makes for more energy and variety.
Clare told us about his talk at the Dufferin Museum on May 15th. There was not a great turn out, but he did enjoy it. He told us that he sent a copy of The Hurleyville Taxi as well as a CD of the songs written about it and a DVD to Stuart McLean from The Vinyl Cafe on CBC. Clare got a letter from the production assistant to say they had received his package, but Stuart was out of town for a while. They wished him all the best and promised to look at it for the show.

Caitlyn read her poem about meeting her six-year-old self. Kelli suggested that she write an adult version. What would her adult self say to her six-year-old self. Judy said we all have negative self-talk and that we should all turn that around and pretend we are six. Would we still say the same things to ourselves then? Sandy wanted to talk to Caitlyn about turning her poem into a song!

Ron read a story about 12 Steps. Not about addictions - well unless you include counting basement stairs as an addiction! Lord Tweedsmuir who is the namesake for the church, wrote 39 Steps which was turned into a movie.

Sandy read a poem she did for her grandson about her two sons. She also showed us a memoir called Cakewalk written by Kate Moses. The book includes the song lyrics for "Love You" which Sandy wrote as part of the group The Free Design. Kate Moses also wrote a novel called Wintering: A Novel of Sylvia Plath.

Pat read a short story written from a prompt she had three years ago. A woman gets a letter from her father dated 2003. He died in 2004. Laura told her it was worth the wait, which may end up being the new title.

Kelli had a list of names. She wanted the group to help her pick one for the bully in her new book. The group picked Brad from the list but suggested she choose a nickname rather than just a name.

Laura reminded us about the Amazon bookstore on the Website! She will add the books by Kate Moses to it and asked that we send her two or three of our favourite book titles to promote our friends or favourite writers. It's also a great place to buy books since we do get money back from it.

Jenn announced that she has started her own blog but I didn't get the address (sorry Jenn! Feel free to post it or email it around and we'll add it!) She read two of her poems to us "Tangled" and "Superstition"

Gloria read a short memoir called "A Sister's Gift" about her older sister's death and preparation for burial and how she coped with everything. Loved her line about "a statue without a voice." Thank you for sharing something so deeply personal.

Ruth read "the funny one", a poem called "Writing a Poem." She also read a poem called "Mother's Musing on the Meaning of Women's Shoes." It is posted on her website self-to-self.com along with a tasteful photo of a woman wearing nothing but stilettos. It was inspired by a show about the Bata Shoe Museum. Shoes apparently have a bit of an obscene history (spikes and stilettos). Richard commented on how we bare ourselves when we write and become "literarily naked."

Alberta announced that she and Gloria were going to The Book Shelf in Guelph on May 24 for a movie premiere. Theirs! They have participated in the 24 Hour Movie Challenge for a few years now and always managed to pull off a fun and interesting show! We got to watch one at an Eramosa Eden retreat.

This is a shorter post today. I did not make notes while everyone read their prompts because I got absorbed in them all. It's very inspiring to hear what people can do with a simple song title!

Here are the prompts Harry gave us to work with:

The Rite of Spring
Some Enchanted Evening
Pop Goes the Weasel
Wild Horses
Wish You Were Here
Achy Breaky Heart
Strange Fruit
Me and Bobby McGee
Chain Gang
Closer to the Heart
Great Balls of Fire
Monster Mash
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Somewhere over the Rainbow
I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face
Tutti Frutti
Bolero
Ain't Misbehavin'
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
Unchained Melody
That's Amore

Just a couple of reminders!!!

1. The Eramosa Eden Retreat is June 19. Directions will be available or you can look them up on-line. Bring lunch, something to write in and with (laptops are welcome) and a camera if you are so inclined. It is a great place to get away from it all and be inspired.
2. June 19 is also the deadline for Anthology submissions!!! Prose pieces can be up to 2,000 words. You may submit 2-3 pieces and we can decide from there on what to use.
3. Our next meeting is May 30. Nancy will be leading. I will be away due to an art workshop that I'm really looking forward too so someone else will have to take notes and post the minutes. Any takers?

Have a great couple of weeks and keep on writing! See you all in June!

Meeting Minutes April 25, 2010

We had a great day for writing. Since it was gloomy outside, no one minded being inside.



I had a great conversation with Clare and Ron before the meeting. We talked about Vertical vs. Horizontal thinking. If you want something interesting to Google, this would be it!



A cheque was paid to the Tweedsmuir Church for use of their room for the first 6 months of the year. Although they do not charge us rent, we took it upon ourselves to make a donation of $100 to the church twice a year. We are grateful for the time and space to write. Nancy was talking to new members about how we used to write at the library for free on taxpayers' money, but now we write for free at the church using God's money. Clare laughed and said, "So you're okay if we use taxpayer money, but not God's money?" Judy clarified the situation by reminding us that "When you boil it down, it's all God's money. The government just thinks it's theirs."



Jayne's novel is still the most "feedbacked" item in the Presbyterian Record. Yes, she made up a new word. We liked it so it's on the blog. You can read her novel on http://www.presbyterianrecord.ca/.



Nancy, Gaetan, Clare and Judy all made it out to Grey Roots Museum April 24 for the Poetry reading that Harry was involved in. They gave kudos to Harry for such an impressive job. They told us that all of the works were heartfelt and impressive. Each piece made them think and touched them deeply as the performances spoke to their souls. Nancy recorded some of the show and will burn it onto a DVD to show us all. She thinks it's wonderful that poets love to watch other poets.



Ron showed us a book written by former ODSS teacher Gary T. Gravelle (GTG) called Paths Through Heartache. It is a touching book about his wife who died from Huntington's Disease in 2001. Pat will extend a formal invitation to join our group and talk to us about his book writing experience.



Reminder: Monday April 26 at 7pm is the book launch for Stories of Prayers and Faith. A few of our members have been published in this anthology. Come on out and show them your support!



We welcomed back Kelli Curtis, who joined us once before then got busy with publishing her children's book called Amber and the Fallen Bridge. She had a book launch at As We Grow and will be doing a reading at St. Benedict School here in Orangeville on May 4th. Her book is available at: BookLore, As We Grow, and The Vinyl Cut. She read it to us for practice even though we were all far bigger kids than she is used to reading to. We loved it. Way to go Kelli!

Kelli brought up a great question about how much to charge schools for us to go in to read/talk to students. Some suggestions were to check other author websites and to start low and raise your fees as you get more books published. The base price suggested was $50 per hour and go up from there.

Hope to see you at more meetings.



June 19 is the deadline for submissions for the anthology! There is a 2000 word limit on prose. The group had several questions which I will forward to Gloria later today so she can have an answer for our next meeting. Bring in ideas for artwork for the book cover! There is no theme so anything goes.



June 19 is also the Eramosa Eden Retreat. We will be there from 10am - 4pm to write, use prompts, take pictures, nap...Nancy wants your money asap if you are able to plan ahead. The cost for the day is $10, bring your own bag lunch. Coffee will be provided. If people would like to bring treats, we won't discourage it!



Readings.

Clare read about a chance meeting at a Tim Hortons with Jayne and her father. He should get a sponsorship from them for all the stories he has written in their restaurants. Or at least a bottomless Tim Card.



Pat read a section of her novel-in-progress. Can't wait to see what happens next.



Kelli read her book to us. We all love the nervous giggle. Glad we could be your first real audience for it.



Ron told us he had great news. He has plans to meet his historian friend next month in Lexington, NC. We'll look forward to hearing all the stories he has to share about that meeting.



Diane read the revised Chapter 1 of her Young Adult novel The Mural.



Judy read her piece about "I can't write today."



We talked about being vulnerable when reading to the group and to others.



Sandy surprised us all by singing her song that she wrote when her son was little. She recorded it with her brothers and sisters who performed in a band called The Free Design out of Delevan, New York. Her song, "Love You" appeared on the band's 6th album and was used in worldwide Toyota commercials as well as others. It also appeared in the closeing credits of the movie Stranger Than Fiction starring Emma Thompson and Will Farrell. Go ahead and Google her and her former group. I dare you not to be impressed!



We wrote our prompts and Clare read his about a Silver Angel and included the song On The Road Again. We'd love to hear more.



Sonja read about a woman waiting for the right time to kill a man. Intriguing.



Pat read about an obstacle someone hadn't anticipated.



Kelli wrote about breaking up with a friend in Grade 9 and trying to reconnect now that she's older. She plans to write a story about it.



Nancy started off reading about her younger sister then talked about the men in her family. She wished we lived in a world that did not punish the truth sayers.



When it was Sandy's turn to read, Kelli asked, "Are you going to sing it?"

She didn't but it was a nice story about two people reconnecting. We're waiting for more on that one too!



Jayne and Ron tackled the prompt about the difference between men and women.



Caitlyn told a story with great suspense. We want more.



Diane wrote a bit more of The Mural.



Judy wrote poetry about "If I Could Say I'm Sorry."



The Prompts

1. "So what are the main differences between the genders, between you and me," he asked her.

2. His mirror image stared back at him. He leaned into it, examining his receding hairline, the greasy spot on his tie, and his frayed shirt cuff.

3. "If my mother knew what I do for a living, it would make her crazy."

4. Thirty years had elapsed since they had seen each other.

5. He pushed the coin into the slot and waited for the silver angel to answer his question.

6. The children hid behind the crumbling stone wall when the machine began to quiver and belch smoke.

7. This was one obstacle she hadn't anticipated.

8. If you could say you're sorry to one person from your past, who would it be?



That wraps it up for this week. I need to get a new notebook and sharpen my pencil for the next meeting.



Our next meeting is May 2 at 1:30pm. Richard will be leading.

See you all then.