General Chat

Jill, I think feedback in one document, split into individual sections would be easier. Otherwise we may forget who we have sent to/about etc.

Jill, I am down as a non writer, does that preclude me from 'having a go'?

4 more members!!

Deanna, Gillian, Jen - please send me your e-mail addresses please so I can add you to the circulation list. I have Ann of Green Gable's e-mail. I'll send the e-mail round when I have all your addies if that's OK.

Don't worry about the timescale at the moment. Two weeks is what we will all aim for - don't worry if you can't meet that one - particularly the first one! It will get easier. And, after all, if you were attending a writing group you would not manage to make every single session and you won't always have written something - it happens. Relax.

Work will need to go round the group - if we post on here it will become long and muddly. Also, by posting it round, we don't have to worry about conforming to the T&Cs of the site, so the odd swear word for instance, won't matter. (I know we're none of us likely to swear in our work [cough] but you never know!)

Still puzzling slightly over feedback. I know that for me, personally, it will be easier to put the feedback into one document and circulate to all members - otherwise I will get into such a muddle! But, not sure how everyone feels about that. Have a think. We have plenty of time to decide the most logical way to do that.

Gonna be fun!

Jill

List of topics suggested by Ann in Glos.

Hang on to these - or use one or more of them if you want:-

New life
Blue
purple
Trees
Sunrise

Jill

I'd like to join please - I'm Ann, widowed, living in Cardiff and absoilutely love writing - mostly write about things I have experienced - am very successful in getting my letters published in the South Wales Echo - have had three published in the last two weeks!!! Once was a runner up in a national writing competition in Good Housekeeping magazine - would have loved to have been a journalist but ended up being a secretary!!!!

Hi all, I don't come on GR as much as I used to do as my research has slowed somewhat and I have been busy doing other connected projects.
I too love to write and once joined a writing group briefly...until I moved house.
I started to write my autobiography several years ago but it came to a halt when I started my research.
I have completed a childrens story which I now feel needs revision and perhaps some updating.
I have also written quite a lot of poetry over the years.
I am very tempted by Mrs Grumpy's idea but like many of you here, am worried about whether I can commit to a time frame.
I'm almost 63, have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.

I've done mine... LOL... which isn't what I intended to do !

Thankyou Jill you have given me the spur I needed to start writing up the family history...I hadn't a clue where to start , and here it is started :))

xx

I shall sit at my keyboard tomorrow and write the first thing that comes into my head, and allow myself to ramble on. I often come up with some ideas when I do that.

with having 2 weeks to go i haven't even decided what to write yet...lol

I haven't yet, but my mind is churning away in the background. Slow start because I haven't written anything since just before Christmas.

That's procrastination, not writer's block lol

Hi TW , Jill has sent out emails to those who have sent her their addys. i believe the idea is that we each send out our work to those who have 'registered' an interest rather than put it on the board .

Don't think it has yet been decided how the feedback will be sent.

Don't know about anyone else but I have been typing away lol...am so looking forward to reading other peoples pieces :))

xx

I will add here, now I've read all the posts and got my email, I think a minimum two weeks is a reasonable deadline. Many of us work, and possibly have other commitments (writing). which will mean that some will have to spread ourselves a bit thin. I'm ok at the moment, apart from my coursework, and allocated time to my novel, I can devote the time needed to work on something for the group too. Though I might combine both the coursework and the group pieces, which will help me enormously.

Thank you for this Jill, it's a great idea, and I'll look forward to seeing other's work along with my own.

I didn't notice, perhaps I need to read again, where will we send our work, will this be done via email or 'published' on the boards? The answer to that will determine what I can send here, as some of the articles I'm putting together are hopefully going to be submitted. They won't be accepted if they are seen online anywhere...I had to pull a couple of short stories from a free website and place them in 'storage' after I found that out.

yespleasexx

ooh heck i am up to about 325 words already lol , and i haven't got far....

Just thought I had better add my name here too
Rachx

I am excited and anxious about this so here goes,
i am Bridget, the middle child of three and all girls. only brother died just 4 hours old.
I am 63, born in June 1946,
I have been married twice, sadly first marrige ended after 23 years. been married for the second time for 17 years in July this year.
I am a nurse by profession and specialised in Dementia Care, I have four children aged between 38 and 30, and two step sons aged 32 and 29.
6 grandchildren aged from 13 in March to 6 months old.

My OH retired early and we went to live in Spain where we still have our main home and two Cocker Spaniels.
Currently working again, keep stopping and then am enticed back.

Having a cook book published this year with recipes from GR Members and the money will go to SSAFA

I look forward to learning how to write so please remember I am a novice

Onewards and Upwards as they say

Bridget

Deanna, I absolutely promise not to be a harsh critic! if you promise me back lol. xx

I have to admit to a feeling of excitement about this.. but.

I used to write, and joined a writing group about 15 years ago.
I loved it and took it perhaps TOO seriously.
I was forced through ill health to leave after I was diagnosed with an illness which prevented me from even reading.
I am 70 this year very young in my mind, but the body, and the mirror disagree with me.
I am housebound and cannot get out without the help for my son.
I do have hobbies which are difficult to fit into my days!
How did I manage all the things I did before my disability?
I love writing and enjoy it. Although I am my worst enemy when it comes to critisism... I am easily hurt when others critisise me.
Perhaps I'm not really fit for this project?

Deanna X

First e-mail has gone off to all signed-up members.

First topic is either

free choice (something that maybe you are already working on)

or

Roots - as we are all doing our family history ...



Deadline: 2 weeks. One piece of prose (say 500 words) or 2 poems maybe.


Decisions to be made about feedback and how to circulate and (presumably) deadline on that ... Ideas here please.

Ideas for next topics here please ...

Any new members please send me a personal message and I will add you to the list. Please also leave brief details here about yourself - age, area, what sort of writing etc. Just to give everyone an idea.

Cheers and Good Luck

Jill

Rita - you're on the circulation list so you will receive stuff. Feedback welcome.

Jill

Sorry in my eagerness to join, I didn't put any details on thread:-) I am 73 and a half, live in London. I have done a writing course, maybe two, long long ago when I was in a writing mood. But havent written for years. I am looking forward to this. BC¬XX