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August - 'What are you doing?'... and more

17/8/2022

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A smaller class this month with many taking the opportunity to travel.  Even so, the conversation resulting from the different stories took the full two hours.
 
Hints:
This month we talked about use of cliches, both in text and in the plot basis for our stories.  For example plots such as ‘The idyllic country cottage bequeathed to the heroine by a generous aunt’ OR ‘The Gothic house with ghosts in the walls’ have been overdone and will probably not be very interesting for a reader.
 
Our challenge:
The challenge this month was to complete some common phrases without falling into the cliché trap.  We had ‘As tall as…’ and ‘As warm as…’.  Two people came up with same idea for warmth – the hug of a granddaughter.  There was ‘As cold a morning hot water bottle’ and ‘As tall as a pencil pine’.
 
Our stories:
For our written work to share with the class there were three prompts:
  • The accommodation was booked and the departure day set
  • “What are you doing?”
  • {Emma} liked to cook when she had time
 
Stories as usual varied.  Two were perhaps more serious with underlying messages.  One was a discussion between a couple.  The husband was concerned about the state of the world, and his wife thought they could not do anything so he should not worry.  This resulted in a discussion about how every small step can help.  We also talked about the treatment and encouragement of young children who have developmental problems.  This resulted from a story about a young boy with autism who was able to help police solve a series of crimes.  On a brighter note, we all had smile about a story giving personality to kitchen tools such as a mixer and knives.  It ends with them planning to form a union.
 
The topics for our 12 September class are:
  • On the road again
  • They had both got out, and it caused a great sensation
  • A storm was brewing and hours had passed since they’d left the camp
 
And we are always ready to welcome new storytellers to the class.


Joy Shirley
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    Creative Writing

    We are a group of people who love writing.  Why not come and join us?  It is for those who enjoy writing, irrespective of experience or training.  If you have ever thought of writing a short story, a novel, entering a writing competition this can be a good starting point.  The class provides the encouragement to write and the opportunity to receive feedback from like-minded 'creative writers'.  So, if you love to write, join us in 2025.

    To provide a starting point each month we have a writing prompt, or a selection of prompts.  This can be a starting sentence, a topic, or perhaps a writing challenge.  The length of the stories will vary.  It could be 300 words or 3000, whatever works to provide a complete story.

    Each class will include some discussion points or hints around writing, and perhaps a writing challenge.  Then we will discuss stories written by class members, providing constructive feedback to help us improve our writing.  

    Convenor/
    ​Contact Details 

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    Joy Shirley  
    ​0417 065 351

    Meeting Time

    2nd Monday from
    ​2 - 4pm (including Public Holidays)
    U3A Meeting Room 1 Fawckner Drive 

    Links/Resources

    Creative Writing Group Workshop Process
    Australian Writers' Centre

    ​Wheeler Centre
    'Five emerging Australian authors talk about writing their breakthrough novels' 

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