Our March writing workshop began with sharing of 'News of Writing', including news of a recent literary lunch with Rosalie Ham, writer of 'The Dressmaker', set in rural Australia. Rural Australia is a particular interest of new member David, a journalist, who spoke of an intriguing interview recently which led to research into the long history of planting by the moon. Perhaps, like Rosalie Ham's example of her father's stressing the importance of never jumping into a sorghum silo, this might appear in something he writes one day!
We then moved into '500 words' - the sharing of writing on last month's topic of the month from ABC Open 'Lost in Music'. Next month's topic is 'Testing the Friendship' - "A true friend is there through thick and thin, but not all friendships survive under pressure. Tell us about a time when a friendship was put to the test. Did it strengthen your relationship, or push it over the edge?"
If you are interested in finding out more about the '500 words' topic approach you might like to check out the experience of U3A's MacKay writers' group (Sugar Babes - sugar being key local industry) and the U3As Toowoomba writers' group (Green Chickens). An article on the value of memoir writing in U3A suggests the processes we have introduced for our '500 words'.
The second half of the session 'Sounding Board' provided a chance for members of the group to get feedback on ongoing memoir related projects.
We are a very small group keen to have new members. We meet on the third Monday of the month between 2 and 4 pm in W4 at The Centre.
We then moved into '500 words' - the sharing of writing on last month's topic of the month from ABC Open 'Lost in Music'. Next month's topic is 'Testing the Friendship' - "A true friend is there through thick and thin, but not all friendships survive under pressure. Tell us about a time when a friendship was put to the test. Did it strengthen your relationship, or push it over the edge?"
If you are interested in finding out more about the '500 words' topic approach you might like to check out the experience of U3A's MacKay writers' group (Sugar Babes - sugar being key local industry) and the U3As Toowoomba writers' group (Green Chickens). An article on the value of memoir writing in U3A suggests the processes we have introduced for our '500 words'.
The second half of the session 'Sounding Board' provided a chance for members of the group to get feedback on ongoing memoir related projects.
We are a very small group keen to have new members. We meet on the third Monday of the month between 2 and 4 pm in W4 at The Centre.
