Our icebreaker activity this month built on a chapter in Martin Amis’s memoir ‘Experience’ relating to the slice of life ‘experiences with teeth’! Members were asked to talk in pairs about a ‘slice of their life’ relating to ‘teeth’—while faces appeared quite unimpressed when given the topic, the room was soon resonant with a quiet buzz of memory sharing; with moving recollections of ‘experiences with teeth’ later shared by each of our two ‘Heathers’.
The topic “Bucket List” proved popular, with nine stories shared and now available on the website. Few told of a catch-all ‘bucket list’, however most explored goals, dreams, places and aspirations which have been achieved, some highlighting those which remain to be achieved. Carmyl wrote of not having had a bucket list, “I can only think that, for me, I lived the life that came along”, while Graham titled his beautifully written contribution ‘There’s a hole in my bucket list, dear Liza’.
Barry’s ‘It’s Never Too Late’ story was triggered by watching the Australian comedy ‘Never Too Late’ while in covid isolation in Perth a few months ago, while Graeme shared two ‘It’s never too late-two vignettes’, one on missing a train that was four hours late, the other about an aunt who proved it’s never too get late to get a PhD when she was 81.
Bev’s catch-up story, ‘No One Left in Limbo’, was triggered by a photograph of a community ‘social causes’ banner containing the letter M she created for the versatile Daylesford Community Banner in 1982.
Inspired by the Australian’s Weekend Review column which publishes original submissions of 450-500 words, ‘This (….) Life’ is one of our topics for October. The Brief: “Create and develop a concept for a story drawing on something which is happening now or reflects on memories from the past”, for example, ‘This (Downsizing) Life’ by an 80+ year old about planning to farewell loved home; ‘This (Number 8) Life’ about growing up as ‘Number 8’ in a family of nine children. Stories ‘This (Adventurous) Life’ and ‘This (… Fear of Heights) Life’ are among those written last year and available on the website.
Once the Benalla Festival’s Writing Competition details have been released – usually around 8 October – I’ll email everyone the details of the second topic for October. You may also decide to enter the Competition!
Beverley Lee
The topic “Bucket List” proved popular, with nine stories shared and now available on the website. Few told of a catch-all ‘bucket list’, however most explored goals, dreams, places and aspirations which have been achieved, some highlighting those which remain to be achieved. Carmyl wrote of not having had a bucket list, “I can only think that, for me, I lived the life that came along”, while Graham titled his beautifully written contribution ‘There’s a hole in my bucket list, dear Liza’.
Barry’s ‘It’s Never Too Late’ story was triggered by watching the Australian comedy ‘Never Too Late’ while in covid isolation in Perth a few months ago, while Graeme shared two ‘It’s never too late-two vignettes’, one on missing a train that was four hours late, the other about an aunt who proved it’s never too get late to get a PhD when she was 81.
Bev’s catch-up story, ‘No One Left in Limbo’, was triggered by a photograph of a community ‘social causes’ banner containing the letter M she created for the versatile Daylesford Community Banner in 1982.
Inspired by the Australian’s Weekend Review column which publishes original submissions of 450-500 words, ‘This (….) Life’ is one of our topics for October. The Brief: “Create and develop a concept for a story drawing on something which is happening now or reflects on memories from the past”, for example, ‘This (Downsizing) Life’ by an 80+ year old about planning to farewell loved home; ‘This (Number 8) Life’ about growing up as ‘Number 8’ in a family of nine children. Stories ‘This (Adventurous) Life’ and ‘This (… Fear of Heights) Life’ are among those written last year and available on the website.
Once the Benalla Festival’s Writing Competition details have been released – usually around 8 October – I’ll email everyone the details of the second topic for October. You may also decide to enter the Competition!
Beverley Lee
