Formed over forty years ago, our Writers Circle is based in Felixstowe, Suffolk. Meetings are held in The Room at the Top in Felixstowe Library, normally on the first and third Tuesday of each month commencing at 7.30pm and finishing by 10.00pm. Check this weblog for details of meetings.

There is an annual November to November fee of £30, April to November is £20 and June to November £15. For members preferring to pay at each meeting the charge is £5 per meeting. To contact Felixstowe Scribblers simply email scribblers.1@btinternet.com or the Secretary, catherine.stafford1@ntlworld.com

Sunday 30 October 2011

Our Next Meeting


Halloween is virtually here.... just a spooky time for everyone.... play safe, keep safe and hope to see you all at Scribblers on Tuesday, start 7.30 in the Room at the Top, when we will hear all the haunting 1,000 word homework assignments on 'A Ghost Story'....

Keep Screaming!!!!

Prose & Poetry Prizes 2011 from The New Writer magazine

one month to closing date ...

Prose and Poetry Prizes 2011from The New Writer magazine
Closing date 30 November

Now in its 15th year, one of the major annual international competitions for short stories, microfiction, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles; offers cash prizes as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection, special edition of The New Writer magazine each July. Back copies are available at the TNW website: http://www.thenewwriter.com/subscribe.htm

This year's judges: Jonathan Pinnock, Sally Quilford, Bill Greenwell.

Further information including guidelines and entry fees at: http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm
Writers can enter online at our secure credit card server at: http://www.thenewwriter.com/entryform.htm Or, the entry form can be downloaded from that page on the website and sent in the post with your entry. Also, we can supply this year's printed entry forms on request to writers' groups and organizations and individuals in the UK – just let us know, no SAE required. The 2010 Prose & Poetry Prizes winners are announced on this webpage:http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizewinners.htm

*SUBSCRIBE to The New Writer magazine6 issues of TNW over an 18 month period, plus, as part of the subscription package, and at no extra cost, we include current information for writers in a focussed monthly eNews bulletin. http://www.thenewwriter.com/subscribe.htm
TNW 108 (Autumn 2011)

Highly commended in our Prose & Poetry Prizes, short stories from FRANCES MANNION, SUE HEALY, MARINA STUBBS; non-fiction from JOHN BAINBRIDGE; poetry from J.A.BRADSHAW, CORRINNA TOOP, ANNA LAMPEN; Approachable Heroines, Rewarding Heroes - SALLY QUILFORD looks at romantic fiction; LYNNE HACKLES remembers her first talk - read and learn; Write about places in Britain with DENE BEBBINGTON and write your autobiography with JACKIE SHERMAN; Hook into the Past by checking and submitting anniversary articles with SALLY JENKINS; plus several pages of the best poetry in town, MicroFiction to make you sit up, Views, Reviews and Market News - copies available for purchase online at http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm

You can also now follow The New Writer on Twitter and Facebook.
TNW - over 100 issues since 1997 * over 1,000 contributors * full listing at:
http://www.thenewwriter.com/RollOfHonour.htm *

The New Writer
PO Box 60
CRANBROOK
TN17 2RE admin@thenewwriter.comWebsite:
www.thenewwriter.com
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/6eh8q8p
Twitter: www.twitter.com/thenewwritermag

Saturday 29 October 2011

Writing The Wrongs

The objective of the Writing The Wrongs competition is to create positive thoughtful energy that becomes reality through the written and spoken word. There are many issues that can be positively addressed with a few words or inspiration. By internalizing and personalizing wholesome messages of inspiration and empowerment we hope to correct that which is incorrect within each of us individually as well as universally. The competition is also designed to:

1. Raise the awareness of the power of the written and spoken word
2. Encourage those who enter to hold themselves accountable for the messages they promote to present and future generations
3. Create an ongoing competition that is always free for all to enter
4. Develop additional competition categories that will result in paid contracts and royalty payments for future winners

Please review the following information and details on how you and your members may enter the Writing The Wrongs competition.

Writing The Wrongs Competition

The Company
The Struggle For Change Limited
www.thestruggleforchange.co.uk aka www.donaldbrown.tv
Director Donald Brown

The Social Network Site For The Project
The main site for the Writing The Wrongs competition
www.theglobalgallery.org
Founder Donald Brown

The Sculpture
The A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture will be designed and created by acclaimed British Sculptor and Inspirational Speaker, Mr. Donald Brown as part of the countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics. It will promote the many positive principles that are taught in sport, such as discipline, patience and respect.

Who Is Donald Brown?
The following PDF link will provide you with more information about Donald Brown.
http://www.thestruggleforchange.co.uk/files/who.pdf

YouTube Videos
Here are Youtube videos of Donald Brown in action - also available on both aforementioned websites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2g8lUy0qzA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJTTYaoDhnI

Community Engagement
The sculpture will go on a national UK tour so that members of the public from other cities will also have an opportunity to place a small ‘Peace’ of clay onto the sculpture as part of the creative process and in support of promoting personal, social and environmental peace. See an example via this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgU-TWXuGI0&feature=related as celebrated actor, Joseph Marcell placed the first ‘Peace’ of clay onto the Stop The Violence sculpture in 2009.

Confirmed National Tour Locations
These are just of few of the locations that have already been secured for the UK tour.
Birmingham – Star City Complex – The launch
Buckinghamshire City Council – multiple bookings for:
Amersham
Burnham
Wycombe
Aylesbury
Manchester - Mayor of Trafford Councilor Mrs. June Baugh
Watford - The Viva Business Networking Group
Northwich – Former Mayor Tom Davis
London – South Themes College
Wolverhampton – Moseley Park High School

Athletes arriving to compete in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics will also have the opportunity to place their ‘Peace’ of clay onto the sculpture.

The Launch
The date for the launch of the A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture will be announced shortly on the www.theglobalgallery.org site. The venue is the Star City complex in Birmingham and the launch will be complete with press and media - including the BBC.

The Creative Process
The many thousand portions of clay will be smoothed and sculpted together to create a finished work of art while also representing the coming together of a global community to promote positive principles for peace through art and sport.

Writing The Wrongs Competition
In addition to the sculpture tour and to further engage ongoing nationwide participation of the public, the Writing The Wrongs competition will be launched in November 2011.

How To Enter
The www.theglobalgallery.org site has been set up in part to host all of the Writing The Wrongs competitions, submissions, announcements, updates and related project information.

1. First visit www.theglobalgallery.org and join so that you can enter all of the competitions. (Membership is free as well as all competition entries and submitting your vote for the winning quotes.)
2. Think of a quote that has a positive message that you would like to enter into the Writing The Wrongs competition.
3. Your quote must be an original one that you have written. (You will keep the artistic and intellectual rights of all quotes that you enter.)

Examples of quotes:
“Wait not for the hour of bereavement to then speak words of kindness.” Donald Brown
“The strength to succeed is within you. Believe that you can and you will.” Donald Brown

4. Submit no more than one quote per competition to tggwtw@gmail.com and include your name. The submission date for quotes for the first competition will be announced shortly on the www.theglobalgallery.org site.

Our judges will select the top ten finalists and their quotes will be posted on the www.theglobalgallery.org site for the members’ final vote. The winner will receive £100. Members may then prepare a new quote for the next Writing The Wrongs competition.

A Word From The Founder

The A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture, the national UK tour and the Writing The Wrongs competition has and continues to attract major media and corporate attention. I am extremely pleased that the BBC will be part of this journey along with Channel 4 and other members of the press and media. You are also welcome to embark on this incredible journey with us and I hope it will be an experience that will elevate you, your life and those around you. Don’t take your talents to the grave. They were given to you for a reason.

Donald Brown
Director & Founder

Calling All Writers For The 2012 Olympic Games Sculpture Project

As part of the countdown to the 2012 Olympic Games, a special sculpture will be designed and created by the acclaimed British Sculptor, Donald Brown. The sculpture will be entitled A Sporting Chance For Peace. The BBC and other members of the press and media will follow the creation of the sculpture from beginning to end. The sculpture will feature a variety of sporting images and promote the many positive principles that are taught in sport, such as discipline, patience and respect.

National Tour
The sculpture will go on a national UK tour to ensure that members of the public will have an opportunity to place a small ‘Peace’ of clay onto the sculpture as part of the creative process and in support of promoting personal, social and environmental peace.

Olympic Athletes
Athletes arriving to compete in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics will also have the opportunity to place their ‘Peace’ of clay onto the sculpture. The many thousands of portions of clay will be smoothed together as a sign of communities worldwide coming together to promote positive principle for peace through art and sport.

Writing The Wrongs Competition
In partnership with the A Sporting Chance For Peace sculpture tour and to further engage the ongoing participation of the public nationwide, the Writing The Wrongs competition will be launched. Anyone may enter. All that is required is an original quote that has a positive message for all people. There will be a series of Writing The Wrongs competition and entry is free. The initial prize will be £100 per competition. Individuals may enter a new quote for each competition. Additional competition categories will be introduced that will result in paid contracts and royalty payments for future winners. Individuals may enter as many competitions as they wish.

BBC & Media
If you would like more information on how you and members of your group can enter the Writing The Wrongs competition, please respond to this email ASAP. We are preparing for the first competition in November 2011 and would like to find the first winner for a cheque presentation and inclusion in our BBC and global media coverage and exposure.

Administration Department
The Global Gallery
www.theglobalgallery.org

Friday 28 October 2011

The Connected Contest (and A Little Pat on the Back)





Finally! A big thank you for all those great stories on "What It Means To Be Connected in 2011." Turns out it's not all about the machines! Pheww! Our dear friend, Liesl Schillinger of the New York Times Book Review, paid tribute to the eight most innovative takes. Of Déjà Voodoo she writes: "Who is Toby Heaton? This is great. This reads like “The Wire.” It reminds me of Richard Price." You can find an excerpt from Toby's story below and the other seven tales here. They make for some great reading!

Oh, and a quick plug: keep sharing your stories with PenTales. We started this little tale-swapping project about two years ago. Since then:

We've organized over 50 storytelling events in 27 cities around the world (including Damascus, Paris, Lahore, and Mexico City)
We've worked with the City of New York to run storytelling workshops in low-income communities across New York City

We've partnered with great organizations like the BMW Guggenheim Lab, The Institute for Public Knowledge, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, BBOX Radio, European Magazine and the Itaca Festival to come up with new ways to engage people in story-sharing

We offer the PenTales family (you!) a lovely room in Berlin to stay for free to do creative work

We've shared over 2000 of your tales in text, video, photo and audio online

We have an active online community of over 6000 people who share our belief that both their stories and those of others matter

That's kind of a lot... we think. Particularly given the fact that we all have jobs and are just doing this for kicks. Enough patting ourselves on the back! This is just to say thank you for being a part of PenTales and helping us build a better, more connected world through stories. (Yes, that's the ultimate mission, and we're not embarrassed about it!)

Keep sharing with us and we'll do the same.

Love, Stephanie, Saskia, Ezra, Louisa, Tiffany, Aswini, Maham, Jeanny and the rest of the wonderful PenTales crew from all around the world


PS: Need a hobby? Shoot an email to writepentales@gmail.com and we'll loop you in!


“Déjà Voodoo” by Toby Heaton, Asheville NC:
“Put the money in a bag,” Georgie said to the guy behind the counter who looked like some kind of gook. The words came out as ‘puhdamoneeinaba.’ An hour before he and Lurleen had done speedballs with a six-pack of Bud. READ ON



PenTales was created in New York City by two childhood friends who've always loved to swap tales. We're now a community of thousands around the world who share our perspectives in person and online in photography, writing, and video on topics that unite us all.

©2011 PenTales New York NY

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Dave's 9/11 memories on PenTales.

I have received notification from Ezra at PenTales that they are trying to get all the PenTales stories from past events and contests onto their new website, and they've been working on one of mine:

I am proud to say that it can be viewed at

http://pentales.com/their-spirits-live-forever-by-dave-feakes-suffolk-england/

PenTales are always looking to post more stories on the site! Ezra says you can always use their categories or other stories for inspiration, if you are in need of it. So come on Scribblers! Support PenTales.

Dave.

PenTales http://www.pentales.com/
Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pentales
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/pentales

A new one from Chris Shaw expected out around Christmas...?





Chris tells me that this is not one of those '30's postcard sort of booksbut more a self-help book As he says in the introduction, '…it's non-sleazy, non-religious, non-vulgar and guilt-free.' Hopefully it will be out by Christmas.



The cover alone should sell more than a few copies, but we'll have to wait and see what's between the covers! (Front and back covers depicted above!)


Escalator Literature Fiction Competition

Writers’ Centre Norwich is looking for talented novelists from the East of England to enter our Escalator Literature Fiction Competition, and I thought it may be of interest to members of Felixstowe Scribblers.

The scheme has proved very successful at bringing writers up to the professional level, so we are keen to let as many novelists know about it as possible. We appreciate any help that you can offer with this.

I’ve added some short info on the scheme, below. If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Richard White

Want to Get Professional? Enter the Escalator Literature Fiction Competition
Deadline: Tuesday 29th November

Are you a novelist based in the East of England? Want to get professional? If you could benefit from a year's worth of development and support then please apply for the Escalator Literature Fiction Competition.

The ten winners will get a package including: one-to-one mentoring from professional writers (including Tobias Hill and Katherine McMahon); support applying for a grant; professional development workshops; introductions to agents and publishers and more.

Visit http://www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk/uniquewritingprizeautumn2011.aspx to find out more, find out about past winners and to apply online today. Run by Writers’ Centre Norwich (01603 877177, info@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk).

Richard White
Marketing & Resources Assistant
Writers’ Centre Norwich│14 Princes Street│Norwich│NR3 1AE
Tel: +44 (0)1603 877177
richard.white@writerscentrenorwich.org.uk
writerscentrenorwich.org.uk

FacebookTwitterYoutubeFlickrSoundCloud

Browse our website for all our news and events:
Latest News - films & audio footage from the Worlds Literature Festival 2011. A.S. Byatt, Evie Wyld & more…Summer Reads - get more out of your reading this summer and enjoy our Summer Reads events.Free Reads - can’t afford a professional reading service? Apply for a free read with The Literary Consultancy.Support for your writing - 2011 workshop programme featuring writers Geoff Dyer & David Harsent is live.Escalator Poetry Competition - find out about the winners.Well Versed - keep up with how we’re developing new ways to teach poetry and performance in schools.

For more information on any of the above events, and to join our mailing list please go to writerscentrenorwich.org.uk

Monday 24 October 2011

SportsWriter.org.uk

This is a new sportswriting competition that may interest some of our writers.

The Sportswriter Competition 2012 is the first of what is hoped to be an annual writing competition that seeks to identify new sportswriting talent. Entries may be fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry.

Prizes:
First place: £250
Second place: £75
Third place: £25
(paid in British Pounds Sterling by bank transfer, cheque or through PayPal)

The entry fee is £3.00, of which £1.00 will be donated to our chosen charity, Cyclists Fighting Cancer ( http://cyclistsfc.org.uk/ ). The deadline for entries is midnight on the 1st July 2012, the day of the Euro 2012 Final.

The Sportswriter Competition 2012 is open to anyone aged 18 years or older.
Entries may be submitted directly through the form on the website, http://www.sportswriter.org.uk/writing-competition , or by email, info@sportswriter.org.uk

Entries may be up to 2000 words (or 40 lines for poems) and should relate to sport in some way. Winning entrants will receive the cash prizes and their work will be published on the website, www.sportswriter.org.uk .

Davy Hackett
SportsWriter.org.uk

Friday 21 October 2011

ME: What Hope? A personal reflection

A talk given at the Speakers of Felixstowe meeting last night by our good friend Giles who was the producer of our infamous film THE LOST SOCK. This is a real insight into understanding ME and well worth your time watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ips0hUF2W9g

Suffolk Constabulary: Luke Durbin enquiry

Please take a few minutes to look at the Suffolk Constabulary: Luke Durbin enquiry link. If you can remember anything that might help the police in their ongoing investigations into Luke's disappearance then please contact them.

PenTales wants to know what YOU want to OCCUPY!











Map what you want to occupy

Protesters continue to gather in NYC to decry an expanding set of economic injustices, but we can't all set up camp outside the site of our personal grievances. From the vending machine that won’t relinquish your candy to international policy, we want to understand how you feel about things no matter where you are or what the issue is.


Tell us: WHERE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT TO OCCUPY? What is out of control in your world, or neighborhood, or apartment? What would you do if you could take charge? How would things be different? Have you ever occupied something?
Looking for inspiration? Declare your own occupation with a submission that begins “I would occupy ____ because...” or add your occupation site to our OCCUPY MAP!

We're accepting:
-video (1 minute or less) -photography (1-2 images with short caption) -text (300 words or less)

Our goal is to get at least one submission from each state and as many submissions from around the world. Send in your submission to writepentales@gmail.com with the following in the subject line: "Occupy ____, your name and location".

We're accepting works until October 31st midnight.

We will present submissions in numerical order on our site as they come in.

Finally, we will write a larger PenTales Manifesto based on what you want to occupy and change in the world. We will print and distribute by hand on the streets of New York. Voila! Maybe we'll even make a difference.


PenTales was created in New York City by two childhood friends who've always loved to swap tales. We're now a community of thousands around the world who share our perspectives in person and online in photography, writing, and video on topics that unite us all.

©2011 PenTales New York NY

Prole Laureate competition

The second Prole Laureate competition is now open. We are looking for a poet who epitomises the qualities of Prole: a writer who engages, challenges, entertains and is inclusive of a wide audience.

We are open to all forms of poetry: free, blank, structured, rhymed. You write it, we’ll read it. The only arbiters that will inform the shortlist are the elements mentioned above. Once the short list is formed, it will be sent to our Judge. This year Andrew McMillan has kindly agreed to make the final choices. We’ve included brief details here. A full version of guidelines for our competition can be found here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page6.html

All forms of poetry considered.
This is an international competition.
Entries should be with us by March 1st 2012
Winners will be announced in the April 2012 issue of Prole and on our website 30th April.
Winner: £130, publication in the April 2012 issue of Prole and on our website.
Two runners up: £25 each, publication on our website and possible publication in April 2012 issue of Prole.
Entries are welcome by email and post.
poetrycompetition@prolebooks.co.uk
or
Prolebooks
15 Maes-y-Dre
Abergele
Conwy
LL22 7HW
United Kingdom

One entry: £3, subsequent entries, an extra £2 per entry.
Full details on our website at: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page6.html

We are also very proud to announce the publication of our first two poetry pamphlets (or chapbooks, if you prefer): Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare by Wendy Pratt and Merlin’s Lane by Robert Nisbet. Both have already received high praise.

Phil Carradice, an editor at Roundyhouse Magazine, said of Merlin’s Lane: “Merlin's Lane” is the sort of collection we would all loved to have written. Very few of us ever could. And that's what makes it a fascinating, interesting and evocative read. It is an excellent collection of poetry by an excellent writer.

In her foreword for Nan Harwicke Turns into a Hare, celebrated poet, Alison Brackenbury wrote: I was astonished by the courage and generosity of this pamphlet. Many poets, finding in their finished work a powerful story of magic, and briefer lyrics of personal loss, would have eked them out into separate publications. But poetry is a drawing together, and Wendy Pratt excels at the deft and moving assembly of her poems’ world... Its final astonishment is that such power can rest within a handful of lyrical stories, like the woman in the frail body of the hare. I left these compassionate poems with admiration and regret.

Both pamphlets can be purchased at: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page10.html

Brett and Phil
Editors, Prole--
Website: www.prolebooks.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prole/236155444300?v=wall
News blog at: http://prolebooks.blogspot.com/
Reader/writer blog: http://readwriteblog.prolebooks.co.uk/

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Meeting Report for 18th October 2011

Just four meetings to go before Christmas.

The meeting tonight was one with members giving each other a piece dealing in some way, fictional or otherwise, of a set period in our history (or future, for Liliane).

As usual the end of the year does not herald a lessening of our ability to write pieces that are both informative and exceedingly funny. In some cases the period inspires the writer to seek further information and increase their knowledge of previously shied away from times.

Enough chatter, suffice it to say we had another wonderful meeting with everyone welcoming our newest recruit, Sarah, who is in the area for a year or so, and studying at the University. Welcome Sarah and forget your misgivings, your writing was in no way a reflection on your doubts. We all enjoyed your piece.

Now for the meeting.

Members present were; Ray, Martin, Sandy, Sally, Sarah, Pamela, Liliane, Les, Dave, Tony, Dick and Barry. The meeting was chaired this evening by Dave.

Apologies from; Caz, Ruth, Carolyn and Beryl.

The periods and writers were as follows;

DAVE. The 50's... 'REBELS' : This was a energetic ride through Dave's early life and his being influenced by Teddy Boys and Rockers and the smell of Castrol engine oil.

SANDY. Ancient Greece. 'CORINTHIA' : Sandy was one of us inspired by the subject which at first seemed daunting as she had always shied away from the endless numbers of Gods attributed to the period. She now has resolved to delve more deeply after giving us a surprisingly raunchy tale of Zeus and his attempted seduction of Corinthia.

SALLY. 'EDWARDIAN BRITAIN': Having recovered her breath after her mother's Ancient Greece Sally gave us one thousand words on how she sometimes wishes she could have lived the life of a young lady of means in Edwardian times. Her comparisons with todays seeming lack of appreciation of a modern life means the people today miss out on many things.

LES. Elizabethan times 'THE VIRGIN QUEEN' : was a story of the close friendship of Elizabeth the first and Sir Robert Dudley and how the Queen confided in him during his lifetime and how she asked his advice on many things including when England was being threatened by Spain.

RAY. Medieval Britain. 'BETRAYAL OF TRUST' : was the legend of Beddgelert in Wales. It was told that Lord Llwelyn of Gwynned killed his faithful hound Gelert after mistakenly thing it had killed his infant son only to find the blood was from wolves the hound had slain protecting the child.

LILIANE. The Future. Liliane gave us 'MANY FUTURES' : a story of a woman with the dubious gift of seeing into the future. Not just a vision of herself but many different futures where she is sometimes a young woman and at others older in many different times ahead, with some things the same and others vastly different.

MARTIN. The 60's. With '1963' : Martin told of a time of change for all countries but none more than the United States with Martin Luther King and the march on Washington where he gave his 'I have a dream' speech just before another iconic figure, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

BARRY. The 40s. 'AUGUST 26' : was the title of my contribution. Being born during WW2 my childhood was dictated by movement away from the blitz in London and being born in August I looked for and found a young man who tragically died after being swept from a US Submarine in the Barents Sea on my birthday in 1949.

TONY. The Roman period. "GALLSTONED': was the title of Tony's piece that had us in fits with his telling of a fictitious battle where the Romans were making ready an attack. The Centurions were somewhat less than professional soldiers in there actions and speech with the trio of Podium, Sodium and Valium eliciting much mirth among us.

SARAH. 'THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR': Sarah's first foray into our world brought forth the story of Demetrio and his visions while lying wounded in the fields near Bilbao. Her tale was read with much less nervousness than many of us exhibited on our first evening. It was a well crafted story bring in some of her own memories of Spain.

PAMELA. 'NAPOLEONIC TIMES': Pamela gave us a thoughtful piece of life and times during the Napoleonic period.

DICK. The Renaissance. Dick gave us a piece full of intrigue as you would guess from the title ' BANQUETTING WITH THE BORGIAS': A story of love and poisoning and the Borgias setting their caps at Leonardo da Vinci with tongue in cheek references to old and recent inventions.

Once again I finish the report with thanks to all who attended this splendid meeting of the minds. I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity and artfulness that dwells in the minds of our members. Well done to all.

The next meeting, on 1st November, will have a homework subject of 'A ghost story' being close to Halloween. We've had this subject many times in the past but it always brings forth new and amusing pieces from our members.

There will be a meal out evening for our members and their partners on either the 22nd or the 29th of November. Watch this space.

Keep scribbling.
Barry.

Landmark

Despite the modest size of our group, today this weblog reached a milestone with its 10,000th hit!

Blimey! Must be doing something right!

Here's to the next 10,000!

Last night's meeting

For those who attended, another eclectic evening with stories and historical data covering a wide range of time. There was bloodshed, violence, sex, laughter - but all creatively written of course!
Another excellent night of entertainment which is, essentially, free! Maybe see you next time with a "Ghost Story"?

Keep Scribbling!

Tuesday 18 October 2011

TONIGHT...

Don't forget our historical evening is tonight - 7.30 at the Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library. The homework assignment is for 1,000 words on the allotted time in history.

Keep Scribbling and hope to see you all tonight....

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Memories of a young Scribbler





















Evening Star Letters, Tuesday October 11, 2011

To enlarge simply click on the image.

Authonomy announcement

OCT 2011

Authonomy Announces Digital Imprint

Dear authonomites

As some of you may have noticed, new faces have been popping up behind the virtual authonomy gates. Last month we announced that Scott Pack, Publisher at The Friday Project, had been appointed the new head of authonomy.com; Scott stepped onboard with this primary objective: to ensure that more of the great books on the site get published.

TODAY, WE'RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, SCOTT WILL BE LAUNCHING A DIGITAL PUBLISHING PROGRAMME DEDICATED TO AUTHONOMY'S BEST AUTHORS!

The books will be hand-picked by the Scott and the authonomy Editorial Board, worked on by HarperCollins' finest publishing teams, and published as HarperCollins digital originals across all possible devices. This new HarperCollins list will look to publish one book a month, starting in January 2012. Most importantly, all of the titles will have been discovered on the authonomy.com website and will be published digital originals. The bestselling titles will go on to have print editions.

Preparations for this new list are well underway. In fact, we've already found our first book: Mary Vensel White's The Qualities of Wood. Mary's beautifully written novel tells the story of a young married couple who decide to take a break from city life to renovate his late grandmother's country home, only to become enmeshed in the mysterious death of a young girl. Thanks to the overwhelming support of YOU, the authonomy communinty, Mary's novel reached the editor's desk this February. You loved its well-crafted prose and vivid characters. Well, so did we!

You can read the first 5 chapters of Mary's novel, as backed by you guys, here.
-------------------------------
Over the coming months we will also be implementing several other changes to authonomy and the site's functionality. These will include: new page designs, additional social networking features, improvements to forum control, and the opening up of authonomy to a greater range of writing. Plus, we promise to bring you more competitions and giveaways, as well as regular exposés on published authors, top authonomy authors, and the publishing industry.

Bear with us - these changes might not be perfect straightaway, but rest assured we will keep going until we've whipped authonomy into tip-top form. We'd love to hear your thoughts as we go along and any ideas you may have to help us make authonomy.com the best possible platform for writers, readers and publishers.

Drop us an email at yourauthonomy@harpercollins.co.uk.
Best wishes, Rachel, the authonomy team.

Monday 10 October 2011

Pen Tales


















An Unusual Opportunity:


The PenTales Hemingway Fellowship


Stay in an amazing Berlin apartment for four days for the price of nothing (but your creativity)
Berlin Instigator Louisa Lowenstein and PenTales are excited to announce the opening of the PenTales Hemingway Room - a small beautiful room in Prenzlauer Berg, one of Berlin's most inspiring and creative neighborhoods.


Creative souls of all stripes are invited to stay in the room for FREE for up to four days. The only requirement: they produce creative work during their stay, including but not limited to writing, drawing, film making and photography. Their work will join that of other Hemingway Room guests on www.pentales.com and in a larger PenTales Hemingway Room exhibition in Berlin.

Email Louisa introducing yourself, what days you hope to visit Berlin, and what work you plan to pursue in the Hemingway Room. Please include samples of your previous work. The PenTales Hemingway Room is open year-round and always welcomes applications.




PenTales was created in New York City by two childhood friends who've always loved to swap tales. We're now a community of thousands around the world who share our perspectives in person and online in photography, writing, and video on topics that unite us all.

©2011 PenTales New York NY

Friday 7 October 2011

Memories

On the side bar of this weblog are the names of a number of members of Felixstowe Scribblers and associated friends who have sadly passed away in recent times.

Sad as it is, each one leaves a golden memory, a memory to be cherished for ever. Of each named, only one, Martin Enticknap has a tribute website. Spend a little time sharing Martin's words. They are very moving.

Gentle Chills and Thrills...

takes place on October 29th at Felixstowe Museum from 1pm until 5pm. Our own 'Man in Black', Dick, will be serving up a host of scary ghost stories based around the Landguard Fort area. The cost is £5 per child with two accompanying adults free.... that's novel.... and if you know Dick like we know Dick, gosh you'll be scared!!!!

Wednesday 5 October 2011

From the pages of the Felixstowe Extra Supplement of the Evening Star, Wednesday 5th October 2011



Simply click on the image to enlarge.

Meeting report

Meeting on the 4th October 2011

Apologies from Dick, on holiday, Pamela, unwell,Cathy, babysitting for unwell daughter,Carolyn, preparing for another trip to Australia, visiting relatives, Sandra and Sally, both stranded by a car that will not stop.

Members present; Dave,Caz,Les,Ray,Liliane,Martin,Beryl,Tony,Robyn and yours truly.

The homework subject for tonight was designated as THE CUP. Also a period in history was allocated to each member for the next meetings contribution.

For those not present at the meeting, commiserations, you missed another interesting meeting and may your reason for not attending have a happy resolution, whether it be holiday or sickness.

Now for a brief description of the stories presented.

Dave. THE CUP RUNNETH OVER Another chapter in the work in progress concerning Pauline, a shopping trip on crutches and an horrific meeting with the perpetrator of her health woes. The cup in question was an upturned vessel dripping liquid on her kitchen table. Next meeting he will grace us with a story from THE 50's.

Caz. Gave us a true recounting of the day her son Jack won THE COURTESY CUP, one that was awarded to the pupil exhibiting the truest courteous behaviour, and the smaller version her and Karl had made to stand in place of the large one when it was returned after the year. As you know, Jack died some years ago but the cup still reminds of a bright and courteous young man. Next meeting Caz will write about THE STONE AGE.

Les. ATROPHY. Les had us laughing at his poem concerning our own Scribblers attempting to write a story for the Bill Budner Trophy. His description of some of our members was so true to life, and next meeting he will express himself in ELIZABETHAN.

Ray managed to successfully get a beginning middle and end in his story of BARNABY RUDGE, the son of a deceased WW2 American pilot who managed to not only survive bullying as he was a serious student, but to eclipse his nemesis at the end of school prize giving by being awarded the trophy for being the most inspirational boy in school. Next meeting his challenge will be to do the same for someone in MEDIEVAL TIMES.

Liliane. What can I say? Liliane's family tree should look like a five hundred year old oak, with it's members spread hither and thither. This week her story THE MORNING AFTER showed us how the family coped after a mornings refreshment evolved into Pa disappearing from the home, unknowingly accompanied by a younger member of the family and the frantic attempts by the rest of the family to locate them.Next meeting she will no doubt project some family members into THE FUTURE.

Martin's piece evoked applause such was the originality of a list of lady friends and their social scores with ladies of literary and the modern world's entertainment industry. This was entitled LADY MACBETH IN MORRISONS. The way the list was drawn up had us chuckling from the first line. No doubt he will entertain once more with next meetings subject for him being THE 60's.

Beryl led us through her father's life as a salesman for Pyrosil Ware, a European derivative of the Corning brand of Pyrex, a familiar name to most people. Her father (in the story) had what the family called DAD'S DEMO CUP, a utensil so strong that he could hammer nails in with it. This part was fiction, I'm told, but he also demonstrated the strength of the product by bouncing plates. A story told as a conversation between the reader and the listener. Next meeting Beryl will be unable to attend due to family commitments.

Tony brought us a last minute contribution called SWEET FA a short poem that had us chuckling all over again. A well constructed poem of football teams lower in the leagues, and their striving for glory and a fictitious cup contest between various sweets and chocolate bars. Next time he will no doubt be ROMAN through another story.

Robyn told us of her predilection for one or other of her eighteen different cups and their use during the day. Her story was entitled JUST MY CUPPA. Next meeting Robyn will try her hand at a story involving WW2.

Barry (yours truly) told of AMBULANCE 4427 an EMS vehicle in the Missouri town of Maryland heights and how Simon and family arrived there to work and the accident that occurred on arrival day. Simon's heroism prompted a grateful lady awarding him and his family a weekend in St Louis with the eventual connection to The Cup, a cup cake bakery and a party. Next time I shall get to grips with THE 40's.

That concludes the report and as usual there was much talent and humour in the contributions. Many thanks to all who participated. I will say to those who were unable to attend last night, if you will be attending the next meeting on the 18th October could you contact me for a spare Historical Period.

Barry (Secretary)

Tuesday 4 October 2011

The Bow Hunter published in Writing Raw

For all you Scribblers out there.

Please note that one of our number, Malcolm McBride is published in this issue of Writing Raw, in the Assorted Category. His Novella The Bow Hunter is a good read, and from one of us.

Barry

Monday 3 October 2011

Tuesday 4th October...

7.30pm in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library...1,000 words or less on 'The Cup'. What sort of cup remains to be seen but all will be revealed at the meeting...
Keep Scribbling!

Sunday 2 October 2011

WritingRaw.com

October 2011 issue of WritingRaw.com is now online

“A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it to be God.”
Sidney Sheldon

WritingRaw’s First Contest Winner is… Charles Sanchez! Stop in and read his winning short based on the word: WIDDENDREAM

NOVEMBER CONTEST: Write a 500 word or less piece using the following outdated phrase: "The cat's pajamas." The deadline for this will be October 23. The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate from Amazon.com and be posted on WritingRaw.com.

NEW COLUMN: Writing To Set Criteria by Raine Voss. An interact creative writing lesson. She provides the title for the piece (writers choice as to genre but limited to 600 words); 2 settings (place, emotion or both); 7 key words (all of which must be used); 3 randomly chosen numbers; and a colour... and YOU send the finished piece to her and she will choose the one which shows the best (and least forced) use of the criteria. Come on, give it a try.

COLUMNS: We would still like to offer space for columns - but these MUST be related in some way to writing or books. If you have an idea, please contact Weeb and check with him.

FLASH FICTION REVIEWS: Send us your flash fiction book reviews - no more than 250 words per review. Send to weeb@writingraw.com

We are sure there is tons that we haven't hit on in this rambling piece, and we will update things throughout the month if need be. Until then, dive in and discover a new and emerging writer. We are sure you will enjoy this issue.

The Staff of WritingRaw.com
Ditch, Weeb, Rib

New in this issue:

FICTION:
· Anna's Room by Lo-Arna Collins
· Condemned by Jason P. Henry
· Death in a Garden by Christopher Nagle
· Edibility by Michael Shannon
· Gone Away… by Vivian Conejero
· Like Ripening Fruit by Clive Gill
· The Dead Travel Quickly by VL Sheridan
· Inside by Richard Styles
· The Devil's Orchestra by Jerry Guarino
· The Translucent Boy by Jolene Poole
· When Beauty Meets Morbid by Debra Ann Elliott

POETRY:
· A Pumpkin Poem From Memory by Salvatore Buttaci
· An Engineer Remembers by Barbara Beswick
· An Inflated Ball [The Scheme Of Currency] by James Dye
· Autumn Morn by Peter Yates
· Bugs by Vincent Davis
· Cruel Nature - Cruel Life by John Behan
· Cycle by Kathy Abrahams
· Fearful Night by James Mackie
· In Charge by John Grey
· In My Past Life by Kristen Walker
· Life of Addiction by Jason Anderson
· Leprechaun? by Peter Yates
· Our Spot by Tammy Burley
· Port by Debra Jean Roberts
· Wanton Woman by Tichaona Chinyelu

NEW Poems by Rib!

ASSORTED:
· Artist of the Month: by Mohammed Abbagana
· pro-jec-tile: Novella by Scott D. Wilson
· The Bow Hunter: Novella by Malcolm McBride

INTERVIEWS:
· Steve Alten
· Margaret Coel
· Michael Prescott
· Kimberla Lawson Roby

REVIEWS:
· Allbooks Review
· Between the Sheets: The Long Song by Andrea Levy
· Flash Reviews


really BAD Shakespeare Season 3 Begins!
Episode 1 online NOW: Why Then Tonight Let Us Assay Our Plot

Weeb
WritingRaw.com

BBC writersroom newsletter

Face 2 Face with Stephen Butchard
--------------
BBC writersroom and the Manchester Literature Festival will be hosting a special Q&A event with award-winning screenwriter Stephen Butchard (Stolen, Five Daughters, House of Saddam) on October 18th at 7pm, in MediaCity, Salford.
Tickets are free and can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing writersroom.events@bbc.co.uk with Stephen Butchard in the subject line. http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/face_to_face.shtml

The Fades
--------------
Writer Jack Thorne talks about the genesis of his brand new supernatural horror for BBC Three, The Fades, and shares the script from Episode 1 on our blog.http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/2011/09/the_fades.shtml

Scripts
-------
Our scripts are in PDF format - if you can't read them, download Adobe Reader from http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/categories/plug/acrobat/acrobat.shtml?intro
The Fades, Episode 1 by Jack Thorne
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/thefades_episode1.pdf
Rastamouse, 'Da Crucial Plan' by Michael De Souza and Genevieve Webster
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/rastamouse_dacrucialplan.pdf
The Hour, Episode 1 by Abi Morgan
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/downloads/scripts/thehour_episode1.pdf
Don't forget you can browse through all of the scripts in our script archive.http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/script_archive.shtml

Submitting your script to BBC writersroom
-----------------------------------------
Want to write for the BBC? Find out what to send us on our script submissions page.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/submissions_writersroom.shtml

Blog
----
Newsjack's Gareth Gwynn gives his advice on submitting sketches for the show, Corey Montague-Sholay talks about his first writing job working on EastEnders: E20, and we get an update on the Get a Squiggle On competition masterclass from Usman at BBC writersroom North.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/writersroom/

Opportunities
-------------
Collabor8te
Deadline: 03 October 2011
Win a budget of up to £10,000 to have your short film developed and produced.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/collabor8ate_2011.shtml
Newsjack
Deadline: 17 October 2011BBC Radio 4 Extra's topical sketch show is now open for submissions of sketches and short jokes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/newsjack_2011_2.shtml
Face 2 Face with Stephen Butchard
Deadline: 18 October 2011
An opportunity to put your questions to Stephen Butchard, one of the leading screenwriters of his generation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/face_to_face.shtml

Channel 4 Drama presents
....
4Screenwriting
Deadline: 01 November 2011Channel 4 Drama are looking for 12 talented writers who currently have no broadcast credit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/4screenwriting_2011.shtml
Immersive Writing Lab Competition
Deadline: 21 November 2011
Create a cross-platform storyworld and win a £6k development fund.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/immersive_writing_lab_2011.shtml
Steyning Festival Theatre Trail 2012
Deadline: 02 December 2011
Steyning Festival Theatre Trail 2012 is seeking 6 new plays from playwrights in the South East.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/steyning_festival_theatre_trail_2012.shtml
The BBC Writersroom Future Talent Award for Writers
Deadline: 15 December 2011
Opportunity for north-based student/recent graduate drama writers to access development opportunities and mentoring from the BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/future_talent_award_for_writers.shtml

A TRANSPORT/New Wolsey theatre co-production






Thu 13 to SAT 15 OCTOBER




INVISIBLE
Written by / Tena Štivičić Directed by / Douglas Rintoul
Choreographed by / Darren Johnston
I am writing to tell you about the production of Invisible which is running here at the New Wolsey for just four performances.
This is a co-production between ourselves and Doug Rintoul’s company Transport which Doug has been developing over a number of years, through interviews and research with refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and displaced people both in this country and other parts of Europe.
From this research and exploration, a play was commissioned from Tena Stivicic, a Croatian playwright, and this script was given a rehearsed reading in PULSE 2009. I was in the audience for that reading and became very excited by the quality, imagination and ambition of what I was hearing. It is a fantastically entertaining and interesting new play, managing to weave together a number of different stories, from different parts of Europe, and eventually focussing in on a clash of culture and experience around a kitchen table in North London.
It is rare to witness a play that has this panoramic sweep, combines humour, irony and tragedy, and manages to describe so successfully our lived experience now. The characters in the play come from a vast range of backgrounds and places, and yet, as we see their stories unfold we realise that we are all in some way just passing through, looking for a place we can call home.
I am very proud that we have helped to commission such a fine piece of new writing and I am looking forward to seeing the play finally realised in a full production. This will be another world premiere at the New Wolsey and I urge you not to miss the opportunity to be among the first to experience this outstanding new play.
Peter Rowe, Artistic Director
Time / 7.45pm Matinee / Sat 15 Oct at 2.30pm Post-Show Talk Friday 14 October
http://wolseytheatre.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6c3f962c6b551a902662b1f4f&id=b8e858f473&e=66feff0a7b
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