Magical radio?

It's a magic homework for our meeting on Tuesday evening 1st September in The Room at the Top. Hope you'll be there!

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS

Wednesday 2nd September 1900-1930
Felixstowe Radio 107.5 fm or via the internet
Program 81
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
The Road Hill House Murder by David Morrison
The Wrong Type by Jane Bailey

Performers: Alison Miller, Ryan Guilder, Peter Guilder, Sheila Martin,
Debbie Coveney, Alan Dix, Brian England, Robin Saunders, Tony Shearman

and

Friday 4th September 1230-1300
Ipswich Community Radio(ICR) 105.7 fm or via the internet
Program 76
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
The Mezzotint by M R James
All the fun of the afterlife by Dave Feakes

Performers: Alan Dix, Ryan Guilder, Alison Miller, Brian England, Peter Guilder, David Miller, Robin Saunders, Andy Sindle, Tony Shearman,
Su Stedman, Vincent Shearman, Sheila Martin.

Our next meeting...

... is tomorrow, Tuesday 1st September in the Room at the Top with a 7.30pm start.

Our meetings mostly reveal the artistry of the creative writing world with some really good stories being shared. Tomorrow, we hope, will be no different, in fact we are hoping it will be full of magic. Yes, that's the homework topic - to write up to 1,000 words on 'MAGIC'.

Until then, keep scribbling!!!

Taylz for short story writers

We are writing to writers’ groups and workshops around the  English speaking world to publicise a new, not-for-profit website that we have designed to give short-story writers of all levels free, high-quality peer feedback. Our website is called Taylz, and we are based in England. Unlike many other peer-review sites, all reviews on Taylz are assigned at random to other writers, and all feedback is given anonymously to encourage reviewers to give honest, constructive feedback. Registration is free, and there is no commitment involved. Taylz is simply aimed at helping writers to improve their writing, and providing the chance of some global exposure for their work. We would be very grateful if you would mention our site to your members, but completely understand if you would rather not. Our web address is taylz.com, where there is  more information on our site. Please let me know if you have any questions, and apologies again for the intrusion. With best regards. Jonathan Gibbard Taylz Go to http://taylz.com/ for details

Did anyone notice who interviewed Amanda Hodgkinson in the last Mash Newsletter?  None other than our dear friend Angela Petch. Read the full interview at  http://mashstories.com/11429/.

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS
Wednesday 26th August 1900-1930
FXR Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet
Program 80

The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
The Road Hill House Murder by David Morrison (theme by Sarah Jane Scouten)
The Full Moon by Barry Martin

Performers: Ann Elizabeth Kearney, Ryan Guilder, Alan Dix, David Miller,
Sheila Martin, Debbie Coveney, Angela Silburn, Beryl Sabel, Peter Guilder,
Su Stedman, Alison Miller, Tony Shearman, Robin Saunders.

and

Friday 28th August 1230-1300
Ipswich Community Radio ICR 105.7 fm or via the internet
Program 75

The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Marbles Lost Again by Tony Shearman
A Cold War in the Air by Richard Bradshaw

Performers: Alan Dix, Ryan Guilder, David Miller, Stella Day, Robin Saunders,

Angela Silburn, Alison Miller, Brian England, Beryl Sabel,
Debbie Coveney, Peter Guilder, Su Stedman.

Hope you enjoy them.

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 18 August 2015  

Present: Dave, Dick, Hayley, Richard, Mairead, Liliane, Gerry, Barry, Jeanette, Cathy,

                

Apologies: Jane, Beryl, Carolyn, Caz

Tonight was Jack Wilkinson Trophy night. Caz sent apologies for not being able to attend and present the trophy to the winner.

It was an excellent turn out for the competition, with nine entries – all interesting, all very different, and all of a high standard.

In the absence of Beryl, Cathy did the readings with Dick, and there were some cracking stories to be heard.

Once the readings were finished, Dave thanked Dick and Cathy, then took himself off to collate the scores, there being no-one else keen to do so!

Results:

Cathy took first place with ‘The Storyteller’, with Gerry’s story ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ coming in second place. Tying in third were Barry’s tale, ’13 Providence Place’, and Dick’s ‘A bone of contention’.

Other entries were as follows:

Hayley: Black hat, white hat, crown

Jeanette: A story of a sister

Liliane: Island

Dave: Where’s Isaac?

Richard: Anna and Bethany

Synopses:

Cathy: The Storyteller

A tale of a storyteller’s skill in enabling children to share their imaginations to create stories. And a reminder that children can be very aware of the needs of adults.

Dick: A bone of contention

A local giant states that he wishes to be left alone. Unfortunately, the local officials mishear his request and believe he is asking to be left a bone. Great embarrassment ensues for the official who tries to take him the bone!

Dave: Where’s Isaac?

Seven year old Isaac was missing for a week. Abducted by an evil character he escaped from the woodland prison into the scary trees. His captor chased and caught him.   Meanwhile Ross was on his routine run and saw it happen. Could he muster the strength to save little Isaac?

Richard: Anna and Bethany

Anna and Bethany is an account of how two children live their fantasies, devoid of grown-up rationality - at the cost of their mother and remote from their father.

Gerry: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

A young girl is depressed and upset after a bad slip-up during a community theatre production of "The Wizard of Oz", but an encounter with a strange creature on holiday leads her to re-think her attitudes.

Liliane: The Island

Lucy lives on a tropical island with her parents and a group of ecological scientists. She loves the island but when she is older she will have to go to boarding school. She is not sure she will like that.

No synopses for:

Hayley: Black hat, white hat, crown

Jeanette: A story of a sister

Barry: 13 Providence Place

Next meeting:  1^st September, when the 1000 word homework topic is ‘Magic’, as chosen by

Mairead in our meeting of 4 August

WRITE A SHORT STORY FOR AMNESTY

Hi Scribblers,

Here's some information about a competition for Amnesty. It was sent in by a former member of our group, Alex Price. Good of him to think of us.

Dave 

------------  

The Amnesty International Ely City Group is running its second short story competition in memory of one of its founder members, Gareth Davies-Jones, who taught for many years at Witchford Village College. 

The competition is for unpublished fictional short stories of up to 1,500 words on a theme of human rights or social justice and is open to anyone in the UK aged over 16. Judging will be by award-winning local writer Jill Dawson (best-selling author of eight novels, including Fred & Edie, which was short-listed for The Whitbread and Orange Prize, and Watch Me Disappear which was long-listed for the Orange Prize). 

The author of the best short story will receive £50 and a hardback signed 1st edition of Jill Dawson’s latest novel The Tell-Tale Heart. The closing date is 21st September 2015 (International Day of Peace). There is an entry fee per story of £3 (16-18 year-olds), and £5 for over 18s. All proceeds will go towards Amnesty’s human rights campaigns. Full details are available on http://tinyurl.com/nfngnaj and any queries may be sent to: info@amnestyely.org.uk.  

 

And the trophy goes to...

Tonight's meeting at Felixstowe Scribblers was another huge success. A healthy attendance coupled with many rip-roaring stories based on or about children made it another memorable evening. The sad thing was that Caz, who donated the trophy in memory of her son Jack, did not attend.

In her absence the trophy was awarded by the previous holder, Dave, to the new victor, our own secretary Cathy. Cathy's entry 'The Story Teller' was the popular winner, ahead of Gerry with 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', and joint third  places for Dick with 'A Bone of Contention' and Barry with 'Thirteen Providence Place.'

A surprised Cathy receives the trophy
from Dave

Every story received votes received a number of votes in a closely fought contest.

Well done everyone - and now we have our next meeting to look forward to - that will be on 1st September when the 1,000 word homework assignment is 'Magic'.

Once again, well done and congratulations to Cathy!

Remember...

Keep Scribbling!!!

Some of the Scribblers
at the meeting

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS

Wednesday 19th August 1900-1930
FXR Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet
Program 79
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman 
The Road Hill House Murder by David Morrison
Barth a Loner by Tony Shearman
I've decided I think by Les Smith

Performers: Ann Elizabeth Kearney,Ryan Guilder, Peter Guilder, Sheila Martin,
David Miller, Alan Dix, Beryl Sabel, Su Stedman, Angela Silburn, Alison Miller,
Les Smith.

and

Friday 21st August 1230-1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM or via the internet
Program 74
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Marbles Lost Again by Tony Shearman
Reflexololgy by Jack Wilkinson
The Last Bottle by Liliane Sivaraj

Performers: Alan Dix, Ryan Guilder, Andy Sindle, Sheila Martin, Debbie Coveney,
David Miller, Tony Shearman, Stella Day, Pete Guilder, Robin Saunders,
Angie Silburn, Su Stedman, Beryl Sabel.

Hope you enjoy them.

Tony

This book is all you need to know about polishing your fiction for today's competitive market!

Edit is a Four-letter Word by Glynis Scrivens publishing 25th September 2015 on Compass Books (imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd), will appeal to writers at all levels. With alternative approaches to editing this comprehensive guide has interviews with writers, editors, a literary agent and competition judges.

Where to Start?

Don’t know how to edit your work? Not sure when it’s ready to send out? Glynis Scrivens’ book answers all your questions. Follow the excellent advice given by Glynis and the experienced contributors she has included and reap the rewards. If you are serious about sending out your best possible work you cannot be without Edit is a Four Letter Word.
Lynne Hackles

A one-stop refresher course in editing fiction, suitable for both new writers and more experienced ones. When to edit, how to edit, why to edit – and when not to edit. The different stages of editing. Checklists, examples, and advice from other writers, editors, competition judges and a literary agent.

Glynis Scrivens is an Australian writer. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and newspapers in Australia, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, the US and Scandinavia. She is a regular contributor to UK magazine Writers' Forum, and has had articles published in Pets, Steam Railway, Ireland's Own, and Writing magazine. Her work has appeared in seven anthologies, both fiction and non-fiction.

Visit her website

Would you consider reviewing Edit is a Four-Letter word? Please reply to ask for your review copy, we prefer to send PDF as it is immediate. Extracts are also available.

Kind regards

Maria

mariamw@jhpbooks.net

Publication Date: September 2015
Review copies available on request

Distributors:
Orca Marston in Europe tradeorders@orcabookservices.co.uk
NBN in US customercare@nbnbooks.com

compass-books.net

ISBN: 978-1-78279-522-3 Paperback (115PP) $14.95  |  £9.99 September 2015

ISBN: 978-1-78279-521-6  eBook $5.95  |  £3.99 September 2015

-- 

Maria Moloney

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John Hunt Publishing brings out 300 titles a year in over 25 imprints.

Compass Books for writers; O Books for Spirituality; Lodestone Books for young adult fiction; Christian Alternative for liberal Christianity;  Earth Books for books on the environment; Axis Mundi Books for esoteric thought. Learn more

Just something for you to peruse - and to say that we hope to see you tomorrow night (Tuesday 18th August) for Jack's memorial trophy.

See you there!

Dave

My name is Phil Robertson and I’m the co-editor of Prole, Poetry and Prose. I hope at least some of the following will be of interest to some of your members and that you can pass it on.  

Prole remains open to submissions all year round. We welcome fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry.

 Our Prolitzer Prize for Prose Writing remains open to submissions until October 1^st. The winner takes £200 and will be published. There are two runners up prizes of £50 and publication.

 As our prose competition closes, our poetry competition, The Prole Laureate, opens. Again, the winner takes £200 and will be published. There are two runners up prizes of £50 and publication.

 Finally, our latest issue is now available. This can be purchased from our website where information about submissions and competitions can also be found. www.prolebooks.co.uk

 Many thanks for your support,

 Phil Robertson,

Co-editor, Prole

Our next trophy meeting...

I know it's still several days away but the Jack Wilkinson Memorial Trophy takes place in The Room at the Top next Tuesday. Details of the competition are shown at the top of this weblog. Essentially the competition is for attending members to create  a story of up to 1,000 words for or about children.  The present holder of the trophy (me!) promises to return it for the meeting so hopefully Caz will be able to make the presentation to the eventual winner.

Talking of Caz she wrote a poem 'The Long Nine Years' dedicated to Jack whose sad anniversary was on Tuesday last. With her kind permission her poem has been posted on this weblog. 

Until next Tuesday's meeting - when there is sure to be a real dog fight for the trophy! -

Keep Scribbling and may the best writer win!

Dave

Nine years ago on 11th August - Jack remembered

THE LONG NINE YEARS

Nine years ago 
You passed away
How tough life can be
Is all we can say

Nine years today
You grew Angel Wings
Flying had always been
One of your 'to-do’ things

Nine years on
Each day you’re missed more
The heartache never stops
Gripping at our core

Nine years on now
It’s hard to believe
In any one day
The things we achieve

Nine years without you
It’s just not the same
We know what is missing
The ‘bright’ of your flame

Nine years of your life
We never will see
It’s just so lonely
For Dad and for me

Nine years seems forever
When talking of you
We all Love and miss you
But what can we do?

Nine years is impossible
Without our gorgeous boy
But one thing for sure
You gave us such joy

The long nine years
Has taken its’ toll
Though we can’t see you
You reside in our Soul

(Dedicated to our Darling Jack with All Our Love and thanks for all you gave to us, during your short but ‘oh so beautiful’ life. Love and Miss you always) Mum and Dad xxx

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS this week

Wednesday 1900-1930
Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet.
Program 78
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman 
The Mezzotint by M R James
Torrents of Desire by Tony Shearman
Dear Mum can you forgive me by Richard Bradshaw

Performers: Ann Elizabeth Kearney, Ryan Guilder, Debbie Coveney, Andy Sindle,
David Miller, Sheila Martin, Tony Shearman, Su Stedman, Vincent Shearman,
Robin Saunders, Alan Dix, Martin Jarvis, Richard Bradshaw.

and

Friday 1230-1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM or via the internet.
Program 72
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Marbles Lost Again by Tony Shearman
Up in Smoke by Barry Martin

Performers: Alan Dix, Ryan Guilder, Sheila Martin, David Miller, Debbie Coveney,
Andy Sindle, Beryl Sabel, Angela Silburn, Robin Saunders, Peter Guilder,
Su Stedman.

Enjoy!

Tony.

JACK WILKINSON MEMORIAL WALK.

 SUNDAY 20^th SEPTEMBER 2015

This is a  9, 5, or 1.5 mile walk with or without dogs, in Aid of Cancer Research UK in Memory of our son Jack Henry Wilkinson, who lived a short but beautiful life and who made a difference to all those who he met along the way..

The walk will start at The Foxgrove Residential Home, High Road East, Felixstowe  IP11 9PU at 09.30 hours.

Please could you register to do the walk by contacting Mrs Joan Bostock on 01394 270093. You can either be sponsored or make a donation on the day.

Please come along to remember our very special and much loved son and to help raise awareness of Children’s Cancer, as well as helping to raise funds for research.  It would mean so much to us to see you there  Many thanks.

Caz Wilkinson

Wellbeing for Writers

I found Felixstowe Scribblers email address on the website of the UK Writers' College, and wondered if my recent ebook  Wellbeing for Writers would   be of interest to the members of your group. 

Kind regards,

Jennifer Barraclough  

Web site:   http://www.amazon.com/author/jenniferbarraclough 
Blog:   http://jenniferbarraclough.wordpress.com  

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 4th August 2015

Present: Dave, Dick, Richard, Beryl, Jane, Mairead, Tony, Cathy, Sally and Jeanette

New members: Hayley and Claire

                

Apologies: Richard, Barry, Carolyn, Caz

General business:

1. A warm welcome was given by Dave to our two new members, sisters Hayley and Claire, both of whom found out about Scribblers via the Felixstowe Book Festival. Hayley has written one novel, and is in the process of writing another. Claire is a recent graduate in literary studies. Nice to have some younger members to lower the average age of the group!
2. Dick had recently celebrated his 80^th birthday, and told us about the surprise party his family had arranged for him. He was kind enough to bring along the rest of his special birthday cake for us to share – many thanks for that, Dick!
3. Best wishes to Liliane, who despite being unwell, collected the library key and delivered it to Dave before heading home again.  
4. Beryl gave advance apologies for the next two meetings, and Jane just for the next meeting

Reading out of homework:

Topic ‘The coach’

As usual, we were all able to enjoy listening to some very interesting, and often entertaining, writings.

Dave: En route

I joined the train on my southbound journey. Was it a mistake choosing the musty smelling coach compartment where three strange folk sat motionless? Or why the ticket inspector did not see them? Was I cocooned in a time warp? Would the truth be revealed as we entered Stoke Tunnel?

Cathy: Summer 1977

Honey is off to London with her aunt for a very special fitting; prosthetic arms, as she is a thalidomide victim. The coach journey gives her the opportunity to ask more about the mother who left once Honey was born, wracked with guilt for taking the damaging anti-sickness drug during pregnancy

Beryl: Thank you Mr Bullen

Our teacher hit you with a ruler if you got a sum wrong. My father's attempts to help reduced me to tears. I was simply hopeless at maths. But to qualify for university I needed 'O' level maths. Only a private coach, Mr Bullen, though brusque and somewhat frightening, made it all clear. Suddenly I understood. 

Dick: poem entitled Coaching Days. A delightfully detailed and atmospheric poem, telling the tale of a journey from York to London by stagecoach.

No synopses for the following stories:

Mairead: Catching the Felixstowe Stagecoach 2295

Jane: Monologue – the coach trip

Jeanette: untitled – an excerpt from her novel in progress

Sally: Reflections

Tony: A week in Wicken

Next meetings: 18^th August, the Jack Wilkinson Trophy competition

                             1^st September, when the 1000 word homework topic is ‘Magic’, as chosen by

                             Mairead

"Coach" assignment...

What a lovely night we had in The Room at the Top! Two new young ladies came along for the first time, and we had an 80th birthday cake from our Dick - well it wasn't the 80th cake but just the one celebrating his recent birthday.

The 'coach' stories came thick and fast and were extremely impressive each warranting and receiving good feedback, whilst Dick managed three pages of rhyming poetry about a  horse drawn coach trip from York to London.

Next meeting will be held on Tuesday 18th August when we host The Jack Wilkinson Memorial Trophy - details of the competition, for attending writers only, can be find towards the top of  this weblog. The trophy is lovely and will adorn the winner's home for six months. So if you are a member and coming along, you will be in with a chance to take Jack's trophy home!

It is a sad time as next Tuesday will be the anniversary of poor Jack's passing.

Until next time...

Keep Scribbling!!!

The Scribe.

WED 1900-1930
FXR Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet
Program 77
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman 
The Mezzotint by M R James
Methala by Tony Shearman

Performers: Alan Dix, Ryan Guilder, Robin Saunders, David Miller,
Sheila Martin, Andy Sindle, Peter Guilder, Su Stedman, Tony Shearman
Brian England.

and

FRI 1230 - 1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM or via the internet
Program 72
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Marbles Lost Again by Tony Shearman
Imaginative Ride by Jack Wilkinson
The Sunday Funfair by Jack Wilkinson
Too clever for your own good by Beryl Sabel

Performers: Richard Bradshaw, Ryan Guilder, Brian England, Peter Guilder,
Debbie Coveney, Sheila Martin, Su Stedman, Angela Silburn, David Miller,
Robin Saunders, Beryl Sabel, Alison Miller, Debbie Wargate.

A Message from...

Do you need to be reminded that our meeting is tonight, TUESDAY 4th August - and the homework theme is to write up to 1,000 words on 'Coach'. Hope to see you there, meantime here's a message from our dear friend Angela Petch... and followed by a competition update.

Until tonight, Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave  

Hello writing companions!

Can I recommend  two articles for Scribblers which I have found useful - being such an internet Luddite etc.

One is how to tackle social media and the other is very interesting - with suggestions about the titles of books and how to get them noticed…I have changed my titles on the strength of this idea:

mashstories.com/social-media-introverted-self-publisher

http://mashstories.com/unlocking-search-ranking-gate-amazon-keywords/

I have had another flash fiction story shortlisted on  www.mashstories.com The three words I had to incorporate were: art, jealousy and congress.

I could do with some votes IF you like the story. Go to the website and click on competitions - then click on current short list. There are some good articles on here too.

They asked me to try and get an interview with an author I have recently read and I managed to contact Amanda Hodgkinson and she agreed. The article will appear soon on this web site. Her novel “22 Britannia Road” is wonderful and I strongly recommend it. Very moving and beautifully written.

Happy summer and successful writing to you all.

Angela xxx  

'DOG DIARIES’ Working Dogs Short Story Competition  UPDATE

 

We would like to offer wholehearted thanks to the writing groups who carried our 'Call for Submissions' on their websites and in their group newsletters.

It really helped to spread the word far and wide - we are delighted to have received submissions from such far off places as …. British Columbia - Canada, Tasmania & South Australia, and from the length and breadth of the British Isles.   

Thank you also to all of the entrants for their submissions - the deadline for submissions has now passed and here at the Ouen Press office we are settling down for some original and inspiring summer reading. 

The shortlist for the competition will be posted on our website www.ouenpress.com on 30th September — or you may wish to check in with us on Twitter @OuenP  for more regular updates on the competition and all our other activities.

With very best wishes for the summer and good luck with your writing projects.

Paula Comley

Principal

OUEN PRESS

www.ouenpress.com

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