Our Annual General Meeting took place on 10 March. Besides the regular formal business there was a discussion of proposed changes to the Constitution.
See the attached documents for details of the proceedings.
The traditional Address to a Haggis for Burns Night. I recommend MacSween’s haggis.
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang ‘s my arm.
more…
My latest list of writing competitions. These are only the ones I might possibly enter myself, so I’m afraid there’s nothing for poets or memoirists.
The prestigious Bridport Prize has introduced a new award for the over sixties. This is not a new competition, but rather a prize for the oldie who comes highest across the four existing categories.
We are thinking of running a writing competition this year and would be interested in views. We provisionally thought that the competition should:
All of these points are very much open for discussion – let us know your thoughts in a comment, email, or at our next meeting.
Update: we discussed these suggestions at the January meeting. Members were broadly in agreement but thought the suggested theme sounded old-fashioned, and that a small entry fee was worth considering. The idea of a competition anthology was popular and members thought we might need to establish a competition sub-committee.
This will be discussed again at the February meeting – if you have ideas for a theme in the meantime, please email them to ecorduff@hotmail.com
Jo Bodley performed her comedy routine to an appreciative audience. Her quick-fire gags, infectious take on life, mental health and the horrors of the hospital ward were punctuated with clever use of props and audience participation. She had us in stitches!
The following Q and A session was lively, informative and funny. Jo outlined some of the many genres of comedy and gave a frank description of her journey through the process of becoming a stand -up comic. Favourite comedians were reflected on, with wide- ranging styles discussed.
Members read self-penned pieces with a comic flavour. Phil’s take on the life of a fountain pen was thought-provoking, whilst Nikki ended the meeting in style with an extract from the inimitable Dorothy Parker.
Thanks to Jo for an uplifting session!
Simon led our January meeting, and asked members to bring along a pen portrait of someone to capture something of their character or story which we could share and discuss. Interpretations of a pen portrait varied and pieces in a range of different styles and interpretations were read, from brief biographies to evocative poems and a humorous obituary, Private Eye style.
Members also talked about progress with their latest projects, and the suggested competition.
Some suggested resolutions. Mine is to submit more (some) stuff.
My personal list of writing competitions with deadlines in January (sorry, no poetry ones).
A good time was had by all at our traditional Christmas ‘do’ in the function room of the Spread Eagle. We enjoyed a buffet ably organised by Elspeth and a quiz masterminded by Mike, with a Secret Santa exchange of gifts. Members read a selection of festive prose and shared news of their latest projects.
Merry Christmas!
Croydon Writers 