March News & April Meeting

Thanks to Matthew Meakin for coming along - at last another bloke has turned up for the meeting! As it was only Matthew and I, we just had a good long chat over a cup of coffee in the Opera Bar area at the quay.

I appreciate that it's not always easy to make it on the day, but do try and contribute to the blog anyway. You should have all received an invite to a yahoo discussion group by now, which I am hoping will be an easier way to share and contribute.

Let me know if you have trouble signing up.

Go here to see the discussion group and join up:
http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/the-writers-block/

There is a button on the top-right "Join this group".

The next meeting is scheduled for April 21st - still with the theme of frogs, since we didn't really get to share this in March.

March Meeting in the Park

I've been a bit slack about keeping you up to date on our next get together and theme, but here it is:

This coming Saturday, 10th March, 10:30am, Botanic Gardens, (Opera House entrance)
(If it rains, we can always repair to the Opera Bar or other convenient place along the quay.)

The theme is: Frog.

Yes, write a piece about a frog, frogs, or whatever the word frog inspires in you.
A short poem or three, a long poem, a little story, an excerpt from your upcoming novel ...
I know you've only got 4 days, but there's nothing like a deadline to inspire you is there?



In other news, we've been discussing utilising the resources of the NSW writer's Centre.
Check out their web site, and see if there is something there could help you move forward on practising your writing and keeping you inspired.
http://www.nswwriterscentre.org.au/

There are on-line tutorials, competitions and links to useful resources. Look at joining up and taking advantage of the facilities.
We are also thinking about using their facilities as a meeting place in the future, if we can - especially during the winter months. Let us all know what you think.
Cathy Nolan will be researching it some more and will let us know more about it too ... you did say that, didn't you Cathy?

Last meeting in the park I read out my possible ending/twist to Pam's mystery package story. I've put it into the web site blog if you'd like to read it.
Anyone else have some ideas - we'd love to hear your version too.

Remember the web site is: http://budding-writers.blogspot.com/

And remember - these are just ideas to inspire you. If something else inspires you and takes your interest in any way, please bring it along and share.
You need an audience - you know you do! (We'll be gentle, promise, and we'll try an be helpful).

Finally, I'll send out some invitations (prob tonight or tomorrow) to a new email discussion group (a yahoo group, if you are familiar with these) where we can more easily share our contributions and writing with each other and seek feedback and encouragement.

Please try and come along on Saturday. Let me know. Invite your friends. All welcome.
(If another date might suit you - let us all know, perhaps we can agree fairly quickly on an alternative date - but not March 17th - I'm booked in already for a few drinks with certain Irish friends!

Happy writing!