Adjudicator Ewan Craig was pleased to hand Charlotte Wilson the Janet Barclay Cup for humorous writing. I think it was the first time that any of us had heard a story told from the viewpoint of a bar of soap and ‘The Downfall of Roger Gallet’ intrigued us to the end.
Competing for Laughs!
Ripon Poetry Festival
Just a reminder that this year’s Ripon Poetry Festival is imminent. We shall be co-hosting the open mic event on Thursday with Write-On! Ripon.
This link will lead you to the official website and all the information you need. https://riponpoetryfestival.co.uk/
How Not To Get Published!
Andy Croft from Smokestack Books gave us some fascinating insights into the dos and don’ts of getting our work ‘out there’. As it was an open meeting, we were pleased to welcome guests, including several members of Write-On! Ripon to join us. The two groups are looking forward to co-hosting the open mic curtain raiser for this year’s Ripon Poetry Festival, which is due to take place from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd September.
Short Story Competition 2024
All Write on the Night
Led by Maggie, the challenge was to focus on one of the objects pictured. What did it look and feel like? What was its primary purpose? What else might it be used for – thinking outside the box very much required there. Susan was particularly inventive with the old darning mushroom and Peter with the kitchen roll inner!
Next came the challenge to write a limerick or haiku about the chosen object. Several people wrote both and Sheila even added a third poetic form, a cinquain. A break for refreshments was very welcome after all that.
The final task was to draft a short story in which the same object played a major role. No time for polishing, but maybe we shall be hearing some of these at the next session of members’ MSS.
News Flash
Thanks have been expressed to the So! Bar for allowing us to hold meetings in one of their upper rooms over the last few months. Unfortunately noise levels from the floor below and accessibility issues have proved too difficult to surmount. Therefore, starting with the meeting on Wednesday 29th May, we shall be back at our previous venue, the Jervaulx Room in the St Wilfrid’s Community Centre.
6 objects in search of a story
These items were displayed at last night’s meeting and well in time for ‘their’ session on 12th June. Thinking caps on, please!