Hooray, 2012 off to a great start. Fourteen members present, on a mild moonlit evening in deepest Suffolk. The true January chill is yet to kick in this year, so we are still in an autumn reverie - even the wildlife: daffodils, snowdrops, birds and trees have forgotten to sleep, or have woken up early; which it's hard to say. I hope they are not too surprised when the cold weather eventually comes.

Of course there was lots of chat as the meeting started, a whole month since our last get-together. Then a mad hour of subscription-collecting which was handled magnificently by Treasurer Tony, although he had little time to do anything else. Nigel took control of the meeting by inviting news and greeting a new member, Dennis. There was news: Alex (Mason) had brought an article to read that was published locally over Christmas, a poem by Pat had seen publication in our local paper, the Bury Free Press. Then we had an update about Anthology sales - vibrant is the word, with all expenses and printing costs covered by sales so far, and the project edging into profit.

Woolpit is not room enough

So to readings, and Rosie began with the beginnings of a novella, The Cedar Tree, intriguing enough to leave us wanting more. Pat read a couple of poems. George read the start of a sci-fi story, somewhere in which a computerised navigational system says to its human captain:

‘Don’t kid me Ray, you know the score – all the inner moons of Saturn are in synchronous orbit - the planet always appears in the same spot in the sky. On this side the sun is always out, on the other Saturn fills the sky. But you knew that.’
‘Indeed, but the question was part of your post-hop syllogistic exam. To see if you survived the trip OK. Congratulations, you’ve passed.’
‘Very funny, perhaps it’s you who needs testing - eighteen months of space flight can do strange things to a man. By the way, how was Stasis?’

Carolyn read the first part of the first draft of a short story sequence, described later by Val, although I forget in what context, as “a floaty bubble.” Nigel continued with part of his first, as-yet-unpublished-but-fully-deserving-to-be novel:

What was worse, he was having problems sustaining an erection. He’d gone to his doctor. The doctor said he shouldn’t expect to be able to perform as if he were still 19. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He would show them, the job was on.

Dennis read a poem, Alex his published story, a well-crafted article on childhood memories in Elmswell. Alex (Walker) had written to the theme set at the meeting before Christmas, a quirky story that ended with a reclusive woman being rescued from a cluttered and claustrophobic house, with cat, before willing friends and neighbours burst in to torch the place! Eleanor has a project – to document the comings and goings at an (almost) imaginary gay sex club, Wet, Wet, Wet :

‘Hi there,’ greeted the handsome young Adonis behind the desk. He was in his early twenties, dark haired, olive-skinned and wearing a white singlet with matching shorts, which accentuated his slim, tanned body.

You get the picture

As the meeting progressed, Pauline continued her novel from last time, with a pacy and energetic account of kidnap and escape. Then to conclude meeting and readings, Peter read the conclusion of a story started last time.

A problem identified is a problem solved

We finished late, but annual subscriptions had all been taken, receipts issued and everyone with something to read had been accommodated. It’s gratifying to know that people want to turn up when there are any number of distractions at home or on the TV, and are prepared to put their work up for examination and appraisal. There are issues to sort out, chief of them being the structure of meetings and the time allotted for readings, but that’s a problem for next time. Until then, thanks to everyone who came and ones who couldn’t make it, and who sent their apologies. See you all next time,

Present: GW, CB, NG, DM, AM, JC, AW, VK, EC, PE, PH, RP, PC, TI

George

This was our last meeting of 2011, attended by Val, Carolyn, Eleanor, Pauline, Rosie, Laura, Lisa, George, Russell, Wilf, David, Gerry & Anna.

Tonight we welcomed two new members, Anna & Gerry. Gerry came to support us at the Ipswich Institute gig last Wednesday and tonight came along for the first time. He writes supernatural fantasy/horror, and brought along a stirring story of mythical & mystical fantasy. He later admitted to being nervous about reading his work aloud for the first time. I remember when I was in the same situation in the group, and seven or eight years on still get nervous, though more now in anticipation of how a piece will be received. Nerves are part of how we react to situations, and it's important for a writer to test their work against audience reaction.

Anna is a young Polish poet and writer who heard about the group through our recently published anthology. She writes in an impressionistic style, and brought along an accomplished piece, even more so for being her first real work written in English, although she has been published in her native land. "I sit still in the darkness, loneliness stroking my hair", and "Infidelity rolls steadily for a brief moment but then plunges into a narrow gap between the two floorboards," were favoured lines.

Among the other reading highlights was a piece described as a 'Rock & Roll Panto' by Carolyn -

"There is a House In Arragon
Where there's a great to do.
With warriors back from fighting wars
Wanting to bill and coo."

- sung to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun" was only the start of the fun, as we all warbled along in three or four different keys (and some in no key at all)!

George read a couple of poems – in one the line "The fly walks on its moon of cheese...sinks up to its fly knees" was admired.

Wilf’s fantasy was not quite as light-hearted as the others, but was powerful and certainly provoked discussion. A couple of lighter pieces from David added to the mix, Pauline read an extract from chapter 12 of her novel-in-progress. Val, who is one of our more accomplished members and a published author of some experience, read part of her latest novel and gave, as usual, very valued criticism.

Scattered throughout the evening there were cheese straws, dips, wine, money taken for sales of the anthology so far, chocolates, crisps, apple juice and news – about the evolution of this website and opportunities coming up in 2012 for publicising the anthology.

Leaflets were distributed and a few copies of the book signed, for sale and promotion. As Chair I then brought the general confusion, which I'd been controlling more by luck than judgement, to a conclusion.

Merry Christmas to everyone if that is your bag, otherwise at least peace and meditation,

George