CHESTER WRITERS

A MONTHLY LITERARY SALON
meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm at Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR.

Please contact jane[dot]brocklehurst[at]gmail[dot]com with any questions for the group.

You can also join our Chester Writers Facebook for more up-to-date information about the group.

Friday, January 22, 2010

January Meeting: Minutes

January 21st 7.30p, Bishop Lloyd's Palace, Watergate Row Chester.

20 members present (including 4 new members) , several apologies sent in advance.

Signing in list passed around with phone numbers and email addresses.

Item 1: Warming up exercise:
Production of character and scene 'thumbnails'.

Item 2: Voting on 'The Twelve Principles' (new house rules):

(i) use a good, well-lit venue that is not prone to interruption PASSED;

(ii) encourage members to try both poetry and prose PASSED;

(iii) begin promptly at 7.45pm PASSED;

(iv) start with short warming up exercises and then go on with work which has either been written in response to a theme set the month before or some other work which members value airing 50/50 SPLIT ....so I've decided to go for a shorter optional version;

(v) members should concentrate on developing their 'critical faculties' while other members are reading - but criticism should be as positive and constructive as possible PASSED;

(vi) new members do not read out anything the first time they attend - they have to decide if the group is for them (we might be able to help with this!) PASSED;

(vii) readings should be no longer 5-6 mins (it is therefore not really a place for novels but for fine-tuning/getting feedback on specific passages) PASSED;

(viii) readings should be of recently-written pieces - those written in the last month or so PASSED - though we might have special 'oldies' nights!

(ix) we do not do an anthology PASSED;

(x) we may do a spot in the festival if we think we have enough good quality work and are invited, but only those people who have attended at least four sessions in the previous year are allowed to represent the group WE INTEND TO TRY AND KEEP THIS SPOT OPEN

(xi) concentrate on writing for enjoyment, advancement of skill and craftsmanship, and elevation of the art form PASSED;

(xii) edginess and experimentation to be encouraged PASSED;

Item 3: Readaround

(Homework was 'Take a newspaper from the last week of 2009 and pick out an article that immediately catches your eye on the front page. Write about it from the viewpoint of someone involved in the story.'

Item 4: Homework for February.
The homework is as follows: take something from your handbag or pocket or car - or drawer where you keep miscellaneous objects...

(i) Describe it

(ii) Write about memories it evokes - where you got it, when you got it, what does it reminds you of when you see it.

Item 5: Next meeting:
February 18th 7.30pm for 7.45pm