Archive for 2015

So, contrary to what you might have been led to believe, the next wgwg is not taking place today (17th December) but will now be on January 7th 2016!

This has nothing to do with the wgwg Xmas meal last night, but because a quick show of hands  revealed that everyone has Xmas duties of one kind or another taking place tonight, so it seemed a bit redundant to hold a wgwg when there would be no one available (apart from Marsha).  So sorry Marsha and anyone else who may have planned to come along.  Hope to see you in the New Year.

A very Merry Christmas everyone!

So you  want to know how it went at our Thursday Writers' Workshop meeting last week? Well...

After a last minute scare when we thought the library had lost our, 'Willesden Green Writers' Workshop' box ( now that would have been a disaster) we found it under a pile of books in the storeroom, and continued up to the second floor to catch our breath and thank the gods of lost things...

Only three readers last night, but it was quality over quantity all the way.  Steve read a children's story about a dog called Patch - who will probably live happily ever after...Mary continued with her wonderful Korean story and provoked a lively discussion about how men and women view things differently - that one will run and run!  And Marsha read a stunning peace remembering her Saturday mornings in the 60's which she spent watching and leaning about life from the women who gathered at her home to eat and gossip as they relaxed together and had their hair dressed and tortured into the latest styles. What a great piece of writing, we definitely want more please.

We also had a visit from a guest, Leighton, who told us about his exciting writing project.  There will be more about this project when we have got all the details so watch this space...

It was a damp squib tonight. The rain on fireworks that is, not the writing. As usual the writing and the conversation shot up and exploded with sparkling beauty. Horace treated us to a slice of the dark underbelly of London and the powerful people that want to take advantage of those that live in it. Sajidah had more modest dreams tonight which lead Steve to tell us about his dreams of German fiscal figureheads. Mary has started retracing her steps, revisiting beautiful prose that chills to the bone and Marsha's geriatric hero was sent on a long awaited mission. If the first pages are anything to go by, there'll be laughter all along that journey. 

The next meeting of wgwg is on Thursday 5th November, so do come along for some spectacular literary fireworks.  And as we now meet 6 - 7.45pm, you can come to the workshop and still have time to see the sky's light up over Willesden afterwards.  Or you could just come to the pub with us - tough call :-)

Well, there you have it, we are back home at last, where it all began twenty two years ago.  I can't tell you what a relief it is to be back meeting in Willesden Green Library once again, it's like coming home after a particularly long and frustrating journey.  Although we never completely gave up hope, we came pretty close to it sometimes. Having roamed about Willesden and its environs for two years surviving on the kindness of strangers and each other to find somewhere to meet, it was brilliant how instantly at home we felt in the library last night.

So, I hear you ask, what occurred on this momentous occasion?  Well...

Steve has apparently been eavesdropping on a conversation between god and his herald, it was full of Steve's usual sly humour and it christened our new residency at the library in a fitting manner.  Next, newcomer Sajidah read out a dream of a story ( or is it...? ) I am definitely wanting to hear more of this one!  Clare's story is set in different time lines, it's very complicated and quite wonderful and we hope our comments were helpful to her because we are all rooting for her to find a way of juggling the different aspects.  And if you want to know how it feels to be shot in the head, then you could do worse than listen to Mary's description in her piece set in Korea. Her writing just gets better and better, it's almost hypnotic to hear her read it, it has such a dreamlike quality. Last to read was another new member, Marsha, with a very good, witty piece that led to an interesting discussion on gender politics to round up the night. I don't think we hear enough Sci Fiction at the group, so this was a very welcome piece - more please!

So  that was how our first meeting went, and then of course it was off  to the The Rising Sun, it's traditional, and so it had to be done.  I just hope Steve found his way home ok...

Next meeting is November 5th, so watch out for some fireworks, both literary and literally...

This Thursday - 15th October, will finally see wgwg back in it's old home at Willesden Green Library.  It's been a long time coming, but we made it. Same place ( sort of ) but at a different time - we will now be starting at 6pm and running until 7.45pm.  £3 per session attended.

We really hope you can make it, it might just change your life...

https://www.facebook.com/TheSpecialRelationship/videos/1065347213485188/

More gorgeous stuff from Moby Dick - it's live at the Royal Festival Hall this weekend. It's free and believe me, you really don't want to miss it!

Is this going to be great? You bet it is, and we aren't just saying that because we are involved.  October 1st - 4th.  See you there :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vtlr_zRnJc&feature=share

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b7c62d2886770210ece8f8a36&id=692518f6c9&e=bbe83423ef

Wgwg is a partner in this event, and to say we are excited about it would be a massive understatement.   So do come along, it really is going to be fantastic!

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/moby-dick-unabridged-1001129