Archive for 2016

So this week, Anne and Naa sat about plotting. This is what we get up to when no one turns up. Someone did turn up, after having been searching for us for ages it seems. He was over the moon to have actually come across us on the correct day and the correct time but alas had nothing to read. The next actual group will be January 5th, 6pm, Willesden Green library.

In the new year we've decided to put a pause on collecting attendance fees. In the past, attendance fees have gone towards printing anthologies and we've built up some money in the last little while. . So as we work back towards a healthy attendance and a substantial amount of short stories ready for print, we'll stop charging until we've figured out exactly what we're gonna spend it on. So if the cost of attendance put you off before, worry no more and come along.

****INVITE ALERT*****
As I said before, our next actual group is January 5th but on the 15th of December we're gonna treat you wonderful people to a drink (with some of that money built up) to celebrate all the great writing you've written and we've experienced through the year.


So join us for some Christmas cheer....

15th December
The Beaten Docket
Crciklewood Broadway
7pm.

...it's the quality,  and we had some great quality last night.

 Only four of us (where were YOU?) but what a good night. First we had more of Dolgo's adventures - he has now progressed to practising his spitting technique on Oxford Street.  I'd love to know where Judith gets these ideas from - but am a bit scared to ask to be honest!  He is a true original and I love hearing about his adventures, although I'm not too sure I'd like to meet him in the flesh.  If you have never heard Judith read Dolgo's adventures, you are missing something.

Then on to Marsha who read her science fiction piece which contained some unpronounceable names - something like Bbberr'z and N.U.  Anyway, there is a bit of miscommunication between the Bbberr'z and N.U not to mention the Earthmen who have come to greet them.  It doesn't end well...

Only two stories, but they were both great so it was a good night all round - and it was especially good to see Mary back, her book is going to the printers today, Hurrah!

It began as all great nights begin, with two women conversing on subjects such as the reactions when liquid meets leather, how to properly dry your feet and how best to set up a small business selling the wares of your hobbies. This all female Waiting for Godot people certainly passed the Bechdel test. We'd resigned to our fate and were just about to pack up and leave when lo and behold, there were people.*

Six in total with two readers. Vince gave us the beginnings of a story about a fortunate man and the group discussed how best  to unravel the soul of the piece through standard or non-standard writing devices. Alistair treated us to another snippet of sci-fi, letting us into a world where you have another option to standing when there are no seats left on public transport. In our world, we learned there are other options when you don't have paper to take notes  and you don't want to be fiddling around searching and interrupting someone's reading.

 Will be better prepared next time. *NEW PROTOCOL: Facilitators will now allow a minimum of 15mins and a maximum of 30mins to see if anyone turns up before abandoning ship. 

Six people tonight, with one apology from Marsha, whose mother is ill ( we hope you get well soon Marsha's Mother) and a we have another newbie folks, name of Sally ( welcome Sally!)

So, we started off with another installment of Alistair's Science Fiction novel which introduced us to a character called Drag - I wouldn't want to have a close encounter with her to be honest. Still don't know where this is going, and still enjoying it very much.

Occasional visitor Judy ( come more often Judy -  really)  read a short piece which was part of an exercise to write about being 'confined' and I think she managed it very well.  Only 250 words and quite a lot packed in, but  I wonder how she would manage with our 50 word challenge - remember that one people?

Judith continued her booze soaked odyssey featuring Dolgo,  um, I meant Dolgo is booze soaked - or did I? ;-)  Still a wonderful, original voice, I wonder where he is going to end up?  I hope there's a good ending in store for Dolgo, he's such an intriguing character.  Take another look at the lost soul slumped in the entrance to the train station as you begin your journey home tonight folks - they might just be a Dolgo...

What a night!  I looked out the window and thought, surely no one is going to come out in this?  I was going to cancel due to, 'inclement weather' but then decided to live up to the motto of the Windmill, mainly, 'We never close' (though admittedly we have far fewer undressed ladies than the Windmill) So I literally waded through the streets to Willesden Green - and guess how many people turned up - nine.  Oh yes, wgwg'ers are made of stern stuff, and not only that, there were four newbies amongst us.

We had a new story from Clare which we must hear more of, such beautiful descriptions, particularly of a garden in Autumn, and a woman who obviously has issues with her father, I wonder where Clare is going to take us with this story?  Victoria gave us the beginning of her new version of an old murder based on the notorious Red Barn Murders which took place in the early 1900's, I certainly hope we get to hear more of this one as well.  Alistair's creepy alien continues to astonish, not only is he eating with his spoon and proceeding to eat the said spoon, he now sort of deconstructs his body as well (you had to be there) I have no idea where he is going with this piece but I am really enjoying the ride.  Lily's new piece left us stunned into silence - it's a beautifully written piece with so many levels to it and it's so different to her other writing, she is full of surprises.  I don't know when we will get to hear the rest of it as Lily is off on her travels, but it will be worth the wait.

So, as you can see, despite the weather, we had a really good session and those who weren't still soaked to the skin went off to the pub ( jealous moi?) So what happened in the pub must remain in the pub - I went home to a warm bath...

So off we go again, the first wgwg for a while, it's nice to be back.

So, Marsha has lots of things to think about. For instance, is her protagonist running an up market classy sort of,  'Gentleman's Executive Relief Service' or is she running a scuzzy massage parlour? How much does she charge for her services and how is it collected?  Who is stealing the money, and how?  So many things to think about, it's not easy writing these short stories you know, but we did have a very interesting discussion about various types of massage parlours and the services they offer.

And Judith's protagonist is still in an alcohol infused state - or is he?  Is it all a dream, an alternative universe or is it the gospel truth as Dolgo sees it, or a mixture of all three?  I don't know as yet, but it's a blast finding out. what a fabulous piece of writing.

See you on the 15th...

Yes folks September 1st is nearly upon us.  I hope you have used the summer break to get those creative juices flowing, 'cos I for one,  am really looking forward to hearing your new work.  Whether you are an old hand or a newbie looking to join,  just turn up at Willesden Green Library in the Education Room at 6pm  - and let the reading begin.

September 1st, usual place, usual time - and don't be late ( you know who you are!)

 So, um, I have nothing to report other than it was half term and I was there, ready willing and ( sort of  ) able, but where were you, oh my WGWG'ers?

 If you turned up after 6.30 I apologise but really, how long is a girl supposed to wait? Back in the day I only waited thirty minutes for Steve Williams to turn up before I left in a huff and I really, really fancied him.

So anyway, I went home after patiently waiting for thirty minutes for someone (anyone) to turn up and I opened a bottle of wine and watched a documentary about fascism and architecture, which I found very interesting though the presenter was annoying...

 The next group on June 16th is the last before the Summer break, so make sure you get there on time!  You have been warned, thirty minutes on my own, never mind Steve Williams, and I'm off...

Well, that was a very interesting evening!  Three new people came and it's always exciting to see new faces around the table, you just can't tell by looking at them what sort of tales they are about to unleash on the group.

So, first newbie up was Maithreyi who gave us a tale set in Bristol, a brilliant cook married to a brilliant musician, what an earth could go wrong?  Quite a lot as it happens.  Such tension at the start of the story and such beautiful descriptions of food, I could smell the curry cooking ( and I also learnt how to pronounce asafoetida...)  We certainly look forward to hearing more from Maithreyi...

Next newbie up was Sita.  It's not often you hear a poem that's unlike any that you've heard read out at the group before, and boy, was this one a stunner!  Part poem, part incantation, rhythmic gymnastics sparking throughout, I think it's fair to say the room was gobsmacked by this poem.  What a wonderful introduction to the group read by a very nervous Sita.  What she was nervous about I have no idea, her work is fabulous!

Then Sajidah read the next section of her mystic journey in which her protagonist learns something very surprising about his family history.  Where will this news take him I wonder?

So we were just rounding off a very lively and interesting evening when in came Marsha.  Oh dear Marsha, if you leave it until 7.30 to arrive, then I'm afraid you are not guaranteed a place to read, but we certainly look forward to hearing your piece next meeting on the 19th.

So, eight people at the group, and six of them joined us down the pub afterwards, what a good evening and we still have to hear newbie Judith read out - perhaps next time?

So, due to neither of the usual facilitators being available last night, Lynn boldly stepped up and girding her loins declared herself ready and willing to take the group.  

However, upon enquiring, later that night, 'Went the day well?' I received this reply...

 Wash out! 

Come on you writers!


Oh dear, we must do better wgwg'ers.  You know that novel/slim volume of poetry/collection of short stories is never going to get published at this rate.

So, yes Lynn, we will see you on the 21st....

We thought Willesden Green would be heaving with emerald St Patrick's day celebrations but it seemed rather muted.  Saying that, it might explain our low numbers this week... First there were 3, then we became 4.

Sajidah's new chapter led us into the cosy environs of wise leaders and set up the beginnings of what promises to be a life-changing relationship between a weak man and a strong woman. This led to a varied discussion on scene-setting, character, dramatic build-up and spirituality. Marsha read a short story about what happens when artefacts are dug up and ascribed meaning. Then, we were done.

No pub, though we did walk past one Irish pub heaving. Someone's Everyone's probably got a very sore head this today.

Tonight we said hello to one new member and a sad farewell to another, for Abidah is returning home to America.  So, after hearing one last fine poem from her, we bid her a fond farewell - we hope you come back and visit us again sometime Abidah! 

The new member is Judy ( although she's not really new, as apparently she came once before years ago, but as neither of us could remember the occasion, we will just count her as a newbie) A fine poem about a puddle was her contribution and it just shows what treasures can be found in the most unlikely of subjects. In fact, I don't think I will ever look at a puddle in the same way again.

Well, that was a really good night even if I do say so myself.  We had a full house, with eleven people around the table and six readers, so for two hours we were treated to one great reading after another. 

Wow, 2016 got off to a flying start yesterday for wgwg.  We actually got our own room for once so we didn't have to read out our stuff sat next to a table of young children playing on library computers.  Not saying we dislike children you understand, it's just that some of our stuff can be, ahem, of an adult nature, so it was nice not to feel inhibited by the thought of young ears inadvertently hearing something they shouldn't.  Let's hope we can have the room again in the future, it was almost like old times!

Greetings, I hope that you had an acceptable Christmas and New Year, but now it's time to get down to business - writing business.  Thursday 7th is definitely the date, and 6pm is definitely the time to be at Willesden Green Library for the first  wgwg of 2016.  Hope to see you there, and I for one can't wait to hear what people have written over the break!