I was unable to attend the meeting this week and do not have minutes. But I do have these wonderful six word stories. What a fun prompt from Barb, and what a great response.
He leaves. He returns. I’m married.
-He died. I cried. (I lied.)
First kiss sod house fourteen children.
Reading the note she left weeping.
Spring summer fall winter eternal slumber.
-New suit. Hot coffee. Law suit.
-Closet impassible. Nothing tossable. Cleaning impossible.
Sorry, folks. This meeting was so much fun and so interesting that I flat out forgot to take notes. So, am going to wing it.
Dot announced that the used books had been donated and delivered to the Eureka Springs library. Barb announced that ECHO is setting up a used books and clothing shop in Eureka Springs. Donations encouraged. The group agreed to participate in the Quality of Life program scheduled for next Monday AM. We will have a table with a Kindle demonstration and brochures encouraging membership and show casing exerpts from this week’s writings. After that agreement, we went on to share some wonderful pieces inspired by Barb’s request to write about a place important to us from our past. Both essay and poetry were represented. The meeting closed with a discussion of Dave’s upcoming “party” w Willie Nelson and Alice revealed that may attend as well. We’re expecting some “inspired” memoires from this party.
In opening business, the group agreed to handle set up for the HIAA November dinner/quarterly meeting. Also because of the HIAA Art Festival, there will no meeting on September 1st. Barb requested that group members who are not submitting other writing on the 15th to bring a piece inspired by a picture of an old house, possibly googled. The group also agreed to hire someone to move the remaining books from previous booksales to the Eureka Springs library.
Carol and Alice react to a comment from David Hirsch
The group then picked up on the story thread begun by David involving a unknown character traveling on a road lined with trees. Members wrote and then shared diverse additions to David’s original thread. A wonderful, humous, poignant experience, enjoyed by all members. Probably the favorite addition was Alice French’s delight spinoff about a crow landing on the chest of the driver after he had been thrown from the vehicle (or at least that my interpretation). Meeting concluded early.
Dave Hirsch, Alice French, Carol McGowen and Barb Rhodes were present and each participated in the “Show and Tell” exercise by bringing an object that told a story, or had some signifigance in their lives, or represented an idea they espoused. A nice variety of tales unfolded and some writing based on this may emerge. If you missed the meeting, you may bring your object to the August 18 meeting and tell about it. Also, please bring any submissions you have.
Do any of you have writing to submit next Tuesday? If so, please let me know and I’ll tell everyone. Also, from time to time we can do some exercises. Here is one we can try Tuesday unless we have too much else on our plates. This is called “Show and Tell”: bring an interesting object that has an interesting history, a story to tell—a romantic story, a strange or magical story, a harrowing story. The object might be something beautiful and mysterious. Or it might be mundane, yet have a fascinating history. It would be something you can bring life to. The objects are first presented in turn and passed around while you tell your “story.” Everyone else takes notes. Once the oral storytelling is completed, all participants “make” a piece of writing (poem, prose, play, “experimental” or open form) using the objects and descriptions in any manner or order they choose. The writing can be done in the group or at home.
The group met at the usual time in the usual place with the usual suspects: Dave, Barb, Alice, Carol, Dot. We had the rare treat of Elizabeth Sammons’ attendance. Her schedule worked out so that she could be in the area. Material shared this time ran the gamut of genres. Alice shared the bound copy of her book of inspiration and organization. It’s a beautiful collection done in lilac and ivory with corrugated cover. It offers a feast for the eyes and the mind.
Dot read an untitled piece on the insidious evil of Farmtown on Facebook.
Dave brought his personal journals and allowed us a glimpse into his private thoughts. His books are full of personal reactions, art, doodlings, wit. More than you’d expect a journal to be.
Carol shared her beautifully written newspaper article which serves as a profile of the artist’s career and her impact on the lives of her art students. It is a well composed piece with a disciplined art motif running through it. The Holiday Island news will be graced with a very classy article.
Elizabeth brought her computer and showed us to find and use a very beneficial program in Word called Track Changes. This program edits on the fly, makes suggestions, saves original and edited version, and allows for sidebar comments on your own or others’ work.
Barb brought us up to speed on HIAA minutes and business and financial status for the group. We discussed bringing in additional speakers with some of the funds and also using the community service feature of Dairy Hollow Writers Group.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, August 4th. See you there.
Note the new and friendlier tone. We have a new coordinator and a new feel. Come and enjoy the meetings.
Bring it! That’s what we’ll do next Tuesday. Bring any new writing you’ve come up with during our hiatus over the 4th of July holiday, or something old we haven’t seen yet, or a piece of writing someone else has done that you really like. As we start our mentor-less mode in the Writers Guild, we’ll talk about how we want to run our meetings, ideas for speakers or outside activities…just wing it. I’ll have a small bit of business to present, but minimal emphasis on that. Writers just want to have fun. See you there.
As of today, I am resigning as coordinator for the Writers Group. It has been a rewarding experience, particularly since I was blessed with so much help from Carol McGowen. Health issues, however, require that I step down immediately. Barbara Rhodes, scheduled to begin as the new coordinator in September, has graciously agreed to step in for me beginning with the next meeting on July 21st.
We had a new member join us today. Welcome Jim Russell. We began today with an update on Kate. She went through surgery well and is expected home in a few days. The group donated toward gift cards to help with unexpected expenses.
We discussed content and layout for the HIAA brochure. Dave volunteered to see that the borders on the front page get adjusted.
We then critiqued Barb’s poem Jesus at Art’s Grocery. Very few changes were offered and they basically dealt with connotations in word choice. The group concurred that this is another amazing work by Barb.
Alice shared her daily journal/shedule/organizer/not sure exactly what term covers her creation. It is a guideline and inspiration for each day and handled thematically. A very thoughtful compilation.
Dot shared her upcoming blog posts on travel and enteral feeding. The group suggested removing some of the humorous twists as they seem to add a contradictory tone.
Dave share his poem “Ear,” which we can all identify with. The poem’s appeal generated lots of positive feedback and very few suggestions for change.
The meeting ran late today, which may be a measure of how much we all enjoyed it.
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