November Newsletter

Coventry Writers Group

Newsletter.

Tuesday 6^rd November 2007

Chair: Mike Sherratt, 34 Bexfield Close, Allesley Village, Coventry CV5 9BL (telephone 02476 – 405232. E-mail: michael.sherratt1@btopenworld.com

Secretary: Christine Rutherford 23 Frances Road Harbury Warks CV33 9JG

(tel 01926 613757 e-mail krismonsen@btopenworld.com)

1. Chair’s Notes –
1. Christmas dinner will be at the harvester in Allesley Village on Birmingham Road Friday 14^th December. Significant or insignificant others welcome. Please let Maxine know asap if you intend to go.
2. Poem about Coventry – free entry.
3. Literary Prizes – look at winners Anne Enright won the Booker, Doris Lessing won the Nobel. List of winners for approx. the last 10 years attached for your meditations. We need to know what is thought well of in literary criticism these days.
4. Bring and share nibbles next session 4^th December.

2. Apologies None
3. Correspondence/info/notes none as such.
4. Achievements
1. Maxine had Life Underground accepted for the Four Shires
5. Round table.
1. Phil shared some observations from his reader.

i. A 1^st book has to fit the publisher’s criteria exactly. Once you get established, you can be more adventurous.

ii. It must be marketable in WHSmith.

iii. Is too much information crowded together?

iv. The problem of pace is to slow down without waffling.

v. 3 rounded characters are probably the maximum you need.

vi. Point of view – is from one character all through, though the perspective can change in different chapters. There was some discussion on this.

2. Maxine is working on a feature article.
3. Chris has to get her courage in hand and send her book off before New Year.
4. Margaret has to finish hers by New Year.

6. Readings
1. Pam’s poem A Coventry Girl Suggested she try to write in different forms, not rhyming couplets.
2. Mike: So very Like You.
3. Phil: A Photograph Remembered.
4. Margaret: Chapter 5 of Christopher from Vladivostok.

7. AOB The new owners of the Tam O’ Shanter have rearranged the premises, so it is harder for us to be somewhere quiet. Discussed a change of venue and discounted private houses as it discourages new members. Agreed to think about alternative venues.
8. Exercise for December / January – write a half hour play set in a kitchen/diner. It must contain some comic lines. 3 to 6 characters. The workshop idea from last month did not materialise.