(Broadcast 15/10/2019 on 5THE FM 107.7)
Today, Sheryl Lowe, the manager of our local community radio station 5THE FM 107.7, and myself had chats about writing and publishing in general, and our writing group, the milliscribblers, in particular.
In between our conversations, I read out a small piece I had created about our writing group - to explain who we are and what we do, and most importantly, to invite people to join us. Here is what I read:
We are a group of 11 authors in different stages of development - from absolute beginners to published.
Meeting once a fortnight at the Millicent Library, we have spent our first weeks together getting to know each other and to develop a safe place to fall and share our work. Some of us are happy to read out our works-in-progress, while those not yet confident enough, prefer another member to read their words.
Our age range is wide - and the range of genres and forms? Simply amazing.
Exploration is happening way outside our chosen or favourite genres. Those who have never written poetry before are tempted to 'have a go'. The genres of horror and thriller are being explored and expanded, with the group equally appreciating the delicacy and feeling engendered by creative writing of a gentler, maybe romantic nature. And there are those of us checking out the ideas of memoir and autobiography. Our learning curve is broad.
All of us are gradually discovering hidden skills - especially so when you consider some of us thought ourselves nothing more than letter writers. Nothing more?!? That's a wonderful skill of its own that easily develops amazing stories. And it has. And it IS.
We are kind to each other, offering friendly suggestions and thoughts for improvement, or where and how to get more information on specific problems. Some of us have a long list of links with the most helpful assistance freely available.
Our meetings are at the Millicent Library on alternate Thursday afternoons, with the kind support of the Library and the Wattle Range Council. One of the librarians is a member providing so much up-to-date information and advice... and is always there and willing to photocopy info for us and to push our group and its aims into the public eye. A flyer about us is in the process of design and production.
The manager of our local community radio station is also a member, dedicated to giving us a physical 'voice' to read our writings on a regular basis, and the community a chance to get to know each of us a little better. This is a marvellous opportunity to 'grow' our self-confidence.
In the last few weeks we have begun stretching our imaginations by being given the task of writing a small piece (under 500 words) from a single prompt word - poetry or prose, romance or horror, one paragraph or sneaking over that 500 word limit - doesn't matter. We have chosen 'tree/s', 'moon', so far, and this week - 'butterflies'. Stunning how one word can inspire so many thoughts - each one unique; different from the rest.
We will progress into more accurate and incisive critiques as time goes by, but we insist there is no rush for this to happen. More important we settle in to our individual paths of learning and developing as writers reaping satisfaction from their efforts and progress. No matter how humble our beginnings, we ALL had to start somewhere.
And THAT brings me to the most important point - an invitation to join us and become a milliscribbler. Doesn't just the name intrigue and delight you? Doesn't it make you realise how totally down-to-earth and friendly we are? We have no illusions about the difficulties of this art form called writing - or how aggravating it can be for our blood, sweat and tears to be seen as a 'nice little hobby'. We have the seeds planted of some interesting plans. Now we will gather expertise.
Please consider giving it a go. You have absolutely nothing to lose and SO incredibly much to gain - if nothing more than meeting and becoming friends with a most interesting cross-section of folk. And we are always open to learning from YOU. C'mon! It's free. It's friendly. And it's fun to be with like-minded people.
Check out details at the Millicent Library front desk or here at 5THE FM.
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And after further conversations, for a change of pace I read a joke I have reconstructed from a memory - a golden oldie, if ever there was one. Searched all over for the original but it's long gone... except in my memory, thankfully.
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The most unlikely friends – a lizard, a camel and a rabbit - wanted to change their luck and their lives, so they bought a lottery ticket.
Against all odds, they won a prize of millions of dollars.
The one thing they'd always wanted more than anything was a decent roof over their heads. Now, all was possible.
They found a magnificent property with some acreage on a gently rounded hill, overlooking the sea and glorious sunsets.
The lizard was a brilliant designer, so with the help of a top architect, the plans were soon drawn up for a mansion.
The camel's skills lay in the building department and a seemingly never-ending list of tradesmen to call upon. It took a few years, but finally the mansion was complete.
The rabbit was the keenest gardener ever. His digging skills were formidable, so the lizard and the camel gave him a cheerful farewell when he went to collect fertiliser to ensure all that was planted would flourish.
This took several years (uhrr... we're not quite sure why), but finally he was back. He could hardly believe his eyes at the massive gates and long driveway leading to an ornate drive-around fountain in front of the grandest entrance to the largest and most impressive house ever – and blessed his mother for having made him always eat his carrots – otherwise he would never have believed his own eyes.
The front door soared above him and he had to hop up and down many times before he could press the doorbell mid-jump - until finally a loud echoing roll of chimes almost knocked him off his paws.
In moments the door opened and a tall and immaculately dressed butler was looking down at him in the most imperious fashion.
"Y-E-S-S-S?" he said, in a voice that was designed to deter any hopeful hawkers , dastardly debt collectors, divorce-paper-servers - or any religious-types, too.
"Is the camel here?" The rabbit didn't mean his voice to sound squeaky... it just kind of came out that way.
"Mr. Camel is down by the well," the butler said, looking down his nose at the rabbit most condescendingly.
"Ohh! And the lizard?"
"Mr. Lizard is down in the yard," and it was clear the butler wanted to close the door again.
The rabbit was getting more than a little aggro about the uppity tone – even the fact of there being a butler was a hard pill to swallow, so... adopting the same grand manner, he drew himself up to his fullest possible height (that wasn't much higher than the seat of a chair, although his long ears helped) and said,
"Tell them Mr. Rabb-IT is back with the... ... ... ... MANURE!
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YOU ARE READING
The Vocal Local
General FictionI have begun reading excerpts from my stories on our local radio station, 5THE FM 107.7, and whilst they are entertaining folk who are listening to the radio at those particular times, I have had a request from others to provide transcripts of my re...
