Tuesday 1st September

A new month and a new session and three new members! It is a pleasure to welcome Andrew, Victoria and Jane to the club and hope they will have a long and productive time with us whilst enjoying the fellowship of Erskine Writers. The meeting opened with a review of the current syllabus and a discussion of issues which have resulted in over the Summer break. 

This was followed by members reading out examples of work under the heading of own manuscripts. Lorna opened up with a telling tale of lithe traumas of life as a headteacher and what can happen when things go wrong. Thankfully she is just the sort of leader who can step into the breach and resolve such problems - such as tghe non-appearance of a minister for the school Easter service. Marilyn followed with a sobering piece analysing the current weather trends and what they foretell and this was followed by Rob’s poem on a visiting cat. The cat theme was taken up by Jane with an introductory piece on a witch’s familiar - part of a fantasy book she is currently working on. Another book currently being written is  “My 9 3/4 Wedding” a ‘rom-com’ by Victoria who gave us the prologue and part of the first chapter and this received favourable reviews and admiration for our new member in undertaken what seems to be quite a challenge. Rom-com is an area which we, as a club, have not tackled in a while and, maybe, this is something which we can address tghis session. We ended with one of Hilary’s hugely entertaining “Old age does not mean you’re prehistoric!: - describing an encounter with a toddler in highly decorated wellington boots.

The ‘shop’ opened towards the end of the afternoon with members encouraged to purchase items at the princely sum of £1 and this will remain open until stocks are exhausted.

Homework for next week - 500 words on ‘A Summer Memory”

It’s good to be back!

 Tuesday 12th May

For our last programmed session of the season we received apologies from Joan, John H., Joyce and SarahVictoria. 

After a quick discussion on the syllabus we got down to the main business of the day - a recipe for something other than a meal and there were many weird and wonderful ideas. Hilary began with a workout which can be done ‘easily’ and helps one kick start the day in a healthy way. This was followed by Morag’s suggestions as to what constitutes a healthy washing day - including a restorative glass of wine. Marilyn gave us the recipe for a well tendered and beautiful garden and Jackie guaranteed a DIY disaster were her six steps to be adopted. Irene also took the fitness angle only this time with a more jaundiced slant targeting the unapologetic couch potato. Both Sandras had the same idea - the recipe for a successful and happy writing club and John Mac gave us another recipe for disaster based around moving a goldfish bowl and the hazards associated with it. Rob’s performance poem was a recipe for saving Welsh rugby by adopting a return to the glory days of the seventies and sport was the basis of Brian’s piece in which he analysed what makes an excellent cup final day when one hasn’t a ticket.

Unfortunately, SarahVictoria’s offering arrived too late for it to be read out to the group and I urge her to bring her humorous piece on how to survive the vagaries of the Scottish weather to our first meeting next session.

This was followed by completing the readings of last weeks exercise on round robin writing and it was interesting to note the quality of the pieces given it was very much a team effort.

It’s Garden Party next week - 12.30 at Sandra’s, a list of donations are posted in last week’s minutes.

A couple of dates for your diary - those of us involved in drawing up the final plan of next year’ syllabus, the meeting is at Sandra M’s at 2.00 pm on 2nd June and our first scheduled meeting for the new session will be on Tuesday 1st September when the subject will be open manuscripts.

 Tuesday 5th May

For the penultimate meeting of the session, there were apologies  from Sandra R., Joan, Lorna, John H, Joyce and SarahVictoria.

There was some discussion on the garden party and members volunteered to supply the following:

Jackie: Fruit platter

Morag: Savoury salad

Hilary: Meringues

Rob: Cold meats

Marilyn: Pasties, sausage rolls

Irene/Sandra: Bread, biscuits and cheese

John M: Italian salad

Brian: Trifle

Sandra M: Coffees, teas and drinks 

Lorna: Desserts

Joyce: Crisps.

We resumed to complete the readings of the the entries for the last competition of the season. Irene gave us an excellent piece entitled ‘Just keep running’ - a gripping story which left everyone begging for more. She was strongly advised to build on this story and develop a longer work, possibly for the young adult market. Morag’s ’Highly Commended’ entry (her second of the competition) was a charming tale of a young lady escaping a somewhat stifling relationship to take up a teaching role on Skye where she re-discovered herself and found a possible new suitor in the local postman/ fence installer/handyman. She had been confirmed in her early decision by a less than successful visit by her previous beau.

The rest of the afternoon was given over to ‘round robin writing’. The initial paragraph was taken from Clydesider magazine and the majority of pieces centred around either the current bombing of Tehran or the Clydebank Blitz. It was a very good exercise - regardless of the differences in handwriting - and a couple of examples have been carried over until next week when homework dictates a maximum of 500 words based on a recipe for anything other than a good meal.

Rob

 Tuesday 28th April

There were apologies from Sarah Victoria, John H, Joyce and Joan and eleven members were present. Lorna brought us up to date in regard to our outreach plan to a local high school and preparations are ongoing.

The afternoon was given over to the results and crits from our last competition for the current session - a short story based on either The Fugitive, SOS or the Stray. There were nine entries in all,  the winner being Brian with his tale ‘Fight or Flight’ a bleak, yet curiously beautiful,  descriptive story of a deserter from the Ukrainian army involved in the current war which did end with the merest suggestion of hope. This was added to by Marilyn who  informed the club they her son is currently employed in helping to write the Constitution for the new Ukraine once the war is over! 

Second was Jackie whose story ‘The Last Valentine’ described the accidental killing of a brutal husband by an abused wife who had taken refuge in the family caravan. It described her thoughts as she awaited her inevitable arrest but benefitted from a hopeful and unexpected ending. This was followed in third place by Sandra R whose piece, cleverly entitled ‘Paws for Thought’, describing the survival trials undertaken by a cat following the passing of his master. It was done through the cat’s eyes and was shot through with a scent of humour based around the search for tuna. Again, it ended with a degree of hope for the future.

Both Morag’s entries were commended and she chose to read ‘Escape’, an intriguing piece  describing the arrangement and accompaniment of a mysterious figure as they undertook a ‘break from it all’ in Rothesay. The person in question was a well-known Scottish chanteuse from Dennistoun! Hilary gave us ‘He Plays Alone’, the musings of a self-made, arrogant man and how he let the love of his life slip through his fingers resulting in his facing a lonely future. Finally Rob gave an account of how the first SOS from Titanic may have been received by an amateur radio ham in Wales. Time soon caught up and other entries were delayed until next week.

The adjudications and crits were prepared and delivered by Rosemary Gemmell, an old friend of Erskine Writers and were comprehensive, fair and constructive and we thank her for her commitment

Finally, a plea from Sandra M that all trophy holders return their trophies next week when the title of the day is ‘Round Robin Writing’ which should be quite fun. The last homework of the session is due for May 12th - 500 words on a recipe for anything other than a good meal!

 Tuesday 21st April

The first get together following the Easter break saw numerous apologies for absence - Joan, Sandra M., Brian, John H. and Jackie. However we’re happy to welcome a new member - Sarah Victoria Bailey and we hope she enjoys our company and challenges.

Hilary chaired the meeting and we had updates and plans from Lorna on school inter-action, hopes for involvement at the Bishopton Open Day on 20th June,  an update on next session’s syllabus and plans for advertisement. 

The rest of the afternoon was given over to either to set topic which was a conversation with a favourite toy or open manuscripts. Morag began with her address to a soft toy which has since become famous as the mascot for Robertson’s Preserves and this was followed by John M’s deep and meaningful  piece on the toys which went to Heaven and what service they had given during their time on earth. Marilyn told us of a much loved Postman Pat doll which continues to play a very positive part in her life having already made a significant contribution. Hilary followed with a conversation with Rosebud who was very much concerned with the whereabouts of her shoes and ended with an unexpected twist.

Rob then read out an article entitled ‘My bed, meditation and me’ whilst Joyce gave us a letter she had written to the Daily Mail in criticism of a television programme. There being time we then had a short in house exercise whereby various high street businesses and retail outlets left humorous signs on their door to explain why they were closed over the Easter holiday which were quite comical.

Next week we have the results of our last competition of the session.

 31st March

Apologies were received from John H., Joyce, Joan and Marilyn.

The last afternoon before the Easter break was given over to discussing what members would like to see in Session 2026-27. Generally, it was decided that there would be four - possibly five workshops - based around the general topics of Poetry, Speculative Fiction (Fantasy/Sci Fi.) Journalism and Drama. There is also the possibility of Sandra M leading a workshop based on ‘opening a novel’.

Various examples of syllabi were then distributed to the members - some of which were Erskine Writers past years, along with a small number of examples from other writing groups. Selections from these, along with various ideas dreamed up by group members, has given the syllabus sub-committee plenty to work with as they meet on either the 2nd or 9th of June to finalise plans for next year. Suggestions also included the possibility of a field trip to Glasgow Cathedral, the museum of Religious Life, Provand’s Lordship and/or the Necropolis along with a proposed matinee visit to a theatre production. This should give us another enjoyable, stimulating and challenging year.

Happy Easter, everyone.

 Tuesday 24th March

Apologies were received from John H., Marilyn, Joan, Lorna, Joyce and Sandra R. Apologies are DUE to JackIE for my constant mis-spelling of her name and she confirmed with me over the week-end that the correct spelling of her name is JACKIE not as previously recorded.

The afternoon was given over to an appraisal of the Scottish Association of Writers Conference which was held at the weekend. Erskine was well represented by Rob, Jackie, Lorna, Hilary, John Mac, Morag, Joan, Vikkli and Sandra M. Sandra was honoured with Life Membership by the association which was recognised by the award of a framed certificate and a silver salver and our congratulations to her are fulsome. She also gave the closing address which all found very inspiring.

The response to the conference was extremely positive. John Mac gained a second prize for his self-published novel  ‘The Mario Mystery’ and Morag was commended for her article on Pitenweem Arts Festival - ‘The Hidden Treasure’. All entrants agreed that the adjudications were extremely fair and the resultant critiques constructive and encouraging. Examples of entries and their critiques were read out - Rob’s article ‘Daughter’, Morag’s ‘Hidden Treasure’, John’s technical crit on his novel  Jackie’s wonderful piece on ‘The Daphne Clock’ and Hilary’s first chapter of a speculative fiction novel. Ideas and suggestions from these were welcomed and taken on board.

A wide range of workshops were attended - historical fiction, humorous writing, poetry, speculative fiction , self-publication along with some one-to one sessions. Members also attended various events such as the judging of the Dragon’s Pen competition, the readings of various winning entries and the X Factor (a performance poetry challenge). All agreed that these had been very worthwhile and we are all enthusiastic to return in 2027 and apply the lessons learnt from this year to our next entries.

Next week we will be looking at the syllabus for 2026-27 by analysing what has gone before along with examples from other clubs and members are encouraged to champion what they enjoyed and highlight ideas which were less successful as well as contributing their own suggestions. 

Finally, members are reminded that entries for the last competition of the year are to be with Morag by midnight on 31st March