Wednesday 31 October 2018

Open Manuscripts, 30 October 2018.


Today was a chance for members to read any of their stories, articles or poems on any subject or theme. Before that we completed the reading of the unplaced entries from the Children’s short story competition.

John introduced us to Patrick the short sighted penguin, who achieved his long time ambition to be a aircraft pilot by rescuing his stranded companions from a rock.

Pete told of Camelia the caterpillar and her various attempts to persuade her human friend Horace to be careful of accidentally standing on her.

Morag’s story “Chicken’s, Scrap Iron and a Fiddle” was about a young immigrant girl welcoming the comparative comforts of a life in urban Glasgow whilst still nostalgic about some aspects of her old life in Romania.

Hilary’s story described a scene where youngsters played boisterously together in a play park and ended up enjoying a tea party. These young orangutans almost acted like humans.

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Elizabeth’s article spoke of her frustration with the culture of tipping during her world travels. The sometimes aggressive demand for tips in USA and the comparative lack of tipping in Japan and Australia. Its purpose and the embarrassment when the traveler gets it wrong.

Sandra read from an early chapter of her next Lorimer book to be launched in April 2019. Whilst his wife travels to further her career as a writer, he is at the crime scene with the body of a woman who he already knows.

Donnie told one of his career stories of a liquidator trying to salvage some of the assets of a clothing manufacturer who has been let down by a large high street conglomerate. Against all logic, one trade union leader ultimately fails in her attempts to make a stand.

Kate tells a true family story of a fanatical cyclist whose has a serious cycle accident during a snowy hill climb in Austria. It prevents him from going abroad to represent Great Britain in the Commonwealth Games. Four years later he does compete in the Commonwealth games, but disappointingly the venue is his home Scotland.

John also told a family story of the heartbreak and regret whilst visiting a senior family member in a care home. The confusion of the person involved and the unpredictability of their mental condition on the day of any particular visit.  

Pete’s Esmeralda was a caterpillar born with poorly feet. Sixteen spiders span some silken shoes for her, but by the time the shoes were ready, Esmeralda had become a butterfly.


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Next week.   Workshop “Prompts” by Hilary.  Bring Pen and Paper.

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