Erskine Writers Meeting 30th January 2024

 PRESENT: Jeannie, John S, John H. Joan Fr, Sandra Mc, Rob, Morag, Jackie, Hilary, Brian. Lorna, Irene.

There was a short discussion on the Syllabus:

• No response from Greenock Writers on the Short Story, we will hang fire on collating submissions from members to send. 
• Also, because John Spence’s Workshop on Dialogue should have been held on 16^th January & the Meeting was cancelled because of the weather, that Workshop would take place today – 30^th January.
• There were only 7 people at the meeting on 23^rd January, but they had a very successful session on ‘A Letter to My 16yr Old Self’. Anyone who was unable to be present at that session may wish to write something on that topic for next week.
• It was also agreed that because there are far fewer submissions coming in to be critiqued (2 at time of writing), we should have fewer of these sessions.

Successes:

• Sandra McGruther, aka Alex Gray, has had a new book by Alexander McColl Smith dedicated to her.
• Jeannie McKechnie has had an Article called “A Sense of Belonging’ about her childhood on the Isle of Eigg, accepted by the Scots Magazine. It is due out in April.

NOTES ON DIALOGUE WORKSHOP:

• John asked that questions should be limited to the end of his remarks. He gave Guidelines only, not Rules - &. John said this was not for Script Writing, but for enhancing the writing of Stories & Novel. He just gets the Story / Novel down, then applies the Guidelines later, which should enhance the writing.

• Guidelines were things like: Listen to Conversations: people don’t speak in proper sentences – they use contractions and repeat themselves a lot. There are rhythms to speech as well. Make characters different by showing in the way they speak. Show conflict & put in speech gestures – it’s better if it’s enhanced & interspersed with some prose – anything to keep the interest. Use contractions.

• Should you use single, double or no quotation marks? Well, pay attention to the Requirements for Submissions!

• Dialogue will add Conflict / Tension or give some new information.

• Remember the Pace of your Conversation.

• Give some distinct dialogue for your characters: e.g. a lisp, malapropisms, dialect etc.

• Dialogue is a heavily edited version of real life.

• You need a fresh paragraph / line for every character’s dialogue.

• Read it aloud to make sure it’s authentic.

There is a website for language of the time – period. Also check Reedsy YouTube, Andy Maslin on a Wednesday night.