About the Writers of Marlborough
We have a new captain at the helm - Annette Rattray has accepted leadership of our group for the next six months and we are most grateful to her. Annette is happy to do this for a period after which she proposes that those willing to do so could each fill a six month term. This means the liaison job does not become too onerous for any one person.
We are very appreciative of the work and leadership role Dot Scott has undertaken in the past and to her for stepping up yet again at the beginning of this year. Thank you Dot...we hope you will enjoy just being part of the group...happy writing.
We are very appreciative of the work and leadership role Dot Scott has undertaken in the past and to her for stepping up yet again at the beginning of this year. Thank you Dot...we hope you will enjoy just being part of the group...happy writing.
From Annette
1. Contributions for another Short and Sharp booklet, consisting of 300 words for a story, and 30 lines for a poem, are being accepted now. Dot has offered to edit these.
2. Contributions for the Writers’ Tips booklet are coming in. These could arise from your personal experience of the writing and publishing process. We each have experiences and knowledge about our particular journey; so sharing the pros and cons or pitfalls and pinnacles of doing what we did, could help other/future writers.
For non member enquiries please use our website contact page.
1. Contributions for another Short and Sharp booklet, consisting of 300 words for a story, and 30 lines for a poem, are being accepted now. Dot has offered to edit these.
2. Contributions for the Writers’ Tips booklet are coming in. These could arise from your personal experience of the writing and publishing process. We each have experiences and knowledge about our particular journey; so sharing the pros and cons or pitfalls and pinnacles of doing what we did, could help other/future writers.
For non member enquiries please use our website contact page.
We represent several established writing groups, Marlborough Writers, Writers of Picton and Picton Poets and also individual authors in the Marlborough area. In our groups we get together monthly sharing our writing on assigned topics with constructive feedback between us. We also exchange information about writing in general, and our own ongoing projects. We welcome new members to join our groups.
Report from August Meeting
Marlborough Writers
Only time will tell the story. When it comes to writing don’t be disheartened at what may seem like slow progress. It can take years to write, rewrite and edit books. Canvassed about time devoted to a book project nine Marlborough Writers present at our August meeting all
agreed the gestation period and eventual happy arrival of the finished book can be painfully long.
Former convener Dot Scott, who happily is back with us after a period of ill health revealed that her book, Web of Gold, was a 15-year project from the time it was conceived to when it was finally finished. She rewrote and edited parts of it 28 times. A new member spent 12 years researching and writing her book, and another who is writing a historical work has been on the job for six years. Others have burnt the midnight oil churning out volumes in the first flush of passion only to come to an abrupt halt exhausted, when the last few chapters, often the hardest to write, are in sight. Does the seam show when we revisit our work after a setting it down for six months to recharge or do other things in life? Does the level of passion for the project show in the writing when perhaps finishing it becomes a chore? Marlborough Writers think it unlikely readers would discern the moment a writer picks up the story again for the final assault on that elusive last word.
All of the members attending August meeting are working on writing projects. Our 100 word short story challenge for next month’s meeting is on the word “pray” or “prey” - either spelling, past or present tense - for a word pronounced exactly the same but
with such different meanings.
Only time will tell the story. When it comes to writing don’t be disheartened at what may seem like slow progress. It can take years to write, rewrite and edit books. Canvassed about time devoted to a book project nine Marlborough Writers present at our August meeting all
agreed the gestation period and eventual happy arrival of the finished book can be painfully long.
Former convener Dot Scott, who happily is back with us after a period of ill health revealed that her book, Web of Gold, was a 15-year project from the time it was conceived to when it was finally finished. She rewrote and edited parts of it 28 times. A new member spent 12 years researching and writing her book, and another who is writing a historical work has been on the job for six years. Others have burnt the midnight oil churning out volumes in the first flush of passion only to come to an abrupt halt exhausted, when the last few chapters, often the hardest to write, are in sight. Does the seam show when we revisit our work after a setting it down for six months to recharge or do other things in life? Does the level of passion for the project show in the writing when perhaps finishing it becomes a chore? Marlborough Writers think it unlikely readers would discern the moment a writer picks up the story again for the final assault on that elusive last word.
All of the members attending August meeting are working on writing projects. Our 100 word short story challenge for next month’s meeting is on the word “pray” or “prey” - either spelling, past or present tense - for a word pronounced exactly the same but
with such different meanings.
