High Town Writers’ Workshop Meeting April 28th 2021 at 7.30pm
Present: Adam – Chair; Marie – Scribe; + Kay; Jennie; Sue; Kath; Liz.
Apologies: Martin; John; Andy.
Kay went to a writers’ poetry workshop
last night with Simon Fletcher and Cherry Doyle else who ran the workshop In
The Sticks writing about nature in the West Midlands area to produce an
anthology. Go to info@offaspress.co.uk
Kay reported that the Mary Webb Society was still interested in us giving a reading of 'The House in Dormer Forest' at their 2022 anniversary. We provisionally agreed dependent on further details being forthcoming.
Adam set us an exercise giving us eleven words relating to archaeology
Marie’s was about the people who found the
Staffordshire Hoard.
Jennie’s was about Alec going to Syria with a
large number of archaeological resources to use at a dig near Allepo. His team
consisted of a wide range of races who wouldn’t usually get along together and
short fights ensued. Ali found interesting finds on his first day, thought to
be from at least 1500BC.
Kay wrote about someone being on holiday
in Maryland, USA and attending a dig for artefacts belonging to the native
American Indian, and their lost civilisation and burial grounds.
Kath
wrote about ruins of a castle in the sea, with people starting to dig for
antiquities.
Liz’s story was drawn from a teenage memory. Three teenagers cycling in the countryside
seeing a sign about a dig at Minerva Farm. They volunteered when they saw the
young men who were setting up the camp.
Adam ‘Mystery Beneath the Sands.’ In the Sahara desert riding a camel who saw
something shining in the sun. Investigation showed it was tiled flooring, and
excavated the next day. Unearthed was a wooden panel amongst other artefacts.
Sue wrote
about wishing to visit Wroxeter Roman city discovered by the Victorians in
1868.
April’s writing theme was Freedom:
Marie’s was about a convict who was released from prison and expected to
be able to go wherever he wished but discovered he had been released the day
before the first Covid-19 lockdown.
Sue read her piece (still in draft) about
the postmasters and post mistresses who have had their convictions quashed
after having been prosecuted unfairly. Freedom from Horizon. Each told they
were the only one, whereas there were hundreds many across the country.
Liz read Freedom Day for her cousin who
has left her hotel today after being in solitary confinement. She had travelled
to the UK from Hong Kong. The rules in Hong Kong changed while she was away so
she had to travel via a three week stay in a third low-Covid country, Dubai, and still quarantine for another three weeks in
Hong Kong and wear an electronic tag to stop her leaving her room.
Kay read a poem called ‘Freedom’ which
has given her time for hobbies – painting and walking her dog. Kay also shared a
poem ‘Freedom from Cancer’ about her daughter facing surgery to remove a brain
tumour and the joy following a successful operation and her daughter’s first
smile along the road to recovery.
Jennie read her poem about an abusive stepfather;
a man in prison; a migrant who is a slave inspired by Bob Dylan’s song’ Chimes
of Freedom’ which she then played an extract of.
Kath read the start of ‘Belonging’, an
interesting piece starting 25th March 1744 about a farmer and family
who lived in Clent. Kath will finish it and reveal her connection (if any) to
the family.
Adam read a piece about taking freedom for granted. The Berlin wall divided families living normal lives on opposite sides of the wall. Our freedom now is being curtailed by a pandemic.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 19th May at 7.30 by Zoom. Due to the fourth Tuesday clashing for Jennie, we are trialing the meeting moving to the third Wednesday.
The writing topic for May is DISCOVERY. Marie will be
chairing.
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