September 2023 Supplementary Meeting Minutes

Keira

Thursday 14^th September 2023

Hightown Writers Workshop Meeting

at The Crown, 7pm

Present: Alex, Jennie, Adam, Irena, Marie and Liz

Apologies: Paul, Tony T., Tony H., Sue, Ann

The meeting discussed producing a publication to mark our tenth anniversary as a group in2024.

·        We discussed the audience and decided that in the first instance it would be a publication for members and supporters – not a for-profit publication.

·        We investigated the Bookmundo print on demand site recommended by Alex and felt that it offered a viable printing and marketing way forward whereby individuals could buy what they wanted without going through the group.

·        We do not at this stage want to become a formally organised group with a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary etc which we would need to be to open a bank account which we would need if, for instance we were to try to sell our book through commercial outlets or the library, which has strict rules now from Shire Hall to follow. If we were to discover a high demand for the book this decision could be reviewed in the future.

·        We will ask Julia Buckley who was a founding member to write a foreword.

·        We will ask John Pedrick if we can use one of Val’s paintings for the cover.

·        We will investigate whether the new bookshop might allow us to use their premises for the 2024 anniversary event.

·        Liz had produced a first draft of writing chosen by the few members of HTW who had responded to requests to choose both their own favourite writing and the favourite pieces produced by other writers. It had been provisionally arranged in an ‘almanac’ format to take the reader through from January to December.  Suggestions about alternative formats would be welcome – with examples .

·        We decided that should this first print on demand publication be successful that we might choose a different theme annually to write around for the next publication. But that’s next time! First to produce this publication.

·        Most discussion was around pictures. Text only was rejected. There was some indecision about the print format of the book.

·        The idea of having print only or print + black and white pictures was rejected.

·        It was decided to produce one 100+page A5 paperback draft book – with colour illustrations – The draft Liz had mocked up was 123 pages but that was yet to include Stuart’s, Martin’s, Adam’s and others’ personal choices of their work.

·        We would also produce an all-colour draft A4 book with fewer pages, fewer pieces and more pictures – it would cost double the A5 book.

·        We would share the cost of these two drafts and then choose between them - essentially the choice between a paperback or a brochure.

·        Liz will distribute the first ‘Word’ draft copy to those who want to have a longer think about the copy.

·        The mid-October meeting on Thursday 12^th October will be devoted to working on the publication.

·        PLEASE THINK OF TITLES FOR THE PUBLICATION!!!! And bring all suggestions to the main September meeting on Tuesday 26^th September which will be at Peepo’s and chaired by Sue. A vote will be taken on the working title.

·        A Contents attachment will be emailed out with the minutes of this meeting.