High Town Writer's March 2025: Meeting minutes

Minutes of High Town Writers' Workshop

7pm Tuesday 25th March  in The Spirit Room of Peepo's

Present: Suzie (chair), Adam, Louise, Irena, Ruth H, John AS, Ruth B, Liz, Sue, Jennie, Fiona
Apologies:, Kath,  Andy, Ann, Marie, Emma

Intro session: We each introduced ourselves to the new members and were asked to tell people what we’d be working on in the last month

We then launched into the first writing exercise, which was designed just to get people writing. The task was to write for 10 minutes (the timer was on!) using the image picked as inspiration (Suzie had prepared random images for a lucky dip).

There was no expectation to complete a piece or even start at the beginning  - it was about writing something.

We then took turns to  share our work.

It was around this point that free pizza arrived - so thanks to Peepos for that delicious surprise.

We then took on a second task, which was the same format as the first, but this time people had to pick another random piece of paper which contained a genre (examples used were action, fable, chivalric romance, folklore, romance etc)

We then shared our work after 10 mins. This task was definitely harder but produced interesting (and at times, funny) results!

Thanks to all for entering into the spirit of the tasks with such enthusiasm!

New member Louise then shared her piece which was inspired by the 5,5,5 prompt, and can be read here:  https://hightownwriters.blogspot.com/2025/03/sweeping-away-indifference-by-louise.html 

Suzie then updated on the progress of the private feedback site that has been available to a limited set of users over the last month, while we tested features and settings. 

We discussed guidelines for its use, whilst reminding people to continue to post their work on the main HTW blog for more general consumption.

We broadly agreed that:

• People should ask for specific feedback rather than a general comment 
• It’s a place for honest and robust input to works in progress rather than a platform for completed writing.
• Prose posts should be limited in length due to longer pieces being hard to process on smaller screens (many members use tablets or phone, not laptops)
• Authors should have no more than 2 posts up at one time, and consider removing posts after a month (replacing with new ones)
• HTW members should aim to commit to interact with the feedback site between meetings (and take a look at the main blog at the same time)
• If you’re asking for feedback, you should really take time to review other people’s work as well (it's just good manners)
• People don’t have to submit any work to the feedback site. You can still comment on other author’s work
• Suzie suggested that at the start of each session, members could update on how feedback has helped with their piece.
• (Suzie will delete all current pieces on the site, apart from Ruth’s, as these were all added as part of testing the site)

ACTIONS

1. Suzie will send an email to the remainder of HTW members with how to access the site so they are able to give feedback (including the site password)  [sent 28.03.25]
2. Members are to confirm to Suzie if they want to use the site to get feedback, so the appropriate author pages can be created
3. A second email (to all those interested) will follow with a set of instructions on how to upload your own work
4. Individual emails will then be sent out. 
• N.B. this login information is different to the ‘access site’ password mentioned in point 1. This is so you can control your own posts /work

After this discussion, Liz mentioned we could do with some more Facebook admins (of the HTW FB page) - let Liz know if you can help

The meeting ended at c.9.15pm

Next meeting : Tuesday 22nd April at 7pm

Chair: Irena 

Writing task is: “I met my younger self for a coffee”

(it’s a current viral trend, but as usual, please interpret this prompt in whatever way speaks to you!)

The next Saturday workshop / session is Saturday 12th April 2-5pm in the Bridgnorth Library Meeting Room (cost of room hire - £42 - to be split equally among all attendees)