HAVE YOU LOST THE PLOT?

The Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:

HAVE YOU LOST THE PLOT?

Saturday 19th February 2011
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Finchley,
London N12

Who dunnit? Why? And what happens next?

Exercise 1 - Asking questions of our narratives.

Exercise 2 - The Journey

Exercise 3 - The Plot Machine.

Feedback from participants:

'Inspirational amd practical.'

'Great fun.'

Members £5; Non-members £10

If you require more information either e-mail:
greenacrewriters@gmail.com
or contact:
Rosie (MA Writing) on 020 8346 9449
Lindsay (BA Hons Literature) on 020 8343 7181

Eliza Jane Goes Ahead: BOOK SIGNING

Focus on members:

Latest news: Book signing December 7th 2010 at 7.30pm

The Adam and Eve
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL
www.adamandevenw7.co.uk

Join Gerry and Liz Goes for a drink
at the launch of Liz’s second novel The Cosmopolites.
This is a sequel to her well-received and much praised first novel, Fusion
www.elizajanegoesahead.com

Signed copies of both books will be on sale after the author reads excerpts from the books and answers questions.

You may also meet book lovers and writers from other local groups as well as the Greenacre Writers.

Focus on members: Lindsay Bamfield

Lindsay's first novel is at the stage of being reworked with help from fellow Greenacre Writers 'Finish That Novel' group: Do not exceed Fifty, is a romantic comedy about a woman 'of a certain age' searching for love. Her second novel is also underway, and has so far received positive feedback - and criticism - from fellow writers at WEA Muswell Hill group (the CUFOS set!) http://xanthesworld.blogspot.com

Meanwhile a few of her non-fiction pieces have been published on the Internet under her pseudonym Annia Lindsay. http://www.powderroomgraffiti.com/search/keyword/Annia+Lindsay

There are also a couple of travel pieces out there, one shortlisted for the 2008 Hell Trips on www.roadjunky.com and another for the Bradt/Indepedent on Sunday competition posted on www.geckogo.com

Lindsay is a founding member of Greenacre Writers and attended the formative meeting. After an evening of discussion, the Greenacre Writers, Finish That Novel, group was formed. She helps run the FTN and Short Story Group and is a facilitator of Greenacre Writers Creative Writing Workshops.

Greenacre Writers - Life Writing Workshop

The Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:

LIFE WRITING
Saturday 20th November
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Finchley,
London N12

Ever wanted to write autobiography? Don’t know where to start? This workshop will kick-start your writing.
The aim of the afternoon is to meet with fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, share your work to receive supportive criticism and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Introduction & discussion: Autobiography or memoir?
Writing exercise 1 - What's In A Name?
Writing exercise 2 - Memory Box
Refreshments.
Writing exercise 3 - There's No Place Like Home
Writing exercise 4 - First Lines

Members £5; Non-members £10

Comments from participants:

"I enjoyed this session even more than the previous one."

"Interesting - thought provoking - and motivating. Made me wish I had more time to write."

If you require more information either e-mail:
greenacrewriters@gmail.com
or contact:
Rosie (MA Writing) on 020 8346 9449
Lindsay (BA Hons Literature) on 020 8343 7181

GREENACRE WRITING AFTERNOON 18th September 2010 2-5pm

The Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:

WRITE CONVINCING DIALOGUE
Saturday 18th September
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Finchley,
London N12

He said, she said, they said,...but how did they say it? Learn how to write convincing dialogue. The aim of the afternoon is to meet with fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, share your work to receive supportive criticism and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Brainstorm - The Function of Dialogue
Writing exercise 1 - Bad News
Writing exercise 2 - The Balance of Power
Refreshments.
Writing exercise 3 - The Power of Silence

Comments from participants:

"It made me think - I was surprised how much I was capable of."

"Great stuff! The exercises made us think."

Focus on members: Rosie Canning

One of Rosie's short stories was published in York Tales. This anthology of contemporary writing includes twenty short stories inspired by Chaucer but set in the present day. 'The Old Wife's Tale', is set in York. Jeremy Bath is studying at York University, he only has one week left before he has to give a presentation on: 'What women really want in a relationship'. Poor Jeremy is stumped, they all want something different. He meets an old hag who says she can help but only if he promises to marry her!

Rosie is a founding member of Greenacre Writers. She thought up the idea of starting a writer's group for novel writers in Finchley and invited three writerly friends to join her. After an evening of discussion, the Greenacre Writers, Finish That Novel, group was formed. She also runs a Life Writing and Short Story Group and is a facilitator of Creative Writing Workshops. She is currently re-working a novel: Ways of Remembering, a literary fiction about a woman who can fly.


http://amazon.co.uk/

Launch of Short Story Competition

Join us for the launch of our nationwide Short Story competition at Waterstones, 782 High Road, North Finchley, N12 8JY on Sunday 5th September between 3.00-5.00pm.

Find out more about our competition and pick up an entry form. Meet members of Greenacre Writers and find out more about our groups and creative writing days.

We look forward to meeting you there.

A few photos from the launch:



(From left to right) Rosie Canning, Lianne Kolirin, Linda Dell, Lindsay Bamfield



Lianne Kolirin (judge for the Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition)

Greenacre Short Story Competition

To take part in our short story competition please e-mail greenacrewriters@gmail.com to request an entry form. (You may print/copy as many as you need)

Greenacre Short Story Competition - up to 2,000 words on any subject.
Closing date 31.3.2011

1st prize: £100.00, 2nd prize: £50.00 3rd prize: £20.00

Entry fee: £5.00 per story

Mass Observation Community Online (MOCO)

The Greenacre Project has recently become part of an exciting new project and needs your help!
The Mass Observation Communities Online (MOCO) project is working together with community groups from across the country, and we are happy to be one of them.
The project, which is based at the University of Sussex, uses Mass Observation material to assist people to record the changing history of their own communities. The Mass Observation Archive specialises in material about everyday life in Britain. For over 60 years, it has been developing questionnaires and diary writing techniques which build up a picture of life round the country. (see attached history)
The MOCO project is making a selection of MOA material freely available online for the first time. You can visit the MOCO website on www.mocoproject.org.uk and look at the material there and also see how you can become involved.
As a member of Greenacres, you are invited to take part in the project through a series of easy tasks including photography, diary writing and answering a questionnaire.
Learn more about the project at www.mocoproject.org.uk or contact me for further details.
HOW TO TAKE PART:

Answer our questionnaire: this task gives your group members a unique opportunity to answer a historical MO questionnaire from the 1930s!

Questionnaire

Keep a diary for a day: this task invites individuals to write a diary about their experiences and feelings for a day.

Keep a diary for a day

Observe life in a café: this task invites individuals to observe and record life in a café for an afternoon.

Record life in a cafe

Photograph a street: this task invites individuals to take 6 photos or a 5 minute video of their neighbourhood or an area of interest.

Photograph a street

Individuals can participate in any and as many of the tasks as they like. There will be the option for participants to contribute anonymously if desired. All material contributed by your group members will show on you group’s own MOCO page on www.mocoproject.org.uk.


MOCO invites you to participate in…

A day in your Life: 12th August 2010

We are inviting community groups to participate in an exciting nation-wide one day history-making event…

In 1937, Mass Observation (www.massobs.org.uk) called for people from all parts of the UK to record everything they did and thought from when they woke up in the morning to when they went to sleep at night on 12th May. The resulting diaries provide a wonderful glimpse into the everyday lives of all sorts of people in the late 1930s. They are stored, with many other diaries and papers, at the Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex.
Mass Observation Communities Online (www.mocoproject.org.uk) is expanding upon this tradition by asking community groups to participate in a nation-wide initiative. On August 12th we are inviting community group members to submit a photo diary of their day (six photos) or a written account of their day via the MOCO website.

The MOCO team does all of the work – the only thing your community group needs to do is ask your group members to participate via our user friendly website – we can provide you with all the relevant information.

With participation across the country, we are aiming to create a national archive of written and photographic accounts that will reflect a day in the life, not only of individuals across the UK, but also of the members of your specific communities. This will result in a valuable record of your community or organisation that each group will be able to keep. The submissions will also be displayed on the MOCO online archive and donated to the historic Mass Observation Archive.

For more information contact: greenacrewriters@gmail.com

Focus on Members: Linda Louisa Dell

Linda Louisa Dell has had several magazine articles printed in The Lady and Prediction.

Her first book, Can’t Sleep Won’t Sleep (reasons and remedies for insomnia) was published in 2005. Dreamtime (A History, Mythology, Physiology and Guide to the Interpretation of Dreams) was published in 2008. Aphrodisiacs, Aphrodite’s Secrets, was published in 2009 and Mystic Moon, (a history of the world’s mythology surrounding the moon) is due to be published in 2010. All were published by Capall Bann.


She published her first novel: Yes, and Pigs Might Fly in 2010 with AuthorHouse (078-1-4490-9158-3) £10.50.

She is now working on second novel called: Sundowners, African Nights, a love story set in London and in South Africa.


See link for further information.

Life Writing Group

Are you writing your life story?

Do you want to explore personal material in your writing and have already embarked on auto/biography, memoir or life writing?

Would you like to be part of a professional group where you receive supportive feedback in a safe and confidential environment?

For more information contact:

Rosie Canning (MA Writing) 020 8346 9449

E-mail: rcnnng@aol.com

The next Life Writing Group meets 22nd September 7-9pm, Finchley, London N12

Novel Idea from Greenacre Writers

We're great believers in the power of positive thought so Rosie has designed the front cover for her novel.

Greenacre Writers are thinking of running a 'Novel Ideas Workshop', this would be an art workshop to design your front cover and would include: writing, painting, and art journaling using images, text, and colour. Let us know if you'd be interested in having some fun!

GREENACRE WRITING AFTERNOON 17th July 2010 2-5pm

The Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:

POINT OF VIEW
Saturday 17th July
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Finchley,
London N12

Choices have to be made about the narrator of a story, learn how to use various points of view clearly and confidently. The aim of the afternoon is to meet with fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, share your work to receive supportive criticism and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Writing exercise 1 - Fairy Stories: Re-writing in First Person
Writing exercise 2 - I Am The Walrus (or indeed anything else)
Refreshments.
Writing exercise 3 - Three in One: All different points of view

Comments from the writing afternoon:

'I found this session instructive and entertaining.'

'Most enjoyable, thank you.'

Our First Birthday!

Finish That Novel is now over a year old with the original 4 members joined by another 5. Two members have left owing to other committments. One member has completed her novel and is now at the point of looking for an agent. The rest of us are at various stages of our work, from writing early chapters to re-working and editing the completed novel.

The group meetings provide members with a huge incentive to get on and 'finish that novel' as well as giving useful feedback and support. The bonus is we all get to read some great novels! We cover different genres from light-hearted comedy to drama.

For me, the whole experience has been invaluable, not only in shaping my writing and critiqing skills, but in giving me the motivation to carry on writing. As many writers will tell you, it can be a solitary business that non-writers often don't appreciate. If you tell someone you are a writer they usually respond with: 'What have you had published?' If in your early days your response is: 'Nothing' they don't consider you as a writer. But let's face it, all writers were once unpublished!

Pitch - An Anthology of Work - Literary Festival 2003

An early extract from my novel Ways of Remembering was published in Pitch. This was an anthology of work from the MA Writing (Prose Fiction) Programme, Volume 3 - Spring 2003. I liased with Sue Gee (Programme Leader) and the rest of the MA Writing students to ensure everybody's writing was proofread and sent to the publishers in time.

Creative Writing Afternoon Saturday 8th May 2-5pm

We met at my house in Finchley for the Greenacre Writers Creative Writing Day. The theme was characterisation. We did four exercises which were very useful. The last was one was writing a diary entry as one of your characters. Ellie, my main character, who has psychogenic amnesia, wrote about the first night at her mother's house on the Isle of Wight, how she missed the hospital and felt lonely and frightened.



I was joined by fellow organiser Lindsay; and writing guests Lyn, Linda and Jan (unfortunately two others couldn't make it) . It was great meeting other writers and I especially enjoyed the cakes. It was a very enjoyable afternoon and I came away knowing more about my character and itching to write more.

GREENACRE WRITING AFTERNOON 8th May 2-5pm

The Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:
CHARACTERISATION
Saturday 8th May
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Finchley,
London N12

'When I approach my characters, they tremble like leaves.' Nabakov

Discover how to get to know your characters and create memorable narrative. The aim of the afternoon is to meet with fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, share your work to receive supportive criticism and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Writing exercise 1 - Brainstorm: favourite characters
Writing exercise 2 - Interviewing your character
Refreshments.
Writing exercise 3 - Garbology: What does your character throw away
Writing exercise 4 - Your character's secret diary

Comments from the writing afternoon:

'I really appreciate the opportunity to focus on a specific writing.'

'Very helpful, thank you.'

GREENACRE WRITING AFTERNOON 13th February 2-5pm

The Greenacre Writers invite you to a Creative Writer’s Afternoon:
Creative Writing Skills
Saturday 13th February
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Finchley,
London N12

The aim of the afternoon is to meet with fellow creative writers, to work on creative writing exercises, share your work to receive supportive criticism and ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment.

Writing exercise 1 - Sentence Roundabout
Writing exercise 2 - Artists' Images
Refreshments.
Writing exercise 3 - Flash Fiction with a 'Green' theme

Comments from the writing afternoon:

'The organisers had given much thought to the format and how to generate ideas.'

'I enjoyed the pace and variety of the session.'