Summer Social

On the hottest day of the year so far, in the Sprowston garden of one of the group's longest-serving members, Norwich Writers' Circle held its annual Summer Social.

The social, which featured a buffet and raffle, proved popular with over 25 NWC members being able to attend. This afternoon, which was very laid back and relaxed, gave the opportunity for members to socialise ahead of our forthcoming Summer break.

We next meet on the 6th July - the last time before our regular seasonal break - for the yearly Prize Giving Evening & AGM.

We hope to see you next time.

Night River

Sally Newton’s recently launched website now gives you the opportunity to download and read her Norwich Writers' Circle competition winning short story, Night River.

This fast-paced children’s adventure story won The Cooper Prize earlier this year, and is well worth checking out.

For more, please visit sallynewtonsworld.com.

OPC Adjudicator Announced

The adjudicator for our 2011 Open Poetry Competition will be Martin Figura.

Martin's first poetry collection - The Little Book Of Harm - was published in 2000 and is now in its 4th edition. Another book, entitled Ahem, followed in 2005. Most recently, the last year has seen 2 new collections, Different Words For Toilet and Whistle, both become widely available.

In addition to the above, Martin is also a member of The Joy of Six, with whom he has toured and performed with at numerous events and festivals, from Norfolk to New York.

Watch this space for further details of our latest Open Poetry Competition - NWC's 40th - in the months ahead.

Anne's Anthology

Congratulations to Norwich Writers’ Circle member Anne Olerenshaw, who is having a short story published next month.

Anne's story, which focuses on the thoughts of a dying man stranded in the desert, will be included in the Flesh And Bone anthology published by Gatehouse Press.

We look forward to reading this intriguing tale.

Based On A True Story

Despite our previous announcement, tonight's NWC meeting took place, as usual, in The Assembly House's Sexton Room.

Unfortunately, once more, Lynne Hackles was unable to attend this evening's meeting. Tonight's meeting was for the adjudication of our Humorous Article writing competition.

In her absence, the adjudicator's report was read out. In the report, Lynne broadly commented on all 7 competition entries. Lynne's feedback was both insightful and enthusiastic, especially regarding the winners' humorous articles.

The competition winners were:

1st - The Colin Sutton Cup
The Geek, The Freak And The Large Hadron Collider
by Sally Newton

2nd
In My Black Forest Hideaway
by Anne Sanderson

3rd
The Fox Hole
by Anne Funnell

Following the announcement of the winners, we then heard all the competition entries, which ranged from school day tales to life in World War II. The readings then finished with our group listening to Sally's witty winning writing.

We next meet on Saturday 26th June for our popular Summer Social, which this year is being held in Sprowston.

15th June Room Change

The Assembly House have asked us not to meet in The Sexton Room for our 15th June meeting.

Our 7.30pm meeting will now be held in The Kent Room.

We will be meeting for the adjudication of our Humorous Article Competition by Lynne Hackles - hope to see you there.

Sally Newton's World

Norwich Writers' Circle committee member Sally Newton has launched her own website.

Sally's website invites you to explore, experience and enjoy the world of Caradoc, a trainee druid and the youngest son of the king, growing up in Celtic Britain.

Caradoc appears in the recently published The Mouthy Prince. The book, which is the first part of a proposed trilogy, has already gone on to gain positive reviews.

To discover more, please visit sallynewtonsworld.com.

Gentle Footprints

Today's Hay Festival saw of the launch of the wildlife short story anthology, Gentle Footprints, by Virginia McKenna.

This evening, the famed actress and wildlife campaigner appeared on Sky Arts' popular Book Show - broadcast live from the Festival - to promote the anthology's recent publication.

Amongst the 19 short stories featured in Gentle Footprints is The Last Big Cat, written by NWC committee member Lyn Fountain.

Lyn's recent appearance on BBC Radio Norfolk, promoting the anthology and her short story, can be heard by clicking here.

To purchase the book, which has has been published to raise funds and awareness of the Born Free Foundation, please go here.

Write The Right Way

This evening, at The Assembly House, our Chair Anne Funnell held a presentation and punctuation workshop.

The interesting interactive workshop involved us all pairing up, so that we could work through a variety of fun games. The games highlighted to us the numerous English errors that could be made, and these soon got everyone talking.

At the end of each section, we discussed the rules of presentation and punctuation, and what we can do to follow the suggested recommendations made by speakers at our previous meetings.

We next meet on 15th June, for the adjudication of our Humorous Article Competition. We hope to see you there.