On Monday 28 April we gathered for one of our regular
Manuscript Evenings, where people have the opportunity to present their work in
progress to the group. There was a slightly anxious feeling in the room as the
chosen four got their material ready, but although the discussion of each piece
can be searching, comments and suggestions are delivered positively and
constructively.
First, we listened
to Steph Gaunt present the opening section of a new piece about Muriel, a
high-class shop mannequin. Although this had been intended to be a short story,
the group felt that the snobbish, fashion-obsessed Muriel was developing a very
strong ‘personality’, and her varied adventures would be better expanded into a
novel.
Next, new member
Maurice Haken read us an excerpt from ‘Barging round Belgium’,
about a part of his life spent travelling round the waterways of Europe.
We listened, on the edge of our seats, while the barge hurtled, out of control,
towards a low bridge....
After that drama,
we needed comic relief. We found it with an extract from ‘Moondance’, a radio
play written by Amanda Giles. She (somewhat rashly) asked the assembled company
to take on the various parts for the reading. As the play was set in Wales,
this was challenging – our accents wobbled wildly from Wales
to Ireland, Australia
to Pakistan via
Yorkshire. The play was very good too!
Exhausted, we were
glad to listen to our last presentation, ‘Old Soldier’ a short story from
Richard Holdsworth. This was a poignant account of an elderly man who fought at
Monte Cassino and regained his lost memories at a contemporary re-enactment
event.
The Group meets fortnightly at the White Rock Hotel. If you are
interested in joining (there is currently a waiting list), or in finding out
more about our activities, please contact the Membership Secretary, Amanda
Giles, on 01424 442707 or e-mail membership.hwg@gmail.com.
You can also visit our website at www.hastingswriters.co.uk
Report by Steph Gaunt
Report by Steph Gaunt
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