Meeting Report: 23rd July 2012

It was time to submit Competition entries again on Monday 23 July, and on this occasion our task had been to write a story all in dialogue, with no narrative or description. Sixteen brave Group members had risen to the difficult challenge, and brought their stories to a packed meeting.

Time constraints meant that entries could only be read out in part, meaning we only got tantalising glimpses of each other’s stories. We were left with many cliff-hangers – literally, in one case, as the action took place on the very edge of Beachy Head.  But what happened on the bus to St Leonard’s?  What about the gorgeous red-head from the pub and Big Dave’s new convertible?  We didn’t like the sound of that murderous bogus doctor. Whatever were those children doing carrying a ping-pong table through a field in the middle of the night? 

It was agreed that we would make all the stories available so we could read the endings. The entries now go to a guest judge, and we will hear the results later in August.

We were pleased to learn that the latest ‘Strandline’, our biennial anthology of members’ work, is on target for the publication deadline.  It will be available early in the autumn, and promises to be an excellent read.

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.

Write-up by Steph Gaunt