Group's Ekphrastic Outing

Last Saturday lots of our group members visited the Gawler Community Art Gallery, armed with pen and paper, and open minds.
We all chose a work of art and then set about writing creatively about that particular painting. We had a lovely and at times frustrating time of it, trying to capture our thoughts and feelings and perhaps find something magical.
This combination of art and creative words is Ekphrastic writing, ( Greek word). If you've ever heard of the poem 'Ode to a Grecian Urn' then you've heard of an ekphastic poem. The poems or creative writing penned will be typed up and displayed with the relevant art work. The writing will also be judged, with the best given a certificate and kudos!
The members on the day all agreed this was a fun exercise, and we've decided we want to do it again, at least annually, if not more often. If you love creative writing, why not find yourself some art, and pen some words to go with it. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you come up with!

If anyone reading this post has any thoughts about it all, please leave a comment!

Last Week's Short Story Prompt

Last week for our writing group meeting, the members present wrote on this prompt - 'Cross Purposes'. The responses were completely different, and went in directions that were surprising to the writer. When we meet up next Thursday, I hope these fascinating pieces will be finished!

These writing exercises have been extremely interesting, as group members discover interesting things creeping out of their heads! The quality of the writing of members is good, and the willingness to get truly involved has been excellent. 

This group is a caring and committed group, and creative writing is the winner!

First Poetry Workshop in Gawler

The Poetry workshop at the Gawler Community House last night went well, as far as I can tell. There was no angry shouting, people were (or seemed to be) engaged with the subject, and no one stormed out early. Oh, and all of us wrote at least one first draft of a poem, in response to the given prompt drink ruination road. That looks like success to me...


One of the things we did in the first part of the evening was to think about what poetry is. The answers went up on the big whiteboard, and I've copied them onto my notes, to share with the world. I didn't note down who wrote what, but I assume we'll all remember our own words.
Here are the classes' answers to the question 'What is Poetry?':

• A different way of looking at things, a more descriptive way
• More concise than prose
• It's not only rhyme
• A group of words
• Emotion recalled in tranquility
• A fun way to spend my time
• You can ignore the grammar with poetry, more than prose
• Anything that isn't prose or drama
• Poetry has the power to move one's emotions
• Poetry helps me to think about life
• Bonsai prose!
• With poetry, it matters where the line ends

This final response went further, and led to the phrase being discussed, played with and set out differently, leading to two more poetic ways of placing the words on the page. Line endings were discussed and I feel a deeper understanding of this achieved.

With poetry, it matters

where the line ends

With poetry

it matters

where the line

               ends . . .

What do you think about this - What is Poetry to you? Please leave your answers here, for the class to consider next Tuesday night, if you wish! Comments are always welcome!

The Group Grows Some More!

Hello readers,
This group, Adelaide Plains Chapter and Verse is growing, both in the number of members, and in terms of people who're connecting with us. Our short story competition, 'Fairy Tales Twisted Sideways' is attracting a lot of interest, from writers interstate.

As the months go on, the word will travel across Australia, and I expect the entries from all states will arrive in my letterbox. After being involved in an annual Poetry competition over the past 7 or so years, it's been interesting to see how much interest has been shown in this short story competition.

I'm not sure whether it's because more people like short stories rather than poetry, or whether it's the theme of twisted fairy tales that attracts the interest. I just know that this twisted fairy tale competition is exciting lots of tale tellers, with entries rolling in already, with months still to go until the closing date (30 June).

So, if you live in Australia, and you like twisted tales, why not have a go at twisting your favourite fairy tale! The best entries will be published in a book (free copy to all who get in the list of the best ones). There are also first, second and third prizes, with a good sized prize pool...

I look forward to receiving your competition entries!

Another New Member

Well, at our meeting yesterday, we were missing a member, but we had a potential new member arrive. She hasn't handed in for membership form or membership fee yet, but I certainly think she'll be coming back!

We had fun again, and some of us read our homework from last week. We all seem to have had a good think about the books we read way back when we were kids, and it was fascinating to hear what books members remembered from when they were younger.

We did a writing exercise too, one from the wonderful book 'Poetic Medicine The Healing Art of Poem-Making' by John Fox - many many thanks Colleen for passing that one on to me! I feel like Colleen was fated to find this book at the Gawler Community Centre, so she could pass it on to me!

We talked about how our 'Fairy Story Twisted Sideways' is going - we've already received an entry! I've been getting emails every day from people wanting more information about it, and I'm getting even more excited about it.

I hope we get hundreds of great twisted fairy stories to choose from, to put into our collection! If you'd like to know more about this competition, feel free to send me an email about it jeebers@aussiebb.com.au

Fairy Tales Twisted Sideways

What would happen if you took the a Fairy Tale and told it from the point of view of a minor character? What would happen if the Prince and Princess DIDN'T live happily ever after? If you love watching Grimm on TV, you might have your own ideas about how to take a fairy tale and give it a hard wrench off in another direction. 

These are the kinds of stories we want for our 'Fairy Tales Twisted Sideways' competition. Short Stories (2,000 word maximum, with shorter tales looked on kindly, as long as they meet the conditions) that take a fairy tale and twist it sideways are what are needed. The judge is excited about this competition, and we're excited too! 

Adelaide Plains Chapter and Verse has announced its first competition and we're so sure the stories will be fantastic, that we're going to publish the best of them. So, if you live in Australia and you love to write, give our competition a go - the best entries will be published and the writers of those stories will receive a free copy of the anthology, plus writer's of stories judged first, second and third will receive monetary prizes as well.

Entries close on 30 June 2013. If you'd like to know more, you can contact the competition secretary at jeebers@aussiebb.com.au 

We have a Facebook page as well, where more information about the competition and our group appears at times.  http://www.facebook.com/groups/320657958040450/

Competition Deadline Looming!

A reminder that the deadline is fast approaching to get your entry in to the Adelaide Plains Poetry Competition. Entries need to be received by close of business on January 19th.
I've been fine-tuning my entry and it is now ready to be mailed in. Yay!

For more information, head to: Adelaide Plains Poets Inc