A winning poem from the Coffs Harbour Heat of the National Poetry Slam by one of Coffs Harbour Writer’s Group members.

Death By Information
by Xanthe Levi Littlemore

They don’t make pain like they used to
Eighty thousand mobile phones
And twenty-seven TV stations
Radiating through my bones

Now it’s death by information, catch it from the news
Toxic saturation, I only went to buy some shoes!
Mass manipulation, caught you in the ‘net
You might run you might hide
But you will not forget

They don’t make confusion like the old days
When what you had to watch for were thieves
And who might come to the village
And who was going to leave

Now it’s death by information, frantic facile ads
Toxic saturation, designed to drive you mad
Mass manipulation buys this kind of dress
And take this pill if you get ill
And you can’t take the stress

They don’t make pain like they used to
Now they put you on hold
And make you listen to Greensleeves
We’re bankrupt if silence is gold

Now it’s death by information, chewing up your time
Toxic saturation, just like junk mail in my mind
Mass manipulation, we’re all like Stepford Wives
We might think so, but we don’t know
Who’s got hold of our lives?

Room 2, 22 Earl Street, Coffs Harbour (behind Coles opposite the skate park). (to be announced) at 10am to 12noon. Followed by lunch after the meeting in the Chill N Chat Cafe’

Social gatherings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 10am to 12noon at Shearwater Restaurant, Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour.

Due to COVID 19 meetings are postponed till social distancing regulations allow us to meet again.

Our end of year Christmas Lunch event at Park Beach Surf Club was another delightful day.

Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group is delighted to have at our 2nd September meeting, special guest speaker the acclaimed author Annie Seaton. http://www.annieseaton.net

Annie Seaton lives near the beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Her career and studies have spanned the education sector for most of her working life, including completing a Masters Degree in Education, and working as an academic research librarian, a high school principal and a university tutor until she took early retirement and fulfilled a lifelong dream of a full time writing career.

Each winter, Annie and her husband leave the beach to roam the remote areas of Australia for story ideas and research.

Some of Annie’s book achievements include:

Number 1 bestselling author in Amazon Romance series.

Winner: Whitsunday Dawn Book of the Year 2018 AUSROM
Winner …Best Established Author of the Year 2017 AUSROM
Long listed for the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Finalist in Book of the Year, Long Romance, RWA Ruby awards 2016
Winner …Best Established Author of the Year 2015 AUSROM
Winner …Author of the Year 2014 AUSROM

Where: CeX, Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour

Time: 11am to 11.30am

We would like to invite you to the 2019 Grassroots Writers’ Weekend hosted by Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group at the Coffs Harbour Community Village from the 17 to 19 May 2019. It is a fabulous weekend of hands-on, practical workshops held each year in our region. Starting on Friday afternoon and finishing on Sunday afternoon, the ‘doing’ sessions and conversations are available to everyone from school students to seniors, everyone who loves storytelling. Places are limited so please make your bookings early.

The aim of this weekend is to provide affordable, practical workshops for the beginning, the aspiring, and the published writer. It’s only $25 for the whole weekend with a barbecue and dinner optional paid extras.

Coffs Harbour Writer’s Group (CHWG) has a proud 32-year history of nurturing the writing skills of its members. On​ Monday 5th November 2018, we had the pleasure of presenting a tribute to those who laid the foundation stones of this valued community service.

Members and guests had the pleasure of meeting some of our honored members from yesteryear; like our Life Members: Rosemary Nisted, Carrolline Rhodes, and Lorraine Penn.

Both Rosemary and Carrolline took us on a journey of early days of CHWG and the benefits of belonging to an ​aspiring writers​ ​group.

Lorraine​ spoke about the group’s achievements over the past several years, including the highly successful Grassroots Writers Weekend Event held in 2015 and to be hosted again by Coffs Harbour Writers Group 17 to 19 May 2019.

Tom Strickland
President

Coffs Harbour Writers Group will be holding a ‘hands-on’ practical workshop using Microsoft Word and your own laptop or tablet as a tool for preparing your written works.

In this workshop you will learn the basics of formatting, working with ‘track changes’ and finding answers to the most common problems associated with Word documents.

Facilitator: Rosalie Skinner

When: Monday 3rd September

Time: 1.30 to 3.30pm

Where: CeX Club, Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour.

Cost: Members free, non-members $7.50.

Two of our long-standing members Les Farey and James Hall were awarded a 20-year Acknowledgement Certificate during the 7th August​ 2018 general meeting by the outgoing President Roger Harris.

These two gentlemen have been wonderful supporters of our writers’ group for the past twenty years, which was formed in 1986.

Congratulations Les and James, you are both legends.

The Coffs Harbour Writers Group has changed its meeting day from first Wednesday of the month to first Monday of the month commencing 4th June 2018.  

These meetings will be held at a new location CeX Club, Vernon Street, Coffs Harbour 10.15am to 12.30pm

Lorraine Penn, a tireless supporter and former long-term President of Coffs Harbour Writers Group received a Life Membership award from current President Roger Harris in recognition of her enormous contributions to the growth and success of the group.

The 2018 Grassroots Writers Weekend 20-22nd April hosted by Dorrigo Writers Group, for more information go to https://www.facebook.com/DorrigoWriters/