Coffs Harbour Writers' Group Inc.
Aspiring writers group
New and events for the group
“Writers Read at the Stables” is a free event of an entertaining afternoon of local authors reading excerpts from their books or manuscripts.
They will be interviewed and then answer your questions.
There will be nibbles and drinks as well as a chance to chat informally with the writers and others from 12 noon to 3pm on Friday 15 Jan at The Stables in Bellingen.
By donation. No need to book.
For more details contact Kim Hodges-0435 211522.
New year is well under way and our first meeting scheduled for February. To this end I have organised for a COVID friendly venue to keep our members as protected as possible.
Our first meeting of the year will be
February 4th Thursday 11am
Red C restaurant (Old Deep Sea Fishing Club)
Coffee will be available. Lunch available after 12.
Our first Social meeting
February 18th Thursday 10.30
Shearwater @ The Promenade
Anyone who needs transport, please contact me. We can arrange pick ups.
Let’s get writing!
Spread the word… See you there!!
The new year has started with a resurgence of the wretched virus, but we hope to begin our meetings in February, and inspire, enrich and renew enthusiasm and writing creativity.
Venue and times are being settled as I write this. Will post information as soon as it is set in concrete.
Surprise, surprise; the blog/website has been revamped. Just to get rid of the dust. Give us a new fresh image. Ideas and suggestions are probably welcome, but the limits of creativity available are limited. Or is it just my WordPress skills? Advice is welcome, as long as advisors are prepared to show their creative genius.
I hope you each have had a safe, happy and restorative holiday season. I wish for us all to have Good Health, Happiness and Covid free 2021.
Watch this space for new meeting times and venue.
Meanwhile, keep writing.
Rosalie
All the best to you and your family, stay safe and best of all enjoy the last few weeks of what has been a very challenging year.
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?
Due to social distancing our meetings are postponed.
Meanwhile, members can keep in touch via email and Facebook.
Also, Membership fees will not be due till we resume regular meetings.
Our annual AGM will be held once normal meetings resume.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions our monthly meetings have been put on hold for the time being. Watch this space for future development.
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
The 2019 Grassroots Writers’ Weekend hosted by the Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group was held from the 17 to 19 May 2019 and attracted more than 90 participants from far and wide. All were inspired, excited and enhanced their writing skills with more than 20 workshops to choose from over two and a half days. Numbers were limited to ensure that class sizes provided a practical, hands-on experience.
Held at the centrally-located Coffs Harbour Community Village where workshop rooms surround a peaceful, grassed courtyard (complete with two Tawny Frogmouths perched in the shady Poinciana tree), it provided a comfortable environment for mingling, networking and just contemplation over a cup of tea and the morning and afternoon teas cooked by the Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group helpers (and creative cooks from the Nambucca Valley Writers’ Group). An opening barbecue was held on the Friday night generously provided by the Bonville Sawtell Lions Club. The candle-lit formal dinner on Saturday night (complete with numerous raffle prizes) was held at the Park Beach Surf Club with a full moon dramatically illuminating the sea.
There were sessions on memoir and life writing; writing for children and young adults; murder mystery and historical fiction; flash fiction, short stories, blogs and competitions; writing craft such as perfecting your dialogue, structure and setting; using humour and imagery; making your characters and their relationships real; and techniques for effectively starting and finishing your manuscript (plans of actions and review).
Presenters included Roby Aiken, Wendy Haynes, Desley Polmear, Greg Barron, Graeme Gibson, Penelope Pratley, Gill Goater, Rosalie Skinner, Carrolline Rhodes, Laurel Cohn, Michael Burlace, Leonie Harrison, Wendy Laharnar, Elizabeth Bond, Yvonne Kachel, Leonie Henschke, Lisa Milner, and Fiona McDonald. Links to the bios.
Interesting conversation groups on everything from writing about sex to defamation and travel writing were moderated by Kim Hodges, Lorraine Penn, Yvonne Kachel and Rosalie Skinner.
We will be passing on information gathered from our appraisal sheets. Thank you to all for the positive feedback. We look forward to seeing you all next year. With suggestions for workshops and ideas shared with 2020 host, Port Macquarie.
Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group would like to acknowledge the fantastic work of our organising committee project managed by Lorraine Penn with Juliana Garaty, Roger Harris, Rosalie Skinner, Leonie Henschke, Yvonne Kachel, Julie Trachtenberg, Suzanne Tainsh, Rhonda Rand and Danielle Babb. Help was also greatly appreciated at the venue given by John Skinner, Michael Trachtenberg, Darrell Garaty and Michael Burlace.
We also thank our generous sponsors:
Port Macquarie Writers Inc. have very generously taken on the mantle to host the 2020 Grassroots Writers’ Weekend so follow us on Facebook sites…..
And check this website for details.
A few shots from the weekend.
