Hooray - I have started a Writng for Life Connect group...

Guess what! Our church has started Connect groups (in addition to cell groups) so that we can get to know folk who have the same interests as we do. I have always wanted to start a writing group SO... I took the plunge! Eighteen folk joined my monthly writing group called ‘Writing for Life’. We had our first meeting on the first Saturday afternoon of May and it was a really enjoyable, interactive, writing afternoon. I used many of  my tips and tricks from teaching writing at school. I think many of us were surprised that we could write so well! The goal is to craft a short story by the end of the year amid lots of fun, laughter, writing and sharing.

So, let's tell the story in pictures and words. 

Here is the advert for the Writing for Life group which is placed with the other groups on the church notice board. 

My goals for the group
I attended  a five-day 'short story' writing course at UCT Summer School this year and I think that really motivated me to want to start a group. I also belong to the Fish Hoek Scribblers which meets once a month. Basically, what I want to achieve is to get everybody understanding the basics of a short story and also to discover that they actually can write.

Our May meeting
As mentioned, our first meeting took place on the first Saturday afternoon of May and I was thrilled at the turn out. We meet in the coffee shop. At this meeting we got to know each other in a fun, interactive way and we delved into characterisation in stories.

Here are some photos from the May meeting.

This collage is a collection from Facebook

I had some lovely comments from folk by sms and  Whatsapp after the group which encouraged me immensely.

- Thank u soo much for a fun afternoon Fiona. These sessions teach us so much in such a lovely non threatening enviroment. You are real good at what u do girl!!!🌹

- Hi, Fiona, You offered such a lovely course today.  Thank you.  And sure, I may be an encourager bu be assured that I only congratulate when congratulations are due.  Be assured that I only congratulate when congratulations are due. You should, my dear lady, hear me complain :).  Then you'd know EXACTLY what I'm talking about :). SO looking forward to your next session. Peace, love and blessings 

- Hi Fiona, I enjoyed the first writing group today, and then forgot to ask when the next one will be.

- Hi Fiona, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful class and interaction that we had today. Thank you for taking the initiative and bringing us together as a group. 

- Hi Fiona, had a great time. Thank you, I will definitely be back! 

- People really enjoyed writing and I think surprised themselves

Our June meetingIn our June meeting we went on to PLOT before we did SETTING. We also moved venue to the small hall which has a big TV screen so that I can run a PowerPoint etc. I just loved the meeting! The focus, as mentioned, was on PLOT in a story and we came up with great ideas. We looked at different ways of getting inspiration for a story and tried out a few of them.

Here is the advert followed by a collage I put on Facebook.

Once again I received many positive thank yous that really warmed my heart.

Our July meeting
I decided to continue with PLOT in July as I had a really good idea for writing a children's story. We looked at hooks for children's stories and how to write good openings and endings. It was a real fun session. As one person noted ina thank you 'it was my most significant yet'. At this point I haven't downloaded photos from the afternoon, but I will do so soon.  Here is the advert:

And so...next up will be our August session. 

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