THE REVIEW

WHERE’S THE SUN?


My creativity is stating to atrophy from the lack of sunshine. I just feel like curling up and sleeping, much like my stunted planter of herbs. However, there were eight of us at the last meeting, in spite of the rain.

Margaret read first, telling of how Coffin found a place to park his new bicycle that Dye gave him. Unfortunately, his neighbour, Harry, wasn’t pleased, comparing Coffin unfavourably to Sammy Chou, the previous tenant. But Coffin was also upset with Harry for spending so much time on the toilet they shared. To bother Coffin more, Harry told him his flat was haunted by Sammy Chou.

Danny brought his model flying saucer that he had made while hospitalized. It was made to 1/16 scale and actually flew. Danny is also working on a screenplay for his autobiography, which is being submitted to a Hollywood agent interested in auto racing stories. Margaret, Bob, Jim, Margaret and Danny read various parts of the first scene so we could see what Danny envisions for it. The screenplay can only be 120 pages maximum, in 12 point font, each page limited to a set amount of screentime. There’s a lot to consider writing for the screen, but Danny’s excited about the project, working on it fulltime.

Ruth-Ann read a children’s short story, about Olesia Marie, a young girl bullied at school by Steven. She tells her parents and her Dad says to tell the teacher, and her mother says to ignore Steven, that he probably likes her and wants her attention. She also complained to her girlfriend. The next day she sees Steven feed a hungry dog from his lunch. Later he pinches her arm as she walks by, and she says “I love you, too!” and kisses him. He never bothers her again.

I read a short piece that I had written from doing some clustering on the topic ‘Memories’. I had started writing a poem, but it slid into prose and is still very short, less that 200 words. It’s about visiting my parents at their country home one day to notice how lonely and deteriorated things looked, about a year after my youngest brother had died. It turned out to be a rather poignant short piece, maybe prose/poetry?

Gemma read the next chapter about Bob and Barbara, the younger gigolo and the older woman. She loves him and he just wants her money. He takes her to the races and talks her into letting him take her money to place her bet for her. Now we all want to know what happens to her $10,000.00.

Jason read Ch. 11 of his novel. Greg feels cold and confused, trapped in an alternate reality. He sees people parading to their ruin and doesn’t know what to do. There’s a dragon and Greg hears voices. He sees a man trying to grab a floating sword, then there is a flash and the sword comes straight down, almost hitting Greg. It looks like the sword that Ludwig had. Lots of tension in this chapter, left with a desire to keep turning the pages.

Jim didn’t read. He’s been working on his query letter when he has time. He was very tired having to work a lot of overtime, completing built-in furniture that people want before the HST kicks in.

Bob didn’t read either, but told us about a war book he had been reading. He did say there are some missing parts in his own personal history that he had written, so he was thinking of doing more with that piece of writing.

Further news regarding the HST July 1st: We will still pay only 5% on books, but we will then pay 12% on magazines and newspapers.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then and may you be hounded by your Muse to write in spite of the rain.

Lisa