THE REVIEW

GENERATION X

Had a great turnout for the Meeting on Wednesday. Shannon, Jason, Luke, Guy, Charity and Kay all joined me in honour of The Muse. Guy is my generation, but everyone else is much younger and the difference in age and experience was brought home to me three times. Once was when I said my favourite author, Stuart McLean had passed away, and somebody didn’t know who that was or what the Vinyl Café was. Then Guy and I mentioned the book “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and we were the only two who knew about its importance in ‘sex education’ during our formative years. And then I read a “Honey” story about a birthday lunch at the Seniors’ Center, and everyone looked blank and politely refrained from comment. Too funny. I am just so thankful to see the younger generation is interested in writing and storytelling and hope they find The Rams a comfortable place to share their musings, in spite of my elderly presence.

Guy read first, a short piece that is the beginning of a biography about George. He is a young man in the 1950’s who is trying to figure out where he belongs in the world and what he should be doing with his life. We asked Guy if he could add some more detail to the story to better inform the reader of its setting and of George’s thoughts and feelings at the time.

Kay is working on a movie script about a Canadian girl and her misfortunate trip abroad. She explained to us how the story plot has to have precise timing in order to fit the parameters of a movie.

Luke read his next scene where Dalin is taken before the General and they discuss his possible punishment. But then the General says Dalin was right, that there was a spy. That’s a wonderful hook to end the scene, or chapter.

Shannon told us she produces a comic strip with her husband. She writes the story, and he does the graphics. They post a new episode online each week and have about 80,000 followers. It’s about a 30 year old male and his dog, trying to make his way in the world.

Charity read the next chapter from “Trixie Trouble”, and we see her in the hot barn during the church service, with all the sinners from the night before. Donovan tells her that her debt has been paid, that she is safe. Then Fat Marley announces he has absolved all gambling debts and hands out leaflets saying he is running for mayor. Trixie turns and runs out of the church for her own salvation.

I read “The Birthday Gift”, about Honey taking me to the Seniors’ Center for lunch on my 62nd birthday, and realizing I was still pretty young in comparison to other attendees.

Jason said he had contacted Good Reads and asked some beta readers to read “Provoked” and give him some reviews. He had been going to read us one or more, but the conversation segued into Jason saying he is going to leave writing for the time being and move on to other things in his life. On leaving the Meeting, he told me he will let me know any time he plans to attend any Meeting in the future. We all wish Jason well and will miss him greatly.

The next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 1st, at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. And may the vault of your inspiration be unlocked and open wide for you.

TONGUE IN CHEEK: What did the thesaurus eat for breakfast? A synonym roll.

Lisa A. Hatton
Author