by Chris Ross

The Group started after my friend Margaret Campbell and myself put an ad in the library a year ago. We knew what format we would like to follow, and completing new writing on the night was imperative. Four people met fortnightly in each others' homes. The Wednesday gatherings peaked at 9 members in 2004 when we switched to the small committee room, above S'ven Library. Like all groups, ours has changed since, with a few leaving and several new members joining making 9 members in total now. Some members attend Hieton and E.Kilbride Groups too.

Our first '05 meeting was on January 12. A different member takes responsibility for starting off the fortnightly meetings, either with a writing challenge or exercise. This could be a book review or possibly picking random words/pictures which inspire a piece of prose or short story. We then read out and discuss any other new pieces of work. At the end of the meeting someone suggests a theme for new writing to be done over the next two weeks at home (which is not compulsary!)

Christmas homework was an "up to 250 word short story with any theme" for an Irish competition. Every one had new work to read out and Bill started us off. His story was about "a tense interview;" a second was a "sinister, atmospheric fantasy;" a third was an "Edwardian drama;" and finally the last was about "greed and the pitfalls of caring for an elderly relative." We all found the work challenging and discussed the importance of gripping "first lines."

If that hadn't whetted our literary appetites enough, we went on to write a start to a story on any theme. We passed our efforts on to the next member who had to complete the second paragraph. This was passed on again and eventually we read out four 4-part tales written by all four members. The results were amazingly diverse. Each tale had veered off into a new direction e,g. "after a boat sinks in Oban Bay, there is a possible love affair for its suicidal captain", and "a drunk man in a bar is waiting for his "contact" only to find himself facing possible death at the mouth of an open lift shaft".

It is good fun and very enjoyable. The Group also attends Linda Cracknell's workshop's and courses, and in Dec 04 we were present at her Lanarks Writer's Groups event at Chatelherault. Her Brownsbank News Bulletin updates us on competitions and speakers etc. Any new or visiting members will be made very welcome to Strathaven Group in 2005. We pay approx. £2.50 each meeting, and individuals take their own refreshments. Please phone:-01357 521856.

© Chris Ross 2005

Chris Ross is a founder member of Strathaven Writers' Group.