This month’s session began with a message from James: “I won't be there as am enjoying the warmth of NW Queensland!! See you next time.” Lucky James! With seventeen members present, it was a very full session—great to welcome back Bev Morton, and to welcome Shirley, who came in for a 'taster' and plans to be back!
Our icebreaker prompt was a ‘Letter to the Age’ from an exasperated 80-year-old reader which ended, “one of the few benefits of dying is that I will not have to wrestle with computers anymore.” This sparked much discussion!
Stories on this month’s theme, ‘Changes over Time,’ followed…
‘Communication… or other changes over time’ – Kathy wrote about many years ago trying to persuade doubtful farm partners to purchase a computer (decades later, they remain skeptical!). Tom, writing to appeal to his granddaughter who reads his stories, recalled his first job in a Telegraph Office working with telephone switchboards, fax, and Morse code machines. Anne’s story, Communication and the Dog and Bone, began with an image of Dick Tracy’s two-way wrist radio, traced changes in ‘devices’ over time, and ended “…Not only is my device a phone, street directory, answering machine and encyclopedia, it’s also a camera. Not even Dick Tracy’s creator imagined such a device.”
For ‘A Smorgasbord of Firsts and Lasts', Robyn wrote about buying her first antique bentwood chair and her lifelong passion for antiques. Jan introduced us to her ‘First Friend’ Hazel, her neighbour in England when she was three, and told of the joy they still share exchanging letters eight decades later. John wrote a heartfelt tribute to loyal dogs accompanying him through life’s twists and turns—from Juliet, the unexpected gift who brought solace, to Elsa, his current beloved companion. Bev Morton’s reading of her nearly disastrous ‘First Ride’ on Princess, the circus pony, was greeted with applause. Heather shared a smorgasbord of stories, featuring her ‘First Boyfriend’ (pictured), ‘First Home’ after arriving in Perth as a 10-year-old with her ‘Ten Pound Pom’ parents; her ‘First Horse,’ Daniel Boone; and her ‘First Marriage,’ which “I can honestly say … was my last … First marriage, right fella.” Carmyl’s beautiful story described how a chance pairing in a church youth group evolved into her marriage to Don. “We were married for sixty-two years. My first and last boyfriend.”
‘First Cars’ brought delightful tales involving Joan’s Austin Freeway Super Six, Ray’s Morris Oxford Saloon, and Max’s 1927/28 Ford Coupe.
Our ‘Triggers’ story collection grew with Barry reflecting on a Western Australia flight, Tom recalling a special 1953 Coronation coin, a Monkees LP, and the first video he recorded featuring Torvill and Dean’s ‘Bolero.’
Merv’s moving catch-up story, Two Wrongs don’t make a Right, described traumatic memories of harsh school discipline affecting his attitude toward religion.
Another session full of rich stories, memories, insight, and humour. Two hours so well spent—thanks to all for your contributions!
Our icebreaker prompt was a ‘Letter to the Age’ from an exasperated 80-year-old reader which ended, “one of the few benefits of dying is that I will not have to wrestle with computers anymore.” This sparked much discussion!
Stories on this month’s theme, ‘Changes over Time,’ followed…
‘Communication… or other changes over time’ – Kathy wrote about many years ago trying to persuade doubtful farm partners to purchase a computer (decades later, they remain skeptical!). Tom, writing to appeal to his granddaughter who reads his stories, recalled his first job in a Telegraph Office working with telephone switchboards, fax, and Morse code machines. Anne’s story, Communication and the Dog and Bone, began with an image of Dick Tracy’s two-way wrist radio, traced changes in ‘devices’ over time, and ended “…Not only is my device a phone, street directory, answering machine and encyclopedia, it’s also a camera. Not even Dick Tracy’s creator imagined such a device.”
For ‘A Smorgasbord of Firsts and Lasts', Robyn wrote about buying her first antique bentwood chair and her lifelong passion for antiques. Jan introduced us to her ‘First Friend’ Hazel, her neighbour in England when she was three, and told of the joy they still share exchanging letters eight decades later. John wrote a heartfelt tribute to loyal dogs accompanying him through life’s twists and turns—from Juliet, the unexpected gift who brought solace, to Elsa, his current beloved companion. Bev Morton’s reading of her nearly disastrous ‘First Ride’ on Princess, the circus pony, was greeted with applause. Heather shared a smorgasbord of stories, featuring her ‘First Boyfriend’ (pictured), ‘First Home’ after arriving in Perth as a 10-year-old with her ‘Ten Pound Pom’ parents; her ‘First Horse,’ Daniel Boone; and her ‘First Marriage,’ which “I can honestly say … was my last … First marriage, right fella.” Carmyl’s beautiful story described how a chance pairing in a church youth group evolved into her marriage to Don. “We were married for sixty-two years. My first and last boyfriend.”
‘First Cars’ brought delightful tales involving Joan’s Austin Freeway Super Six, Ray’s Morris Oxford Saloon, and Max’s 1927/28 Ford Coupe.
Our ‘Triggers’ story collection grew with Barry reflecting on a Western Australia flight, Tom recalling a special 1953 Coronation coin, a Monkees LP, and the first video he recorded featuring Torvill and Dean’s ‘Bolero.’
Merv’s moving catch-up story, Two Wrongs don’t make a Right, described traumatic memories of harsh school discipline affecting his attitude toward religion.
Another session full of rich stories, memories, insight, and humour. Two hours so well spent—thanks to all for your contributions!
August’s theme, ‘Life Changing,’ includes ‘Advice’ and ‘Emergence.’ An additional topic, ‘How We Met,’ has been added.
‘Advice’ Tell us about one piece of advice that’s stuck with you, perhaps even been life changing in some way. It could be a famous quote or proverb, something your mum told you, or helpful words from a stranger. Did you follow the advice, or wished you had? Did it help or lead you astray? (A topic from 2017 - see for example Bev's story 'Advice'
‘Emergence’ Interpret this theme as you choose, whether it’s a story of emerging fully into your true self, or an event arising in the narrative of your life. (Topic adapted from the SBS Emerging Writers Competition Topic 2022)
'How We Met' Our best friends, neighbours, partners, lovers, were all strangers once. Tell us how you met a kindred spirit and what the relationship means or meant to you, how it changed your life in some way...(A topic from 2018 - see for example Neville's stories 'How We Met #1' (Neville) 'How We Met #2' (Neville)
‘Advice’ Tell us about one piece of advice that’s stuck with you, perhaps even been life changing in some way. It could be a famous quote or proverb, something your mum told you, or helpful words from a stranger. Did you follow the advice, or wished you had? Did it help or lead you astray? (A topic from 2017 - see for example Bev's story 'Advice'
‘Emergence’ Interpret this theme as you choose, whether it’s a story of emerging fully into your true self, or an event arising in the narrative of your life. (Topic adapted from the SBS Emerging Writers Competition Topic 2022)
'How We Met' Our best friends, neighbours, partners, lovers, were all strangers once. Tell us how you met a kindred spirit and what the relationship means or meant to you, how it changed your life in some way...(A topic from 2018 - see for example Neville's stories 'How We Met #1' (Neville) 'How We Met #2' (Neville)
Bev Lee
PS..., a reminder about the importance of
- incorporating reflection on the impact on you of the experiences you are writing about. This can be subtle, can be strategically placed, can always be in the conclusion. It can be in a very short first sentence and or in a pithy or otherwise reflective final sentence, or, of course, anywhere in between.
- keeping focused on the slice of life you are writing about. Usually when you craft your story so that it is within 500 words you don’t stray off onto other themes and lose focus. However, the more words you write, the more likely this is to happen.
- creating a key sentence for your story to help to retaining focus... 'This is a story about ...’. A key sentence is a tool to refer back to if you find you've meandered delightfully, but perhaps irrelevantly, off to write about a barely related memory.
- self-care … a reminder that sometimes telling a story you think you have achieved ‘closure’ on can still lead to tears…
