Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 4:12 PM
Subject: The Ram's Head Review

Hello Fellow Rams,
 
A smaller meeting Thursday, but very rewarding just the same. 
 
Bob read first, a shorter piece of personal history he said Susan wanted him to submit to a magazine on Vancouver Island.  He wrote from the point of view of a young child in Vancouver during the mid- to- late thirties.  It was very interesting to see how the child percieved his world at that time and in that place.
 
Ellie said she has no trouble finishing short stories but lately cannot seem to get motivated to work on her longer stories, especially in the room where she has her computer.  There followed a long discussion on the effect that surroundings have on us as writers and Ellie did admit she is thinking of buying a laptop so she can write at her kitchen table where she can look out the window.  I know I like to be able to look outside when I'm writing, too.
 
Ellie read to us of Brekken, Meron and Nadika finally reaching an Inn, but Brekken suspects sorcery and casts a spell of protection over them.  The sorceress, Honora, is at the Inn, and she is an old enemy of Brekken's.
 
Lynette told us of attending a reading/lecture by a poetry therapist who was in town from the southern U.S.  He made the point that poetry can help you stay present during a time of conflict.  He shared examples of poetry written by Gr. 8 students after being given the assignment of "Recipe For War".  The pieces Lynette read were astounding insights by such young people.  No wool over their eyes.
 
The assignment Lynette had was to write what needs to be spoken, what breaks your heart.  She wrote about the picture during the Vietnamese war of the young girl who was shown running down the road naked and screaming after being burned by napalm.  That picture still haunts her.
 
I hadn't been able to finish the next chapter in my novel as chain saws and a chipper had been screaming outside the window of my den all day as the neighbour had 2 huge fir trees felled because the roots were destroying her basement and drainage.  And the dog who lives on the other side of us got out and was found 2 streets over, but his owners weren't home.  So guess who was dog-sitting?  He was freaked by the noise of the chain saws.
 
Ann Robertson has said she would like to attend our next meeting as she has been doing some writing lately and would appreciate some feedback.  Will really enjoy hearing what Ann has written.
 
Next meeting here at my place, Thursday, August 24th at 7:00 p.m.  Hope to see you then.  Happy writing!
 
Lisa