Nine of us gathered round a small table and discussed in erudite tones the mathematical formula for changing Centigrade into Fahrenheit and vice versa. It had after all been a warm week. David F. provided the information, and we moved on…
…to matters literary. Roddie will find out more about the Dundee Literary Festival and circulate, with the possibility of NW taking part. Richard will try to locate an example of a flier produced by another Writers’ group. And Colin will make a start on a flier for us. Suggestions for content to be sent to Colin. He also mentioned a poetry event 18 September 13pm on slopes of Dundee Law.
Richard, in the chair, suggested we take submissions in a clockwise order round the table. Tom said Okay, since that was the title of his piece, and intriguing it was. Was it about the cyclical nature of relationships? Their fragility? Their transience? All of these things, perhaps. There were suggestions make it a texting exchange, emphasise technology. Tom’s pieces certainly provoke speculation and reflection.
Like Margaret chronicled an unhappy event, tragic for the main protagonist, within a family, told via a first person narrator. There were hints of abuse of some kind, which turned out to be misleading. Generally we thought the characterisation was plausible, and the situation believable.
The Deeds and the Done is a substantial piece from Roddie (fourteen years in the gestation, it should be!) It begins in a favourite Roddie idiom, a train journey. From there a whole childhood a boy in effect orphaned, mistreated at home and bullied at school is described in vivid and distressing detail. Characterisation is strong. We discussed at some length the final scenes. Was it a time shift, or something akin to a psychological breakdown? Intriguing and thought provoking.
Susan read her piece, The Invisible Man. Immediate comments included how touching it was, affecting and peaceful. And just the right length. Some suggestions were made for small changes, and perhaps a different title.
Hunter’s Car. Aileen had sent it round with the comment that she liked the first and last lines, but was unhappy with what was in between. So lots of scope for discussion. She read it with bravura, and unanimously we liked it, a lot. Situation, character, action all kept the reader’s interest, and the voice of the narrator, a young boy, was highly convincing. The only suggestion of any significance was to change to the present tense.
It was another very enjoyable evening. Discussion was plentiful, the atmosphere relaxed and convivial.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 3 August at 7pm. Aileen is in the chair.
David Carson is the current Chair of Nethergate Writers. These pieces give his own idiosyncratic view of the goings on at our regular meetings.