FAWNS NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER, 2009
Web : http://sites.google.com/site/fawnorthshoreregional/ Email : fawnorthshore@gmail.com
Fellowship of Australian Writers – North Shore Branch
C/- The Secretary, 35 Eyre Street, Smithfield 2164
Meetings held 1pm on the third Sunday of each month at Willow Park, 25 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby
President: Jan Foster
Secretary: Maria Encarnacao
Treasurer: Dorothy Walker
Editor: Jany Garland
Some words from the President:-
I’m wearing two hats this month, taking on the role of guest editor while Jany Garland is in rehab at Mt Wilga following a broken leg.
Today is also the last day for handing in submissions for the anthology as it goes to the printer next week. The finished product, called Northern Lights, will be available at the October meeting from our treasurer for $10. Jan Foster
“I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.”
James Michener
INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP FEES
“What goes up must come down” .
Well… - not necessarily so!
FAW NSW has announced an increase in fee structure for 2010 due to increased insurance requirements.
Renewal of membership is due by 31st December but, as we do not have a December meeting, the Treasure has asked that membership dues, now $41, be paid at the November meeting.
A Few Things to reflect upon:
Did you know that, in your life time, you will spend:
Seven years in the bathroom
Six years eating
Five years waiting in line
Three years in meetings
Two years playing telephone tag
Eight months opening junk mail, and
Six months sitting at red lights?
Anon
(from Valwyn Edwards Wishart)
FLEAS ARE FLEAS
Fleas are fleas
because they do as they please,
they hop, do not sneeze,
and suck blood
from places where it is rude
for a flea
to be.
~ Janet Frame
ON A DAY LIKE THIS…when the sky is cloudless blue, the ocean sparkles under the sun, camellias bloom in the garden, it is impossible not to be optimistic. On such a day, we can do anything – we believe that we can achieve miracles. We know that wrongs can be righted, that there is hope for mankind. One can only sing, with Pippa –
The year’s at the spring,
And the day’s at the morn
Morning’s at seven,
The hillside’s dew-pearled;
The lark’s on the wing,
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in His heaven, (I, tongue in cheek on Sunday, said Her heaven)
All’s well with the world!
(from Dorothy Walker)
EXCLAMATION MARKS!!
“Ever since it came along, grammarians have warned us to be wary of the exclamation mark, mainly because, even when we try to muffle it with brackets (!), it still shouts, flashes like neon, and jumps up and down. In the family of punctuation, where the full stop is daddy and the comma is mummy, and the semicolon practises the piano with crossed hands, the exclamation mark is the big attention-deficit brother who gets over-excited and breaks things and laughs too loudly.”
~ Lynne Truss – Eats Shoots & Leaves
AUGUST WRITERS’ PROMPTS:
IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING.
……there would be a crystal ball that works.
Carol Devine
……it would be to make teleportation a reality.
The scientific name for this miraculous and instantaneous movement is telekinesis, described as the production of motion in a body, apparently without the application of material force. Mediums, hoaxers and crackpots have often claimed this amazing power.
But isn’t the idea attractive? Think of travel. No more tedious itinerary planning, airline bookings, visas. No more hefting of trolley bags. With a snap of the fingers we could transport ourselves to any destination – Rome, Tokyo, London or Darwin.
In more mundane circumstances, when we’re buttonholed by boring people, we don’t have to listen politely. Snap! We disappear, teleported away in an instant.
The possibilities are limitless – but only if I could change that one thing.
Valwyn Edwards Wishart
I would change the sticking characteristics of paint.
At present, paint has the characteristic of sticking to a surface it is applied to; in varying degrees of success, depending on the material making up that surface. It adheres to, and changes the colour of that surface to the colour of the paint. It does this whether it is brushed on, splashed on, or sprayed on, and regardless of the intent of the painter. I would change the sticking characteristics of paint so that it would only adhere permanently if the paint is being applied legally.
Hence, no more graffiti.
Richard Brookton
ON A DAY LIKE THIS
a robin
feathers fluffed
thought -
on a day like this
I can glide mighty as an eagle
Marilyn Humbert
PUNCTUATION
What a difference a comma and colon can make:
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.
Francis Bacon
ANYWAY
(Some wise words from a wise lady)
People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centred;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish,
ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Mother Theresa
At the October meeting, before we split into our groups, Jan will present a short workshop on Voice for both prose writers and poets.
Did you know?:
During the month of August we have had over 200 visits to our web site
SEPTEMBER WRITER’S PROMPT
(In 100 words or less)
A night time scare.
OR
A good friend.
