The September meeting This month’s warm-up exercise was a short critiquing practice. Everyone teamed up to read three short pieces and give constructive, specific feedback. There was a surprising degree of consensus about what worked well and what could be improved. We also decided that it would be useful to have the opportunity to re-write the prompt pieces at a future writing session – duly noted! You can read the pieces we looked at and decide what you think. What would

Energy cannot be created or destroyed – they say. To casual observation, this seems like a blatant lie. Energy-destroying factors multiply like bacteria, eating motion, volition, ambition, gumption, and any number of desirable ‘itions’. Supposing the physicists are correct, this begs the question – where is that energy going? If it can only be transformed, not destroyed, what is being energised as languidity increases on the other end? Does the traffic light glow bright

When I think about my grandmother's kitchen, I remember the smell first. It was always warm and comforting, and there was usually something delicious cooking on the stove. My grandmother was a very kind person who loved having her grandchildren around. She would smile and tell us stories while she prepared dinner. The kitchen itself was quite small, with yellow walls and an old wooden table. I can still remember sitting there after school, watching rain run down the window wh

He looked deeply into her eyes and saw nothing. No glimmer of intelligence nor spark of hope. Just dull black unblinking staring back. Not shuffling nor shifting, just deep wells of jet. Unmoving. Her tail was still, limp, non-engaged. She didn’t shuffle nor move; just a large pure-black wall of muscle, legs locked. “It’s OK girl. You are safe. It’s OK, don’t be afraid” as a long low guttural menace welled through slobbering, parted lips. Not showing teeth but oo

The marriage had been short. But deadly. She stood there looking at the bodies. Blank eyes looked at her. Why had they done this? The woman had a gunshot wound to her stomach. Her face was in pain. How dramatic. What an end to a life that had no hope, no support, no help, no soul. It was just a life, in constant emotional pain. The torment she endured in the marriage followed her into death. Soul-less eyes stared… No cried out in pain. Pain from the physical pain, but pain fr

Some like it hot Some like it cold Some like it in the pot And nine days old. I’m not sure to what the above refers. May be breakfast May be lunch May be porridge May be tea May be coffee How does this relate to ‘soul’? I’m not sure, but we can all make our own assumption And ‘save my soul’! Thank you

Mrs Bell had always been an extremely tidy woman, and her cottage was absolutely spotless. She was very upset when she discovered the muddy footprint on the kitchen floor. It was large, black and rather horrible. She immediately knew something was wrong. She went into the garden to investigate, feeling quite nervus. The garden was beautiful, with colourful flowers everywhere and a lovely old apple tree in the middle. Suddenly, she noticed that one of the branches was broken.

Milo was the smallest dragon in the kingdom, but he wanted to be brave more than anything. One morning, he decided to climb the tallest mountain. It was a very big mountain, and the climb was extremly difficult. Milo was tired and scared, but he kept going because he was determined. At the top, he saw the most amazing thing he had ever seen. A tiny golden door was set into the rock. Milo knocked three times. From inside came a voice. “At last,” it said. “We’ve been waiting fo

1 October: Hektoen Essay Contest Open to writers 18 years and older, essays 500-1,600 words, theme: ‘Hospitals of Note: focussing on the history of a particular hospital’. Entry: FREE. Prizes: $5,000 $2,500 (USD). 9 October: Silver Quill Written Competition Open to all, poetry, no size limit, and theme: ‘have a very good rhyme and meter/rhythm and be original with an Australian theme’. Entry: Adults $10, Junior FREE. Categories are: Serious, Humorous, Novice, and Junior. Pr

The park car park was free, I couldn't believe it. I wasn't going to be late. Yay! The day was bleak. I was in a bleak part of town and my mission was bleak. God, I hate this part of my job. But at least I didn't have to spend all day parking the car. The overcast autumnal sky brightened my day. The clouds were charcoal grey but smooth. So smooth. They looked like grey silk flowing over rocks. But the ominous clouds settled in my soul, my heart sank. The bright greens and ora

‘Dip dip dip dip doobie dip dip serendipity,’ croons the pickpocket in the corner. So fortuitous! Who would have thought there would be an unlocked cloak room in such a swanky establishment? Amazing what people leave in their pockets without a thought in the world, and hand their coats over to the concierge. Not sure who had been going to propose but they’ll be needing another ring to do it with, ‘cause this one’s going with me. But pick of the crop – this bit of paper.

'I went to that town once, quite by accident, and had a simply marvellous time.' That must be where all the mini-prompt pieces went this month.

Once I found out what Serendipity actually meant, I realized that I had never experienced that moment: that serendipitous moment. Many of the people I know have had such an experience, at least they say that they have. Call me a sceptic, but… I have my doubts. So many folk hare notorious Pinocchios…are they not? Anyway, who am I to doubt? Perhaps they have telling the truth. Come to think of it, I may have had such a moment, way back when I was four. I recall sitting in t