The Ross and District Creative Writing group enjoy diverse styles of writing that are the product of the character full individual members. The ability is unconstrained. We listen to each others work, we comment and we discuss arising questions. We have been known to get into some very lively debate and we thoroughly enjoy the company and composition. We also do a few spontaneous writing exercises or have an occasional word game.

We meet at the Ryefield Centre on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 2pm. Our membership is open to newcomers as we would not like to deter anyone from their creative flow.

U3A CREATIVE WRITING GROUP

Never short of topics, themes

Is our writing group, it seems:

“China dolls” or “forest dwellers”,

“Button holes” for story tellers,

“Doctors, persons prominent”,

“Smells” and “tea” and such God-sent,

“Spectacles” or “fall” as puns,

“Bugs” or “rivers”, all that runs,

“Surprises” when things coincide,

A “bicycle or first train ride” –

Ten scribbling people here in Ross

Are almost never at a loss. Erika

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE CREATIVE WRITING GROUP

I do not consider myself a writer; certainly not a creative writer. In a weak moment I was persuaded to join the Creative Writing class by the convener.From the outset I endeavoured to produce a piece of work with which I could be satisfied. I could not. Other members of the class wrote fluent prose and competent poetry with great ease. For months though I tried, I could produce little. Though tolerant, the convener was, I’m sure, in despair. My fellow members were encouraging and helpful but to no avail.

Each week I walked in my new county of Herefordshire’s beautiful countryside. Each week I wrote briefly about the walks in a note-book and in my diary. Why could I not expand these notes to a full account of these enjoyable days of solitary walking?

I started writing about something that I was interested in. This work is now known as Rita-ama! I do now write on other subjects but one must start somewhere and one must write! Now that I am perforce an occasional walker, I am more than grateful to our Creative Writing convener, Lesley, for her forbearance and persistence.

Could this craft be another string to my bow in my mature years? Rita 23.07.2009

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Well they weren’t very good really. I had set out with high hopes. Not a smart thing to do and, of course, it didn’t help getting muddled and going to the wrong place!

The kindly soul in the Larruperz patiently heard me out but still insisted that there were no U3A bookings that day or indeed for a goodly number of days to come. And, as she ran the place, it fleetingly crossed my mind that she might be right. But as it was clearly written in my diary – and of course I don’t make mistakes – it was fast becoming something of a mystery.

The fastest way to resolve it was to call on Mr. and Mrs. Stringer who had in the first place introduced me to the whole concept of U3A and in particular the Creative Writing Course.

The quick answer of the Ryefield Centre from them combined with the seemingly even hotter afternoon drained my resolve and I said “well, it is too late now – I’ll go to the next meeting.”

“No not at all” they both said, “you go round there – they are a nice group and you will be welcome”. Shamed into it I went.

The group of ladies in Room 5 fell into a collective silence as I entered and explained that I had till then been less than creative. However they were welcoming and I took my place in the Creative Writing group.

I don’t know quite what I had expected but for the next forty-five minutes I sat in a bemused fashion. Words and sentences buzzed about in the air. Literary thoughts and references – readings and a whole host of creative vibes resonated. But not in me! I sat there thinking – what have I done; why am I here? And when the coffee break came it was really welcome!

And then we were all again playing the tunes of words, and somehow the rhythms eased. Passages were read, ideas exchanged, criticism and laughter filled the time and everything was very friendly and although the room still seemed awash with syllables and I grabbed despairingly at thoughts and phrases I began to feel comfortable to be there. And I enjoyed the flow and I wanted to be part however insignificant and I would happily come again.

So ignoring the first the final impression had been good! Ian

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