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WOWO Thursday, 2 March 2023

After an exciting Mug of the Month contest last week (Congratulations Anne McManus!), we’re back to normal with a fine selection of poems and short stories.

A discussion on Story Endings promises to provide insights and inspiration, an interesting topic for all members.

Further items may still be submitted – all contributions are welcome!

Have an enjoyable evening, everyone!

Programme:

Discussion Story Endings Open to all Members

Poem The Rape of Luna Kathleen Phelan

Poem Daft Illusion Seamus Keogh

Poem Beauty Carmel Ní Shúilleabheán

Short Story The Accident Joyce Butcher

Short Story The Wood James Conway

Short Story When All Fruit Fails Anne Murray

Other Items Still time to submit more articles Open to all members

WOWO 23 February 2023

The popular Mug of the Month contest takes place in this session – a 50-word text containing the words ARM and HAND. The current ‘Mug’ lives in Boise, Idaho. Where will Mugsy travel to next? Of the seven entries only one is from abroad – but good luck to every contestant!

By contrast, our three prose submissions stem from Galway, Germany and Australia. We can look forward to two short stories by Frank Fahy and Joyce Butcher, and a further extract from Jutta Rosen’s novel in progress, ‘A Normal Couple’, about life in Germany during the Second World War.

Finally, two discussions are scheduled. Alice Munro’s short story ‘The Moons of Jupiter’ is still generating interest, and discussion on this and other stories by the Nobel Prize Winner is being continued.

A further topic that produced animated discussion during the week was the rewriting of past works of literature to bring them in line with modern concepts of ethics. We hope to have more time for this theme on Thursday.

All in all, a programme full of interest and variety which should produce a particularly lively session.

Programme:

Mug of the Month:

  • Earthquake Mary Rose Tobin
  • Beneath Light and Dark James Conway
  • Useless Anne McManus
  • What is left Jutta Rosen
  • Dancing with the Stars Elizabeth Hannon
  • Viva Las Vegas Frank Fahy
  • The Human Condition Mary Hodson

Short Story Putting Shakespeare in the Shade Frank Fahy

Short Story Elected (3) Joanne Dowling

Short Story The Accident Joyce Butcher

Novel A Normal Couple Jutta Rosen

Poem Oops Kathleen Phelan

WOWO Wednesday 15 February 2023

The coming meeting is scheduled for Wednesday instead of Thursday, an exception.

Our session last week ended with an animated discussion about the short story The Moons of Jupiter by Alice Munroe, and it was decided to continue this on Wednesday. The focus will be on story-telling techniques that can be adopted in our own writings.

We look forward to another short story by Frank Fahy, in preparation for the collection he is planning to publish this year. Frank’s stories evolve from human situations and interactions we can all relate to, often with a twist at the end. Polished writing that is both revealing and entertaining.

Michael O’Dowd’s book James Marion Sims – The Facts also aroused interest last week. In it he vindicates a vilified 19th century medical pioneer who healed female slaves while developing his breakthrough surgery. If possible, the author will sign in to give us an insight into the background of his publication.

James Conway’s poem will be given a professional repeat this week, thanks to Anne Murray’s experienced and artistic use of PowerPoint! Two further poems by two accomplished poets will also be enhanced by this treatment.

And finally, we can sit back and enjoy the launch of Bill Geoghegan’s YouTube video of a new song. Congratulations, Bill!

Once again, viewers can expect a varied, lively and profitable two hours of high quality writing from our creative members.

Programme:

Discussion The Moons of Jupiter by Alice Munroe Open to all Members

Short Story Vocations Frank Fahy

Poem Caribbean Colours James Conway

Poem Pandemic Kathleen Phelan

Poem A Valentine Love Story Celia Scully

Song Satchel Molloy – New Video Release Bill Geoghegan

Non-fiction Book James Marion Sims – The Facts Michael O’Dowd

WOWO 09 February 2023

On Thursday we will be talking about Alice Munroe’s brilliant short story The Moons of Jupiter, which our members have been asked to read. They have been invited to select a passage or an aspect of the story that they believe might be useful to them – and other members – in their own texts.The idea is to find techniques, for example the author’s use of time shifts, direct and indirect speech, or descriptive elements, which can help us in our own writing.

A non-fiction book by one of our members is an unusual contribution. Congratulations to Michael O’Dowd, who will tell us how he came to write this book and will read excerpts from it.

Another very welcome special is a new story by Anne Murray. We look forward to it!

Finally, a short story by Frank Fahy, held over from past weeks, and two new poems by Seamus Keogh and James Conway will provide even more material for enjoyment and discussion on Thursday.

A profitable and engaging evening to all our members and guests!

P.S. Sunday week, 19 February, is the deadline for submissions to the Mug of the Month Contest. The key words are ARM and HAND. A text with no more than 50 words should be submitted to annemurraypost@yahoo.ie.

Programme:

Discussion The Moons of Jupiter by Alice Munroe Open to all Members

Poem Queen of the Sidhe Seamus Keogh

Poem Caribbean Colours James Conway

Short Story Big Brother Frank Fahy

Short Story Bicycle Trips Anne Murray

Non-fiction Book James Marion Sims – The Facts Michael O’Dowd