Wordsmiths of Melton

Interesting day today talking about copyright and subplots within a longer work. It seems that I had incorporated these into Kundela without really planning it so I'm happy with that aspect of the novel.

What came out of our discussions is the need to plan a pitch to a prospective publisher and have it ready to pitch to the group next month, so that will be interesting.

Thanks for dropping by.

Wordsmiths of Melton Thank Merlene Fawdrey

Had a great day again today with a few members unable to attend but there was unanimous agreement that our Anthology was a success. Frank Ince went on to say that without the dedication and hard work by Merlene Fawdrey there may not have been a book and we agreed that much is owed to this wonderfully creative lady.

With work commitments restricting the a few, today we were a small but productive group.

Thanks to all for your critiques, it sharpens my pen.

Youth Suicide ABC Four Corners 10th Sept 2012

Last night we left the television fixed on the ABC after Australian Story, something we don't often do as I am a compulsive channel surfer. The programme dealt tastefully with Youth Suicide and the dramatic growth in the number of these deaths this century. To my mind four main points were shown, sure there were more stories and reasons than a meagre four dot points, but this is what I took from it.

1. Suicides result from a feeling of low self worth brought on by a raft of different causes.
2. Most parents and siblings are unaware of the exact nature of the problems the victim is trying to deal with.
3. Everyone is affected, no-one is spared from the grief, or the feeling of helplessness after the person has died.
4. Your friends can't help you once your dead. There is no Internet or mobile contact after death. It is final.

Interesting as an adjunct to this documentary was a report on the news that the government has allocated a paltry sum to help address the issue. Come on you politicians, the amount quoted is a drop in the bucket to what I'm sure your constituents would deem adequate.

So what can we do, those of us who have made the passage into adulthood?

• Try to engage more.
• Raise awareness.
• Set a better example.
• Display more tolerance in our everyday lives.
• Remove the pressure on our children to excel.
• Man hugs, laugh but it may be worth a try.
• An I love you, from a father to a son, or daughter isn't hard to say or do, so do it more often.
• Become a friend on your child's facebook and twitter accounts. Participate in their conversation but don't spy or preach.

We can't blame social media for being an instrument of evil, for as much as it can be a tool for bullies, there are as many or more messages of love and friendship on the Internet. As parents we have to deal with the world our children are living in, and we need to adapt to their ways.

Terry L Probert

Melton Artbeat Festival

I got a little cheeky at the festival yesterday. I attended with the Wordsmiths of Melton and we had a great day with nearly every member dropping in to help out promoting our groups. Councillor Sophie Ramsay called past and during our photo opportunity I explained that I intended to launch the most anticipated novel of this century at the Melton Library in December. I didn't think to tell the throng that it was me who anticipated it most.

Kundela Update Time

Much to report about the progress on Kundela I spent last Monday with Merlene Fawdrey developing a publishing and marketing plan for a series of book launches in December this year. Once we decided on a plan the work has started and I am well on the way to completing about four things on my to do list of about fifty items.

Kundela will be published by Probert Consulting in both paper back and E-book. You should find it appearing during the first week of December making it a great present at Christmas.

For $24.95 This is $5.00 of the rec retail, I can forward you a personally signed pre-publication copy, all you need to do is e-mail your requirements to terry.probert@bigpond.com remembering to include your phone contact details and a posting address.

Les Gillespie's Gold, story update

Yesterday my writers group Wordsmiths of Melton reviewed and critiqued my first chapter and I'm delighted with the response. Apart from a few punctuation errors and an occasional long sentence, there is not a lot to do to correct the first draft.

Here are a few excerpts from the group's comments.

• You have managed to capture my imagination and I am dying to know more. A receipt and a rhyme - intriguing. Julee Stillman

• A great into to the story, and look forward to reading more. Sonia Doherty

• Everyone loves a mystery especially one that has an air of excitement and danger attached to it. You have stated the answers lay in the cryptic wording and it is my guess that most readers will attempt to solve the puzzle and relate their assumptions to the circumstances as they occur. Frank Ince

• Well old chum, the Wordsmiths has done you a power of good. This is the best piece of writing from you that I've read so far. A very good start to what I feel will be a great strong story.     Les Stillman

I'm trundling along with the next chapters and have set myself a task of about four thousand words a week for September which will take me into the first quarter of the book. Exciting times on the keyboard.

You can get an insight into the ghost of Les Gillespie (without me giving the story away) in previous posts on my blog.

Thanks for the visit.

Old Man

Not a lot of inspiration this week other than a rhyme that began early one morning and went to paper and into the computer today. It needs more work so I will develop it more later.

He was grey

He was old

Lines of his face

His story told
 

 

Spotted with age

Hands bony thin

And his life’s story

Written on him

 

 

In his mind

Memory so sharp

No tears in these eyes

Love beats his heart
 

On the porch

He sits all alone

Tea in a cup

Fondling a phone
 

It rings and

He answers again

Smile on his lips

Hello old friend
 

He shuffles

And he creaks

No time for grumbles

Friends he seeks
 

 

In the morning

From quarter to ten

You’ll see him

Phoning a friend
 

He’s laughing

Another story to tell

Old friends denying

Entry to hell
 

Is he lonely

Thinks he might

Kisses her photo

And turns off the light