HAVING had several new committee members taking on new roles since the New Year, the March meeting started with an introduction of these members and the roles they had taken on.

Despite the wet and windy evening, there was a good turn out for the meeting where Sue Johnson came to talk on “Writing for Women’s Magazines”. It was soon evident that Sue’s publications were much more widely spread than the many short stories that have appeared in a wide range of magazines over the years. Poet, novelist and short story author, Sue’s first published piece was one that her University Lecturer had suggested she ripped up and started again. Sue funded herself through University by working as a janitor at a supermarket which gave her a rich seam of material to use and build upon in her writing.

Sue has approximately 50 different pieces in circulation at any one time, to stop her worrying about the dreaded ‘rejection slip’. With electronic submission now, she is saving her self a great deal on postage, but has a record of a rejection within 90 seconds of her sending the work to a publisher, who apparently had ‘carefully considered’ the novel within that time.

Sue has written a poem a day for over 4 years and her latest book of poems “Curious Women” about to be published, has been inspired by strong female characters in her own family. She mentors, teaches creative writing and is involved in many festivals, including the Evesham Festival of Words to be held this summer.

The next meeting is on Wednesday, April 5 in Harvington Village Hall with a talk given by Heather Greehalgh on Education Behind Bars. All ladies are welcome to join us as either a visitor or a member. For more information contact Barbara on 870791 or Ali on 879179.

ALISON RUSHWORTH