NWG Inc’s Blog

NWG Inc poets Barbara Fern and Brian Bell joined with Lyn Leerson from FAW Parramatta and read poetry for Library Lovers Day at Parramatta Library.
Not surprisingly, one day after Valentine’s Day, the emphasis was on lurve and romance.
The lead artist was wonderful singer song-writer Luciano Mesiti who is a popular guest at Parramatta Library.
Luciano (far right) sang a combination of old favourites and his own songs ending with “Love is in the Air”.
Barbara (far left) read her story in sonnets about a bored toddler who lights upon a hidden family romance.
Brian (second right) entertained us with his dry humour on contemporary life.
Lyn (centre) read two love poems by FAW writer Danuta Unzeitig-Zakrzewska.
Sue Crawford (second left) introduced the poets.

Thank you Parramatta Library for the privilege of sharing our work in the community!

Firstly – all the best for the holidays folks!

2010 starting dates: Merrylands Library: 6th Feb :: Mars Hill Cafe: 13th Feb
Venue/time details

NEW Writers’ Group Inc Anthology 2010:
Over the summer weeks, why not write a scene, a poem, a memoir, a story on one of our two Anthology 2010 themes?
Themes: NIGHT/DAY TIME/PLACE
Editor: Carol amos
Open for entries 31st January – 31st March
Remember, space in the anthology is limited – we want works that will fit into two A5 zine pages (equivalent to one A4 page) in a normal font size eg Arial 12 with 2cm margins and room for the title and your name. And room for an illustration if you have one…

Who’s eligible to enter? NWG Inc financial members only.
(NB In 2009 we offered entry to non financial members for a $5 admin fee. There were so few gatherers wanting to submit work who were not members, we have decided to make it members only for 2010.)

NWG Inc Anthology 2010 Entry Form
NWG Inc Anthology 2010 Information Form

Carol Amos of NWG Inc with special guest, George Basha

Many thanks to the gatherers from Merrylands and Parramatta who helped the NWG Inc committee make this day a success.
Our workshops were full to over-flowing.
We wrote about Place with Fiona Wright (Editor, Giramondo Publishing) and discussed some of the finer points of poetry and prose – how we draw the reader into our world.
We got the lowdown on how to market that amazing film script skulking on our computer – plus insight into how George Basha (Writer/Actor/Co-Producer, The Combination) creates a script.
NEW Writers’ Group Inc writers read from their latest Anthology.

Special thanks to Hiba Soueid (Community Development Team Leader) and Pam Coleman (Councilor) from Holroyd City Council for their attendance and encouragement. Todd Williams (Cultural Officer) was a great assistant and mentor in our preparation.
HomeWord 09 was supported by a Community Assistance grant from Holroyd City Council.

Over 400 Haiku from 64 poets were submitted for Riverbeats Live 09.
Entries were numbered and names of writers removed.

We are delighted to announce the following awards:
* “Best Three Haiku by one Writer”
Judged by NWG Inc editors Sue Crawford, Glenn Anderson

Joint 1st Place: Nathalie Buckland and Quendryth Young (Book awards)
Joint 2nd Place: John Bird and Margaret Louise Grace (Certificates)
Commended: Roberta Beary, Lorin Ford, Mark Miller
Also on the shortlist were: Brian Bell, Liz Rule

* “Haiku that best captures the Spirit of Riverbeats”
Judged by Riverbeats Musical Director, Dale Barlow:
Gayle Barbagallo ($100)

For more details please go to our Haiku news page
For winning Haiku go to our Haiku Ezine Page

GO TO OUR HOMEWORD 09 PAGE – FOR Details on OUR WRITERS’ FESTIVAL AT MERRYLANDS LIBRARY
MEET:
Guest writer: GEORGE BASHA – THE COMBINATION
Guest editor: FIONA WRIGHT – Giramondo Publishing
Plus
NWG Inc Anthology Launch
NWG Inc Illustrated Writing Display

Saturday 7th November
Merrylands Library
Cnr. Miller and Newman Streets
9:30 – 3:00 pm

More DETAILS

Hello to all our patient poets. Competition results are on their way soon!

Over 400 haiku from 64 poets were forwarded to Riverbeats directors. Once they’ve identified the haiku they want to use, they work with the musicians and visual technicians to produce an integrated performance. As soon as their list is finalised we’ll advise you.

Meanwhile congratulations to all entrants who have sent us a wonderful collection of the beautiful, the serious and the wry. We hope to create a special page in our ezine for some of your creations (with additional permission of course). More on that later.

sue crawford

Ms Julie Owens, Federal MP for Parramatta opened the ZW Launch on 26th September 09 at the Parramatta Heritage Centre with a vibrant commentary on the development of writing in the community. She drew an interesting parallel between debate on the community’s economic foundations and the value of solid foundations in the community for our writers and other artists. Programs such as ZineWest help new writers develop and enjoy their work, and can be a step on the path to greater success.

Our judge, Fiona Wright of Giramondo Publishing, warmly praised the collection by 33 writers and gave some interesting detail on her appreciation of the winning entries and commendations. She also answered some burning questions from guest editors Felicity Castagna and Lyn Leerson on what exactly are the failings of works that don’t ‘quite make the cut’ at Giramondo Publishing.

Fiona Wright announced the following results for ZW 09:

First: Glenn Anderson for his story “Moroney” (Cash Prize:$400)
Second: Peter Porteous for his poem “Confessional” (A year’s subscription to HEAT)
Third: Luke Rule for his story “The Insomniac Uprising” (Book from Giramondo Publishing)

Commendations:
Denise Patricia Aldridge for her poem “Sestina for my Grandmother”
Brian Yatman for his poem “Wrong Place”
George Toseski for his poem “Homes”
Diana Tjoeng for her story “From Different Lands”

Diana Tjoeng and George Toseski received the NWG Inc Editor’s award for their contribution to present and past ZW editions. Diana was given a copy of Award Winning Australian Writers 09 and George received David Malouf’s latest work “Ransom”.

The works by the three prize-winners will be posted on NWG Inc’s Ezine later this month.

All ZineWest writers, friends and the general public are welcome to the

ZineWest Launch 09
Saturday, 26th September 1:00 – 3:30 pm
Parramatta Heritage Centre (Seminar Room, downstairs)
Church Street Parramatta – beside Lennox Bridge, opposite Riverside Theatres
$5 Entry Keep the ticket for your door prize!

1:00 pm: Drinks and finger food
1:30 pm: Ms Julie Owens, MP will open launch followed by…
Readings, Judge’s talk and Prizes, Readings, Acknowledgements

4:00 pm you are invited to join us across the road at
Mars Hill Cafe, 331 Church Street
for more readings from ZW09 entrants and open mic

Parramatta City Council and New Writers’ Group Inc
announce that two prizes will be awarded for Haiku submitted to Riverbeats Live 09

• A Certificate and $100 cash prize
  “For the haiku that best captures the spirit of Riverbeats”
  judged by Riverbeats Musical Director, Dale Barlow.
• A Certificate and book of Haiku poetry
  “For best three Haiku by one writer”
  judged by NWG Inc editors, Sue Crawford and Glenn Anderson

For details and an entry form, please go to our Haiku page

NEW Writers’ Group Inc thanks all the writers who sent entries to ZineWest 09. The editors enjoyed reading the diverse collection of short works. They had the usual struggle to keep the short list short enough for our production budget.

All entrants should shortly receive a letter or an email within the next few days about the results and an invitation to the Launch on Saturday 26th September. Meanwhile, here is the publishing list as promised:

D. P. Aldridge; G. Anderson; Sepy Baghaei; G. Barbagallo; L. Bartolo; E. Bartulovich; D. Bofinger; N. Collis; I. Cosar; K. Davis; C. Dockmagian; J. Douglas; Y. Eckhardt; M. Finlayson; J. Gray; A. Healy; M.K.Kyaw; R. L’ Vano; P. O’Loughlin; R. Pham; P. Porteous; L. Rule; K. Steele; E. Steer; D. Tjoeng; X. Toby; D. Toohey; G. Toseski; E. Trimboli; Teri White; S.G. Williams; B. Yatman; D.S. Zappone.

Sue Crawford
ZineWest Editor