The Writers of Glen Innes Severn, affectionately known as the WOGIS writing group, are gearing up to launch their second anthology of works this weekend at the Glen Innes and TAFE Public Library.
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The writers group is currently sporting around six members, all of whom have contributed to the second instalment of the National Library registered serial publication.
“We have been going now for four years and this will be our second book,” veteran group member Mike Gilbert said.
“It takes that long to build up to because we’ve got to get it printed and published and there is a lot of work involved.”
The group launched their first publication in 2013 and have been gradually compiling content towards second and third publications since that time.
Mike said the group has been working towards direct and accessible anecdotes, prose and poetry reflecting life in the New England area, as well as the people who have contributed.
“It is usually fairly simple, direct and straightforward,” he said.
“We don’t go in for very long writings; it is usually fairly short pieces, about half a pages to a page perhaps of poems, anecdotes and short stories. Nothing too long or too abstruse, it is all fairly straightforward material.”
Mike said much of the collection has come from writing exercises and group workshopping efforts, encouraging the group to put pen to paper.
“We write with a time limit of say 10 minutes and we may or may not use that in the book because we produce a lot of items,” he said.
“After that we get a challenge, like homework, to produce something for the next meeting in which we may get four or five items which we email out to our members so they can come back with something and read that to the group at the next meeting.”
“It gives people confidence and tends to stop writers block because you have a subject, something you to get your teeth into.”
Mike said the group are always looking for new members to add their literary voices to the group which has inspired a number of members to go on to further publications.
“One lady has gone off to write children’s books, another one is doing historical writings and sometimes they move out of town, but at the moment that is the rough number we have.”
“It is very encouraging and supportive. We tend to try to avoid anything negative in any criticisms of comments we make, if comment on a work it is to suggest something to be added to it or to suggest a way to go further with it.”
The group will be launching their latest publication from 10am at the Library and have invited local bookworms to come along and share in the groups achievement.
