Writers' group - plus one

Over the years, there have been many occasions when I have rocked up at a writers’ group laden with numerous items and belongings … never before with my dog! Given his age, his frailty and the hours he had spent alone at home, I decided tonight would be his first meeting. 
 
My cheery ‘hello’ to those assembled around the meeting table was overshadowed by their reaction to me carrying an empty padded bed-basket and announcing I had a guest. My return journey from the car was filled with squeals of delight, as I presented my guest to his waiting audience. Boy, did he receive some fussing from the ten other members. Though I was reminded by the secretary that first and second guest visits to group are free, membership subs might be deemed necessary in future. Anyway, Teddy behaved himself all night and was offered an invite for February’s meeting.
 
Once proceedings began, I read aloud my offering for this month’s group exercise: a piece about George Eliot. I read a fictitious letter addressed to her dear friend Caroline Bray, highlighting a difficult moment in Eliot’s life. I received praise in return and much satisfaction, as I nearly never wrote the piece due to a busy schedule. It just shows that the right idea, allowed to mature before writing, is always a winner. Good job I sat at my desk late into the night on Sunday, polishing the piece. Several other members contributed their pieces too and as always, I was surprised by the range of offerings from poetry, essay to short stories.
 
During the evening, I submitted my poems for the groups’ Annual Poetry Competition – so the new year is off to a flying start!

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