Society of Women Writers

Enjoying each other's company at the SWWV Poetry Workshop Members Picnic on Sat, Jan 19 are from left to right: Judith Green, Postal Workshop Coordinator and Editor, Carpe Diem; Paula Wilson, Editor, Spring; Meryl Tobin; Lynne Murphy; Nenia Tavrou and Pat O'Keefe, Editor, Ariadne's Thread.	Postal Workshop Picnic By Patricia O’Keefe The postal workshops annual picnic was held on Saturday 19th January at the Pavilion Restaurant in the Fitzroy Gardens. Six postal workshop members attended and, as we all enjoyed the meeting, I consider the function was a success. The food was good and the conversation lively. The postal magazines of Carpe Diem, Spring and Ariadne’s Thread were well represented. Judith Green, Paula Wilson, Nenia Tavrou, Meryl Tobin, Lynne Murphy and Patricia O’Keefe discussed a range of topics and renewed writing friendships. The weather was agreeable, the restaurant comfortable and the surrounding gardens picturesque as usual. Visible through the glass windows was an eye-catching display of orange flags (the botanical kind), and the sight of other people enjoying the gardens, including an unusual religious procession. They all added interest to the day.
What is a Postal Workshop?: See the information below.	Editors' Information
You think you'd like to join?	Editors' Duties
Now you've joined	Co-ordinator's Role

Do you ever wish you had an interested audience with whom to share your writing? Someone who will listen, make comments beyond, ‘That’s great,’ when you know it’s not.

You can share your work, read what others are writing, make comments, learn from the informed opinions of fellow members of the Society of Women Writers, without moving from your living room.

A postal workshop is a group of approximately eight writers, including the editor or leader of the group, whose monthly submissions are combined into a ‘magazine’ and circulated amongst members. Each member, in turn, receives the package, reads the contributions, makes her comments and, within four days, posts the magazine to the next person on the list. The package finally comes back to the editor who returns the original contributions, together with the comment sheet.

Members of the group are usually at different levels of accomplishment. Beginning writers benefit from the knowledge of those more experienced. The enthusiasm of the new writer encourages those who are inclined to procrastinate. At first, it may seem daunting to produce a short critique for each piece of writing within four days, but most members find it advantageous working to a deadline. Comments are helpful and encouraging.

Contributions can be prose of any genre, or poetry. Currently, two postal workshops are devoted exclusively to poetry requesting two poems each month. The remaining groups accept both prose and poetry.

All contributions should be submitted to the postal workshop editor on A4 paper with wide margins. For prose, double or one and a half spacing, for easy reading. For poetry, two pages only; one poem per page or one two page poem.

All contributions to be accompanied by a SSAE for return of manuscript and comments. The group’s editor will advise you of the date your submission is due – usually the 20^th of the month.