Cleckheaton Writing Group (CWG) - 10 Year Anniversary

Hi Peeps

Monday 20th September - I attended Cleckheaton Writers Group for the first time, physically in nearly 2 years.  It was great to be in the beautiful Cleckheaton Library again. A lovely old building in which I've spent many hours. The room in which the group hold their meetings had been decorated and was all shiny and white.  There were familiar faces. Karen of course, plus Alice. There was also a new member Ria.

It felt like I hadn't been away.  Although I did enjoy the Zoom meetings I joined last year and first half of this year.

I even read out aloud the first chapter of "The Cubby-hole", my haunted house story.  As I read aloud I realised that this was the first time I had read aloud in the group in 10 years. 

Yes I've been going 10 years - since September 2011!!

Sadly I haven't got as far in my writing career as older members but that's my laziness to blame.

So what adventures found me at Cleckheaton Writers Group?  Here's the timeline:-

• Summer 2011 - I start writing a few short stories, wanting to get back to writing for the first time since I was a teenager.
• August 2011 - Split from daughters mum and move back in with parents.
• Late August - attend a one day writing workshop hosted by Calderdale libraries and held in the old Halifax library.  Meet fellow writers including Karen, who invites me to Cleckheaton Library as she holds a writing group there.
• September 2011 - Attend my first CWG meeting and love it. Meet new people and find a renewed love of writing.

So what are the highlights over the 10 years attending Cleckheaton Writers Group!!

• Meeting fellow members past and present - so many to mention, but here are a few that made an impression on me. Tony(the priest), Pauline(RIP), Andy, Dawn, Laura, Martin, Amanda, Sarah, Kathy, Alice, Gemma, Steve, Martijn and of course Karen herself who puts her time and effort into it and has done a great job keeping it going so long.

• Meeting some great authors on Group nights out, including Ann Cleeves with Karen in Brighouse.  Andy Mcnab at Cleckheaton town hall with most of the group and Phillip Pullman in Manchester with Dawn.
• 2 fantastic Cleckheaton Literature Festivals we arranged in 2015 and 2016. We worked hard and the festival's were great fun.  There was a good mix of authors and events, workshops and author interviews.  We met some famous authors and made friends with them.  These included Joanne Harris, Ian C Douglas,  Justina Robson, Leigh Russell and the late Helen Cadbury to name a few.

 

• Published 2 short stories in the Cleckheaton Writers Group story anthology "Reflections".  Which included a launch event and gave us all a taste of being a published author.

What have I taken away from my experience in the Writing Group over the last decade?

Well firstly time goes too fast. I need to get moving and get back to writing as everyone is passing me by.  I need to be more confident in my writing.

Although thanks to the group's author trips and attending workshops with members, I'm now doing these alone.  I've attended a few work shops plus loads of author events - usually in Waterstones Leeds.  I have also gone to Derby to larger all day events like Edge-lit and hope to go to UK Ghost story festival in Derby in November.

I hope to continue going to Cleckheaton Writing group but due to work clashes will probably go down to around 6 times a year.

Here's to the next 10 years - where hopefully we are sharing our published work with each other and helping newer writers (for a fee).

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Film Review

 

Hi Film Geeks

Took my daughter (who's a huge Marvel nerd), to see the newest film in their huge franchise. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

As a Marvel comics fan as a child I never came across this character, who's 2nd tier maybe 3rd tier compared to the bigger Marvel icons like Spiderman, Hulk, Fantastic Four etc.  He was Marvel's answer to Bruce Lee in the seventies, and so even I was new to the character.

The film starts in the past when ten mysterious rings are found by Shang-Chi's father - the Mandarin - who doesn't age because of the Rings he wears and gives him magic powers.  His greed for world domination takes over as he wants to be the most powerful person on Earth.

This leads him to searching a powerful mystical land which he finds but is guarded by a magical woman who beats him in a fight. They fall in love and he starts to live a normal life when they have Shang-chi and his sister.  Sadly his wife is killed by people he has wronged and he takes up his Rings again and starts building his army up. In the meantime he trains his young son to fight and be an assassin.

Fast forward to the present and Shang-chi is living a normal life in the USofA with his friend Katy when his father sends his men to bring him home.

Overall - even though Shang-chi isn't a well known character I enjoyed the story, even though it seemed familiar. The action and stunts are great and were worked on by Jackie Chan's stunt team, so the fights look realistic and good. Towards the end there is a bit too much going on but still watchable and it's different to most MCU films as it delves into the magical.  There is even a dragon in the film.

The actors (even though I'd not heard of many) gave good performances and looked to be enjoying what they were doing. Simu Liu was great as the title character,  as was Tony Leung as his father, the Mandarin. 

Ben Kingsley brought some comedy to the film, returning as Trevor Slattery. Last seen in Iron Man 3. His character even more hilarious.

I would highly recommend this film as it took the MCU into different territory, and I hope there is a sequel in the works.  The special effects were very good and the film was miles better than Black Widow.

Bels Score   -   10/10

My Score     -  9/10

September Update!

 

Hi Peeps

Hope everyone is well on this Autumnal morning. Autumn being my favourite time of year of course, as it's the best time to stay in on darker days and read and write.

Reading wise still reading Stormrider by David Gemmell but hope to finish soon.  Now I'm working I haven't had as much time.  Also still getting used to being up early and working all day is tiring me out for when I get home.

Writing wise is the same as above.  Once I get into a routine and not tired I can get back to writing.

Hope your all reading and writing.

Chat soon!

Neil x

Life changes

 

Hi Guys n Gals

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've had a change or two to my lifestyle.

Well one main change really - that being I've got a new office job in Halifax!  Won't say where for now but I'm enjoying it so far.

This means no sleeping in most of the day and now I'm up and out early.  I'm knackered, but getting used to it.

Hopefully soon I will start the gym too, and once I'm in a routine I can also plan in my reading and writing.

So reading wise, I'm behind and still reading Stormrider, which I hope to finish this weekend. I'm not sure about reading Mort now. I hope to read in my lunch in winter time.

Writing wise will be as and when I'm not tired as sat at a computer all day. Maybe on weekends.

I will also try to blog fairly regularly.

Well chat soon!

Neil x

Free Guy. - Film Review

 Hi Folks

Took the daughter to see Free Guy, the new action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds.

Ryan stars as Guy whose life is one big routine, wakes up, dresses the same each day, goes to work at a bank with his security guard Buddy.

Whilst he is in his routine, chaos is happening all around the city.  It is only when he falls for a sunglasses wearer, Molotov girl, he decides he wants change.

He takes some sunglasses from a robber and finds his life view changed.  He is in a computer game and for all his life he has been a background character.

He eventually ends up helping Molotov girl, who in real life is trying to prove she is the real creator of the game and is trying to get original code which is hidden inside the game.

Overall  - this is a fun action film, with great performances from Reynolds and Taika Watiti as the bad programmer.  Some of the plot is predictable,  especially towards the end, but it is a good film if you like computer games like Grand Theft Auto.

Bel Score  -  7/10

My Score  -   8/10

August Quick Update!

Hi Folks

Just a brief update on what I've been up to, and what I hope to do in August.

Firstly I'm still job hunting but had my first face to face interview so fingers crossed.

It will be good practice anyway.

Reading - I should finish Stormrider by the fabulous David Gemmell by the end of the weekend.

Then I can start some Terry Pratchett!

Writing - started off ok, as I started a new short story for Costa Short Story competition.  Sadly after a few days my personal life took over and it came to a stand still.  I was going to try rush and finish the story a few days before the deadline, but realised it wouldn't be my best work so will finish it and send it next year.

Also it's my mum's 78th birthday in August so will be celebrating that.

Anyway hope you're all well and reading and writing.

See ya

Neil

Independent Haul + Plans

 

Hi Peeps

As a writer myself, I know how hard it is to get published, especially by the big publishers.  That is why, when I can, I support friends. Friends who are either self-published or published by small publishers.

The two authors above (Simon and Duncan), I have met at Edge-lit. A mini writer\reader Con based in Derby.  I went in 2018\2019 and both times were great where I met fellow writers and readers.

But there are other writer friends who have books out including Amanda, Steven and Robin. Also not forgetting Ian - see below.

So what I am planning in 2022 is Independent Year.  Hopefully we will be more Independent of Covid and back at Edge-lit.

I intend to read and review my independent books and hopefully have some author interviews and maybe meet one or two in person.

Then when I'm published (somehow) they may return the favour and review my work and ask for an interview.

Keep an eye out for updates!

Apologies to any author pals I've missed.

Neil x