Love my lit club!
Mom and I belong to the Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon. It was established in 1878 (NO, I am not one of the founding members — ha, ha, ain’t you funny). Our flower is the violet and our colors are purple and white. We’ve changed our meeting place and our meeting day, but it’s still once a month and it’s still from 2:15 to 4:15. That time was chosen by the original membership because it gave them time to clean up from the midday meal and get home in time to make the evening meal.
When I was recruited into the club, membership was down to (if I remember correctly) five members. The then-president, who became my first and best Corydon friend, the late and lamented Mildred Kepner O’Bannon, put a sign-up sheet in the library, but insisted on an interview before inviting those signing up to actually visit the club.
Mildred — No, I’ll talk about Mildred another day; there’s too much to tell. 🙂
The club originally was like other clubs: everybody read the same book and then discussed it. We’ve since changed that. We pick a theme at the beginning of the year, and individuals volunteer to give the program or provide the refreshments month-by-month. This year, I’m doing the program in October and the refreshments in June of 2014 (our year begins in July). Our theme this year is Children’s Books. Freddy the Pig, anyone? 😀
We’re ladies of various ages, marital statuses, and interests, but we all get along; we all like each other; we disagree on this or that, but we laugh and care and share. Joining “ladies’ club” was one of the best choices I ever made.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Would you rather be in a group where everyone discusses the same book, or where you can read what you want within a theme but then give a program about it?
MA
Jane
July 22, 2014 at 9:58amSounds so lovely.
I might like to occasionally read the same book, if it was a really great one. But mostly, it sounds llike fun to share what one’s read alone.
Marian Allen
July 22, 2014 at 12:30pmIt brings us into contact with lots of books we would never have come across ourselves. Sometimes some of us HAVE read the book of that month, and the discussion broadens. Sometimes we borrow the book or books the presenter brings in to talk about. I always resented book clubs that assigned me a book to read; I want to read what I want when I want to! heh
Jane
July 22, 2014 at 10:16amAt first, when we write, we don’t know how to weed out all the possibilities and figure out only what NEEDS to be in the story. We’re drunk with power. The words flow. And flow. And flow.
Then we learn to self-edit.
Then we learn to think ahead.
Then we find ourselves able to forge ahead with the right thing the first time.
Then we get old and lose focus. (By we, I mean me.)
Then we begin writing first drafts ONLY in the morning, when one is fresh and focused, and once more, the next thing seems pretty obvious. At least, not unworkable.
I like your suggestions for getting on with writing.
I’ll get back to that WIP any day now. Er. Heh. 😉
Jane
July 22, 2014 at 10:18amUh oh.
I thought I was posting on your last post, not your posted post from today! Can you re-post this post with the correct post???
Huh?
Marian Allen
July 22, 2014 at 12:32pmNope! Only you can do that. 🙂 Cut and paste is our friend. 🙂