Hi Alphas,
Welcome to Alphaday 8. We’re trundling along the well-worn track from where sparks every now and then splutter out to spur us into action with our writing. Today we’re sending out another bouquet of Alpha stimuli prepared by Alphas for our benefit and enjoyment. We are, of course, grateful for everybody’s cooperation in preparing the following agenda:
- This Bulletin from me
- The results of the 2018 current affairs interview from Sally
- The collated entries for the ‘Scene from a Play’ challenge from Chris
- The brief for challenge 8 from Sarah
- The Alpha Log from Sally
- A Writers’ Read prompt from Morgen
- A showcase piece presented by Suzanne (provided there’s a writer in our group who’s prepared to share a piece of writing with us!)
There’s plenty there, I think, to provide you with inspirational material for you writerly activities. It is intended to make you think, and – even more importantly – to make you want to share your thoughts on matters that stir your interest with the rest of the group.
Alpha news:
Jackie has been admitted to our ranks. I’ve added her to the address list for this agenda and you should try to make sure she’s included in any group emails you send out from now on. I’ll send out the amended list of members and their addresses after I’ve posted this Bulletin.
Jackie is a teacher and lecturer from Harrogate in North Yorkshire. She’s a keen writer and her work in progress includes working on a screenplay, a novel and a poetry anthology. Jackie will join as an observer for the rest of this season. She’ll participate as she feels able for the time being and we hope she’ll like our activities and become a full member for Season XIV.
Olaf:
We’re all aware that Olaf’s eyesight is causing problems with too much work on the computer. Nevertheless he battles on with the Alpha functions of recruitment and PR. He has asked me to send out a call for help with these duties. Please, could an Alpha member come forward and offer to assist Olaf with this work to take some of the burden off his shoulders. Olaf is only to happy to explain what is needed, and the amount of work involved is far from heavy… unless of course, your eyesight is very poor. So: please, tell Olaf you’ll help!
General news:
My habitual excitement about honours and awards dished out to artists for their wonderful cultural contributions to make this world a great place to live has somehow fizzled out by now. I’m not sure why, but the film Oscars don’t fire me with enthusiasm for their cultural value. Perhaps it’s because there’s too much of it, I don’t know. I expect other Alphas may well find some cause for admiration in all the glittery glitz.
We’ve done our alternative history speculations and – however outrageous our theories – they aren’t that far removed from what’s within the scope of reality. That, I think, is the most disturbing part of it and I’ll leave that subject there.
For encouragement I’ll opt for the story about Guido van Helten, a street artist who excels in mural art – or what some call graffiti. (Think: Banksy.) Guido van Helten paints huge murals that can be seen from afar and which represent something of importance for the community where the painting is. At the moment he’s decorating a corn silo in a tiny village in South Australia, and already the community has been strengthened by the presence of this work of art in that a café with a view of the silo has opened and is thriving.
Art is definitely good for you.
Christine