Issue 1: Launched!

Hi everyone! Just a quick note to say that the first edition of 'The Verso Review' (see the sidebar) went on sale today! You can order this first edition, or take out an annual subscription via the webpage!

The theme for this first issue was 'Time', and the submissions we received were both phenomenal in terms of written content, and hugely creative when it came to interpretting the theme. It was so hard to limit the number of selections that made it through, there were some really brilliant works in there, but unfortunately only a limited number of pieces we could print. I'd really like to thank everybody who did submit work to tVR magazine, successful or otherwise - you guys rock! And I hope you'll consider submitting again in the future. The theme for our second edition will be 'Space'.

Congratulations to those that did get selected to appear in the debut edition of tVR magazine! The list of successful writers includes:

• Jim Bainbridge


• Cath Barton


• Andrew Campbell-Kearsey


• Lewis Humphries


• Simon Leyland


• Chris Sav


• Philip Webster

You can read the selected poems and short stories by the authors listed above, as well as a short biography on each writer, in the debut edition of tVR magazine ('Issue 1: Time'). Purchase a copy on the website, only £3!

Anyone for TEA?

One of the best things about taking part in NaNoWriMo over the last month, besides ending up with over 50,000 words of brand new written novel, is the meeting new people with similar interests. I can't begin to tell you how many times previously my announcements that I was to spend the whole day writing were met with a singular, and somewhat demotivational, "why?". So spending a few hours with like-minded fiction-writing fanatics as we all put pen to paper (or, more accurately finger to keyboard key!) was not only a novel approach to getting some work done (forgive the pun), but also a hugely enjoyable and effective one. On average, I managed to get down between 2,500 and 3,000 words a session. There's something about not being able to stop writing while everyone about you proficiently taps away the words. After all, nobody wants to be the one staring out of the window and mumbling something about 'writer's block'.

Having spent a fair amount of time looking for local writers groups, it seems that writing isn't the only thing that us Essex NaNo-ers have in common, either. Having chatted to a number of members at the different events, it seems that many of us have not had any luck with finding any groups locally at all. From this, there had been a few mumblings and mentions of continuing our own little NaNo Writing group throughout the year, and now one Essex NaNo-er has taken the full leap and has set something up.

'The Essex Authors' (or, 'TEA' for short) is a brand new writers group for authors (at both fledgling and sophisticat level) all over Essex. Made up of individual 'chapters' (that is, smaller groups at different geographical areas), the group is an amalgamation of writers from all over the county.

Fresh on the tail of my recent experience with ML-ing for this year's NaNoWriMo, I thought I'd give it a shot and volunteered to run the Maldon chapter (my nearest group area). TEA itself is still in its very early infant stages, so it will take some time to build up - but with a little publicity and enthusiasm, here's hoping it grows up to be a fully formed success. At any rate, as each chapter begins to build then automatically the group will. It's quite exciting to be a part of something so new. So, if anybody lives in the Essex region and is interested in joining a chapter of TEA, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can also find the TEA website here.

Woo!

50,000!

NaNoWriMo Novel: Extract

...

Millie Battle fastened the last of the mismatched oversized buttons on her patchwork swing overcoat, and turned her face into the rain as the sound of a car motor breathing its exhaust fumes into the cool night air approached from somewhere in the dark.

The grey tarmac sparkled black under the spitter and spatter of the autumnal downpour; high gentle sprays of water casting thick over the pavements and pedestrians at every approach, and every passing, of vehicles on the road. Darkened shop window displays and worn painted bricks lined both sides of the street, humming out into the twilight with an odd sense of abandonment. This was the high-street after closing hours, with lofty metal streetlamps hanging their heavy orange haze, and casting the run of the street in a yawning glow.

Some of those passing would be on their way into town, Millie mused, back to the drone and hub where they would be reunited with loving homes and families; back to the burl and comfort of a thick carpet and a wallpapered living room, where greetings came in the form of a child's happy laughter, or the warm embrace of a lover's hug.

...

In the News

Four days in, and so far so good! As predicted, there has been an initial surge of activity as ideas and inspiration abound. I really want to get back to working on my wordcount just now, so this is just a quick update to share some news.

As part of this year's NaNoWriMo, my co-ML (Stu) and myself arranged for a Kicking Off Party to celebrate the start of this year's challenge. In hindsight, Hallowe'en perhaps was not the best choice of days to host it, but the party was held on Sunday 31st October a mere few hours before the frantic scratch and scribble of writing began. The location we chose was a local Caffe Nero shop, with staff who were both enthusiastic and accomodating, and who had an ideal space for us to use in a tucked away corner upstairs. And what a brilliant location it turned out to be. And the turnout was amazing - guests even included a journalist and photographer from the Essex Chronicle newspaper! And today, the article came out.

This screenshot was taken of the online story, but it's been printed in today's paper, too! We all had a fabulous time, and I'd just like to thank Caffe Nero for letting us use their premises for a few hours!

And We're Off!

"the time invites you; go"

- Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Good Luck!

Happy Hallowe'en!

Ghost House

by Robert Frost

I dwell in a lonely house I know

That vanished many a summer ago,

And left no trace but the cellar walls,

And a cellar in which the daylight falls,

And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow.

O'er ruined fences the grape-vines shield

The woods come back to the mowing field;

The orchard tree has grown one copse

Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops;

The footpath down to the well is healed.

I dwell with a strangely aching heart

In that vanished abode there far apart

On that disused and forgotten road

That has no dust-bath now for the toad.

Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart;

The whippoorwill is coming to shout

And hush and cluck and flutter about:

I hear him begin far enough away

Full many a time to say his say

Before he arrives to say it out.

It is under the small, dim, summer star.

I know not who these mute folk are

Who share the unlit place with me -

Those stones out under the low-limbed tree

Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar.

They are tireless folk, but slow and sad,

Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad, -

With none among them that ever sings,

And yet, in view of how many things,

As sweet companions as might be had.