December 2025 – Planning meeting
Saturday 6th Dec, Write Linkers gathered to brainstorm about… well, Write Links. What do we, the members, want to learn about next year? Who would we like to have present professional development sessions? And are there any changes we would like to see in the meetings next year?
In typical style, Yvonne Mes kicked off the meeting with a welcome and a request to pop the cork on the bubbles. We were also celebrating the end of another year; writing together, critiquing together, learning together, and lots of laughing together. The food spread was spectacular, and while we nibbled and sipped we were given time to think about our own vision for Write Links in 2026.
Pens in hand and sticky notes at the ready, ideas flew as freely as the champagne and soon the blank papers on the wall were as full as the food table had been. After a suggestion from Jamie Willis, members were invited to vote for their favourite ideas by adding ticks to any session ideas they liked. Ideas ranged from ‘Picture book things you don’t get told’ to an interactive session to help prepare for school visits with ‘interactive drama creative writing process drama,’ to help with deciding what to cut and what to keep when editing your own work. Gus Gordon, it seems, was volunteered to run a number of sessions just by attending!
Members were also given a space to offer other suggestions about changes or other ideas for the group at large. These included offering a miscellaneous critique group for synopses, short stories, articles, etc; offering a monthly book swap, and the request for an early warning system for upcoming submission opportunities. Watch this space.
Highlights from group members included:
- My first illustrated PB published in June this year! Tx all for the help everyone
- Free writer’s retreat at the library
- QWC Manuscript assessment
- Actually joining a critique group
- Meeting Sally Rippen
And there were many more highlights that included finishing or starting new manuscripts. What a productive, exciting, word-filled year we all had!
Finally, members were offered the opportunity to try their hands at a Write Links Haiku. A few samples are below.
So many kind friends
But a little bit bonkers
Still, they all like books
Pen, ink, paper, type,
Choose a medium to write,
Let the ideas flow! (by Bec Sheraton)
Writing, critiquing,
Many heads better than one;
Bookish Cerberus.
As the meeting wrapped up, some of us made the trek across the river for dinner and a show. To wrap up our holiday meeting, we celebrated MH Flynn (Melissa) and watched A Christmas Blackout light up City Hall. What a jolly way to end our year together.
Cheers Write Links, to a year full of wonder behind us, and a year full of stories ahead.
by Alison McCaffrey
Photo credits: Jamie Willis
