Book:
The book is now in the hands of the printers. I've just checked the proof, and I think it looks fine - and the cover is impressive. I'm expecting to send them out on the afternoon of March 7th, or the morning of the 8th.

I hope to send you all another note about the costing, distribution, etc on Saturday or Sunday. And please, those of you who haven't yet done so, confirm the addresses for me to send your copy.

Organising Challenges
Clare has kindly offered to deal with Challenge 9. As I mentioned before, it seems that we should stick to the method we've been using for assessing entries for the remainder of this year, but (if there is to be one) next year we can adopt a modified version.

I am happy to finish off by coordinating Challenge 10.

Regular challenge:
I have looked carefully at the results Christine sent around, and I have decided that the two best entries (Zena and Laura) were so clearly ahead that they should both have 3 points. The following group is thus reduced 3 members (Ann, Geoff and Sally) having 2 points each.

Members rankings after Challenge 6 (on my scoring of 3 pts for the first, 2 for the next 4 and 1 for every entry):

1: Sally 11pts (including 1 win)
2: Laura 10pts (inc 2 wins)
3: David and Zena 10 pts (inc 1 win)
4: Ann and Christine, 10 pts (but no wins)
5: Margaret 9 pts (inc 1 win)
6: Geoff 9 pts (but no wins)
Catherine, Clare, Di and Chris are on 8 points.

There is no particular significance in the number of wins, although a good score with no wins shows consistency!

With 4 challenges to go, it still could be anyone's crown.

See the Challenges page for details of this month's regular challenge, and for the results of previous challenges!

Longitudinal experiment:
Click here for details.

Group Creative Writing:
Click here for details.

Discussion:
I hope that not too many of you got confused by my initial mix-up of the two stories in the last circular - apologies again for that. But at least the comments about the story "Fit for What?" are beginning to circulate.

I won't be suggesting another topic as Christine has raised the very interesting problem about "bad language" - and this has already been taken up by some of you. It will, I suspect, develop into a good discussion - just put "bad language" into the subject box.

We are now getting towards the end of the season - there are 4 more Alpha days to go, and I will soon be asking the question "Do we go on? If so, in what form?"

However, we must not get diverted on to such discussions until we've finished Challenge 10, and the Longitudinal Exercise and the Group Story are being finalised.

Best wishes to you all

- Olaf