Hello everyone,

Membership etc.:
I haven’t heard any more from Frances yet, so there is no further change in membership. We have no new members this year – has anyone any ideas how to get one or two more with a genuine need to join a group like this?

Cliffhanger:
I hope you all enjoyed the Cliffhanger story. I find it fascinating to see how a story can develop as it passes through a number of people. In fact, I think it worth considering writing an article for Writers News or perhaps The Link. But now you’ve read it, would you like to send your comments around? Just put CLIFFHANGER in the Subject Box.

Story/article crits:
Last time I suggested that we might do more short story crits. I am attaching one which I wrote about a year ago. I’m not totally happy with it, and I didn’t enter it for any competition, which was the stimulus for writing it. You can make whatever comment you like, but what about a title? I couldn’t think of a good one.

So if you want to make a crit, please do so, but you must also offer a title! Put Story Title in the Subject Box, please.

Incidentally the bit about the looking out of the window and seeing inside the room across the street was actually true! I was only interested in the physics of the situation i.e. that I was the only person who could see in … …

Regular Challenges:
Judging:
I’ve had no adverse comments about my suggested judging system, except that commitments means that one change is necessary. So it is now (until the next changes):

	Date:	Collator:	Commentators:
1:	Sept 21st	Olaf	John, Ann and Di
2:	Oct 12th	Margaret	Sue, Sally and David
3:	Nov 2nd	Margie	Clare, Zena and Geoff
4:	Nov 23rd	Ann	Catherine, Christine and Olaf
5:	Dec 14th	John	Chris, Margaret and Clare

The entries for Challenge 1 will be sent out to you more or less at the same time as this email.

Challenge 2: see the Challenges page for details.

Group Novel:
Click here for more details.

Discussion:
As well as commenting on the Cliffhanger story, I’d like some comments on the proposed group novel. In ALPHA DAY 3.1b I gave an outline of the plot, and there’s a bit more about the characters in ALPHA DAY 3.2b.

What I would like to know is everyone’s reaction to the idea of collaborating to write a novel between us. Please be blunt: it’s going to be challenging, and we need to address any basic problem at an early stage. Everyone may not want to contribute: if so, we may have to limit it to a few members, or abandon it altogether. If we abandon the idea, I shall still go ahead and write it on my own!!! – but I like the idea of collaboration, not least because I value all your various talents (that should help do the trick!)

Please put NOVEL COMMENTS in the subject box.

Please tell me if there’s a real discussion topic you want to raise – otherwise I’ll pick one out of past emails.

Best wishes to you all

- Olaf