Hello everyone,

General:
And how many of you have this amazing woman from Margie’s past as you screensaver now? Thanks Margie and I hope you all found the picture triggered something in your imagination.

Group story:
Well I now have seven people who want to be involved in this year’s story. Ever one to try something new, I’m looking at building up a series of short stories about a central character who will be introduced in the first chapter/story that I send round. I’m not sure how this will work because unless you can get inside the head of the central character, it might be difficult to write a short story about them. But we’ll see. The first chapter/story should be on its way in a few days!

Christmas Quiz:
As ever we will be having a Christmas Quiz and our genial quizmaster, Olaf, will be sending that round to people in the next day or two. I have no idea what dastardly puzzle he will set this year but, like you, I shall let the little grey cells do some overtime to see if I can solve what-ever-it-is. Thanks Olaf.

Challenges:
Now after Maggie’s challenge, and with the results of Tara’s guilty challenge, we have John’s challenge. Again, one I think should tickle a few brain cells. Thanks John. And don’t forget that all the deadlines shuffle a bit because of the festive season.

Log:
I’m somewhat apprehensive about this alphaday log as last time was so amazing. But when you remember that for most of us this is a pastime – it has to fit around work and other commitments – then there will be amazing Logs and more mundane logs. But that doesn’t mean that any entry is ‘better’ than any other. I have always been thrilled by the level of writing activity among our number.

Loo:
Thanks to Rosemary for sitting there at her machine (can’t you picture it?) knocking out slogans like a good ‘un! Everything between satnavs and sticky finger wipes… As for Chris, least said soonest mended, my Ma used to say. But a bonus point to both.

Finally...:
...Which brings me to the comments made by Julie in the last Log. They made me think about the ideas we have and the possibilities that exist but never get anywhere. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever do anything with it,” Julie said of her notes about this recent period in her life. I understand that. People know of my novels all hiding under the bed (actually, I’m not sure where they are after the last house shift!). I’d really like to move them on somehow but have no knowledge of how to do it.

I often think that there are skills and experiences among us that might be useful to others. Somehow, I’d like to work out how we might do that. Not so I can get these novels published but because I’m sure there are others seeking personal guidance through some writing problem – instead of just reading an item in WN.

I’m not sure if and how we might make this work. What I don’t want to do is have people out there frightened off at the prospect of having a mailbox full of pleas for help. I know I’m guilty of mailing one or two people when I want a second opinion or know they’ve done something that I want guidance about. I’m also aware that the level of skill someone has can be exaggerated. I have a pal who is often asking me about producing leaflets and the like on the computer (Office publisher). Because I can do so and she can’t, I’m an ‘expert’!

So my question to you all is this. Should we try to develop a pool of skills that the rest of us can use? And if we do, what are the skills we’d like to develop through that pool of knowledge? And how might we share them? I hope this will start conversation – subject strip “skills”

And finally finally...:
May I wish all of you an enjoyable time with those you want to be with at whatever you call Christmas. Ho ho ho…

Best wishes all

- David