Session number 10, 27/09/23

Posted on: 31 October 2023 by Ellen Hutchinson in Creative Writing group

As we gathered for our tenth Creative Writing session at the Belvedere, the atmosphere was marked by the hint of a new season with leaves still more green than orange, and the weather rainy and warm, The Belvedere’s familiar mint-blue walls were a welcome space to reside. There was discussion about whether it was jacket or coat weather, pork pie interludes, and literary podcast appearances. Though smaller than some previous sessions, the group was a balanced mix of intimacy and shared creative energy, welcoming a total of six participants.

Ellie McAdam started off with her SF short story Efficiency, OD, Emotional_Syntax a narrative where logic and reason dominate, leaving a void of emotion. The piece is part of McAdam’s wider work The Utopia of We which acts as a response to We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. McAdam’s controlled and clever writing shone a spotlight on the essence of humanity by exploring its absence, which both SF enthusiasts and novelists in the group enjoyed.

Saul Leslie followed with A Working Title I Want to Change a memoir-esque piece that provided a poignant glimpse into the life of a master’s student working a mundane retail job set in 2013. The piece was both bleak and humourous, focusing on themes such as food waste and intellectual pursuits during dull moments. The narrator seemed relatable, funny, and almost haunting (especially to those with previous customer-service experience amongst the group). The narrative drew comparisons to George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and Edward Chisholm’s A Waiter in Paris though it was generally preferred among the audience to the latter.

Ravenna Christie delved into her dissertation summary, focusing on themes surrounding women’s bodies, sexuality, and violence against queer and women’s bodies. In the discussion that followed, Christie displayed her knack for thought-provoking critiques and questions, leading to engaging conversations about how to expand and enrich her ideas, including the exploration of topics such as masturbation and the grotesque.

Patrick Brennan fittingly concluded the session by sharing the latter half of his short story The Path of Least Resistance. Having had the pleasure of hearing earlier drafts of this story, we eagerly anticipated the sharp wit, heartbreaking humour, and Brennan’s narrative prowess. True to expectations, Brennan’s writing was impeccable, delivered with a consistent, funny, and anxious voice that effortlessly interwove the melancholy and mundane in an engaging, entertaining way creating a narrative that resonated with the group. The text provides a reflective and somewhat melancholic view of how life unfolds over time, with the characters’ lives taking different directions touching on themes of friendship, personal growth, and the choices we make.

The Belvedere, with its comforting ambiance and familiar surroundings, provided the perfect backdrop for a creative exchange of ideas and literary exploration. As we venture into a new season and semester, this session served as a reminder of the endless creative possibilities and the power of storytelling to connect people during times of transition. The meet-up left attendees eager to continue creating, crafting, and anticipating the next session.