Durban - Is there a book in you? The South African Writers’ Circle (SAWC) can help you find out.
Anyone can write a book. Don’t believe those who say writers are born, not made. Writing is first and foremost a craft, and crafts can be taught.
How could the SAWC assist you? Here is a simple example.
A few years ago, an elderly man, Peter, contacted a long-serving member of the Circle, Philip.
Peter said he wasn’t a writer. He was an engineer. He had been right through World War II in the tank corps, had had a successful career in industry, and was now retired. He wanted to write his memoirs so that after he died, his family and their children and their children would know a bit about his interesting life.
Philip told him to have a go. So Peter sat down and wrote his memoirs, then asked Philip to edit them, clean up any errors, and so on.
When Philip read the manuscript, he was surprised. Peter had written it just as if he was talking to his family. No big words, just a natural, conversational style.
It came straight from his heart, in plain and simple language. Philip fixed a few mistakes, re-arranged some chapters and included a few photographs Peter had given him. Then he got it typed and bound.
Peter was delighted, and gave a copy to each branch of his family. Not very long afterwards, sadly, Peter died. But he had had a good innings. And he had left behind him a proud record of his life in the form of his memoirs, a handsome book which his widow keeps by her bedside.
And all his grandchildren will one day read it. And they will give it to their children to read. Although this book was not published in the normal sense of the word, it succeeded in reaching its natural readership, who treasured it.
There are, of course, far more advanced and elaborate writing forms which may attract you.
Most people think a novel is the obvious place to start. Not true. A short story is easier and more practical for a beginner. It doesn’t require months and months of labour before you finish it. But how do you start off? How do you learn from your mistakes?
Well, first, as suggested above, it would be wise to join the South African Writers’ Circle.
The SAWC, a non-profit organisation, was founded in 1960, and though it is Durban-based, it has many members nationwide and even in other parts of the world. Through its monthly meetings and its monthly journal, its functions are to provide a helping hand to beginners who want to learn to write, to provide a centre where established authors can discuss problems relating to their calling, and to provide a social club where people of all races and cultures who love literature in all its branches can meet in a non-threatening environment and enjoy each other’s company.
One of the SAWC’s proudest claims is that it is the only writers’ society in South Africa that for the whole of its 57 years has run a monthly writing competition for its members. This competition covers writing in all its genres, such as fiction (short stories and longer versions), non-fiction such as article-writing, poetry, drama, film and TV script-writing, and writing for the youth and young adults.
The competitions are judged by highly competent professional writers (by invitation), most of whom are not members of the SAWC. An important rule of the competitions is that while the judges’ names may be known, all entries are anonymous. The judge writes an objective “crit” of each entry, with advice for possible improvement.
Although the monthly meetings (held in Westville) normally feature a well-known speaker and then a workshop, at least once or twice a year the SAWC arranges “bring and share” meetings when members read out their own pieces of writing. Several times a year, the SAWC organises “workshop weekends” at hotels or other centres within reach of Durban. Certain aspects of writing are discussed, with invited speakers who are acknowledged masters of their particular genre. In this way, it is hoped that beginner and experienced writers will enjoy a pleasant social time while absorbing something new.
The SAWC welcomes new members. They may be ordinary members or may elect to offer themselves to serve on the committee.
Some members who are not writers belong to the SAWC simply to foster their love of the great treasury of English literature, and to share with others their joy in reading it.
The next ordinary meeting of the circle will be held on Saturday, November 18, at 11am.
For details of fees or for any other information, please write to Brigitta Simpson (chairwoman) ([email protected]) or telephone Patrick Coyne at 031 572 3077.