In clarification of an item in last month's issue, Nancy Parker has solicited a $50 gift certificate from Kinko's and submitted it as a door prize for SCWW's fall conference. Each chapter has been asked to contribute an assortment of prizes. We all need to be out there beating the bushes for those goodies that will make the conference a special treat.

Considering our meeting fell on the day after the fourth, we had a good crowd. I counted twelve, including two guests: Meredith McGinnis, a former member, and Beth Presswood, who was referred by Jim Poindexter.

The biggest subject of discussion was "Where can we go to eat besides Stax?" [Starving artists we ain't! - Ed.] Can't get a scotch, costs too much, etc. Phil Arnold had done a lot of research and came armed with several menus. Final vote was for Buffalo's, a restaurant on Haywood Road.

Be sure to come out to our next meeting August 2!

While most of us find our Thursday evening critique fest most ideal, others find it a writer's block. Are there any writers out there who would consider forming a daytime chapter? Please contact Gail Blanton.

In another warm and wonderful vignette, Pat Stewart enlarges her family and her usual themes by writing on "The Circle of Life." Inspiring her this time are her daughter-in-law's grandfather, Colonel Winston Wallace, her own great-granddaughter Haley, and a considerably inspired source itself-Scripture.
Pat does an admirable job of using the profound and poetic lines of Ecclesiastes 3 as the framework for her reflections on the ending of one life and the beginning of another. An anecdote about her clan's annual tomato contest gives us a funny and touching glimpse of the Colonel-and of how celebrating everyday moments turns into traditions that turn into ties that bring and keep a family together, even as life circles on.
Pat's readers offered a few suggestions: give a clue as to at what point in time the Colonel enters your life; don't feel compelled to include all the lines from Ecclesiastes (perhaps end with "a time to dance"); rethink the allusion at the end to the Colonel as a military figure since that isn't the context in which we see him in this piece. Finally, Bulldog gives a Pat on the back for staying on story and away from tempting detours that would distract from the theme. It's nice to come full circle.

Compared to other chapters, the Greenville group is under represented in poets. We are fortunate Carol Jellen joined our ranks this year, and she helps keep us exposed to this form of writing. "Promenade," her most recent work, is a wonderful concept about her changing shadow as she walks a long distance and the sun moves higher and lower through the sky. We all agreed there were many good lines with strong images. Most of the critiquing centered on two things. Perhaps the title could be changed to allow the reader earlier understanding that one's shadow was the unnamed companion. More critical was the fact that part of the poem rhymed and part did not. It needs to be all one way or the other. The Professor suggests non-rhyming. At least that way Carol won't have to mess with the meter problems. Work on this, and you have a winner.

Long years ago when I was in seminary at Erskine, my cruel task masters made me do a lot of writing. Reams of paper rolled under the flying keys of our old Smith Corona. Fortunately for us, Carolyn did a lot of typing for my classmates as well, earning a tidy sum that helped pay the bills through three lean years. With all the required writing, I just wasn't about to sling more ink writing sermon manuscripts. My "Sermons" file still contains many of my notes, including one sermon penned on cigarette carton cardboard while I worked in a gas station.
And so, through 3 years of seminary and 6 years of full time pastoral ministry, I probably produced no more than a half-dozen sermon manuscripts. But when my annual turn at filling in for a vacationing pastor rolled around this year, I had before me a complete manuscript for the first time since my ordination sermon (June 13, 1983). I have you folks to thank for it. Your thoughtful, professional critique and the encouragement of your camaraderie has persuaded me that any story worth telling is worth writing, reading, and rewriting until it really comes together. A quarter century ago I was persuaded that I knew something worth saying. Thank you all for helping me say it more clearly.

Printed Matters is the newsletter of the Greenville Chapter, SCWW, which meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at The Open Book, 110 S Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC.

Thanks to our contributing writers & news reporters: Pat Stewart, Nancy Parker, and Phil Arnold.

Copyright 2001 by Leland Beaudrot, Editor. Contributing writers retain all rights to their work.