The Writers' Group introduction thread.

[Heeley tyke 10]

July 1st 2007

Ode to a passing cloud

 

This is a very special day

And clean air really is a must

So will we all be healthier

As liberty now bites the dust?

 

"Do as you're told" - not as you please

Is the age old cry

Although you cannot smoke the things

There's plenty you can buy

 

The pubs are fresh and clean now

And sell food like a feast

But hospitals may soon be full

Of the morbidly obese

 

Will they recoup the revenue

Of tax on every puff

Or will the crafty devils just

Increase the tax on snuff?

 

Old men will miss their dominoes,

A beer, a chat, a smoke

And die of fresh air and loneliness

That surely is no joke

 

Where will it end, this nanny state,

What will the fools do next -

Impose a tax on breathing air

And a supertax on sex?

 

 

Observations of a non-smoker.

 

This is a very good satire on the July 1st restrictions on smoking.

I stopped smoking 20 years ago but I still don't object to those who wish to enjoy a cig in a pub or club.

I remember when the majority of people smoked. It was not considered immoral or annoying. Times change, however and we must now await a new ban on a different pastime.

How about banning drinking in public and only allowing consumption of alcohol in one's own home?

Sex can cause heart attacks. How about putting a restraint on the number of times one may indulge in sex on the grounds of 'Health and Safety'?

Overeating can be fatal. What about issuing ration cards that will only allow people to buy as much as they can exist on?

 

This, I know, is written with tongue in cheek... For God's sake, don't let any budding politician decide it's a good idea!

[leatherdykeu 10]

I've only just found this forum, so hello!

 

I write constantly, mostly the tales of a fictional town called Laverstone near London. Many of these are posted publicly on Blogspot as a marketing measure for the books. I also write non fiction, poetry and short fiction.

 

I hope to join in sometime soon.

 

Rachel

[leatherdykeu 10]

I remember when the majority of people smoked. It was not considered immoral or annoying. Times change, however and we must now await a new ban on a different pastime....

 

I concur. I was saying only the other day that as cars cause more fatalities than cigarettes, we should ban those from public places too.

[sarahp 10]

Hi I'm Sarah. I live in Hackenthorpe. I'm on a WEA writers course at the moment and eager to do more! (Anyone know of anything on over the Summer?) My favourite books / authors are:

 

Ray Bradbury

Joolz Denby

Iain Banks

Martin Millar

Jeff Noon

Robert Holdstock

and lots of others besides!

 

I like the urband fantasy genre - takes reality and stretches it a little..

 

I'm writing a novel - kind of supernatural thriller meets road protesters..

 

I really enjoy writing!!!!!

[pattricia 575]

Hi I'm Sarah. I live in Hackenthorpe. I'm on a WEA writers course at the moment and eager to do more! (Anyone know of anything on over the Summer?) My favourite books / authors are:

 

Ray Bradbury

Joolz Denby

Iain Banks

Martin Millar

Jeff Noon

Robert Holdstock

and lots of others besides!

 

I like the urband fantasy genre - takes reality and stretches it a little..

 

I'm writing a novel - kind of supernatural thriller meets road protesters..

 

I really enjoy writing!!!!!

Ray Bradbury is also one of my favourite authors sarah. Good luck with the novel.

[stuartryder 10]

Hello, I'm Stuart, a poet, and I moved to Sheffield at the end of March.

 

Have only written one thing since then - I'm still in a settling-in period here so not got much on the writing brain. A couple of neat ideas in the pipeline though, I hope!

 

See y'all round

 

Stu

[leatherdykeu 10]

 

I like the urban fantasy genre - takes reality and stretches it a little..

 

 

I write urban fantasy; the supernatural rubbing shoulders with the mundane.

[maramcp 10]

Hello there. Been in Sheffield a while, but am a recent SF visitor. Work from home editing and proof-reading (very hit and miss job, you get nothing for weeks and then 3 rush jobs at once) and also transcribe medical notes and produce PowerPoint documents for a surgeon friend of mine (which is fine but he is a colorectal surgeon, no more need be said). Still looking for a more steady workflow, but in the meantime am toying with retraining or selling out to the ratrace, as I have a large mortgage to pay on my own now.

[tatty dumps 10]

Hello there. Been in Sheffield a while, but am a recent SF visitor. Work from home editing and proof-reading (very hit and miss job, you get nothing for weeks and then 3 rush jobs at once) and also transcribe medical notes and produce PowerPoint documents for a surgeon friend of mine (which is fine but he is a colorectal surgeon, no more need be said). Still looking for a more steady workflow, but in the meantime am toying with retraining or selling out to the ratrace, as I have a large mortgage to pay on my own now.

 

Welcome maramcp I am a new member myself, doing my third degree but love anything to do with reading and writing. I have read some brilliant stories on the Forum and it makes me a little unsure of my meagre writings. Here's to when we see our name in print.

[leatherdykeu 10]

Hi there maramcp

[maramcp 10]

Sounds interesting, Leatherdykeuk. I am summoning up the courage to do some more writing, but today an trying to find my desk under mountains of paperwork. Back later.

[Peacock Lady 10]

Hello. I'm new here, although I have posted in a couple of other threads. I've written a bit, worked as an editor, and now am a full-time mother who still does not have enough time for writing!