Anarchist writers bloc meeting notes, 28/6/10

ANARCHIST WRITERS BLOC - MONTREAL CHAPTER

Anarchist Writers of Fiction

First meeting and beer tasting, 28/6/10, Bar L'Amerie a Boire

Four writers present: Bruno, Layla, Yannick and Norman

WE agreed to 3 propositions/suggestions to submit to the whole group for rapid thought and discussion.

A. To publish an anthology of new anarchist fiction:

1. let's first shop it to PM Press, and other potentially interested

publishers, such as Roseway (via Fernwood Press), Arsenal Pulp Press, AK Press;

if no one is interested, we can do it via Print On Demand or as an Ebook;

2. we would need a Production Coordinator to help bring it together

3. we suggest keeping it short for a first effort, and inviting the first

30 or so members of our organization to submit 5 pages of text each

for a total of say, 150 pages......keep in mind, our group seems to grow online each week!

4. this obviously has to be discussed to determine the most efficient

way to make it happen - who chooses the texts, on what basis, do we

establish criteria for the process, how to keep it egalitarian/anarchist, in terms

of process, etc......

5. one suggested title for the anthology:

DARMA MEETS THE DEVIL - an anthology of new anarchist writing (Vol 1)

(suggested by Marielee Maynard, via Yannick.)

6. any money made from the sale of the book would be kept by the publisher

to be used specifically to help promote the sale and distribution of the book.

Our aim is to spread The Idea, through the book

7. set up a Facebook page for the book, and a MySpace page, too.

8. organize an annual Writers of Anarchist Fiction festival to celebrate/launch each edition

of the book - because we will aim to publish it yearly, different authors each edition, eh?

9. we should make an effort to secure anarchist first nations writers to include their texts in their original language

10. we want original, unpublished work, but material that appears on-line already would be acceptable

11. a suggested timeline: aim for a February 2011 publication date, in time for the next Montreal @ bookfair

12. we need to agree on a decision-making process for the 30 or so writers involved

13. how about, 'YES' or "NO' answers to simple questions about the project, with a 2 week waiting period in between

for correspondence?

B. To organize, present and facilitate creative writing workshops for each anarchist bookfair, wherever it may be:

1. for example, these would cover fiction, drama, poetry, documentary scripting (interviewing, narration, questions, etc.),

the creative process, DIY publishing, translating, etc. More suggestions?

2. to inject something other than just book buying at each bookfair, the workshops would help support and encourage more writers of anarchist fiction

3. whatever gets written at each workshop, goes into a commemorative zine at the end of each bookfair, and is sold, profits

to go towards funding the next series of workshops at the next bookfair

4. we encourage each anarchist bookfair, here and abroad, to contact anarchist writers of fiction to give the workshops;

we also encourage all our comrades to contact each bookfair they attend, and forward this suggestion

5. we can act as a clearing house eventually, compiling a list of what writers are available, which workshops they can give,

etc.

C. YEAR ROUND GAMES FOR THE ANARCHIST WRITERS BLOC:

In between our mega-assemblies at bookfairs, and our beer/wine/tea tasting, we strongly encourage all members to think about how we can continue to have fun in our own local chapters when we meet on a regular basis:

1. round-table 'exquisite corps' smorgasboard exercise/game timebomb: we each write a legible short paragraph of fiction, the alarm clock sounds, we pass our work to the person on our left, and add another paragraph, continuing the process until your original piece of paper with your beginning paragraph at the top returns to you.

2. someone reads from their newest work, we give feedback, and continue the process

3. we read and or dramatize our work for the public - small events

4. we exchange information about new books with each other

5. we have nights of thematic improv writing, and we explore different forms, challenge ourselves and each other

6. Anarchist Writers Bloc retreats - we all meet outside the city for eating, drinking and merry making, like giving creative workshops, but for a whole day, or even a weekend together

7. we organize nights where writers and musicians come together, and present collaborative works, or on-the-spot

improvised music for written work

D. FACEBOOK PAGE

1. we set one up

E. BENEFIT NIGHTS

1. we organize benefit nights for local anarchist projects, to lure the non-writing comrades to come and experience our work, and contribute to a good cause, e.g, to raise money for the Montreal International Anarchist Theatre Festival,

to raise money for the G20 arrested, etc.

F. WE AGREE ON A MONTHY DATE TO MEET EACH MONTH,

1. For example, for Montrealers, we propose the 13th of each month, between 5pm and 7pm, at a different gathering place each time, to sample their refreshments and get acquainted with other parts of the city.

G. READING LIST

1. to start compiling a list of anarchist works of fiction, to go online

H. CLEARING HOUSE?

1. something about we will act as a clearing house for anarchist works/writers of fiction, poetry, theatre, etc.....?

This was the end of our meeting, and everyone agreed, the beer was great!