Happy Birthday NAWG! (From Link 29, June 2000)
Mike Wilson (Editor of 'Link') rang me the other day to ask: "When exactly was NAWG launched? "1995," I said. "In that case," said Mike, "it's five years old this year; so what about you writing a short piece for 'Link' on how the first five years have gone?"
"Easy-peasy," I thought, "I can remember everything clearly." Wrong! When I read through the minutes book I was amazed at how much I'd actually forgotten. I was even wrong about the year, well, sort of wrong. It was like this:
When I was a member of Biddick Writers' Group, we had, as a distinguished guest one week, Denise Robertson. During what was very much an informal session of questions and answers, Denise pointed out how she frequently attended writers' group meetings around the county, and it was very evident to her that there was a sense of isolation among them; many not even aware of a neighbouring group. Denise suggested the idea of groups "getting together," forming "some kind" of an association. That meeting took place on 27th June, 1995. So, on that day, NAWG became a twinkle in the eye, as it were (nudge, nudge).
The group held further meetings to explore the idea and a steering committee was formed. The first of these special meetings was on 5th July; so on that date, we were conceived! (Sorry about these naughty analogies; it's something to do with my upbringing; got in with the wrong crowd when I was a lad).
To be quite honest, there was never any grand plan, or blueprint for the future; just a few ambitious ideas for competitions, a newsletter and perhaps an annual conference. It was felt that the association should evolve naturally, responding to the desires of its membership, rather than it be driven by a pre-conceived grand plan. The strategy was to have no strategy.
The first AGM, when our constitution was formally adopted and a committee democratically elected, was on 18th October 1996. So, that's when NAWG was born. And that places us in the star sign of Libra. Are we then, Librarians? Perhaps not; as I find it's something to do with scales. Is that scales as in kitchen; or scales as in doh-rey-me? No doubt, an astrologer in our midst (we seem to have everything else) will enlighten us on that in the next issue of "Link"?
Membership stood at around 30 groups in the first year. A framework of sorts was being created, but we needed to add flesh to the bones. Ideas were being explored but we had little money to spend. Then one morning I had a phone call, from a journalist named Rebecca Swift. Rebecca was writing an article about writers' circles for the Independent on Sunday magazine. I sent her some details about NAWG, and subsequently the article appeared. It covered two pages and was titled "Group Sects." (See! There's not only me at it.) Talk about the power of publicity; NAWG's phone number was included and, over the next weeks, we were inundated with enquiries. Membership doubled in the space of a month. And from then on we've gone from strength to strength to where we are now.
Looking back through all of the minutes of meetings I see many names. All of them have contributed their time freely, and by varying measures. Far too many names to list in this brief article. But some of them are outstanding, and I cannot write such an article as this without, at the very least, mentioning them.
Raymond Wilson was there at the very beginning, as our Treasurer and Membership Secretary, and each summer he also becomes our Festival Booking Secretary. So he wears three hats! Raymond has supported me (and you), through thick and thin. He is a cautious man by nature (aren't all accountants?) so I am particularly gratified that he has gone along with all of my (wild) ideas and been there whenever I've needed him. And I often require his services, perhaps more than I ought. He came back from a well-earned rest in Greece last week and the day he arrived home I rang his house. His wife May answered the phone and I asked her, in my ordinary way, what she'd brought back for me. "Raymond," was the answer.
In one of our early years' minutes I noticed the remark, "Billericay Writers seem particularly enthusiastic." The paragraph contained a report on the result of the questionnaire missive sent out to gauge initial interest. Peter Pascoe is really the person it referred to. Our first newsletter was in the shape of one side of an A4 sheet (it was on coloured paper though!). Peter volunteered his services as both Editor and Eastern Regional Representative. The NAWG "newsletter" was immediately transformed; it become "Link," A5 in size with several stapled pages. A paper cover at first, then coloured card. The content was interesting, informative and sometimes controversial, just as it should be. Peter made it always entertaining, and occasionally downright provocative. And people responded to it, and against it sometimes - a sure sign of a healthy journal. One "gentleman" wrote to me demanding that Peter be sacked! Why? Peter had reacted against the man's pedanticisms. Typically, the guy was one of these who enjoy dishing it out, but can't take it back. I took Peter's side (rightly) and invoked upon myself several "anonymous" night-time telephone calls. Finally the man revealed his name, along with one final expletive. I won't tell you what he called me; but I can say I've been called worse! We've had some fun, haven't we Peter?
When Peter decided he wanted a break, Mike Wilson became NAWG Editor. He is also the Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Representative. Mike's wife Diane is our "Link" Distributor. If you've ever wondered who it is that purchases and stores all those envelopes, then every eight weeks or so packs them with "Link" mags etc., sticks on the addresses, hauls them to the Post Office and mails them out, well, it isn't the fairies; it's Diane Wilson. Under Mike, "Link" content continues to improve in terms of quality and diversity. Many of the articles are written and provided by regular contributors; Stephen Bowkett, Fay Marshall, Peter Pascoe, among many others.
"What about the competitions?" I hear. "Who does all of that?" Maggie Smith, that's who. If any of you have ever been involved in organising a national, in fact any size, competition, you'll have some understanding of the administrative and logistical planning required. If you have organised one such competition, imagine multiplying that by twelve or thirteen of 'em, all running together. Imagine also, if you will, rising with the dawn to answer the doorbell, and having huge bundles of mail handed you by a weary postman, daily over several weeks . . . months! Being responsible for 48 certificates being printed, then signed by our Chairman and President. The certificates are printed in Bridlington, by Mike, then go back to Maggie in Harrogate, then they travel to Manchester for Judith Thwaite's signature and from there to Denise Robertson in Sunderland. Finally they're placed in order, the winners are framed, the rest are rolled up with red ribbon ties before being presented at the ceremony.
Then there's the Festival, and yet another team of workers, many of them from the above list. There's Clive Mann, who spends many weeks writing, phoning, e-mailing, seeking out and recruiting tutors for the Festival workshops.
I could go on and on listing names of those who help run NAWG, but there is just not enough space here. My apologies to those I've left out.
NAWG is a voluntary organisation. In less than five years it grew to 130 group members; it now accepts individual associates and that list too is growing fast. Every committee member, every worker, is unpaid. It has no core-funding from the Arts Council; that ACE logo represents a one-off grant to buy the computer equipment used to typeset "Link." NAWG exists on its membership subscriptions.
Clearly, NAWG is a success story, a phenomenal success story. But, I say, it cannot go on growing at this rate without reaching a breaking point, and that point is almost upon us! It has to be adequately funded in order that it can employ paid staff. That funding should come from the Arts Council.
In August 2000, I am giving up my role as Secretary. I said that two years ago, but when nobody came forward to take my place I stayed on; this time I will resign. Diane Wilson is taking on the job of Assistant Secretary, in addition to everything else she and Mike already do. I will carry on helping to organise the annual Festival if required to do so. If you want NAWG to continue, then join the committee in August. But please, only join it if you are willing, and able, to roll up your sleeves and make a difference.
Finally, let me mention again the Festival of Writing. Many of you have travelled the length of the country to attend what is probably the jewel in NAWG's crown. It's a fantastic occasion. If you haven't experienced it yet; try it this year. It just gets better and better. Last year, something new happened there; it was not planned - quite spontaneous - and I missed it. It happened, after the awards ceremony, in a smaller room, and this year it's going to happen again. Mike Wilson has called it the Afterglow Party! I've just looked up "afterglow" in my dictionary (I don't use the stupid wordchecker in my computer after it told me to substitute NAWG with NAG). It says, "Afterglow - A pleasant feeling remaining after a pleasurable experience." Really! Maybe Rebecca Swift's title wasn't as jokey as it seemed!
Brian Lister, Secretary
(Brian seems to have played down his own tremendous input towards the success of NAWG. Although he wishes it were not so, he is the person, I'm sure, that all of the committee, and our more aware members, have regarded as the driving wheels of the locomotive called The National Association of Writers' Groups. Also to be acknowledged should be the unfailing support given to Brian and Raymond over five years by their respective wives, Ann and May. - Mike Wilson)
Since this piece
was written, there have been other changes in NAWG.
For Who's (currently) Who in NAWG,
click here
To view the Archives for Link Magazine click here