Nine "Club From Hell" Authors Reflect On The Experience


November 21, 2012 - Steve Cubbins started the ball rolling on June 20th with Chapter One:  A couple takes over a run-down squash club in London, and the stage is set for their trials and tribulations as they bring it back to life. The story didn't exactly remain in the club, but every chapter was unique, and passionately told. It was a wonderful project to be a part of!

  Alan Thatcher
Club From Hell: a great idea.  Always difficult to find the time required for each chapter but that challenge presented its own rewards. I wrote each of three pieces in one sitting, each lasting around two hours. I struggled a little at the start of each piece but once I got into the flow the words came tumbling out.

I felt some kind of ownership after introducing the character of Steve Dwyer. I wanted to steer the direction of the book back to the club itself and develop the plot lines accordingly, especially with Steve's plans for building a glass court at The Vale.

I was disappointed that wasn't picked up on, and suddenly most of the action switched to America.

And Steve, from being positioned as the hero, suddenly became a bad guy.

Definitely some mischief there from more than one writer!

Sometimes it felt like a tug of war, hoping to see the plot lines head back to the UK.
In closing...Let's do it all again!

  Mick Joint
Firstly, I was shocked to even be asked to take part in this project. Honored, but shocked.

Secondly, I had never written a book before - or part of a book - which made me a little nervous considering the company of authors involved.

However, it was definitely a gratifying experience. I was fascinated with all the twists and turns, the ideas I would have never come up with myself, and amazed that it actually came together at the end.

I sincerely hope everybody enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed helping to write it.

   Aubrey Waddy
Contributing to ‘A Squash Club from Hell’ - reflections

The pun is an obvious one, but writing two chapters for A Club From Hell was a novel experience. I’d never contemplated writing anything in cahoots, and indeed several years back had turned down the suggestion from a well-known journalist that they should cooperate on my squash novel. But the idea for the project turned out to be a brilliant one, and it was great to be involved.

The biggest difficulty was getting the plot into RAM prior to writing. Alan Thatcher inadvertently left his cues in a draft of his, and the story’s, final chapter. My table of what had happened before the penultimate chapter, my second contribution, was an order of magnitude longer - this probably signifies that I have less RAM than Alan!

The biggest enjoyment has been being part of a special community with a shared goal and an above average interest in squash. I do wish we’d had more female contributors, though. I really enjoyed the chapters from Tracy Gates and the insights she provided.

If the other writers had as much fun as I did, the project will have certainly been a success on the creative side, and I believe the story lived up to the quality of Ted Gross’s admirable Daily Squash Report.

   Will Gens
CFH was a blast to do. I am primarily a poet and had written some fiction before, so I loved writing the chapters. I have subsequently written some other stories.

 CFH planted the fiction seed in my head as well.

The only crticism I would say is I had to wait too long to write my second chapter!

   Peter Heywood
Certainly a lot of fun!

Being asked to contribute to something that had a squash theme and was a
group effort yet still allowed me to be creative was a real privilege.

And, of course, I've been in touch with people who I'd never ever have
thought of contacting.

I thought that the organisation of the whole exercise was well-judged. I
never felt either under pressure or unsupported.

I felt that the lack of an overarching plot for the novel helped everyone to
both commit and contribute. Funnily, enough, I feel that some of the
comments and tips from the other writers on the length of contributions etc.
wouldn't have been as helpful if they'd have been laid down as guidelines.

The members of the group seemed to be able to adapt to the previous writer's
plot changes as they went along.

My own style is to connect characters and possibilities together and let others work out what they want to emerge from the situation. In my second chapter, I just went with the flow and shepherded the characters towards some kind of denouement. I honestly had no idea what it might be!

   Tracy Gates
This was both more difficult and more fun than I thought... I have newfound respect for you novelists!

   Ted Gross
I came off the bench to write one chapter in a substitute role. It was tough! I found I was able to set a reasonable scene, but then I had no idea where to go with it.

   The Squashist
Finally had the chance to read the last few chapters of our novel and congratulations are in order to Alan for concluding things masterfully.

And indeed congrats to everyone as it ended up being a pretty damn good read...I'm impressed with everyone's writing abilities too! Nice job everybody..

   John Branston
Last chapter was fun to read, great job by Alan. I plan to eliminate the racquet-butt-to-the-opponent's-ribs move from my inventory.

In any case, one of the most interesting group squash novels I have participated in.


THE CLUB FROM HELL

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