Lost and Found – Writers’ Well

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creative collaboration, creative writing, creativity, story, writing prompt, writing workshop

Each week, I share one of the writing prompts used in my workshops, along with an example of what was written in response. Today’s prompt (allow about 10/12 mins in total) is called Lost and Found. First, jot down a few thoughts around what it feels like to be lost and/or to lose. This can be done on your own or, if in a group, pass the paper(s) around and collect a cross pollination of ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Now, write a short story entitled Lost and Found.

This is what I wrote:

“He won’t know who you are, but don’t let that worry you. He’s a bit confused. Not his best day.”

It didn’t feel like an auspicious start. It was the first time he’d visited his grandfather since he’d been sent to the home. Mum had told him to wait, let Granddad settle first, before visiting, but he couldn’t wait.

The care worker led him through a series of corridors until Sean heard the unmistakable sound of background daytime TV over muffled chatter, and noted the smell of pink wafer biscuits.

His grandfather was sitting in a comfortable looking brown check armchair, eyes on the window rather than the TV. He didn’t hear Sean approach and shook with surprise when Sean laid a hand on his shoulder. “All right Pops?”

The old man turned a vacant stare from the window to Sean’s face and seemed to scan it in search of familiarity, Finding none, he barked “What do you want? I ‘ent buying nothing young man – I’ve all I need. Now go on with yeh!”

Sean took a step back, feeling warmth rise to his cheeks. “I’m not selling anything. It’s me Pops. I came to see how you were.”

The old man paused for a moment, getting Sean’s hopes up. Then something changed. Panic. The old eyes began to swim in a face at sea. “Where am I? This isn’t – Get away! Get away from me!” He tried to stand, but his right knee buckled and wouldn’t lift him.

Sean put a hand in his pocket and took out a pipe. “They won’t let you smoke it here, but this is yours. You used to let me light it for you if Mum wasn’t around.” He held the pipe out towards trembling hands and watched for a moment as his grandfather reached out, and came back.

“Sean? You brought my pipe. Thank you.”

 

If you enjoyed this prompt, then you can find more here:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/upcoming-writing-workshops-and-some-prompts-for-you-to-play-with/

and here:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/writing-prompts-the-elements/

 

A line of dialogue… – Writers’ Well

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creative collaboration, creative writing, creativity, dialogue, short story, stories, writing, writing prompt, writing workshop

Each week, I share one of the writing prompts used the previous Friday in my weekly workshop, along with an example of what was written in response. Today’s prompt is to take a line of dialogue and use it to start a short story. In our group we each wrote two lines of dialogue, one each on a small piece of paper, folded them up, and then each person picked one. If you’re doing this on your own you might want to write three or four and then pick one at random. I got “Well, that’s just how I’m made.” This is what I wrote in the 10 minutes allowed, no edits:

*********************************************************************************

“Well that’s just how I’m made.”

“And a good job too, I’d say,” replied her husband, as he pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

“Go on, ya daft beggar,” and she pushed him gently but firmly out of the front door, without closing it. He didn’t look back, but she didn’t close the door until she’d watched him get into the rusty blue old Ford he was too stingy to replace, and too stubborn to let anyone else have a look at. ‘I know cars,’ he would say.

She sighed. Well, that’s just how he’s made. She allowed herself a deep chuckle and closed the door.

She was kneading bread when the call came. It took a few rings for her to clean the flour off her hands. and she picked up the phone, careful not to disturb the photos that grew thick as spring daisies on the small counter top. There always seemed to be more.

“Hello, 63-20-17?” She dusted the photo frames lightly with her finger tips.

“Mrs Crosswell,” said an unfamiliar voice.

“That’s me.” She waited.

“Mrs Crosswell, I have your husband here. I’m afraid we picked him up in a vehicle that, well, frankly, it’s not road worthy. We can’t allow him to drive home in it until it’s been seen to.”

She took a breath. The roller coaster those few sentences had taken her imagination on had left her light headed, and she waited for the relief to take hold.

“The daft beggar,” she muttered.

“What was that Mrs Crosswell?”

“Thank you officer, I’m sure I’ll be along presently. John next door’ll run me over. I’ll be along officer. Presently.”

Just the way he’s made, she thought, shaking her head as she replaced the receiver. Well, she’d be making him when she saw him, and no mistake!

 

If you enjoyed this prompt, then you can find more here:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/upcoming-writing-workshops-and-some-prompts-for-you-to-play-with/

and here:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/writing-prompts-the-elements/

The five senses – Writers’ Well

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community, creative collaboration, creative writing, creativity, friendship, loneliness, poem, poetry, the senses, writing, writing prompt, writing workshop

Each week, I share one of the writing prompts used the previous Friday in my weekly workshop, along with an example of what was written in response. Today’s prompt (allow about 10/15 mins in total) is…Start with the senses.

You need three things to give you a frame; a time of day, a time of year, a place (generic). We were three, so we each had a piece of paper and wrote one thing, passed it on, added another, passed it on, added the last and then passed it back to the originator. I got:

5.30 am, autumn, a harbour

You can now write anything, using those three things as to guide to inspire, frame what you write. The only rule…you must refer to all five senses; sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch. This is what I wrote:

image credit: http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-west/Loutro.html

The air is crisp but not uncomfortably cold. It’s sill very much dawn, and the palette of the sky is changing by the second; grays, blues, purples and the remains of silver from a moon whose work is almost done.

There’s a silence, or rather a hush over everything that’s magical, secretive, like I shouldn’t really be here yet. I’m a special guest who’s arrived early, while the rest of the world sleeps on, dreams on.

I close my eyes to savour the smells; salt, fish, gasoline and I hear the sea, lapping at the quayside while the lazy chains of the anchored boats knock knock against the wooden hulls. I sit and dangle my feet in the water, watching in the gradually lifting darkness – is that – no! A boat coming in? And I thought I was early! But then again…wow, already 7 o’clock. The first ferry of the day, and the magic is lifting, disappearing, running scared from a day whose busy-ness is about to arrive and chase it away.

I shiver a little. The sun still hasn’t reached this spot, and my feet in the water have cooled my whole body. I stand and walk back towards the apartment, slowly, lingering, and as people crowd around the ferry to unload the deliveries I can almost taste the fresh bread and the sweet oranges being wheelbarrowed bumpily away over the pebbled beach to the hotels and tavernas, to be turned into breakfast.

I carry my sandals still, feeling my feet mould to the stones beneath them with each careful step. I look out towards the horizon where the sun is no longer hiding any of itself, a bright full circle though still low, and wonder what this day will bring.

Yes, I know I pushed the ‘autumn’ part a bit, but really, September/October in Crete is gorgeous!

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And, as I didn’t offer a ‘writers’ well’ post last week, here’s a second prompt! Firstly, complete this phrase with you own ideas, at least 5 times;

A good friend is…

And now this one, also at least five times…

Community is…

Using the creative emotional juices now flowing from making those lists, write a poem entitled An Antidote to Loneliness. Here’s my version:

Antidote to loneliness

 

A friend is after all

Only a stranger

You haven’t met yet

Community begins after all

With the man next door

Who’s just finished mowing

his front lawn

And stands by the pavement

To catch your eye

As you pass by

Wanting to chat

For he doesn’t know

You have somewhere to be

But take each opportunity

To build from the material

Surrounding you

Though they may yet disguise

What they can become

Should you dare

To get your hands dirty

And bring them together

Heart thirsty

But it takes more

To meet that need

That turning on a tap

So put on your hat

Coat too if it’s cold

And be bold

There’s a whole workd

Beyond those four walls

That will share songs

If you’ll open your ears

To listen

And food

If you’ll bring what you can

To the table

To share

And dance

If you’ll offer your hands

And let the circle hold

You move you

Growth doesn’t happen

Inside the packet

Dreaming of becoming

The beautiful picture

With the fancy name

so open the door

the whole world is your home

and you don’t need keys

to be let in

but you might want to check you have

your house keys on your way out

in case you want

to get in again.

 

If you enjoyed these prompts, then you can find more here:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/upcoming-writing-workshops-and-some-prompts-for-you-to-play-with/

and here:

https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/writing-prompts-the-elements/

A Poem

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creative collaboration, creativity, poem, poetry, writing, writing prompt, writing workshop

We wrote this poem together in the creative writing group I lead this morning. We all wrote a six word positive message we’d be willing to write on stones on a beach as a blessed offering to strangers passing by. We then took those ‘stones’, each with one word on, and played with them until we had a single poem made from all those messages combined:-) Inspired by a message I found on a beach years ago… (it’s the photo that’s the header for my blog) It was soooooo much fun!

 A Poem

You are incredible song

Feel strong on days created from love

Breathe hope let love go deep

Accept your infinite beauty

You share love

You circle the earth

In blessing