Weekly Write
Need some inspiration?
Why not try one of the following exercises... |
 |
|
1. Read this poem, 'Let Us Consider' by Russell Edson. Think about some of the strange images he uses e.g. 'the old woman who smoked cows' tongues for shoes.' Write your own poem, populating it with one or two characters with intriguing and odd habits. 2. Write a love letter to someone in your past e.g. someone you had a school girl/boy crush on.
|
3. "He stood in the darkness, this man, and watched me as I walked towards the statue of the Virgin. He waited behind a pillar while I lifted my veil, lit a candle and knelt to pray."
This is an extract from chapter 1 of Prisoner of the Inquisition by Theresa Breslin (shortlisted for the 2012 Scottish Children's Book Awards). Use this excerpt as a springboard for your own writing. |
Previous Weekly Writes inspiration
Five Word Challenge
We give you five words from the week's headlines, you give us a piece of flash fiction that incorporates all of them. Add your story using the comments box at the bottom of the page, with the 5 words as your subject line. This week's words:
Scotland chief courage pregnant eighteen
Devon flatters second Sir beer
Head clearing slowly in the hungover mid-morning haze, the realization came that she really was there, auburn hair licking the pillows ike flame; Devon. long lusted after, long loved, long-limbed Devon, untamed and unknowable like the the county of moors and marshes.
He'd been amazed when she danced his way across the bar, hypnotised by the swinging of her hips and the fact that she knew his name. she knew his name. He'd been composed, he thought; a Gentleman. And she was effusive in her praise, he was not like the others, he knew and she did too, and they were united in their laughter and their not like the other-ness and now she was here.
He wished he'd tidied up. Or washed his sheets. He wished there was something he could offer for breakfast, something more sophisticated and worldly than instant coffee and coco-pops. He watched her sleep, taking her all in, inhaling her, the nape of her neck, the curvature of her spine, the swell of her hips. He wanted this moment to be an eternity, the second hand to stop right now.
She was stirring, her sleepy eyes meeting his gaze. She licked the bow of her lips; lips that had murmured his praises and screamed his name hours before, and said;
"Jesus. The beer doesn't half flatter you, sir."
Chris Q-Devon flatters second Sir beer
Well written co-writer.
Its a great welcome back read.
Missed few weeks.
Cairo shouting treasure riots sea
We left Cairo with the treasure, the riots and shouting now safely behind us. We make it to Alexandria… ahead, across the sea, awaits fame or notoriety.
Captain ship piracy letter marriage
When the letter came, the sails were almost aloft and the captain had called his crew to attention. A lively spring wind coming in from the Firth batted small waves into the vessel’s hull, as if in light encouragement for the journey ahead. David was last to arrive on deck when called. It was his first time out as an apprentice seaman and he’d been struggling to fasten the boots he’d been supplied with; they were large, heavy and didn’t seem to be waterproof. Half hopping still, he joined the rest of the crew to hear the orders. As strange new words began filtering down to David past the knowing ears of experienced colleagues, a harbourman came aboard, bearing the note. ‘Hold on there, boys’, he barked, ‘this one’s urgent!’ It was addressed to David – much to the curiosity of the men who gathered round, and to the chagrin of the captain who, despite his imperious set of medals, failed to regain their attention. ‘Who sent it?’ David asked the messenger, who shrugged and pointed back ashore. A small hackney cab sat waiting. ‘Dear David’, he read aloud, ‘I would like to ask your hand in marriage, this being, after all, a leap year. 'The one condition is that you abandon ship and join me immediately to seal the deal.’ Reddening, David screwed the paper up and glanced around at his fellow men. He’d been told that piracy was commonplace where they were heading, but he hadn’t expected it to strike so soon. How dare she? He turned to toss the finely written missive into the joyful Clyde, glancing just once at the loitering cab. ‘To sea!'
Five Word Challenge: Afghan, Diamond, Badger, Cloud, Microwave
SLIT - Drops of viscous and bland blood, darker than darkest of rubies and livelier than blackest of thoughts, smeared the clouds - blood red.
This is not his first kill, but he neither a serial killer nor a psychotic.
Press dubbed him "The Afghan"; just because it is catchy.
Freshly Microwaved popcorn crunched in her mouth, her eyes filled with satisfaction, her mouth crooked with smile.
She almost jumped out of her wheel chair in excitement; as she stuffed more popcorn into her mouth.
Pristine as an uncut diamond, his brotherly love kills for the amusement of his paraplegic psychotic sister.
Though ghouls of his deeds, questions of his concise, and memories of his prey badger him at night – he could not care any less for his dying sister.
Five Word Challenge: Black, Wind, Witch, Exam, Summit
I hate the way Black is the new white.
I hate it that Rowling exonerated the word Witch from being evil.
I am proud to say I represent evil.For it is us who highlights good and god.
It is evil done by us, which keeps world from being chaotic.
Humanity at the summit of its selfishness, narcissism and nepotism needs us: “Anti-social elements”, to keep you busy from inviting anarchy.
Examine what your heart says when you are not surrounded by turmoil. Where does the wind take you? Just like every restless “human” heart, you’d be walking towards the welcome sign held by one of us.
Five Word Challenge:
Five Word Challenge: Egyptian, mail, whisky, poisoning, codebreaker When I leave a City I always erase any traces of my presence there, and so it was this time. I packed my few dresses, my books: The Pleasures of Poisoning, and The Cares of a Codebreaker, burned my mail and killed my landlady. It was quick. A thumb pressed against the top of her windpipe as she dreamed her sweet 10 o'clock whisky-dreams in her front parlour. I felt a little sorry to deny her the pleasure of seeing me go. I contemplated her stooping, still form as I smoked a last opium cigarette and blew the smoke into a shroud that billowed down her shoulders and covered the fake Egyptian cat beside her. A fitting vigil, I thought. I took my bag, closed the door behind me and walked into the fog-laden street.
In response to AB
Loved this piece of flash fiction. Thanks for sharing.
Five Word Challenge: Egyptian,mail,whisky,poisoning,codebreaker
I was a worn out cryptologist.
Until that night, I was “Mr.Codebreaker” among young folk; for they were busy drinking milk in the days when I was not labeled a spent-force.
It could be Tequila pumped Whiskey or Beer fizzed Malibu, none of those unlocked Egyptian mysteries on BBC ever looked more naked.
Hmm… I can say those crooked Hieroglyphs came to rescue me from scavenging middle-age, poisoning my soul to slow death.
And now, I am with a you, a hot middle-eastern chick - Rummaging through world's most visited wonder. Tonight I am gonna mail them our pictured postcard.
Meltdown, Prolonged, Virus, Lagoon, Thugs
A virus prolonged meltdown of thugs in the acid lagoon.
Post new comment