FSF – Five Sentence Fiction – Highway

Highway

You used to drive too fast, metal to the floor, you thought it was clever to use so much power behind the wheel. Always pushing the red line, celebrating your next tactical manoeuvre amongst crowds of unsuspecting metal caskets by driving with your knees. Much as I enjoyed the thrill of speed clutching the edge of the passenger seat, I hated close range views of lorries undercarriages and constantly worried about unmarked cars.

When you left  I didn’t understand, you voiced no reason, chicken-hearted you just took off at speed. I hoped that you would meet your match out on the highway that evening. I prayed for you to be written off, I had been your underwriter for too long, but men like you always get away with it, to begin with.

Delighting in writing for challenges again after a long NaNoWriMo break in November! Find other FSF here >

Picture It & Write – Victorian Secrets

This is my response to this week’s Picture It and Write challenge

by John Thompson .

Taken from this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123212/Black-white-pictures-capture-lives-Londoners-1800s.html

 

 

Marie’s search of her ancestary took her back to Victorian London. There were plenty of books she could look through and articles from that period, what she had learnt tracing her family tree was an enjoyment of pictures. Photographs depicting the unspoken story, the invisible lines interwoven through people’s lives. This one gave little clue.

She stood at the photocopier in the small Newsagents in Pepperton Street and reeled off 10 copies.

Returning to her small apartment she cut them out and using masking tape stuck them all around. The bathroom mirror, her bedside table, the mantelpiece, the kitchen door, the fridge, beside the TV and finally inside her current book.

What of the other three copies? They were for her ancestors. She took her old saucepan outside and walked to the back gate of the block. Marie checked that there were no other residents around, then she set a match to the paper. Watching it burn into ashes in the saucepan. Praying that they would help her find the truth at last.

Something more than poor women buying cheap jewels to make them feel like a lady. There was something there that was real. Far from imitation and Marie was on her way to finding it out.

INKSPILL – Writing Everyday

MONDAY 28th October – DAY 4 BONUS EXTRA DAY

 

Ideas for writing everyday. (Participation for the 4 mornings of INKSPILL)

 

Hopefully this morning you have already completed a free write of 5, 10 or 15 minutes, if you haven’t taken part in Inkspill yet, follow the link.

Writing Everyday

 

Ideas for Writing Everyday

This is something I want you to do everyday before you log into Inkspill.

You may find it beneficial to continue this practise after the retreat, maybe for a week, or a fortnight, month or more. Early morning journaling is not a new idea and some of you may already do this.

This writing is JUST FOR YOU. You needn’t share any writing from journaling activities unless you want to. If you cant manage to do it first thing, do it in the first available moments you can snatch in the morning before you log onto the day’s programme.

 

The morning free write is all about finding the beginning of your voice.

Remember don’t aim for brilliance… aim for free – it is amazing what writes out of your mind.

A link that explain more about this technique.

https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/inkspill-freewriting-information/

 

 

 

INKSPILL – Freewrite

SUNDAY 27th October – DAY 3

 Free write activity prompt

 

 

Write about a birthday (party)

Post your writing here or link to your site from the comments box

INKSPILL – Writing Everyday – Early Morning Freewrite

SUNDAY 27th October – DAY 3

 

Ideas for writing everyday. (Participation for the 3 mornings of INKSPILL)

Hopefully this morning you have already completed a free write of 5, 10 or 15 minutes, if you haven’t taken part in Inkspill yet, follow the link.

Writing Everyday

 

Ideas for Writing Everyday

This is something I want you to do everyday before you log into Inkspill.

You may find it beneficial to continue this practise after the retreat, maybe for a week, or a fortnight, month or more. Early morning journaling is not a new idea and some of you may already do this.

This writing is JUST FOR YOU. You needn’t share any writing from journaling activities unless you want to. If you cant manage to do it first thing, do it in the first available moments you can snatch in the morning before you log onto the day’s programme.

 

The morning free write is all about finding the beginning of your voice.

Remember don’t aim for brilliance… aim for free – it is amazing what writes out of your mind.

A link that explain more about this technique.

https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/inkspill-freewriting-information/

 

INKSPILL – Freewriting Information

SATURDAY 26th October – DAY 2

Freewriting is a way of getting your brain in gear. You usually start with a topic or key word, I started freewriting with ink on paper, but you may prefer to type. The rules remain the same;

DON’T JUDGE yourself

DON’T CENSOR

DON’T STOP!

Keep the pen (or keys) moving – doodle if you get a block or just key the same button ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, until the thoughts flow again.

Let the words drift out of you. Don’t worry if they make sense, try to resist re-reading or editing or changing anything.

Freewrites tend to be timed and can be small (5 minutes) or long (15 minutes) – try to write as fast as you can (this will stop your brain getting involved and your inner critic won’t have time to strike up any doubt)!

YOU MUST NOT STOP WRITING!

Don’t worry about making sense or connecting your ideas.

Do not worry if you get completely off subject. Just keep writing. Don’t read, edit or think, allow your sub conscious to write for a while.

Get into the habit, keep doing it, this is one of the reasons we have encouraged you to do a daily morning freewrite to get you into the INKSPILL retreat.

Don’t give up on freewriting after one exercise. Freewriting is like any other kind of mental activity: you will get better at it. The first couple of times you try it, perhaps nothing will come of it. After a few efforts, though, the exercise will become liberating.

RULES

When I first came across freewriting (at college in the 90’s) Goldberg’s books were on  our reading list. Great reads – thoroughly recommended.

Goldberg, N. (1986).

Writing down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within..

Goldberg, N. (1990). Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life. Bantam Dell Pub Group.

 

Free writing has these benefits:

• It makes you more comfortable with the act of writing.
• It helps you bypass the “inner critic” who tells you you can’t write.
• It can be a valve to release inner tensions.
• It can help you discover things to write about.
• It can indirectly improve your formal writing.
• It can be fun.

Some final suggestions for free writing:

• Use the writing tool that is most comfortable for you— pencil, computer, or whatever.
• Don’t cross anything out: Write the new idea down; leave the old one.
• Drop all punctuation. That can make your free writing faster and more fluent.

Completing freewriting in the morning has the benefits I have mentioned – your mind and inner critic are as yet, not fully awake. You are more likely to go with the flow and less likely to censor your ideas. Plus what comes out can really surprise and excite you!

 

Following AR Neal’s comment on Free writing – writing Everyday yesterday, I decided to complete additional research and posts on freewriting to answer her question.

Remember if you have any questions ASK them. We will do our best to make the events and ideas behind the techniques and advice as clear as we can.

 

RESOURCES/ WEBLINKS;

http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/04/unleash-your-creativity-now-how-to-freewrite/

This website includes further resources including a PDF

http://grammar.about.com/od/yourwriting/a/freewrite.htm

again – more links cited on this website

http://www.fengshuidana.com/2012/05/11/how-writing-morning-pages-in-a-journal-can-transform-your-world/

Dana mentions The Artists Way By Julia Cameron who can explain the benefits of morning free writing better than I could.

7 Reasons Morning Pages are nothing short of practical magic.

http://www.writingthroughlife.com/journal-writing-tips-the-benefits-of-freewriting

This website also offers some prompts if you wish to continue freewriting.

http://thoughtbrick.com/creativity/ty-free-writing-develop-creativity-exercise-brain/

 

INKSPILL – Ideas for Writing Everyday

SATURDAY 26th October – DAY 2

Ideas for writing everyday. (Participation for the 3 mornings of INKSPILL)

Hopefully this morning you have already completed a free write of 5, 10 or 15 minutes, if you haven’t or weren’t part of Inkspill yesterday, follow the link.

Writing Everyday

Ideas for Writing Everyday

This is something I want you to do everyday before you log into Inkspill.

You may find it beneficial to continue this practise after the retreat, maybe for a week, or a fortnight, month or more. Early morning journaling is not a new idea and some of you may already do this.

This writing is JUST FOR YOU. You needn’t share any writing from journaling activities unless you want to. If you cant manage to do it first thing, do it in the first available moments you can snatch in the morning before you log onto the day’s programme.

The morning free write is all about finding the beginning of your voice.

Remember don’t aim for brilliance… aim for free – it is amazing what writes out of your mind.

 

 

WATCH OUT for extra posts following questions about the practise of free writing in the morning.

REMEMBER if you have any questions about anything INKSPILL, ask away.

INKSPILL – 1st Task – First Dip 2/3

FRIDAY 25th October – DAY 1

 

 First Dip (into the Fountain) a 3-part writing activity.

 

Your 1^st Task – A Page On… 2/3

3 Part Task

Read it back. Find something that surprises you.

In amongst all the clichés and descriptions I am sure you can find a spark, a memory than suddenly unleashed itself, something you didn’t expect (in the beginning) – a surprise.

As writers’ it is these moments of surprise that we should capitalise on. These are the moments where the writing becomes unique to us. This is an association you have made that no one else can. These are your connections, the emergence of your own unique voice.

INKSPILL 1st Task – First Dip 1/3

FRIDAY 25th October – DAY 1

 

 First Dip (into the Fountain) a 3-part writing activity.

First Dip

Your 1^st Task – A Page On… 1/3

3 Part Task

This activity can be done and posted openly on your blog (please leave a link here in the comments) or in your notebook, whichever you prefer.

Write a page on each of the following;

Your Favourite Book

Fireworks

A particular meal

INKSPILL – Good Morning Friday – Ideas for Writing Everyday

FRIDAY 25th October – DAY 1

Ideas for writing everyday. (Participation for the 3 mornings of INKSPILL)

Good Morning Friday

Ideas for Writing Everyday

This is something I want you to start today and do tomorrow and Sunday before you log into Inkspill.

You may find it beneficial to continue this practise after the retreat, maybe for a week, or a fortnight, month or more. Early morning journaling is not a new idea and some of you may already do this.

Today is different, we are logged in… but the 1^st task of Inkspill will be to free write – decide for yourself if you want 5 – 10- 15 or 20 minutes to do this, decide for yourself if you are going to set an alarm to interrupt the flow or if you are going to wing it. (As long as you do 5 minutes it will work). When I first learnt about the art of free writing (back in the 90’s) I was taught that if the thoughts go – keep the pen moving – doodle if you have to – just let the pen take you back into the writing.

Try to open your mind – this is why this activity is best done as soon as you wake up – whilst your head is still in that hazy half place between sleeping and waking.

Tomorrow you may even try this activity in bed!

This writing is JUST FOR YOU. You needn’t share any writing from journaling activities unless you want to. If you cant manage to do it first thing, do it in the first available moments you can snatch in the morning before you log onto the day’s programme.

I will ask you to do something with these morning scribbles at the end of the retreat (once again that can be kept personal and needn’t be shared.)

Remember this write wont be perfect – it is a free write no editing – just keep your pen moving forwards for 5 minutes or 10 or 15 to 20 minutes (you can build up the minutes over the weekend).

Just write anything.

If you truly are blank use these as starting points and let the writing take you;

• Write down 5 sounds you can hear and something you associate with that sound, use all 5 or just pick one. Write.
• Look around the room, find an object and describe it. What does it mean to you? Where is it from? Write.
• Open your bedside book and pick a line, the first one you glance at. Copy it down and write.
• If you don’t have a bedside book choose one of these lines from mine;

All this time she’d been breathing for him, or so she believed. It was dark in the living room when Gretel walked through.

(c) Alice Hoffmann (Local Girls –1999)

Often people what to know WHY? So here’s the point:

The morning free write is all about finding the beginning of your voice.

Remember don’t aim for brilliance… aim for free – it is amazing what writes out of your mind.