I didn’t manage to see the sunrise this morning, would you believe there were too many clouds in the way. Not that I am complaining because our predictable summer drought and heatwave (43.9 degs on Boxing Day I am told) have finally ended. I’m not sure what time last night it started raining but it is, thankfully, still going this morning.

These kind of days always remind me of the (McCains I think) Sweet Corn tv ad where the farmer yells, ‘Marge, the rains are here’. The ad itself is rather corny (no pun intended) and not one of my favourite but obviously the catch phrase works. Which I guess puts it up there with YellowPages (I’m not happy, Jan), Sussans (This goes with that), L’Oreal (Because you’re worth it) and of course the margarine one that is perhaps ETA 5 star (Who knows? Mum knows).

Funnily enough, I know the slogans but I don’t buy the products. I’m sure that’s not had ads are meant to work.

Writing Exercise

Look around where you are sitting at this moment. Pick something within arms reach (pen, notebook, envelopes, chocolate muffin) and write a slogan for it, maybe even the whole ad. Just remember to have fun with it and don’t try to make it too highbrow, most ads are just for everyday people who think the same way you do. Scary huh?

How often do you look at the clouds?

I always thought that if I hadn’t become a writer I would study the weather.  I love the look of clouds, what they predict, what they can tell and quite possibly the concept that the sky and world is so vast.

I don’t usually get the chance, but this morning I sat in the garden and watched the sunrise, it was probably due to it being the first week back at school and daylight saving. Either way it reminded me (as I watched the gilded pink clouds surf across the sky) that where as others can just notice the world and its moments of beauty, for writers it is part of the job description. How can we write if we don’t see the small things and memorise wonders? Because surely this is what puts the depth, senses and reality into our work. Without the visual descriptions how can we paint the pictures and create a fantasy?

So, when did you last look at the clouds?

Writing Exercise

Look around you and notice one of the small wonders of our world. Absorb the moment and then write an indepth description of it. I can guarantee it won’t be long before you find a piece of writing to include it in.

I came across this quote today and, since it made me stop and think, I thought I should share it.

‘It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? For the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is gone. That is where the writer scores over his fellow: he catches the changes of his mind on the hop. Growth is exciting; growth is dynamic and alarming. Growth of the soul, growth of the mind.’

These words come from Vita Sackville-West (The Hon Lady Nicholson), the English poet, novelist and gardener who wrote from 1917 - 1960.

Writing Trigger

So the question is, what moment today are you going to clap the net over?  

It’s fair to say that I knew my gardening was a little lax, but I didn’t realise just how bad until this week when I asked for a quote on mowing our lawn. We have a standard Australian garden with two lawns one relatively small and one slightly larger. I had expected to be given a set price. But no, my garden was so scruffy that the lawn mower man couldn’t give me a set price he had to quote me an hourly rate!

Despite that I have to admit that it is nice to see the footpath again.

Writing Exercise

Make the theme for your writing an overgrown garden.

Well, tomorrow is the big day. It’s the annual Bronze Quill Luncheon and Awards for the Society of Women Writers and whilst I don’t expect to win anything, as President I do have to present them. Besides let’s face it, how often do the presenters get presented to?

So with all the engraving and certificate printing going on around me, as you might expect, today’s writing exercise is based entirely on that.

Writing Exercise

Write a story or poem that is based on receiving or not receiving a trophy.

Another gorgeous day here which means there is no option but to fix the retic and clean out all the sand that has gathered in the sprinklers over winter. Ah the fun of it, but since we are the only state not on sprinkler restrictions I guess we are the lucky ones. And the maintenance certainly beats seeing all my plants die because I keep forgetting to water them.

The writing exercise below as you might guess is triggered by today’s job. Try it out as a first sentence and see where you end up. Have fun

 Writing Exercise

Resting my hand on the tap I turned it gently hoping to coax some water out of it - nothing! What on earth was going ….

Well I guess Summer is definitely here, I’ve just come in from a very pleasant (if dusty) few hours conquering my garden. I can now proudly say that the only weeds I can see from my office window are in the lawn or those that look too pretty to pull out. 

Writing Exercise

You are working in your garden (or a neighbour’s if you don’t have one) and while trimming back a tree you find what appears to be a secret note. But who is it to and what is the treasure it is refering to?

Happy Halloween to all those who are involved in the tricking or treating.

As you might expect today’s writing exercise is seasonal. Have fun with it.

Writing Exercise

Write a story or poem that includes each of the following: a hooked nose, a goblet, a field of shadows and a tooth-ache.

Still struggling with my voice today, which might explain the writing trigger below. But for anyone who is planning to go to any of the talks I am doing next week, I plan to be back to my talkative self by then.

Writing Exercise

Try using this as a first line:

‘Jack didn’t talk, never had, never would, they said but I knew different …

I’ve just come in from pottering around the garden. It seemed the best place to be today considering the delightful spring weather and the fact that I’m trying to kick some fluey bug that has left me with no voice and plenty of bugs to share. 

Anyway, having finally decided to trust the dog, I have taken down the temporary fencing around the vegie patch, and I have to say that corner of the garden looks vibrantly green and heathly. This week I have picked some spirally-contorted carrots, wholly lettuces and warm, ripe cherry tomatoes. 

Vegie patches are so much fun, but if you’re wondering why I’m rambling on about it it’s because while I was out pottering a phrase from one of John Denver’s songs came to mind (as it usually does this time of year) and I thought it would be a great topic for a writing exercise. I hope it inspires something wonderful.

Writing Exercise

‘Only two things that money can’t buy and that’s true love and home-grown tomatoes.’