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.’

Writing Exercise

Write this first line of your story then just keep going.

‘The drink can, now rattling and bouncing down the street, was thankfully the only reminder of last night’s party. …’

Today’s Writing Exercise

Write a story that involves a Superhero, a cup of tea, a pack of playing cards and the driver of cement mixer truck.

Pick your genre, age range, writing style, it’s all up to you. Just have fun. 

And to think that the main controversy kicked up by J K Rowling’s Harry Potter series of books was the witchcraft, now it would appear that Dumbledore is gay! (Click here for the news report). Don’t you love the freedom, plotting and plain sneekiness of being a writer?

Came across a quote today and when it comes to questioning the world I think it is so spot on. ‘A child’s attitude toward everything is an artist’s attitude’ by Willa Cather

Writing Trigger

Think about how you use the internet, what aspect do you use most? Messenger? News? Selling/buying? Research? Games? Emails? There are so many things available to us through online services but how many do we really understand. Imagine that you have come into contact with somebody or something from another planet, how would you describe what the internet is, how it works and what you use it for. Where would the communication take place? How would it take place? What would follow it?

I saw this picture in the header of my friend Melissa’s blog, it actually comes from MS Office but thought it made a good visual writing trigger. After all, what is at the end of the path? Why would you go there? Who lives there? What does it feel and smell  like standing under the trees by the gate? Are the brick pavers slippery? What kind of mail do they get? Have fun writing.

Just come back from a great retreat run by Present Perfect. We had yoga, writing, life coaching, discussions, to say nothing of amazing food and a wonderful time.

I’ve come home with no end of thoughts, but one interesting writing quote that came out of the weekend was, ‘I can’t write poetry in cold blood’. I think that puts things perfectly for so many of us who only write poetry when the emotions are in full flight. Thanks Annette for the quote, Susie for the weekend and Nikki for the great food