Six Word Stories

Every now and then I and my writing friends go through some exercises to challenge our word-play or get the creative juices bubbling. It was time for a few six word stories, made famous by the late Ernest Hemingway. The following are a selection of which I came up with. Why not give it a go and have a bit of fun with your writing?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Pretty seashells, echoes the oceans song

Exhaustion, one final push, new life

Morning sunshine promises family day out

Magpies gather, calling loudly, treasure found

Storm clouds roll, warnings go out

Breaking and entering, Goldilocks charged, guilty.

Inspirational Dreams

We all dream. Some of us can recall every detail, others not one iota. I'm the former
Where dreams are concerned, I can bring back a dream I enjoyed and continue it! Thankfully I very rarely have an unhappy dream and when I do I take note!!
So being a dreamer, is this a pro for my creative side or does it have any bearing at all?
For me, yes, it is a plus. My latest dream involves a beautiful little baby, wrapped in soft white blankets. The small bundle was sleeping alone snugly on my parents bed. Creeping closer to look at this baby I instantly knew it was a boy and his name was Joseph. What struck me most was the impact it had on me.
I know this baby. I have met this baby, this baby is mine, not one of my four children but another baby. This feeling was so strong it woke me from my sleep.
So who is Joseph? What is his story?
This tiny young man has stayed with me in a strong way. His gentle sleeping face is crystal clear in my mind.
Why was he alone? Why my parents room? Is he an angel from a miscarriage? Has Joseph been abandoned and waiting for me to care for him?
So much to consider. But patience shall play its part and Joseph will no doubt reveal all in his own way.
Happy writing.

Stop Counting, the words WILL add up!

I recently read 7 short sentences that really summed up for me a great way to approach my writing when struggling against time. Like many of you I am sure, I feel guilty if I do not achieve what I would call a decent word count each day. We all are busy and snatching ten minutes here and there is better than nothing at all but will that story ever get told at this rate?

Then when I do grab a good hour or two to scribble to my mended heart’s desire I sit down at the keyboard and one look at a blank screen sends shivers down my spine. Staring at a blank page with pen in hand has the same effect. Even when my head is crammed with characters screaming at me to tell their story, finding the first words can sometimes be tricky.

When words do spill out and the story is flowing brilliantly, I’m flying with pleasure then I pause and the pause stretches from one minute to one hour and oh I become weary. Despair settles on my shoulders, warming me like a cosy scarf. Will I ever get my mojo back I wonder and then I think of Earl Chessher.

Earl is the guy who put it simply, the way to think and how to break it down so I don’t panic anymore. Read his wise words below and put them up where you can see them each day. No matter how many words you write, there will always be a finished piece of work at the end.

One word a day is a flash fiction piece a year.
Two words a day is a short story a year.
Ten words a day is an enhanced short story a year.
Twenty words a day is a short novella a year.
Forty words a day is a novella a year.
100 words a day is an enhanced novella a year.
Then, you suddenly jump to 500 a day and voila, you're writing TWO novels a year!

Earl Chessher

Find out more about Earl at www.facebook.com/groups/fictionwritersg

Writing in the Gaps :)

It’s in all the writing magazines, blog-posts and author pages. What is? I hear you ask. Making time to write, that’s what I’m talking about. Sounds easy, just a tab of discipline needed, so ‘they’ say. Well, when you have housework, children, work and life in the mix, finding time to write is a luxury. I’ve burnt the bacon, boiled the eggs dry, wore my jumper on inside out and don’t ask what happened with the cabbage. But the neighbours smelled it for a week later and all because I was writing in my head. Clenching thoughts and ideas in my brain cells, until I get a pen in my hand and allow them to escape along the page. Excitement rising.

Making time to write is about keeping a notebook nearby, I feel. Grabbing every opportunity that presents itself, this is why this post is being written at the hairdressers, while my luscious locks are being attended to. Honest? Okay the greys are being covered.

Light-hearted aside I do make time to scribble each day. It may be thirty minutes, it may be ten and when life allows, a trip to my local library for a few hours. The dust collects, the laundry gathers, the vegetables go soft regardless of the crisp salad box they’re in, yet I sneak a few notes down, an idea here and there. So they get written, a short story, a blog-post, an entry for a competition and inspirations for other projects.

But to have a clear run of the day to write is a dream for many. Imagine having full days where the cup of tea is handed to you and dinner prepared. Oh bliss! we all deserve this time, why? Because we are worth it as they say on a certain hair product. So if the opportunity arises where a full day is gifted to you for writing, grab it and enjoy. If not, use your notebook.