WoW - Notre Dame de Paris

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 26 - Look at the photo at the top of this post. What does it inspire in you? Set your timer for 5 minutes. With the photo in mind, write the first words that come into your head until the buzzer rings. If you aren't a visual person, you could try lighting a few candles and writing by candlelight. Different sensory experiences can be useful for inspiring creative writing so please play around to make the prompt suit your writing needs. If you do try writing by candlelight, let us know. I'd love to know how it works for you!


Link here for this week's WoW Notre Dame de Paris

I don't know why such a grim story came to mind...

She slid into her head, dredging memories from her past as she gazed at the flickering flames . The thick sandstone walls were cold and still, she shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. The world had changed – what had once been condoned by silence was no longer ignored, but that was of little consolation to her. As she knelt, she wondered why she had – kneeling felt like what she should do in such a place, but prayer would not come to her.

She saw her young self, innocent earnest face above white robes as she followed the holy man, walking in his footsteps and self opened in trust. She fleetingly felt the confusion again, before she closed down the memory.

She stood slowly and turned toward the back of the church. For the last time, she gazed at the beautiful glass windows, bathed in candlelight. She thought of the implications of her next move, of the telling and the consequences. Wondering if she had the courage to go through with it, she knew that she must.

Sacrifice

Link here to Lillie's blog to participate!! Five Sentence fiction
What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week’s inspiration word is: SACRIFICE

Ella sat at home alone, eyes fixed forward and her mottled skin lit up by the screen she faced. She scrolled through the pictures of longhaired girls in formal dresses, pink black blue, towering heels, on arms of pock faced laughing boys. A tear slid the length of her cheek as her blurred eyes read through the comments, the tags, the joy and the fun. As she straightened her spine, sighed and awkwardly stood , she told herself again  – my life will be different. She caught her breath as she felt the kick inside and instinctively cradled her belly – yes, I have made my choice.

WoW - in my neighbourhood

I'm in another city at a conference this week which has been crazy busy, but stimulating and interesting. But I HAD to make time to do my writing!

Her mind was a jungle, a jumble of past and present, of real and imagined.  Living as she did, in her tiny unit on a busy street, life was confusing, to say the least.

She thought of herself as a queen, her throne the bus seat on the main road, her crown a faded carroty halo, roots all grey. People either ignored her, eyed her suspiciously and took wide berth, or (only the very brave ones) said hello.

Some days were orange and filled with irritability, others were blue and quieter. On these days, when the voices were just mumbles, she would sit by the water and keep the seagulls company, smoke in hand.

On orange days, all sorts of chaos could ensue. One day, when the cacophony in her head was all too much, the men in blue had taken her to hospital. Whilst the food was good, it was a bad mad place to be and she had promised to behave if she could just go home.

Now that the nice girl comes and gives her a monthly jab, the noises are mere murmurs, and she can get on with chatting to friendly voices. She may not fit in, but this is her home.

Five Sentence Fiction - Delectable!

Go to Lillie's blog to participate FSF delectable
As a cat-lover, this one came to mind this week - light and fluffy !!

Fred had been looking forward to it since breakfast – a day spent lolling around had only added to his feline gustatory expectations.  His Mum had taken to buying him treats since Fluff had gone to the scratching post in the sky, and he guessed she was feeling sad and maybe a little guilty.

As he stretched his paws  in an impressive yoga move he rewound the memory – the bang of the front door, the Lexus flying out of the driveway backwards, the screech and ominous crunch.

Here she comes, he thought, as he leapt up expectantly to see her lay the bowl gently at his feet.  He inhaled the aroma briefly, before tucking in blissfully, savouring the jellied fish mousse and licking his chops  - “Thanks Mum, that was delectable”!

We are learning to make fire

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 23 - Write the words of Margaret Atwood at the top of your page "We are learning to make fire". Set your timer to 5 minutes. Write the first words that come into your head after the prompt. Stop when the buzzer rings.

“And then we will learn to put it out” declared Sid, the new OH and S officer, as he confidently piled papers high. “Fire training is compulsory, you know”.

Snickers in the back row  - “sounds like Boy Scouts”, “ nah, Girl Guides” “aren’t we a bit old for that?” as elbows nudged and eyes rolled.

“C’mon guys” sighed Sarah, “you know we have to sign the whole group off or the boss won’t subsidise the Christmas Party, lets just get on with it”.

“OK then Sarah, you can be my helper” Sid smirked as he handed her the matches and beckoned her close. He did like a pretty girl in panty hose. His chest puffed with importance, as he splashed petrol over the papery tower. “Nothing like a fire-starter”.

Sarah hesitated as she opened the box and slid out a match, “are you sure this is safe?”

“I’m the Safety Officer, sweetheart, of course it’s safe” were the last words he uttered as the flames lept skywards.

FSF - Bewitched

Five Sentence Fiction - Bewitched

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful 
punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then 
anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on 
the inspiration word. The word does not have to appear in your five 
sentences, just take your inspiration from that word.

This week’s inspiration word is: BEWITCHED

He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she giggled and stretched her coltish legs, flicking her hair over her shoulder. She didn’t even know he existed as he watched her from under the trees, a lone satellite shadowing the popular crowd.

Head thrown back, she laughed from her belly at a joke unheard as he edged closer. He could see the penned inky hearts on her arm but they were not for him. Oh, for the courage to speak to her - the thought of it alone stopped his breath as he turned away downcast.

High and dry

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 22 - Select a piece of music that reflects the mood of writing you'd like to aim for. Press play. Start free writing. Write the first words that come into your head. When the music's over, so is the writing.


Whoa, 4 minutes isn't very long! I love pretty well everything Radiohead, but this one is just beautiful.
PS  Friday - I posted on Wednesday, but felt the piece incomplete, so have added to it today!


High and Dry

Away from it all, away from the city, an unplanned flight from the mundane. I cling to his back as we speed up the motorway, cares floating behind as lightly as the wind takes them. My heart strains against the curve of his back as the road winds ahead.

A chance meeting, a night to remember and then this leap. He asked me to fly with him, fly away and I have. Brief thoughts of responsibility, of the risk I’m taking are merely snatched from me as what I know slides behind.

A flashback to the surprise on mother’s face, a hint of sadness or was it fear?

Am I mad going with my impulse and trusting him? Echoes of news reports shudder through my brain, images of missing persons, of tearful families, of taped bushland scenes.

A sucker for a bad boy, Jack was right up my alley - bearded , brash and free of spirit. I brush away a loose hair from my lips and recall his mouth on mine, sure and intent.

No, this felt right. I’d thrown my question to the skies just 3 weeks ago, and he was my answer. Yes, this was right. I take a breath and snuggle in tightly.