Category: Meetings

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It tolls for thee: using ‘Bells’ as a writing prompt

If our latest creative writing assignment, ‘Bells,’ has had you staggering around like poor Quasimodo, crying out, “The bells! The bells!” then here are some suggestions to help you.

Church bells offer a range of ‘ap-pealing’ story ideas, whether they’re ringing for a Sunday service, New Year, a wedding or funeral, being used as an alarm for an invasion or a flood, or just rung for practice.

As we’re members of Island Writers, the bell in John Donne’s prose work, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (why are poets so crap at choosing titles?) may have come to mind:

“No man is an island, entire of itself… any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

The tolling church bell, signifying a death, could vary; in some parts of England, the bell would be tolled nine times for a man, six times for a woman, and three for a child, so people could tell which type of person had died.

Of course, they needn’t be church bells.

There are school bells and ship’s bells, marking the time through the day;

doorbells, alarm clock bells, bicycle bells and fire-bells, rung for attention;

bells worn by animals, such as cowbells in Alpine pastures, tiny bells on a cat’s collar or jingle bells on Santa’s reindeer;

or even bluebells or diving bells, which aren’t rung at all.

So, why are your bells ringing? Who’s ringing them? What would happen if they weren’t rung or didn’t work? Perhaps it is their absence in a foreign land which will stir you to create a poem or story.

Whatever you decide, ‘brrring’ it with you to our next meeting, which, as I’ve already ‘tolled’ you, is February 18th.

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All at sea

So, we are marooned here – on our sunny little island, floating like an emerald on a sparkling sea. The Isle of Wight has become our creative writing topic for the next fourteen days, and each of us needs to produce a contribution for our first book.

But what to write?

The Island has nine towns: Ryde, Brading, Newport, Cowes, East Cowes, Yarmouth, Ventnor, Sandown and Shanklin. Then there are villages, such as Freshwater, Newchurch, Arreton, Shalfleet, St Helens or Bembridge. Any of these could be the setting for a short story – preferably one which could happen nowhere else – or the inspiration for a poem. Or why not write a short non-fiction piece about the history of your chosen place?

Childhood memories…

Then there are the many tourist attractions to be found here, which could be the source of a piece of humorous writing set in the modern day, or a nostalgic childhood memoir: Blackgang Chine, Robin Hill, Monkey Haven, the Steam Railway, the model village at Godshill or the alpaca farm in West Wight.

The Island is stuffed with historical landmarks which may stir you to create some great writing. As well as some wonderful old churches and charming manor houses, we have intriguing historic places such as Osborne House, St Catherine’s Lighthouse, Carisbrooke Castle, Brading Roman Villa, Quarr Abbey, Fort Victoria, Appley Tower or the Pepperpot – oops! I mean, St Catherine’s Oratory. If you haven’t been anywhere lately, why not plan a visit in the next couple of weeks? Seeing the place in winter could give a new perspective to your creative writing. Think about what these buildings meant to the people who built them and lived there in the past, or their significance to the Islanders and tourists who visit today. Perhaps focusing on one particular part of the building, such as a beautiful window, elegant fireplace or time-battered turret, will catch your imagination and spark a story.

Who says we don’t have camels on the Isle of Wight, Yvie?

Of course, we have many Island events which could give you a setting for your plot – the Garlic Festival, Sandown Carnival, Wolverton Manor Garden Fair, Mardi Gras, the Round the Island Race, the Island Highland Gathering or Walk the Wight.

With parts of the Island designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, enjoyment of the natural world could be the theme of your piece. One of those hidden beaches the grockles never find, country walks at Bonchurch or Whippingham, the Lavender Farm, fossil-hunting trips in West Wight, riding the chair-lift at Alum Bay, sailing at Cowes or bird-watching at the nature reserve – it’s all good, as long as it’s specifically happening here. Or maybe you could create a poem about the Island at night, with ferries sliding silently over the Solent like vast, illuminated wedding-cakes, and the lights of Portsmouth glittering across the water, so close, yet far away.

And of course, you may have something to say about the Isle of Wight as a whole, or the experience of living on an island – a contrast with mainland life, the ferry journey (don’t forget to set your watch back to 1975), Island dialect, or a feeling of detachment from everyday life, family and friends on the mainland. Whatever you choose, you should find our multi-faceted isle a rich source of ideas.

The next Island Writers meeting is 3 December at Ryde Library – so get writing!

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I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain…

It’s curtains for you! And you should be delighted.

The latest writing assignment for Island Writers is “Behind the Curtain.” And, like doors, curtains can be a fertile source of ideas for writers.

Curtains can be elaborate and decorative or purely functional. They have several uses: they can conceal what is inside or outside, they can be used to form a temporary divider between two spaces, and they can offer protection from draughts.

So, what is your curtain hiding?

Maybe it’s a net curtain, disguising you (or your character) from people outside. A nosy person peering through the nets to see the neighbours going about their business, or a chance view of something you weren’t meant to see?

Curtains let us hide from others, but they also hide those on the other side. When you close your windows at night, you can’t see who – or what – might be lurking out there in the darkness, which gives an illusion of safety. Perfect for a horror story. Who could forget that shower scene in Psycho?

The main purpose of curtains is to give privacy. Once we’re behind the curtains, we may behave in ways which are very different from our public life. What do your characters get up to once the curtains are shut?

And that privacy may come at a cost. If people can’t see into your home, they can’t see you’re in need of help. An injured person could be lying inside the house, too weak to cry out for help, with passers-by just the other side of the windows…

Your curtain need not be made of cloth. A curtain of rain or fog might lift to reveal an unforgettable spectacle, or a willow tree could provide a secret hiding place behind its leafy curtains. Or it could be an entirely metaphorical curtain, representing emotional detachment, social isolation or the divide between life and death.

Not all curtains are made to cover windows. Your curtain might divide a bedroom for two argumentative children, be part of a four-poster bed, or hide a doorway or alcove. Or perhaps the curtain in a fashion store changing-room or a hospital ward could be the starting point for your creative writing.

You might choose to relive the sense of excitement when waiting for the curtain in a theatre to rise – whether you’re in the audience or on the stage. Or perhaps your story takes place at the end of the performance, after the curtains have closed.

Yes, July has five Tuesdays this year, so you’ve got a bit longer to get your assignment done this time. But don’t forget we’re meeting at Yelfs for drinks and writerly chat on Tuesday 30 July, 7pm.

Just like a nosy neighbour, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s behind your curtain at our next meeting at Ryde Library on Tuesday 6 August, 7pm.

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Breaking the chain: why Samuel Johnson was right

I chose the theme of Broken things for our last Island Writers meeting. I was feeling a bit broken myself, so it seemed appropriate.

We talked about people’s negative attitudes to broken things – I suggested that we see them as not important enough to bother keeping safe, or we feel disgust that they are now useless and only worth throwing away. They can be a visible expression of violent activity, or of a lack of care.

Some of you argued that shabby old broken items can be loved more for sentimental reasons because of their condition, and that a broken item might be kept as a reminder that we have survived bad times.

In creative writing, broken things can be used to show violent behaviour or strong emotions, such as in a TV scene where an angry or frightened character clutches a wine glass so tightly that it shatters. This particular trope is over-used, but the writing principle is sound.

The inclusion of something broken can also be used to represent an abstract concept, such as a broken relationship or psychological damage. A cracked mirror could stand for bad luck, or a broken window could be a metaphor for breaking the boundaries of normal social behaviour.

Something breaking in a story can be a turning point, representing a moment of change or a break in the cycle of events, so I asked you all to write a piece where the act of something being broken created a significant turning point in someone’s life.

I think most of you will agree that the standard of writing this topic produced was particularly high, and it was interesting that the breakage didn’t always represent a negative idea – notably, Katie’s idea of an egg breaking because a chick is hatching.

Continuing the theme, our assignment for next time is Breaking the chain.

Samuel Johnson once said, “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” He was right. We don’t always realise our patterns of behaviour until things change.

I was always the quiet, studious one of the family. Since we were children, my sister Lucy has been my opposite self: the wacky, confident, popular person I wish I could be.

As most of you will be aware, shortly after reaching home after our meeting, I heard that she had died after a long illness.

I never made friends before I learned she was dying, because I didn’t need any – she was my best friend. She was always my go-to person, as I was hers, to discuss life decisions and creative projects: weddings, child care, jobs, cooking, holidays, home décor, crazy themed parties, family problems, business ventures and writing ideas.

Now the chain that bound us together is broken after 53 years, and I am having to reach out to new people and teach myself new habits.

I won’t try to be Lucy, and I will always miss her terribly. But perhaps in having to stand alone at last, I will make the effort and find the confidence to be the lively, sociable, interesting person who was always there inside my head.

Lucy’s son James asked me to write the last post on her blog, Lucy’s Last Post. I so wish I could tell her: she would have enjoyed the irony.

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Going invisible or summeritis?

OK, I admit it. I’ve been a bit invisible lately.

What with family issues, prior commitments and car problems, I haven’t had time to write this blog.

Or have I?

The truth is, like most people, I’ve had several sessions of spare time, but I’ve chosen to prioritise other activities. I’ve watched TV, added comments to an online forum, researched ideas for the house extension I can’t afford, gone through a load of old paperwork. Most of that wasn’t urgent or even necessary – so why didn’t I spend that time writing?

I’ve been affected by a condition I can only describe as Summeritis. It’s that ‘aaaaahhhh’ feeling you get on sunny days, when everything worthwhile seems like too much trouble. All you want to do is lie on the beach with the sort of book you don’t mind getting sunscreen smeared on, or potter around the garden with a drink in one hand, snipping off bits that look like weeds.

The result of this is that I didn’t send you any updates last month, including any hints for our last assignment. So I wasn’t too surprised to see that, at our last meeting, some of you had become invisible too.

Although, frankly, after that nightmarish meeting when about twenty people turned up, it’s quite a relief that the group has returned to a practical size, as we had more time for leisurely discussion.

Anyway, I’m back, and determined to be a reformed character. Writing is still important to me, and I’m sure it’s still important to you, too. But on those sunny days when being stuck at your regular desk feels like torture and the garden is calling, how do you find the oomph to get started on your writing again?

With this in mind, I’ve chosen a really easy topic for our next assignment – The Perfect Writing Space. As always, feel free to respond in prose or poetry in any genre. You may like to read this article again first.

Our next meeting is Tuesday 18th June, 7pm-9.30pm at Ryde Library. See you there.

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A mystery boxful of creative writing possibilities

At the last Island Writers meeting, I gave you the assignment title, The Mysterious Box. And the only stipulation was that the box should NOT contain the traditional sort of treasure, i.e. gold coins, jewels etc.

Our treasure-themed meeting had already produced several variations on the idea of a box found in the attic after someone had died, so perhaps we can come up with some other ideas.

It doesn’t need to be an ancient wooden chest, of course. It could be a battered old biscuit tin, a plain cardboard box, a pretty gift box, a filigree metal casket or an elegant china trinket box.

Perhaps your box is mysterious simply because it’s an unexpected parcel, or a strangely-wrapped gift.

Or maybe the box itself looks peculiar, hinting at some unusual contents?

How did it come into your (or your character’s) possession?

Did it arrive by postal delivery, or was it given as a present, or was it hidden there, unnoticed, until it was found?

Was it meant for you, or have you accidentally received an item intended for someone else?

Will opening the box bring pleasure or sadness, interesting knowledge, special power, disappointment… or danger? Or will what you find inside start an unexpected chain of events?

So – if it’s not a personal question – what’s inside YOUR box?

We’ll find out at our next meeting on Tues 2nd April.

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IMPORTANT: EVERYONE PLEASE READ THIS! It’s time to freeze

As you may be aware, Island Writers now has a lot of members and it is taking too long for everyone to share their writing in the time allocated, so meetings are dragging on too late. For this reason, we have decided to make two important changes:

As of today, membership is FROZEN. Island Writers will not take on any more new members at present.

EXCEPT places are reserved for the next 2 months for the following people, who have already contacted me personally or joined our Facebook Group : John, Sandy, Shirley, Caroline, Kim and Katerina. You are still welcome to join Island Writers.

AND

Our meeting time is now EXTENDED. We will continue to start at 7pm, but meetings will now end at 9.30pm.

If you need to leave earlier, just let me know so you can be one of the first to share your writing. And I will try to improve my time management!

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Panoramic views: a writing prompt with wide possibilities

The next Island Writers meeting is on Tuesday 5 February, so we have just a few more days to come up with our latest assignment: A view from a window.

It could be a story or poem based on something exciting, tragic, unusual or hilarious seen from inside a window. Was it seen by chance, or an expected event? Did the person inside realise what they were seeing, or were they mistaken?

The window doesn’t need to be part of a house – your piece could be a description of stunning scenery from a hotel room on holiday, an imagined view from a castle or historic building, or a view whilst travelling, from the window of a car, train or aeroplane.

Or perhaps the view itself isn’t the important part – maybe your writing will focus on the feelings of someone inside the window who wants to be outside. It could be a tedious school classroom, a prison cell, a workplace or a hospital. How would life be different if they could get out there?

Anyway… now’s your chance. The window of opportunity closes soon!

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Rainbow pencils, snowflakes and other good intentions

We’re back! It’s seemed an awfully long time since we had our last meeting before Christmas, but last night we returned full of good intentions, and a fresh start was made by all. Welcome to our new members, Lucy, Angela, Nicky and Ros – great to have you with us.

I was pleased to hear (and make a note of) your Writing Resolutions for 2019. These targets should help us focus on our top priorities. Sometimes the range of possibilities is so wide that we end up achieving nothing. Many of us are aiming to get our books finished this year, but others wanted to explore new genres or set themselves weekly word targets.

Chantal’s first resolution made us all smile. She’s going to have a more organised writing area, but NOT go over the top and waste time organising her pencils into rainbow order!

For Nicky, it’s decision time: should she revise and complete her old writing, or move on to something new? Heather plans to develop her writing further by incorporating more personal experiences and improving the way she writes dialogue, while Peter even managed to present his resolutions in a poem – now that’s creative!

I was particularly impressed by Bev’s well-thought-out and achievable list of resolutions: she included some goals for blogging, some for her work writing and some for her creative writing. One we all liked was, “Enjoy the journey of writing, and not just the end results.”

One topic which came up during discussion was the Snowflake Method of plotting a novel. There are two well-known methods of deciding your plot: planning, where you make a list of events and break it into chapters before you write, and pantsing, where you just start writing with a basic idea, fly by the seat of your pants and see how your novel turns out once it’s finished. The Snowflake Method starts with a single-sentence basic idea and expands it gradually, building and spreading until you have developed a coherent outline.

A few dates for your diary:

We’re going Yelfing again on Tuesday 29th Jan – meeting up for a few drinks at 7pm at Yelf’s in Union Street. Jonathan will try to get us the Writers’ Room again.

Yvie’s monthly book club, Words, Wine, Wit and Wisdom is meeting on Wednesday 30th Jan. The book under discussion is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. If you haven’t read it, you can still come – just sip your wine and look intelligent! Contact Yvie through the Island Writers Facebook page for more info.

And the next Island Writers meeting is Tuesday 5th February, 7pm – 9pm at Ryde Library. Our (optional) assignment for next time is The view from a window.

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New Year, new writing resolutions?

At the end of our last meeting, instead of setting a writing assignment, I asked you to come up with your writing resolutions for 2019.

Maybe there’s one thing you’d like to accomplish next year, or perhaps you have a list of ten targets you’ll set yourself – that’s up to you. In case you haven’t got round to thinking about it yet, here are some examples:

Achievement targets:

  • I will write (or finish) my novel and self-publish it by the end of 2019.
  • I will try NaNoWriMo this year.
  • I will self-publish a book of my best poems.
  • I will send my book to ten agents and try to get it published.
  • I will write a poem every week.
  • I will start writing that idea I’ve been thinking about for ages.

New habits:

  • I will write 100 words every day (or 1000 words every week, or whatever.)
  • I will plan my structure before I start writing.
  • I won’t let myself edit my book any more until I finish the first draft.
  • I will set aside a regular time for writing and stick to it.

Improved skills:

  • I will develop my characters better so they don’t all sound like the same person.
  • I will try out some new styles or genres.
  • I will improve my opening paragraphs.
  • I will read four books on writing and try to incorporate what I learn in my writing.

Whatever you choose for your resolutions, it’s important to decide on changes which are achievable for you in your current situation.

Happy New Year!

See you all at the next Island Writers meeting on Tuesday 15th January 2019, 7pm-9pm at Ryde Library.