OK, OK, those who know me (and you all do) will be aware that that statement is (ahem) a big fat lie. If it weren’t for large supplies of sugar-laden foods, I probably wouldn’t stay at my writing-desk nearly as long. Let me rephrase. Ordinarily, I come to the group with a planned assignment topic. This time, I forgot, so I glanced down at our refreshment biccies and chose, “Family Circle.”

So, how could you use this subject for creative writing?

Well, firstly, you could take it at face value: a story or poem about a pack of Family Circle biscuits. Maybe they’re given as a gift, which causes a problem for some reason, perhaps they could be part of a poisoning mystery, or maybe the stress of choosing is simply too much for your character.

You could use the most common meaning of the phrase, and write about a ‘family circle’ in the sense of a group of family members. How does being part of a family give you or your character particular pleasure or annoyance? Is there one personality trait or an unusual physical characteristic which all the members of the circle share? Who is excluded from the group – and why?

Or you could focus on the word ‘circle’ in a family context – perhaps the circle in question is Grandma’s wedding ring, or a circle of dancing family members at a celebration, or a circular photograph. Your ‘circle’ might be a dartboard, a flower-bed, a car tyre, a running track, or a circular saw. Or your story might include someone drawing a circle – in the sand, as a tattoo, on a blackboard, or in a letter.

Alternatively, you might have a more abstract family circle in mind: death and rebirth, the circle of life; arguments or discussions going around in circles; the astrological calendar; or karma returning retribution for past sins.

Your piece could be a short story, memoir, poem, letter, blog post, playscript or stream-of-consciousness notes on the topic. Or you could reject the topic completely and decide to write a random story about a planet where porcupine quills are the local currency, or a poem about different types of cheese. Or simply make some active progress on the novel you’re already writing. We’re not fussy!

Whatever you decide, as long as you get ’round’ to doing some new writing, it’s all good.

Our next meeting is Tuesday 21st January, 7 – 9.30pm, Ryde Library.