Writing prompt #5 – Smelly Socks
2 Comments »9th March, 2008; Category: Master of Arts course, Poetry, Writing for Children, Writing prompts
One of the units I am particularly enjoying doing for my Master of Arts in Creative writing course is called Writing for Children. This is my main area of interest in doing the course. Our lecturer is a local writer who has many published books to her credit, including some award winners.
As a warm-up exercise in a recent workshop, Rosanne asked us to write down the title “Smelly Socks” and then asked us to write for five minutes about anything to do with smelly socks. Several students were asked to read out the results from this activity. Several were quite brilliant.
As far as I was concerned, the words “smelly socks” have a special rhythm to them which immediately suggested a poem for children. Here is the result of five minutes of writing. It’s not great poetry, but I sure had fun writing it – and then reading it to the class.
Smelly Socks
I hate smelly socks.
Smelly, smelly old socks.
They’re worse than a fox
That lives down near the docks,
Smelly, smelly, smelly, socks.I hate smelly shoes.
Smelly, smelly old shoes.
They’re worse than dog poos
And some terrible stews.
Smelly, smelly, smelly shoes.I hate smelly cats.
Smelly, smelly old cats.
They’re worse than my hats
And rotting old mats.
Smelly, smelly, smelly cats.(c) 2008 Trevor W. Hampel
As I said – it’s not great poetry, but I sure had fun.
Writing prompt:
Look around the house. Find a common object. Write about it for five minutes.
This is just a warm-up exercise to get you going on your major writing project for the day. Don’t be too fussy about the end product. Try not to edit or correct as you go – just get the words down. Write solidly for five minutes and then put it aside and get on with the main writing task for the day.
Don’t throw it away – come back to it in a few days and see if there is anything you can do with it. Does it lend itself to a non-fiction article, a poem, an essay or a short story?
Above all – have fun.
Good writing.
First impressions
No Comments »8th March, 2008; Category: Master of Arts course
I have read and heard on many occasions that first impressions are vitally important – and usually lasting. One doesn’t get a second chance to make that first impression. Then more recently I read that most people find that their first impression upon meeting someone is usually fairly accurate. There are exceptions, of course. I have met a few people who didn’t impress me on first meeting, but on getting to know the person I’ve had to review and revise that first impression. Most people deserve a second, third and more chance at showing who they really are.
Then there are those people you really have to work at to work out who they truly are. Most people are far more complex creatures than that first impression.
I’ve been attending Tabor College in Adelaide, South Australia, for three weeks now. That’s why the posting have been less frequent recently. I’m doing my Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing. Tabor College was set up some years ago as a theological college. It has since branched out into teacher education and has gained an exceptionally high degree of reputation in the process. More recently it has incorporated humanities, counselling and several other departments along the way. It is close to being accredited full status as the fourth university in our state.
My first impressions of the staff of the college have been very positive. I have found that the lecturers, tutors and office staff are extremely friendly, helpful and will do anything to help students succeed. Many of them have supplied personal email addresses and phone numbers, insisting that we contact them if we are having any difficulties. The pastoral care of the staff is wonderful. They genuinely want to help and see us succeed.
Even more pleasing has been the realisation that those first impressions were accurate. The care has continued. Staff members are frequently asking how we are getting along with our studies and how can they help. It is a genuine concern for our welfare. I like that.
On a broader scale it would be great if we all treated others in the same way – with a genuine interest in their welfare and a caring, loving attitude towards them. It doesn’t take much effort. It doesn’t take much to change the world, one kind, caring act at a time.
An accidental story
No Comments »4th March, 2008; Category: Writing Hints
As I crossed the playground my mind was preoccupied by what was ahead of me. I was lost in thought about the lesson I was about to teach to my class. I was trying to remember the activities I had planned. My head exploded. Well – that’s what it felt and sounded like. The pain was instant. A basketball had hit the side of my face. I had not seen it coming. The ball hit the point of my glasses where the arm connects with the frame. They shattered. It took a few moments to gather the pieces – and my thoughts before proceeding to my appointed class. Shaken but unhurt, the rest of the day was interesting – and challenging as I coped as best I could without glasses. Unhurt? Well, yes – if you discount the shock.
Writing activity:
- Think back to a time when you had an accident, or you witnessed an accident.
- Recall what happened and how it affected you and other people.
- Write a description of the events leading up to the accident.
- Describe what happened.
- Explain how it affected you and other people.
- What were the long-term repercussions of this accident?
Now you have the basis of a fictional story. Change the main character from yourself to an imaginary person. Embellish the story by playing around with the facts and imagining other aspects of the accident. Give it a different ending. Do with it what you want – it really is up to your imagination.
Below is a variation on the incident I started with.
Good writing.
As Peter crossed the playground his mind was preoccupied by what was ahead of him. He was lost in thought about the lesson he was about to teach to his class. He was trying to remember the activities he had planned. His head exploded. Well – that’s what it felt and sounded like. The pain was instant. A basketball had hit the side of his face. He had not seen it coming. The ball hit the point of his glasses where the arm connects with the frame. They shattered, pieces flying in several directions. Peter crumbled to the concrete pathway in a state of shock. He passed out. Students from all over the school yard came racing to the scene of the popular teacher lying on the ground. The last thing Peter heard was the sound of an ambulance siren racing to the school.
An endless fascination with people
“An endless fascination for others is a prerequisite to being a novelist – despite the common view of novelists as egocentric and self-absorbed. The self-absorption comes when you are at your desk writing. The rest of the time, you need to be pathologically curious.” from A Novel in a Year by Louise Doughty.
I like that.
“Pathologically curious” about people. A novel needs to be occupied by people. Sometimes lots of them. You can’t write about people unless you know about people. Unless you have a curiosity about people you will struggle to portray people effectively in your novel.
Take some time out to visit the local shopping centre, coffee shop or any place where people congregate. Observe the people you see. Take a notebook with you and write down some descriptions of people. Write a sentence or two about a dozen or more people you see. Who are they? Where did they come from? What are they doing here? What hardships have they endured? Why is that person bright, happy and bubbly? Why is that mother frustrated with her child? What events have impacted upon that stooped old man hobbling along the path? Why is that young man walking with such an aura of confidence?
Give the people you see a story. It may be far removed from reality but that is the power of imagination. Use these story outlines as the basis for characters in your novel. If you can’t fit them in, or they are just plain wrong for your plot, don’t despair. They could well be used in a short story, or even a poem. Never throw away any draft writing; you never know when it can be used.
Good writing.
Further reading: