Trevor's Writing

Writing prompt: the secluded garden

No Comments »22nd February, 2013; Category: Fiction, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Writing prompts

Secluded garden in the Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat, Morocco

While on a tour of the Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat, Morocco we went through this delightful secluded garden, walled in on all sides by the walls of an ancient fortress.

Imagine being there two, four or even six hundred years ago.

Writing prompt: transport your mind back a few centuries or so. Imagine what life was like in a different era, a different culture and in an exotic location like Morocco. Give your imagination full rein to think of exciting scenarios in this exotic location. Imagine colourful characters living in this era, and the possibility of marauding hordes trying to take over the city, only to be thwarted by the strong walls of defence.

Or perhaps a romantic and secret assignation between lovers in this garden in the light of the moon.

Good writing.

Flower in a secluded garden in the Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat, Morocco

Writing prompt: what happened?

No Comments »20th February, 2013; Category: Fiction, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Short Story Starters, Writing prompts

Cafe in Rabat, Morocco

While wandering through the streets of Rabat in Morocco we happened upon this lovely looking cafe.

Not a single customer despite the establishment being open at the time, and with a wonderful view over the river estuary and the Atlantic Ocean.

I wonder what happened?

Writing prompt: let your imagination run wild with the possibilities. What happened to all of the customers? Is there any significance in all of the furniture being painted blue?

Good writing.

Musician, Rabat, Morocco

No Comments »6th February, 2013; Category: Fiction, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Short Story Starters, Writing prompts

Musician in the Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat, Morocco

On our visit to Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, we were exploring the Kasbah des Oudaias with its twisting lanes and narrow streets when we came across this musician. He was singing while playing his three-stringed lute – I think it’s called a guinbri or santir and is common and popular throughout western Africa.

Writing prompt:

Who is this man?
Why is he singing in public?
What is his background story?

When I am faced with writing a short story based on an image or photograph or something I’ve seen, I start with the person’s name. I don’t know the name of the man in the photo, so I will have to make one up. I try to be authentic to the setting. I ask a few questions, like those above. Other questions like “what is he doing – and why?” often start a stream of ideas.

I let the story take over, directing my thoughts and just getting down the words as they come.

If the character takes over the narrative and demands to have her story told, that’s exciting. Just go with the flow. Get the words down quickly; editing and rewriting come later.

Good writing.

Writing prompt – what’s behind the window?

No Comments »3rd February, 2013; Category: Fiction, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Short Story Starters, The Writer's Life, Writing prompts

Windows in the Kasbah des Oudaias, Rabat, Morocco

On our visit to the Rabat, the capital of Morocco, my attention was grabbed by this intriguing, yet, beautiful, set of windows in the Kasbah des Oudaias.

The writer in me started wondering: what’s behind the windows?

Who lives here? What are the stories of the people living here?

If the windows could tell, what stories would they weave.

This quaint, simple scene is evocative of the mysterious, magical Morocco we experienced throughout our tour.

Could this be the setting for a poem?

A short story?

A murder mystery – or a tearful romance?

Good writing.

Join a writers’ group

No Comments »1st February, 2013; Category: Libraries, The Writer's Life, Writers

Last night I attended the first meeting for 2013 of my writers’ group. I’ve been a member now for nearly five years and it has been wonderful experience, each meeting stretching me as a writer. For the first time in the group’s eight year existence, we changed venue to a nearby country location, namely, Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, rather than near the city CBD. As it turns out, this location is far more central to the majority of members; we just didn’t realise how many of us lived away from the city.

I’ve been an active member of several writers’ groups in the last five years. Over the last few years I’ve even jointly helped to run one. I’ve found that being a member of such a group has many beneficial spin-offs. Some of the benefits as I see it are as follows:

A sense of belonging – writing can be such a lonely business.
A place to safely share your work with fellow writers.
A place to safely share in the struggles of being a writer, and getting mutual support.
A place to receive honest and constructive critiquing of your writing. (If your group doesn’t do this, it might be time to set down some rules of conduct – or leave the group.)
A place of encouragement in a world where trying to get writing published can be very discouraging.
A place to be challenged and encouraged to write more, and perhaps in a genre one would normally not write.

My advice to all my readers is to seek out a writers’ group near where you live. And if you can’t find one, start one, perhaps coordinating it through your local library, or writing a letter to or article for the local newspaper, or even getting an interview spot on local radio.

Good writing.