Trevor's Writing

Writing prompt: visiting family

No Comments »25th September, 2012; Category: Writing prompts

Over the last year my wife and I have probably travelled long distances more often than normal to visit family in different parts of our state, interstate and even overseas (when we went to Ethiopia to visit our daughter who was teaching there).

Family visits can be interesting times – from very pleasant through to totally forgettable. Some are necessary, some are overdue and others sadly generate renewed friction. On three occasions this year already we have travelled long distances to spend time with our two grandchildren (age 4 and 1). These are times of delight as we bond with them, get to know their developing characters and play with them. It can be a bitter/sweet time as well – especially when we say goodbye because we need to travel home again. Skype is a great blessing, but you can’t give hugs over the internet.

Today’s writing prompt: write about your last visit to a family member, either close-by or far away. Describe how it went and what happened. Was it an enjoyable occasion? Or a visit to forget?

Good writing.

PS: I must apologise for the long gap since my last post here. I have been very busy with my lecturing commitments, as well as being very ill over the last two months. I think I’ve turned the corner as far as my health is concerned, and the semester at university is drawing to a close. Stay tuned for more frequent and regular posts here on this site.

Writing prompt: Donkeys and other animals

No Comments »16th July, 2012; Category: Writing prompts

Donkeys in the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

When one travels to other countries, your eyes instantly pick up interesting contrasts to what you experience in your home town. I don’t ever see too many donkeys roaming the streets of my home town, Murray Bridge here in South Australia. Sure, the odd kangaroo ventures down the road past our home but this is quite rare. The occasional fox, hare or rabbit will make an appearance quite often, as well as the usual snakes and lizards. Even a sheep or two and horses pass by – I’ve even seen a riderless horse gallop by.

But never donkeys. Though there is one living in someone’s paddock about a kilometre away from our home; we sometimes hear him braying.

So when we went to visit Ethiopia and Morocco last year we were interested to see so many donkeys in the streets, on country roads and in farm yards. They are a very common beast of burden in those countries and are frequently seen in the streets of the large cities. Drivers have to be particularly careful to avoid colliding with them.

Writing Prompt: write about the animals you have as pets, or animals you see in your region. If you are writing a short story, incorporate one or more of these animals in your story to enhance the setting. If what you write is only a few hundred words, you could even post it in the comments section for other readers to comment.

Good writing.

Writing prompt: responding to bad news

I had some unwelcome news from my doctor yesterday. I’d been in for a routine check-up a few weeks ago and he ordered some extra tests. Yesterday I received the bad news that one condition I have has deteriorated markedly in recent months. I’ve had this condition for some 15 years and it has always been under control and quite manageable. It didn’t really impact my life at all, except for the requirement for daily medication.

It’s not really life threatening at this stage, provided I do all the right things and start seriously looking after myself. I thought that I was doing that, but it seems not. So how have I responded to this setback? I felt a little down at first, but, like all setbacks in life, one adapts, you think through what you can do to help the situation improve and then get on with living life. Take each day as it comes and live it to the full, acknowledging that you’ve been blessed with another day. Putting it in its right perspective also helps, because millions of others are far, far worse off.

One action that I know helps me to cope with setbacks like this is to write about it. So here I am doing just that. Usually I only write about private things like this in my journal, but I am sure many of my readers will identify with the therapeutic qualities of writing through a troubled time, serious situation or crisis that life throws in our faces from time to time.

I might also write a few poems or even a short story in response to this news, working out my emotions through the writing. One thing I won’t let it do is to freeze me into not writing at all. So I guess that there really is a silver lining after all.

Good writing – despite whatever life hurls at you.

Writing prompt: rainy days

3 Comments »22nd June, 2012; Category: Books, Reading, The Writer's Life, Writing prompts

I should take a photo of the rain pouring down outside, and the large puddle of water in our driveway. It is freezing out there, so I’ll just stay in my nice warm office and write about it instead. Take the easy option – quite a reasonable motto in this situation. Looking out of my window is not easy, what with all the raindrops pouring down the glass. So that eliminates taking a photo through the window too. Never mind.

Where I live in rural South Australia, rain is something to celebrate as we don’t often get downpours like we’ve had over the last 36 hours. Here in SA we often say that we are the driest state in the driest continent. It’s a claim which probably isn’t completely accurate, but we say it all the same. I don’t mind cold, wet winter’s days. It gives me a perfect excuse not to go out and weed the garden, or mow the grass, or chop the firewood, or fix that gutter, or… I think you get my point.

Instead, I like to stoke up the fire, make a good cup of tea and settle down with a good book. Or even an average book. Truth be told, I don’t get to do that as often as I’d like to these days. My writing takes up a good part of the day, my church involvement takes up some of every day, and now my lecturing position is further cutting into each day. Relaxing with a good book is becoming a luxury but it’s something I need to make sure I do. Taking time out to relax is important.

Writing prompt: what do you like to do on cold, rainy days?

Good writing – and reading.

Writing prompt: What is the cockatoo saying?

4 Comments »16th June, 2012; Category: Fiction, Writing prompts

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

I recently been looking through my library of photos trying to find suitable images to share on my birding site. I’d forgotten about the photo shown above. I took it some years ago when driving through suburban Adelaide in South Australia. A small flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos was investigating some hollows in a street tree. I stopped, whipped out the camera and they posed very obligingly for me, including the curious bird in the photo.

Writing prompt: What is the bird thinking? What might it say if it could talk? Many parrots, including this species, can be taught to say quite a few words. Imagine a conversation between you and the bird.

Good writing.