Creative Writing - 27.09.2020

I haven't touched this blog in a few weeks because I have been busy sorting out some fictioncompetition entries. I don't know if I'll win but I don't want to give up just yet so will keep trying.

Today, I have been working on some exercises from the five-minute writer by Margret Geraghty.  I think it is a good book to help focus the mind for creative writing when it feels like you can't focus on anything with all that's going on in the world at the moment.

The exercise I completed today was Chapter 45 on Visual Dialogue.  I used the prompt - weeding a garden and my effort is below.  It took me 30 minutes to pull it together.

Prompt: Weeding the garden 

 

Aisha bend down to pull out a dandelion with its leaves spread out wide and its annoying yellow bloom grinning back at her.  She returned the grin with glee after she managed to extract the pesky weed, roots and all.  She threw it on the growing pile. 

‘That took you some effort,’ Ted commented as he whistled through his teeth, ‘these bloody weeds have taken over this year, haven’t they?’ 

‘Yes because of Covid-19. We haven’t been out in the garden as much and everything’s gone wild,’ she responded, as she tugged, with both hands, at a large clump of wild garlic – the powerful aroma sending her reeling for a moment before she concentrated her efforts for another try. 

‘Let me have a go,’ said Ted as he walked forward as she gave up and stood back, watching him thrash angrily at the mass with a rake as foliage and bell-like flowers flew everywhere. 

‘Good grief, they stink,’ he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. He then used the rake to push the defeated weeds to join the others in the pile, ready for the composting bin. 

‘Don’t you know they can be used to make pesto. I’ve seen many recipes on Pinterest,’ said Aisha as she looked with optimism at the wild garlic as more of it joined the pile. ‘Maybe we could make a batch and freeze it. Could save us some cash.’ 

‘The cats have been in here.  I don’t think I could bring myself to eat it,’ replied Ted with a stiff smile as he continued removing more wild garlic, dandelions and creeping buttercup, adding them to the ever-growing pile of weeds.  He stopped when Aisha did not respond, turning around to see her quickly wipe away a tear from her eye.  He put down the rake. 

‘Aisha, what’s wrong?’ He asked, pulling her body to him in a hug. 

‘What are we going to do about money?’ she asked, choking back the tears.  Ted pulled her closer, planting a kiss on top of her head. 

‘Don’t worry.  Everything will work out,’ he replied, as he looked towards the pile of weeds which were beginning to sag and wilt under the bright sunshine.