Creative Writing - 14.12.2020

Hello all and sorry for the radio silence recently.  I have been keeping myself busy with various work deadlines and other personal stuff, so my creative writing efforts have been low down on my list of priorities. I did submit a few stories to competitions throughout October and November so just hoping and praying there is finally a glimmer of hope in this awfully depressing, soul destroying year.

Anyway, I won't dwell because I know that something awesome and good will happen shortly so I just have keep smiling for now.

Below are a couple of short pieces I compiled a while ago during a Write Together session.  I hope you enjoy.

Exercise 1 – Character – Exploring characterisations and personality traits. 

Geoffrey: Why don’t we go somewhere nicer this year.  The day trips are too short and we don’t get to spend enough time together. 

Daphane:  I don’t know… I can’t leave my mother for too long.  She gets restless and needs constant care. Why don’t we go back to Brighton?  You loved Brighton. 

Geoffrey: Yes, Brighton was good.  But I want to spend some private time with you.  What are you scared of?  Are you scared of me? 

Daphane: Of course not.  It’s just my mother. You know I am her only carer.  She doesn’t like anyone else looking after her.  She’s such a stubborn woman, my mother.  I love her though. 

Geoffrey: Well, I love you. I want to move things on by getting to know you a bit better… 

Daphane: We know each other pretty well, don’t we?  Aren’t you happy with me? 

Geoffrey: Yes, I am, but I want to get to know you…  Don’t you get what I am trying to tell you?  We’ve been seeing each other for well over a year now and I haven’t even seen your bedroom. 

Daphane: I’ve told you the reason for that.  My mother doesn’t like me bringing strange men back to the house.  She gets really scared. 

Geoffrey: I’m not just any strange man. I want to make you feel good.  I want to be with you. 

Daphane: Erm… I need to tell you something… 

Geoffrey: What, you're still chaste? That’s ‘s why you’ve been stalling for years?  

Daphane:  It’s very difficult to tell you this Ben, but I need to get it off my chest. 

Geoffrey: Come on then, don’t keep me in suspense.  What’s you’re secret? 

Daphane: I’ve just got married, Geoffrey. I am calling everything off. 

Geoffrey: You what? What are you telling me? 

Daphane: My mother was in fact my other half.  That’s why I never invited you to the house. 

Geoffrey: You bitch! How could you do this to me? 

Daphane: it was pay back for my friend.  Do you remember Colleen?  Went to Xavier High? 

Geoffrey: Vaguely.  What’s she got to do with me? 

Daphane: she really liked you, so she asked her out and you turned her down in the most embarrassing way possible.  She never recovered from the hurt you caused her.  She took pills.  I went to her funeral… 

Geoffrey: Who cares about her?  I’ve had enough of this. I’m out of here. 

Daphane:  Bye, Geoffrey.  It was nice knowing you. 

Exercise 2: POV: Gaining perspective to build character 

She’s a pretty girl, sitting with an equally good-looking guy.  The girl looks cagey, uncomfortable.  Her man looks like a prat – sitting there with a white jumper slung over his shoulders and his legs wide open.  You can tell by looking at him that he really loves himself.  What is she doing with a cretin like him?  His appearance might be nice, but you can tell his heart isn’t.  He just wants to use her – chew her up and spit her out before moving on to the next person.  Oh wait – he’s not smiling anymore.  She now has a smug look on her face like a cat that’s got the cream.  Is she breaking up with him?  Maybe she is because he certainly doesn’t look happy. He’s now standing up and there’s an angry look on his face.  He has just kicked over a chair and now he’s stormed out.  She doesn’t follow him.  She just waves at his back and laughs.  Now she’s on her phone.  Who is she calling, I wonder?  He’s outside, trying to wave down a black cab.  None are stopping. 

Lulu looking creepy at
the top of the stairs