Sunday 2 February 2014

A selection of 'small stones'


Last month you might remember I decided to try a January writing challenge, to write 'small stones' throughout the month. The idea being:
~ Notice one thing each day
~ Give your whole awareness to it
~ Write it down

Last year I already started to write an 'inspiration' type journal, capturing observations, snippets of everyday life, ideas, thoughts and so on. I used this challenge to form shorter, more poetic/creative type observations and it has definitely been a good way to kick start my creativity for the year.

In the past week I've written some new flash fiction pieces (or returned to old ones to edit). Something else which helped, was reading the opening pages of my Mslexia Writing Diary (which my Mum very kindly gave me - thanks Mum!). The article 'Your Creative Journey' encouraged me to consider my writing ambitions, reflect on what I accomplished last year, and set myself new goals for this year.

Goals can sometimes be restrictive if you make them too specific, so I decided to set quite broad ones such as 'Let go of the fear and just write' and 'Have self belief and keep submitting'. The first one was quite important as lately I've been over analysing my new book too much, worrying if it's good enough, where is it heading and so on. So the decision to return to writing shorter forms for a while, just freeing my mind and seeing what words landed on the page, has definitely banished that fear and allowed me to re-discover the fun of writing!

Here's a selection of my 'small stones' from January below. Did anyone else take up the challenge or set themselves writing goals for the year?

*Note - the first small stone was inspired by a film, just in case you're wondering what kinds of things I was 'noticing' throughout Jan! 

A tender caress soaked in ruby red; danger, scorpion sting, passion, blood. Tainting the innocent hope of love, trapped by destiny. 

Winter Trees: Spindly, rigid branches like old men frozen in time, reaching for the stars, waiting for the kiss of Spring to awaken their rotting frame.

A face which wears its worry. Every hurt, fear and disappointment her son inflicted, is etched into her lines, tarnishing her own forgotten youth.

Pink balloons tied to a red gate, blowing in the wind. The house looks deserted, lights out, silent, as if the balloons belong to a forgotten party.

Train flashes past yellow fields – a glimmer of light awakening this dark winter morning.

Heart shaped tangerine peel abandoned on the top step. Layers peeled back, the best bit consumed, now the rest…left to rot.

Local girl climbing a lamppost, one trainer clad foot balancing on the handlebars of her scooter. ‘Just try me,’ a look of defiance stretching across her face as she reigns above her ginger haired follower.




13 comments:

  1. What a great assortment of observations! I'm afraid I didn't quite get started but might do this another month, although I did start rewriting some poetry.

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    1. And your focus on your poetry has been a good thing! The small stones could be a really good way of producing imagery for poetry actually

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  2. These are beautiful observations, Vikki. They could all become the inspiration for a poem or story. I especially like the colour you bring into each scene and my favourite is the image of the pink balloons tied to the red gate. It was both chilling and moving at the same time.
    I recently out my novel side for a few days to write a story for Woman's Weekly. It was a way to remind myself of the joy of writing short fiction and free myself from the over-thinking I had been guilty of with the novel. I think it really helps to take yourself away from a large project for a while and remember how much you love writing for its own sake.

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    1. Thanks Joanna. It really made me notice how the littlest of details in everyday life has the potential to be turned into a story!
      Definitely agree about using shorter pieces to re-invigorate that spark for writing. My Mum always tells me your short stories are wonderful - I hope to see one soon in WW! x

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  3. I'm sure these details could be included in longer pieces, to add depth and interest.

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    1. Definitely Patsy. I've already included one of my small stones in a longer piece of work and hope to expand others

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  4. Great small stones Vikki! My favourites are the pink balloon, the train and the tangerine peel. A great idea to write one every day-must make a note to do that. I enjoy flash fiction because it can be done so quickly- a break from a long writing project or a way to exercise writing muscles!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by, Anita. I really enjoy flash ficition too as a form as I find it really does open up so much creativity and can be a challenge!

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  5. These are very vivid and colourful observations Vikki - I loved the idea of the forgotten balloons and the abandoned tangerine peel. There's even a bit of rhyme in there!

    I also love the idea of the 'inspiration journal' - wouldn't it be a great idea to keep a mini version for a week and then SWAP, as the impetus and inspiration for a flash piece? Full of ideas. So much wonderful inspiration out there and the way that you have captured these little snippets has inspired me to try finding a few 'small stones' of my own :)

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    1. Just noticed this comment, R! I think I'd like to develop the tangerine peel observation into a poem actually. Good idea about a mini version of a journal to swap - I'm sure that could produce some interesting results. Good luck with your 'small stones':)

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  7. Lovely observations, Vikky. They remind me of haikus - poetic and haunting.

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    1. Thanks Margaret! I enjoyed putting them together, and I'm also a big fan of haikus -an idea to maybe transform and develop my small stones into that form!

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