My November entry for Furious Fiction had to include the following: someone PACKING A SUITCASE, the phrase “ACROSS A CROWDED ROOM” and the words CHARM, CRUSH and FAINT. It was just me in Row H, up towards the back of the circle in seat 10. The bell hurries those sipping drinks in the bar and the stragglers sucking in those last drags outside, … [Read more...]
Mirror, mirror
I wrote this story for the Australian Writers' Centre March Furious Fiction challenge. I had to include the following: a person in disguise, set it in a park and include a mirror. Standing in line to order my third coffee for the day from the Hyde Park cart, a striking glint appeared at the edge of my eye line. Looking around, I couldn’t see … [Read more...]
Flash fiction: Escape
Long-term readers would remember I mentored a group of 17 creative writers in 2016 for The Write Road. I am doing the same again this year, with the added benefit of being able to mentor one of my sons. While Noah has always had a great imagination, and enjoyed writing, I was still surprised when he said he wanted to take part. When I was his … [Read more...]
Creative writing exercise: What could Alder be thinking?
Fiction is something I'm still learning how to write. Actually I'm certain it will be something I am learning to do for my entire life. With this in mind, I'm currently studying The Open University's Start Writing Fiction course. I'm way behind, as I am prone to do because I take on too much stuff, but today I wrote a piece prompted by … [Read more...]