moonlight
bread
signal
yellow
sheet
newspaper
chair
velvet
milk
leaf

Without thinking too hard about it, jot down the first
word association that comes to mind.

For example – my new list would be:

coin
yeast
toothpaste
custard
linen
magpie
throne
cream
leak
gold

Using your new list – create a poem using one of the words
in each line.

the dark pool in the middle of the wood
is a black mirror for scrying

I stand close to the edge
and look down at a reflection of the sky
where a plane trail like a wide white road
reminds me I must follow my own pathway

I throw in gifts for the water spirits
a pine cone
a patterned leaf
a mussel shell

a small white feather floats to earth
a sign that my wishes will be granted

I pick it up and place it between the pages of my notebook
as a touchstone for my journey

In her book “The Artist’s Way”,   Julia Cameron recommends a two hour
Artist’s Date every week. The idea is to go somewhere alone where you
can absorb colours, images, sounds or smells and gain fresh inspiration
for your work.

Some ideas could include:

a long walk through a wood or by a river
a visit to an art gallery
a visit to a garden centre
a long soak in the bath with a glass of wine
listen to a music concert – either live or on CD

The key thing is – it’s whatever you are going to enjoy or be refreshed
by. Most writers that I know are desperate for some time by themselves.
However, if you live alone and crave company, how about trying a two
hour class once a week – on something that isn’t related to your work!
For instance, you could try Indian cookery, Beginner’s French or silk
painting. You never know – it might inspire new writing ideas.

Visualisation is a key part of the writing process. If you as the writer
can fully experience a scene, then so will your readers.

For anyone living in the Evesham/Pershore area – here are details
of two brilliant teachers.

Carly Wickens is returning to Evesham Natural Health Centre
on Thursday mornings following the birth of her son Theo in January.
(Carly’s husband Jason designed this fabulous website for me –
www.viperdesign.net) Classes restart on 9th September. Contact
Carly on 01386 861264 for further details.

Lucy Murray is setting up some new classes at Great Comberton
Village Hall on Monday nights from 27th September and on
Wednesday mornings from 15th September. For further details
contact Lucy on 01386 710490 or  mikelucy58@hotmail.com 

A second novel ‘Kato’s Army’ is due to be published soon.

The author will be visiting my Number 8 Workshop on
Friday 17th September for a Question and Answer session.

http://dmharrison.com/DMHarrison/Welcomehtml

Please contact me for further details – 01386 556177

He produced the following and won the bet:

‘For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.’

Flash fiction could also be described as ’snapshot storytelling’
and is a good discipline to try if words have a habit of running away
with you.

It’s a good idea to stick to a conventional structure with a beginning,
middle and end. Remember to ’show’ and not ‘tell’. For instance, don’t tell
the reader what an uncaring mother Sophia is – show her putting on her
lipstick and going out to a party, leaving her little daughter alone in the
house.  Use strong verbs. Make every word count!

Check out the Arvon Foundation website for details of their Six Word Story
Competition and send to competition@arvonfoundation.org

Double space entry.
Put contact details on separate sheet.
Enclose a stamped addressed envelope if you would like
your work returned.

Please post to:  S Johnson, 10 Woodward Close, Pershore
Worcs WR10 1LP