Did you ever do that thing at school where you were given a picture of something completely random and asked to write a story about it?

I have an awful memory generally, but I remember vividly being about eight years old and made to do this. The teacher had a pack of postcards and held each one up in turn. If you liked the look of it you could put your hand up. I waited and waited, not wanting to commit myself to anything too early, but before I knew it the pack was finished and I ended up with a picture of a sofa on a rubbish dump.

Not the most inspiring of images.

I was reminded of this today when I saw this picture on Unsplash. It’s basically the opposite of a sofa on a rubbish dump:

creative writing
It made me want to immediately sit down and write about it because it made me FEEL so much. (The sofa on the rubbish dump did not do this. I remember much sighing and chewing of my pencil.)

Smells came into my head first – the salty tang of the sea, wafts of damp wood from the boards under my feet. And then the sounds – the pulse of the water, the crash as it breaks against the deck, and that lone seagull, calling out as it circles the surf.

Can you feel yourself there? Are you standing on the edge of the picture? Can you feel the spray cold on your face?

It’s wonderful isn’t it?

What I especially love is that everyone’s imagining of this photo will be slightly different. We might all be there, gazing out to sea, but our eyes and ears will be drawn to different things. We will feel it in different ways.

It’s like life and it’s what makes things so interesting – millions and millions of us having the same experiences but in very different ways.

Follow:

This week I am starting a New Thing, so bear with me while I set the scene. I promise that next week I won’t blather on. It’s a thing that you can get involved in though, so do pay attention.

Inspired by a column in Mslexia magazine, I’m starting a new regular slot called ‘A Week in Tweets’. Every Tuesday I’m going to post my week in tweet form, so no more than 140 characters for each day, and I’d love it if you would do the same and come and share them.

They can be real events or completely made up, I don’t mind, as it’s a great creative writing exercise – the writing process is all about the editing after all, and the 140 character limit is a fantastic way to boil your writing time to it’s basics. Some weeks I might have a theme, sometimes they’ll be funny (hopefully), and sometimes they might be sad. This week though, as it’s new, I’m easing myself in gently with some general twittering that I think sums up my week.

…

Monday – Just entered a competition to win £50 worth of sweets. I think I need to focus a bit more. And perhaps eat some lunch.

Tuesday – Played at being in charge at @TheSteadyTable. Managed to remember names. Distracted though by cake cabinet.

Wednesday – Just tried the new chocolate Philadelphia. Feel a bit uncomfortable, like I’ve just eaten cheesecake on toast.

Thursday – Very excited about the Greek salad downstairs. (Not any kind of euphemism, although it sounds vaguely dirty).

Friday – End of working week. No excuse now for hiding in attic office drinking tea. :-(

Saturday – Overcame fear of wild horses by imagining worst case scenario – self crushed savagely underhoof. #powerofnegativethinking

Sunday – Woken up with lovely Mother’s Day cup of tea in bed. At 7.09am. *frowns*

…

I’d really love it if you joined it, but there’s no pressure, I shall do it regardless. If you do fancy taking part, I’ve even made a badge, which you can add to your own blog. It took me about 27 hours to work out how to do all of this, so please try to look impressed, even if you don’t want it.

Follow:

This evening I’m at a new writing group at The Bristol Folk House called The Steady Table.

The idea behind it is to give people the space and time just to write, be it poetry, short stories, or a J K Rowling style wizardy blockbuster. All you need is a steady table right? The trouble is, I’m so used to ‘making the most’ of every minute, of squeezing every bit of work time out of the day, that the idea of three whole hours just to write creatively is a bit daunting. I feel almost guilty, as though indulging in a passion for fiction is just that, an indulgence.

That’s the point of the group though isn’t it? Expressing your creativity should be a perfectly valid use of time, and we need to accept this, and not be afraid to embrace it. Tonight though, I’m easing myself in gently and writing this post instead. It sort of counts doesn’t it?

*looks doubtful*

The group is great – a fascinating, diverse mix of people, including a man called John who eats pizza with a spoon* – and I’m sure that I’m going to enjoy the time out once I get over the fact that I’m allowed to write made up stories. Seriously – fiction – what’s that about? You’re allowed to tell actual lies!

I love the idea of going somewhere different, somewhere special to write. If you’re the type of person who can work on their own, there are of course loads of options available – forums, online groups and flexible distance learning creative writing courses – but I work from home all week. Coming out is a treat.

On my way over in the car I did think up an idea for a story, just in case they wouldn’t let me sit down without a synopsis, but I haven’t quite got around to writing any of it down yet. I have had a cup of tea and a very nice chocolate brownie though. It would seem there are some things I feel less guilty indulging in.

If you’d like to join me to do some scribbling on a Tuesday evening,  follow The Steady Table on twitter.

*John eyes me curiously when I look up from my typing and ask if he spells his name with an ‘h’.

Follow: