6 pm pyjamas

It's the month of Midsummer and the poet within is yearning to use the voice again. Okay, it isn't quite that philosophical or romantic - I and Maria at mgoodson.blogspot.co.uk have challenged each other with a list of words to use as inspiration for ... something in a written form. My first word is spine.  I think I'm going to use each word as the title and see where that goes.  The poems will be short initially as I also have (don't we all) other work related and uni related matters to focus on but hopefully, after a week or so I will begin to explore some more formal and lengthy ways of writing. Spine Bone road beneath her fingertips She maps it carefully Following each bump, each turn Asking questions of the earth Which has released this prize  Each dip and break a clue To what has come before And where we may be travelling

For this month my challenge, along with Maria (check out mgoodson.blogspot.co.uk ) has been to write a short (and boy, do I mean short) story each day.  Each story is 50 words long and we split it between us; so 25 words each, winging in a transatlantic sense to and fro each day.  It has been such fun and very illuminating when you give your words to somebody else and see the 'meaning' you had evoked completely turned inside out!  A few of these characters and situations may be revisited and expanded up on in the future but for now they are being 'put to bed' and left to gestate (if I can mix my metaphors) so that next month, we can return to a poetry challenge.   When there is not much time to write, it is good to focus on a form that demands accurate and descriptive language to capture moments and engage the reader. The liquid dripped down her face.   Staring straight ahead, she willed herself not to flinch as it curdled her ...

So I am having a tough old time trying to write and carve out space to think right now.  I have two deadlines for university work and have an editing and proof reading job to do before June.  When I offered, it seemed a good plan; get some experience under my belt, do someone a favour and have a good reference for when the next person wants some work done and I can charge them for it.  However, now, it seems that there is no time at all.  I'm either at work or having fun with the children or asleep.  I have no time to read or write and am behind my schedule for my assignments.  This would have once worried me - I am very good at keeping to deadlines and getting things done way ahead of time.  This approach has worked for me my entire academic life but now it is deserting me.  I am unsure why but think being in a negative working environment is probably to blame.  After all, I don't expect my 7 year old, who has maths and English computer prog...

 I think this month long exercise has shown me that poetry needs work and if you find just one word in a piece that you are happy with and know will be staying, then you have had a good writing session.  It has also shown me, pretty much what I already knew, that anything worth doing is worth taking time over and that I am not a natural poet.  It has been fun however and another month long writing excursion begins tomorrow! The moon has fallen into the sea, But the stars are lonely, wishing it back, I watch them shifting, calling to me, My arms are reaching far out to the track where the moon should carefully slide. The journey is fairytale, the ending not clear, I want the moon back on its celestial glide, Whatever I try I will never get near.

So this is the  first chapter of a short story or maybe something longer that I started a while back and I'm considering dusting off and working on a little.  I have a great fear of showing people my writing so I figure putting on here is a good way to get over that.  I really like these characters but it is hard to make them empathetic when you are in both heads - I like the how the perspective changes and who hasn't been in a situation where they have read it completely wrong? Hit and Miss My drink was out of my hand and over his top before I hit the pavement.   The protective properties of the polystyrene lid did not meet expectations, which made me question; how does stuff like that get through quality control?   I dared a glance up.   It was a very dark liquid and an impressively white t-shirt.   Tight white t-shirt.   I was mid apology when a stabbing pain ripped through my chest causing my, “God, I’m so so...

I am hugely impressed with Maria's, see http://mgoodson.blogspot.com/ amazing explorations into poetic form and have to admit that I have failed dismally in that respect during the month of NaPoWriMo this April.  I have enjoyed writing short pieces and it amuses me that most of them are maudlin in nature - it must be lurking under the surface of my psyche!! What is your name? she demands imperiously Tone indicating she expects to be taken seriously Come here she commands as she drops back on the bed He shuffles towards her with fear and dread There's no need to worry I know what I'm doing She nods behind her to where they are queuing This is a mistake he begins with a quake She laughs and looses her hair with a shake Don't be a fool this is part of the test You have to complete it to be one of the best The king would not stand for anything less When you have finished you can go back to your chess You don't understand I'm simply not ready I'v...

Sitting in the dark Is a way to get things done It crystallises thoughts It hides fears And allows sadness to sing