Some good news and a 100 word story for Jeffrey Archer
Happy Friday!
Straight in with the big news: Foiled has been recommissioned for another series of 4 episodes on BBC Radio Wales. Woo-hoo! Me and Beth will be getting on with the writing just as soon as we've dealt with Christmas.
... And, in my case, visited the Lake District for another mountain bothy adventure (see map). I'm up at 5am tomorrow for the 3-hour train to Oxenholme. Incidentally, a day trip to the Lakes is more than possible from London - there's even time for a pint before the five o'clock train home. Why didn't anyone tell me this before?
This time I'm staying four nights, two of which will be in the bothy (wood stores permitting). I hope to spend my days walking and working on the novel. Channelling Wordsworth or something.
Talking of which... Last week on our Curtis Brown novel-writing course, we had an audience with the aggressively bestselling Jeffrey Archer (#32 on Wikipedia's list). He set us all the challenge of writing a 100-word story - not a word more, not a word less. He would be the judge and anoint one of us as master storyteller.
Casting around for inspiration on the coach down to Bournemouth last weekend, I came up with something predictably traffic-based. It was nevertheless an interesting educational exercise: how to deliver something memorably satisfying in so few words.
See what you think of my effort, and compare with the fabulous story by Janine Hollinworth, which was deservedly chosen by Jeffrey.
Home for Christmas
by Me
Gritters are salting the motorway. WARNING: DELAYS. An oblivion of tailbacks, but at the end of it all I will see dad again.
Cars crawl forward. I had thought about risking the train, but they are hellish enough without adding another body to the crush.
I jiggle the gearstick and breathe. Imagine his surprise when I stroll through those gates! – or we share the fire's flames.
EXIT: 3 MILES. Then country roads without rubberneckers. Force my foot to the floor on an icy bend and close my eyes – "How tragic, at Christmas!" Finally together again.
The Gown
by Janine Hollinworth @janinehollinw1
The whole affair is too much; the flowers, the ceremony, the reception. Choosing my dress was the hardest part. I went with traditional, classic. I’ll be on display, after all.
I turn the diamond ring on my finger. He knows, deep down, I have already left.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘I can’t do this.’
‘Okay.’ His voice cracks and I’m swallowed by a wave of panic.
‘I want to be buried in your dressing gown, instead,’ I say. ‘Wrapped in you.’
My husband of fifty-three years kisses my head.
‘Whatever you want, love. It’s your day,’ he says.
INPUT
Five alive.
SONG: Streets of London by Ralph McTell, Annie Lennox and the Crisis Choir - re-recorded and released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of homelessness charity Crisis. 99p, all proceeds to Crisis.
TALK: Curtis Brown literary agent Jonny Geller on what makes a bestseller at TEDx Oxford.
RUNNING: The effects of facial expression and relaxation cues on movement economy, physiological, and perceptual responses during running Brick et al. (2017) "Smiling improved running economy in comparison with frowning and a control trial."
FUTURE: What You Need to Know About the Future of Bitcoin Technology by Subhan Nadeem.
SILLY VIDEO: Marcus Ambrose Loses a Wheel
OUTPUT
Fortune favours the Dave.
Dave's Books of the Year 2017 (December)
Learning Arabic from a Syrian wanted by ISIS (December)
Tomsleibhe, Isle of Mull (November)
Meditations on Meditations: Praise & Service, Core Beliefs, Adversity, Love, Change, Retreat, Indignation, Contentment (October, November)
"No one ever died while breathing". Psychedelic Breathwork with Alchemy of Breath (October)
COMING UP...
Foiled Episode 4: Everything's Games at half six tonight. Help us celebrate the second series by listening again to the first! Everything's Kings, Everything's Baguettes and Everything's Glitter. Maybe share with friends? Legend.
Options for Dealing with Squatting, my episode of The Narrativist is set to be released on the 16th of December.
CHRISTMAS! And perhaps a song from Abandoned Rugs...?
Having just spent an increasingly irritable 20 minutes waiting in a tardy dentist's surgery, this week's missive from MARGE couldn't be more pertinent:
O the consolation of being able to thrust aside and cast into oblivion every tiresome intrusive impression, and in a trice be utterly at peace! (Meditations 5:2)
May you be at peace,
- dc
SALESY BLAH
I (try to) make a living by writing. If you could use my writing services, or know anyone who could, please get in touch. Stone the crows! I'd be thrilled if you fancy...
buying a book: I'm told Life To The Lees: Cycling Around Britain is good
supporting this mailing list by sending me a tip on PayPal
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Thank you!
www.davidcharles.info
@dcisbusy