Finally, I'm back in the swing with my favourite (and admittedly only) writers group over at inkpaperpen. After moving house and having no Internet for nigh on three weeks, I felt like I was going a little insane! So here I go with this weeks exercise!
Photo by Kristy at HouseofProwse
This week we have an exercise based on a photo by Kristy at House of Prowse. 
Write On Wednesdays Exercise 7 - Sit under a tree and write: Find yourself a quiet spot. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Take a look at Kristy's Tree Photo. Write the first words that come into your head. Keep writing whatever comes into your head. Stop when the buzzer rings. Do this exercise over and over if you wish. If like me, you struggle with visual prompts, perhaps try sitting under a tree to write. I have heard that changing your usual writing place can spark new inspiration. Try it and see. Do both if you please!
Out on a Limb.....
The girl; skinny and scruffy, caught in the awkward stage of pre-adolescence, wrapped her lithe, little body around the base of the tree. Then, using her spider-like limbs, she quickly scaled the trunk, almost gracefully. She scrambled confidently onto a low hanging branch.....where she sat, swinging her legs - legs covered in the scrapes and bruises of childhood. She regarded her younger sister, her feet still firmly planted on the ground -with a mixture of glee and exasperation.
'C'mon Chicken Little' she teased, her voice dripping with contempt at her sisters lack of joie de vivre
'Bet you can't climb as high as me!'
She swung herself around the branch so that her knees hooked around the rough surface of the bark and then, let herself fall, so she hung upside down. Her cheeky monkey face split into a wide grin.
"Chicken Little, Chicken Little' she called to her sibling.
"Come down now Suzie!' demanded the younger girl. "Mama says it's not lady-like to climb trees!'
Suzie stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes.
Then, gripping the branch with both arms she rolled herself back around...easily, effortlessly. She quickly sprang to her feet and ran daintily along the branch - back to the trunk - where she proceeded to climb upwards, out of her sister's vision. Enclosed in the canopy of leaves near the top, Suzie felt she could stay up there forever. Hiding. Safe in her little tree-cocoon.
Check out the wonderful group of writers over at Write on Wednesdays!
Oh, that's so good Lene. I can remember moments like that from my childhood. There were three trees on the footpath across the road. We were always in them as kids, climbing them, sitting there for hours, telling stories. Just delightful to reminisce. Thanks Lene!
ReplyDeleteAnne xx
Oh the memories of my childhood came flooding in, except it was my little brother and I (and then some other siblings much later). He would always beat me up the mandarin tree bt I was the stayer. I'd stay until I was sick from eating so many mandarins. I loved this piece!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I liked this piece too. Love the cheekiness of Suzi, she really is a monkey. I think you really captured the beauty of being a child in nature.
ReplyDeleteLiked your title too, Lene
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That was great Lene - back into the "swing of it"in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteLene, I am so impressed by your work that I am beginning to think that I am so fortunate to join this writing group. I will surely learn to write good ones while writing and sharing our work. Great writing.
ReplyDeleteI think you've captured your main character really well, I was immediately able to get an image of her swinging upside down on the branch.
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ReplyDeleteHi - loved this piece.
ReplyDeleteThe scenery, the descriptions and the insight into the girl's relationship.
I'd like to know what time period you imagined...
I'm at houseofprowse (having problems logging in tonight)
What a great story, reminds me of when I was a child and climbing trees. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to be able to climb a tree like that...effortless. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh to be young and fearless again! Suzie reminded me a little of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird - she has a brazen quality about her that's very likeable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments everyone!
ReplyDeleteI really love the character of Suzie, I actually based her a little bit on me as a child and a little bit on my Mother. My Mum was the ultimate Tom Boy and I imagined the time period as being the 50's - around the time that she was a little girl.
I would really like to revisit her again one day, I think there is a lot more to her story that I've been able to fit into five minutes!
You describe Suzie very clearly - in just a few lines, there is a strong sense of who she is and how she sees the world. I really enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this, Lene! I could picture Suzie up in the tree, and her little sister standing disapprovingly below! :)
ReplyDelete<3 Kiersten
http://kierstenevan.blogspot.com/
That sounds so nice Lene, to find a quiet, leafy spot up in a tree and just sit there in peace! It's been a while since I climbed a tree, I think I'd be too scared to do it now haha.
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