A Project for April

I have been doing some creative writing exercises with students at school. One in particular that has really been a hit has been to get them to write 50 word Snaps* to some sort of stimulus - word, idea, phrase or visual image. It has been very successful with all ability ranges. And it reminded me how much I enjoyed doing this sort of thing - as an exercise.

I first came across this Snap concept on Sarah Salway's blog where she frequently posts up a picture and writes her own 50 word Snap and then allows others to post (in the comments) on her blog their own Snaps in response to the same image. I think Sarah might have even coined the name, Snap. They are like mini stories, captured moments, snapshots. Back then, when I was doing this on her blog, I found the activity very addictive and it really got the creative brain working... and it was fun.

All of which brings me to now and a project for April. I have asked Sarah if she would mind me doing this here and she has given her blessing. So, here goes with the proposal.

I am challenging myself to produce 150 Snaps in the month of April. I shall post one stimulus picture each day and then I shall endeavour to write five flashed Snaps to that picture. If anyone else wants to join in, they may. If you just want to come here to browse, then that's fine, too. I am doing it for the fun.

(* A 50 word Snap is precisely that; not 49 words or 51, but exactly 50. If there is a Title to any Snap then the Title is not considered part of the word count.)

Been a while!

Just a brief update.

Am keeping to my resolution not to fuss over so many short story competitions this year... mostly, I am... tho' it's not easy when you have so many stories looking for homes. But, I am at least a third down on my entries this year... sort of weaning myself off the addiction!

And bigger projects are getting some attention as I promised they would. Finished the first draft of a novel for grown ups during our mid-term break, and sent out my second full length children's novel recently. That all feels good. Might make some use of my Easter hols to lay down the draft of a second big project that is making a lot of noise in my head just now. I'll hang more up here as and when I feel they are ready for public scrutiny.

Three results in (all for short story comps entered before 2012's resolution): won two and a short-listing for Fish short story comp. Not too bad. A few misses along the way, but the strike rate is still at around 35-40%.

Read V. Gebbie's novel, 'The Coward's Tale'... funny to read something you have seen bits of before it was a novel. Well worth the read, I'd say.

Just been looking over some of the 50 word stories I used to post on Sarah Salway's site... they were fun and I miss them a lot. Maybe I'll get back to doing these somehow. There's a whole set written to a picture of Rhubarb that I like. (here's the link... if I can work this computer linking thingummy: http://www.sarahsalway.net/2009/04/19/rhubarb-50-word-story/ ... if you click on that it should take you there... maybe.)

Well, that's enough for now and something bright in the air... wishing you all well.