by Mazzy Adams
As part of my Creative
Writing studies, I completed numerous ‘Quick Writing’ exercises based on
various verbal prompts and images. Here’s one of those prompts and my response to it:
Every day of the week, between 7:00 am and 8:00 am, Vince
and Jack arrived at the park bench with their newspapers. Every day they grunted a greeting, sat, and read.
Every day, between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, as one finished reading his newspaper,
he would fold it, tuck it under his arm, stand, mumble a farewell and leave.
Sometimes Jack left first. Sometimes Vince left first.
Jack didn’t know Vince was an inventor whose ingenious
creations languished for want of entrepreneurial investment. Vince didn’t know
Jack was a lonely millionaire who intended to bequeath his millions to an
animal shelter because he had no family and no friends.
Vince could have become like a brother to Jack. Jack
could have enabled millions of people to benefit from Vince’s inventions.
Could have, should have, would have … didn’t.
All because of the one thing they did share … a failure
to communicate.
Never underestimate the value of a good discussion.
I sat down intending to
write this blog on a totally unrelated topic (to do with ‘the individuality of your
voice’) when the memory of this particular writing exercise sat down beside me,
tapped my heart, then rapped me over the head like a rolled up newspaper and suggested
I use it instead.
So, I suspect that, for
whatever reason, someone out there needs another kind of prompt: my gentle encouragement
to connect.
Perhaps there is someone
you’ve wanted to chat to for ages and, for whatever reason, you haven’t managed
it yet. Why wait? Pick up the phone and call them. Better still, invite them to
join you for coffee, or a walk in the park.
Perhaps you need
encouragement to connect with like-minded people, or, say, to attend a writers’
conference. That can be a great place for good discussions. (It just so happens
that the Omega Writers Conference is on in Sydney in October. Have you booked
yet?)
Perhaps there is a
letter you’ve been meaning to send. One that will break the ice so your writing/publishing/networking
boat moves forward? Today might be the right day to put pen to paper, or
fingers to the keyboard and make that connection. (Preaching to myself here!)
Perhaps you need
encouragement to connect with someone who can help you in some other way. Honestly, I find it so
difficult to ask for help. I’ve been more thoroughly inculcated with the message
that it is ‘more blessed to give than to receive’ than the one that says ‘ask
and you will receive’. Perhaps that underscored the problem I created for Jack
and Vince in a moment of quick writing madness back in 2012.
Back then, I needed encouragement
to find and join a writing critique group. Back then, someone I had never met in
person invited me to come along and join in regular discussions about writing.
And back then … I did it. I went to meet five strangers … and received five wonderful
friends. (Thanks, Nola, for initiating that connection.) I’ll never
underestimate the value of creative, fun-filled shenanigans again!
There is no doubt in my
mind that discussing the pros and cons of my writing with other writers has helped
me hone my craft. Doing the same for them has … helped me hone my craft! (‘More blessed to give than receive’ still rings true.) There is immense value in
the mutual support offered by groups like Christian Writers Downunder. Being connected
really does help.
I think I’ll finish this
post with a ‘homework’ exercise our writing critique group tackled in April,
2014, one that I’d filed beside my story of Vince and Jack.
Our prompt was, ‘What does your writing group mean to you?’ Perhaps you could share your response to that question as a comment below. Here’s what I
wrote:
Quirky Quills is
larger than individual idiosyncrasies;
the sum of corporate wisdom;
the strength of forged metal alloys;
the flexibility of seasoned allies;
a cohesive, healing ecclesia;
a hug for brain and heart;
a canvas prepared for inspiration;
brushes dipped in holy ink;
a catalyst for action;
a treasure-trove of friendship;
a creative, vocal ensemble with
an infinite, lyrical repertoire;
and the heartbeat of my social redemption.
So ... why not try to make that new connection? (And if you
happen to connect with a millionaire called Jack who has money to bequeath
struggling authors, please, by all means, feel free to introduce us.)
Mazzy Adams is an Australian wife, mother, grandmother,
creative and academic writing tutor and published author with a passion for
words, pictures and the positive potential in people.
Email: maz@mazzyadams.com
