Various ramblings by the small hobbit

Debriswoman recommended You have breath for no more than 99 words.  What would they be? collected by Liz Gray, and suggested this as a writing challenge.  So this month I have been writing 99 words for some of my characters.

It quickly became apparent the characters I would write had to be those for who I have written series, so that I could really get inside their heads.  I frequently write say, John Watson, both in BBC Sherlock and ACD Sherlock Holmes, but each time there may be subtle differences.  Whereas taking the Watson in Sussex Retirement I had a far greater idea of how he would think.  This also served to narrow down the characters I would choose.

I had decided to include the gang from the Marylebone Monthly Illustrated really as a bit of light relief.  Only when I came to write the first of them, the Ocelot, I came across the Editor with very strong views, and found myself writing one of the most dour of the entries.

None of the characters explicitely contradict my own views.  This might be a fault in a writer, but I think if I'm investing the time in a character to write a series then I want to be in agreement with them.  This is, after all, a hobby rather than a career.

The last chapter, which I have just posted, is my own 99 words, for I felt it was appropriate to leave a little bit of myself there too.

It's been a fascinating challenge, nothing like I expected when I started, and totally worthwhile doing, so thank you Debriswoman

99 words

This was suggested by complicatedlight  as something different to do when in London.

Initially, the opening times looked not to be promising for this one, but then I realised we were coming up to London, and because it was half term we would be leaving after midday, rather than late afternoon, so I suggested to SM that we go.  As an aside, I also got to travel on a tube line I'd never been on before: the Waterloo and City Line.  (It only shuttles between Waterloo and Bank, so not generally of any use).

Dennis Severs House is in Folgate Street, not far from Liverpool Street Station.  There are various rooms, which are set out as if the family who lived there have just left for a few minutes.  It was originally occupied by a family of Huguenot silk-weavers, who arrived there in 1724.  The visitor walks through the house in silence, moving from room to room, beginning in the basement.  As they move through the house time moves on, so that the top floor is set at the time of William IV's death, when Victoria came to the throne.

It's a very interesting concept.  Obviously the articles in the room cannot be handled, but for me there was a strong wish to do so.  I also felt drawn to sit on the chairs and therefore take part more fully in the scene.  The idea being the visitor experiences the scene as if they had just dropped into the house.

The average visit length is 45 minutes, we spent 75 there, taking our time, looking at everything.  SM was very taken with it.  I enjoyed it, but felt very much an observer, rather than a participant, one step outside what I think was the intention.  But it was well worth visiting, and if anyone is looking for something different to do in London, I can recommend it.

So far, this is the list of challenges I have received:

• Go dancing, have a dance lesson


• Try painting


• Meal from a new cuisine, like Japanese or Chilean


• Go for a trip in a Canadian canoe


• Crotchet, perhaps make film characters


• Learn the basics of another language, relevant to my church work or sign language


• Use a different hand for doing stuff for a day


• Sketch a diary for a week


• Sew something simple and cheery


• A writing challenge based on "You have breath for no more than 99 words. What would they be?"


• Visit Dennis Severs house in London


• Go to the Sky Garden in London


• Cross stitch


• Hardanger


• A poetry challenge

Once I got over the panic of 'what am I going to do when?' and stopped trying to schedule everything rigidly into a calendar, I realised there is sufficient there to keep me occupied for a year.  There's a wide variety of challenges which is really good, and very pleasing, thank you flist.  There were a few other suggestions which I've decided against, but this collection should keep me busy.

So, watch this space!

 

Easter Monday, and time to select my goals for the year:

Goal No 1 - Write all the things

Because the emphasis continues to be on the 'all'.  Not just number of words, which really should be a secondary condition because crafting a decent drabble can take as long as writing 500 words, but at least attempting different things.  There are still a number of badges for fan_flashworks  I want to earn.  One I'm struggling with in particular is the Prognosticator, which is for stories post canon.  This can be difficult when a good proportion of your main characters die in canon, even if you habitually write them otherwise.  And there's only so many ways I can kill Dr Watson (sorry scfrankles ).  So any suggestions gratefully received.

I've signed up for an AO3 'All In The Family' exchange, which is a new one for me.  And there are a couple of exchanges I did for the first time last year, so they will still be a challenge for me this time round.  I'll also probably pinch-hit for a couple of exchanges.  And I'm intending on writing the next part of Master Baggins the Baker's Son (Hobbit AU) for my new Gen Bingo card.


Goal No 2 - A Monthly Pastoral Assistant Report

A number of you were kind enough to say you enjoyed reading what I've written so far, and since we are supposed to reflect on matters, this would seem like a good way of encouraging myself to do so.  These will be friends locked - not that I will be sharing names - but the views I express will not be shared by everyone.  (Not that I object to friends having different views from my own, I fully expect some of you to do so, but I haven't got the time to wait for the sun to turn the trolls to stone.)


Goal No 3 - Try Twelve New Things

One of the dangers of finding a balance of life which works(ish), is that of stagnating.  I've therefore decided I shall try some new things this year.  And this is where you, dear flist, come in.  Because it requires outside input to find new thoughts.  I have some free time (but nothing regular), I have some money (for the odd little thing), and I have a curiousity and a wish to do different things (even briefly, before deciding it's not for me).

It could be to write something different, to read something different, to try a new (simple) craft, to see something different (I'm in London for a few days in August).  I'm prepared to consider most things.

I'm hoping some of you will have some ideas, and to that end, I'm planning on putting up a post in a couple of days to expand on this and further solicit your ideas.


Here's to the next year!