Day 67 - Red Kindel's gift

Guy Fawkes night deserves a Guy Fawkesy story.

Originally I was going to write about a boy that builds the world's largest firework rocket, but decided against it as I figured it might be viewed as promoting pyromania amongst kids. So I went with another kind of story, a more fable based story about a traveller bringing the gift of fire to a village that has never seen it. Bedazzled by the magic of the flames my two protagonists willing provide shelter to the traveller in exchange for the power of fire, but despite the warnings one succumbs to the flames.

Naturally I didn't want to be too didactic in the story-telling so didn't focus too much on the 'don't play with fire' mantra although I do mention it. I wanted to play on how kids are easily bedazzled by it and for them to realise that it's more than just magical, it can be dangerous. I hope it worked.

Enjoy.

The Imaginary Scrapbook

Day 65 - An eye for a guy

This story really came to be rather organically rather than instantly. I thought about writing a story about building a guy, something I never really did as a kid as I spent most of my childhood in Scotland where traditional guising isn't really done. However I didn't want it to be just a conversation between a child and parent I wanted there to be some underlying meaning to the story, something I could thread within the context of building a guy. I liked the idea of the guy representing a journey undertaken, a hurdle jumped or a summit reached and that it's destruction would be the pinnacle. I knew the journey would have to be a difficult one and couldn't think of a better theme than a child battling and recovering from Leukaemia given 85% of ALL cases are children. I don't allude to my protagonist having battled cancer because the story isn't about the journey it's about the destination.

Anyway, I hope you like this one as I did. A happy eve of Guy Fawkes story.

Enjoy

The Imaginary Scrapbook

Day 64 - no story today

So it turns out I have some sort of bronchial virus infection which is why I'm completely wiped out. I'm frustrated now, partly because I hate being ill and partly because I'm struggling to meet my deadlines. My head is so foggy at the moment I found the Vicks Inhaler I lost on the weekend in a packet of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes. Don't ask!

I will make it up. I have to.

Day 63 - Shooting the moon

I was thinking about this story whilst I took my dog out one evening and noticed just how bright and low the moon was in the sky and it occured to me that finding a huge stash of Saxon gold in the middle of a ploughed field was about as likely as being able to shoot the moon. Although I had only just started writing the story I knew I now had my title. Oh well, three words down, a thousand or so more to go!

This project is funny in the way that is eeks out your strengths and weaknesses. I guess I'm not that hot on contemporary adventure. Or maybe it's not that. Maybe I just haven't found the right adventure story to showcase my talents at writing it. Whatever the reason, I wasn't totally convinced by this story. I was finding the structure and plot a little clunky. Yes I am now going to be brutally honest with you and everyone else who cares enough to read this blog. I feel I owe it to myself and to other aspiring writers like me to tell it like it is, or in the immortal words of Ali G 'keepin it real'.

Enjoy

The Imaginary Scrapbook

Day 62 - no story today

So it turns out I have some sort of bronchial virus infection which is why I'm completely wiped out. I'm frustrated now, partly because I hate being ill and partly because I'm struggling to meet my deadlines. My head is so foggy at the moment I found the Vicks Inhaler I lost on the weekend in a packet of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes. Don't ask!

I will make it up. I have to.

Day 61- The vampire's costume

Given its Halloween I thought I would write a spooky tale to get the pulses racing. The inspiration for this came from my love of Hammer Horror movies. Some may not be familiar with them but in the 60s and 70s they were extremely popular and responsible for launching the careers of Peter Cushing and Sir Christopher Lee (who is like a god to me!).

The one problem I had with this story was getting the plot line to work and be credible. I had to be a little creative with the myth of vampires and their origins but given the element of 'suspension of disbelief' that comes with any fantastical story I felt I could get away with it as long as all the loose ends are neatly tied up in a bow. With any luck I have achieved that and have delivered a joosy spooky tale!

Enjoy

The Imaginary Scrapbook

Day 60 - The brief encounter

This is the final part, so to speak, of my multiple narrative story where my intrepid and lovesick teenagers finally meet if only briefly. They both come to immediate conclusions about each other that have a dramatic effect on their lives, both for the positive and the negative.

I really loved this story I think because of its complexity, the interweaving of lives and the misconceptions that happen all too often in life. It doesn't have the happy ending you want but then life rarely does.

Enjoy

The Imaginary Scrapbook