The First Challenge for JU Writers Club

Published on November 6, 2006 By dynamaso In Writing

I’m really surprised and pleased with how many of you wonderful people have jumped at the idea of forming a Writers Club. So far, 17people have signed up, which is just fantastic. I can’t guarantee I will be the most attentive of group administrators but I will do my best. The main idea I have behind this is to offer inspiration and support to each other without any pressure to perform.

With that, here are the ground rules, as I see them:

1. Have fun
2. No time limit for any stories
3. No obligation to participate in every round
4. Have fun
5. No prizes, other than advice, support and kudos from like-minded people
6. No petulance, tantrums or hissy-fits
7. Everybody will have a chance to provide a suggestion
8. Oh, yeah, and HAVE FUN

I am waiting to here back from Administration about the problems I am having setting up the blog group, but as I’ve had such a wonderful response so far, I thought I may as well get everyone’s creative juices flowing. So, here is the suggestion for the first official JU Writers Club assignment (for the want of a better word):

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
- Albert Einstein

So, away we go. I do hope I haven’t made it too hard for anyone. Remember, the quote is only supposed to provide inspiration and inspiration, being a changeling, can take any form it desires. "

Comments (Page 1)

MasonM

on Nov 06, 2006

Where are my clean socks?

dynamaso

on Nov 06, 2006

Mason,

Sheer brilliance in 5 words

Well done...

foreverserenity

on Nov 07, 2006

Good one M! I wouldn't have thought of that myself, brilliant as Mark said!

Ahem, my first attempt:

He repeated, speaking crossly this time, "Where in the hell are my clean socks?" He looked in the laundry basket, nothing. "Maybe it fell behind the machine" he thought to himself, pulling the bulky dryer away from the wall. "I can't fucking stand this anymore, I'm going to be late for work if I don't find those darn socks!"

Shovelheat

on Nov 07, 2006

Thank God for rule number 2!

(and numbers 4 & 8 too!)

KellyW0498

on Nov 07, 2006

e repeated, speaking crossly this time, "Where in the hell are my clean socks?" He looked in the laundry basket, nothing. "Maybe it fell behind the machine" he thought to himself, pulling the bulky dryer away from the wall. "I can't fucking stand this anymore, I'm going to be late for work if I don't find those darn socks!"

I love the symbolism of this. He willingly and easily says The "F" word, but will only say darn. Brilliant.!

for rule number 2!

(and numbers 4 & 8 too!)

yeah, what he said!

foreverserenity

on Nov 08, 2006

I love the symbolism of this. He willingly and easily says The "F" word, but will only say darn. Brilliant.!

Hehe, thx, I didn't even look at it that way! My thought was, he's married and have kids around! But that's just my thoughts, what about you others out there?!

dynamaso

on Nov 08, 2006

As Good As Dead

The town was one of those blink-and-you-will-miss-it places. It barely rated a mention on any maps. At one time in its past though, it had been a hustle-bustle mini-city, a trading route for cattle and cane and a overnight stop for dry-mouthed travellers going to and from the big cities. Now, it was a maligned, ignored place. It was desperately hot, dry and dusty in summer and frigidly cold, dry and dusty in winter.

On the main street, most of the shop windows were either boarded up or broken. These buildings seemed to glare accusingly at passers-by, forcing them to turn their heads back to the road beyond. The few shops still open survived due only to stubbornness and tenacity. The few open doors weren’t beckoning or inviting. The few open doors looked more like dark maws of hungry beasts from other realms.

If one was to stop, perhaps mistaking abandonment for quaintness, the first thing one would notice would be the smell. The town smelt of decay. A quick wander past the shop windows, maybe with hopes of finding a bargain treasure, one would see the dead flies piled up against the inside of the shop windows, the dust-thick remnants of a once-standing mannequin and little else.

If one were to stop, perhaps mistaking silence for quietude and take a walk to the far end of the main street, one would see the small cemetery, tucked behind rusted, peeling iron gates. Only foundations and charred ruins indicate where a church once stood. Few headstones had survived and those that had were covered in semi-literate graffiti – ‘Bonz woz ear’ 89; ‘Michy Luvs SP’; ‘DR sux hard’. Like perverted floral arrangements, beer bottles and cigarette butts festoon these final resting places.

If one were to stop, perhaps mistaking emptiness for emotion, one would quickly climb back into the car, lock the doors and speed off to the next, more pleasant destination. The town wasn’t alive anymore. No tourist was going to fall in love with it and reopen the local gallery. No retired couple were going to buy the Post Office and renovate it into a bed and breakfast for weekend couplings of rich city folk. No fresh-starter was going to reopen the grand old pub and reinvigorate the community with talk of folk music festivals and poetry readings.

The music in this town died when the pub closed its doors years ago. Music didn’t visit here anymore. Art and culture soon followed. The mysterious muse, that wondrous, difficult mistress of creativity and passion, had declared the town dead. Now it was too long gone to ever be revived. All that was left was its skeleton; faded signs, cracked footpaths and abandoned shop fronts.

Shovelheat

on Nov 08, 2006

...glad this isn't a competition or I'd concede right now, Maso. That was really, really good...

dynamaso

on Nov 08, 2006

That was really, really good...

Thanks, mate. Can hardly wait to see what you will put up

KellyW0498

on Nov 08, 2006

Maso...that was very good. Kind of true for some places. It was sad. I wanted to revive the town.

dynamaso

on Nov 08, 2006

that was very good. Kind of true for some places.

Thanks, Kelly. I've seen it with some places where people try to revive them but for some reason, it just doesn't work. Some places, as with people, just don't feel good.

dynamaso

on Nov 09, 2006

deep purple sky towers gathering together like elephants conferencing for rampage

I really like this, Whip. Great imagery...

You know, I've had this recurring image of Muse as a biker chick. I can just see her "perched on a fence... smoking a cigarette with more apathy than satisfaction." You've really inspired me. Thanks

dynamaso

on Nov 09, 2006

No, thank you!

Just you wait for it. You've started me on a roll.

[Kelly...revive away.

Yes, Kelly, go ahead. This is exactly what this club is all about.

KellyW0498

on Nov 09, 2006

Whip..Maso...Whew..you guys set the bar high.

I hope to put something up for you tonight.

That accompanied(sp) his story beautiful. I'm not worthy, but I will give it a shot.

dynamaso

on Nov 09, 2006

[I hope to put something up for you tonight

Looking forward to it.

I'm not worthy

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