Write up

In yesterday’s Toulouse Writers’ Group workshop, Saskia hosted the session based on writing exercises from the Web site of Meredith Sue Willis.

Half way through the session I opted to write a dialogue between a cat and a bird, using this picture as inspiration.

Instructions:
“What is the budgie saying to the cat and what is his reply? Next, write the subtext — what they really want or think, or what the unseen humans are thinking.”

We went for around 20 minutes and here’s what I got:

[Budgie spots cat snooping around room]
Budgie: Hey! Whiskas! Over here!
[Cat approaches cage]
Budgie: Where have you been? I’m so glad you’re back!
[Cat eyes bird suspiciously]
Cat: You talkin’ to me?
Budgie: You’re not Whiskas, are you?
Cat: Hell no, bird!
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In yesterday’s writers’ workshop, we had to write for 20 minutes about a childhood memory. Here’s what I wrote:

I was seven years old and had just moved up north to Queensland with my mum, my little brother, nan and grandad. We were the first ones in the street. Our houses were still being built — nan and grandad’s at the top of the street, ours at the bottom of the cul-de-sac. There was no road, just a wide dirt track and lots of gum trees.
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I finally climb into bed around 3am.

My head hits the pillow and the next thing I remember is being woken up by Charlie. He objects to the fact that I am still sleeping and he stands on the pillow above my head, biting my hair. His sharp teeth graze my skull. I tilt my head up and look at him through half-closed eyes. I screw up my face at the greyish white light flooding the room and push him away.

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The day stretches before me.

I sit at the big wooden table in my dining room, legs dangling, bare toes grazing the cool fake-parquet linoleum, swinging them back and forth while I type.

Two brushed metal lamps are turned up as far as they’ll go and the heavy, unbleached cotton curtains are pushed aside to let in the greyish white light from outside.

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I’ve found the perfect spot to write.

Bar Le Tivoli, 34 allee Jean Jaures, Toulouse, France

I went there by chance on Monday afternoon on my way home from a job interview. I couldn’t get home because the metro had broken down and so I decided to get a coffee and fill in some time. I was there for around 40 minutes, and here’s what I wrote…

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