Workshop – Pete Marrison - Where
do you get your ideas
Pete described a method of
generating ideas which was extrapolated from a system of brainstorming,
sometimes used in engineering design and problem solving.
Initially take a simple event or
idea and apply multiple different twists to the basic idea. Write down those twists spontaneously using
only one or two words for each. The emphasis at this stage was not to give
yourself time to criticise these initial ideas. (Think brain dump).
e.g. Add and/or change the age,
sex, nature of the character/s involved.
Relocate the location, era or weather of
the setting.
Imagine what could have happened before
or after.
Exaggerate or simplify and/or speed up
or slow down the event/s.
Next, go more slowly through that
written list and pad out the twists, each one (at this stage) independently of
the rest; again writing down a ‘shorthand’ version of your ideas.
Finally decide which one, or which
ones, or maybe none, could provide material for a worthwhile story.
The group tried the method using
worksheets with a suggested 17 twists based on one of the member’s previous
story of a real life experience.
It was suggested that member
stuck for an ‘angle, for next week’s poem entry “A Renfrewshire Ramble” might
like to try the above approach.
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Open Manuscripts
Amy (guest) read
of a man plagued by the apparent reincarnation of a dog. It adopted him after
he had accidently killed it with his car.
His neighbours were no help, but a female work colleague unexpectedly
appeared and assisted him with his burden.
Joan Fr gave us a
letter written to her husband as part of the ‘Dear John’ theme.
It told of mutual love and affection despite the multiplicity
of trivial annoying habits which they both appeared to have. It discussedoncoming
changes in circumstances and plans which they must both make ready for that inevitable
certain event in the future.
Wilma continued
with her history of Blawarthill church and specifically the ‘Bridal Catwalks’
in the nineteen sixties and seventies. Many of the married ladies paraded in
their wedding dresses which had been retrieved from storage.
A somewhat younger Wilma appeared in one of the several
photos taken on these occasions.
Pete had written a memoir of a recent family
incident where grandma had spilt a cup off drinking chocolate down the front of
her granddaughter thereby preventing another visit to their favourite
destination.
Some of the ‘facts’ had been embellished.
Jacklin had an
imaginary letter from an old lady to her children and grandchildren.
In it, she unashamedly celebrated her many undesirable
traits and was quiet happy that these would be the qualities for which she would
be best remembered.
John S read
another episode from his Chancer series in which the Scottish reindeer’s
vocabulary totally confused the Elf who ran the café.
The Penguin, who was attempting to respond to a request for a
‘mug-a-cha’, was equally bemused by the down to earth reindeer.
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Next week
Deadline for
Poetry – Betty Munnoch Award – Theme, A
Renfrewshire Ramble.
Bring 500 word
short story – “Round the next corner”
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