Writing Prompt 56: Balloons
One of my favourite 'I need to get my writing unstuck' exercises is by Lynda Barry in her wonderful book for the imagination What It Is.
Bursting with her unique illustrative style and poignant, often funny stories, Barry shares with a generous heart the exercises and processes she teaches in her classroom.
Sometimes, my brain (and perhaps yours too) needs a quiet moment of thought rather than being poked at with the sharp stick of self-criticism. Barry often advises that there is no right or wrong way to tell your stories, only your way.
So what do you need?
Time
A notebook
A pen or pencil
A picture - see above
Turn to a blank page in your notebook. Look at the photograph above. Imagine you are standing in this space with those balloons and answer the questions below:
Where are you?
What time of day is it?
What season does it seem to be?
What are you doing?
Why are you there?
Who else is in this image?
What is the temperature like?
What sounds can you hear?
What does the air smell like?
What are some of the objects around you?
Now, turn around in this image. What is in front of you? To your right, left, behind, above and below you?
When you've finished your answers, turn to a new page.
Beginning with the words I am... write the story that comes to you. Write for as long as you like or as long as your time allows. Try not to edit too much. This is about getting story down.
You could try this exercise with different pronouns: he/she/they are or you are.
Or use a different picture if you prefer. Hope this is helpful.
Until next time.
A Wedding
Lily and Stephen stood posing and being posed for the photographs they would keep for life.
The photographer skipped around them, his jacket fluttering behind him in the wake of his movement. He worked hard for his money. His assistant held up a silver reflector, adjusted the tripod when necessary and swapped the camera battery out for a fresh one. The faces of the happy couple ached from the smiles they’d maintained for hours.
“Enough,” said Lily. “Enough. I can’t do this anymore.”
The groom ushered the photographer and his assistant out of the room.
Lily slumped down into a soft-backed chair, her abundant silk dress rustling around her. She put her thumbs inside the top of her bodice and wiggled it around her breasts.
“Christ, this thing’s so tight,” she said.
“Just a bit longer, Lily, and then we’ll have it. The video to end all videos.”
Lily looked at the man she’d just married.
“Is this really what we want? Our whole life online? Everything about us picked at, examined, analysed?” She leaned back into the chair and kicked her shoes off. “I’m so tired.”
“But the money, Lily! Come on! It’s more than Hello offered us. More than we’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Jesus, Stephen. They want to film the birth of our first child! Post it on IGTV! I’m not even pregnant yet!”
Lily was up now pacing the room. She picked up a bottle of champagne, twisted off the foil wrapper and pushed at the cork until it popped out and hit the wall in front of her. The sudden noise and burst of fizzing alcohol made her jump. She took a swig from the bottle wiping away the bubbles of liquid that travelled down her chin. She laughed, her mouth wide and open.
“FUCK THIS,” she said sweeping her hand around the room. “AND FUCK YOU.”
Stephen’s eyes widened with alarm as Lily marched out the door, champagne bottle in hand, dress bustling behind her.
Story first posted April 2019 // Photo:Tanya Clarke 2018
