27 September 2022
Posted by JOANNA BARNARD
Sounds of Silence
We came together for the new season of Writing for Wellbeing in mid-September, a mixed group of welcome returnees and new starters, fresh from summer and eager to pick up our pens. It’s always great to meet new writers from around the country and indeed the globe; and the existing WFW ‘crew’ enfolded them into our group swiftly and warmly.
Perhaps surprisingly for a class usually occupied with words, we began our latest journey together, after a quick free write, reflecting on silence.
A good way to get writing on a new theme is word association: so we made lists of any and all words that came to mind when we thought about ‘silence’ and about ‘sound’. We then read Rukiya Khatun’s poem Silence Itself, which prompted more reflections in the group about the dark and light qualities of being quiet.
Armed with plenty of inspiration, we headed off to create our own original pieces, which turned out to be populated with a varied cast, including an astronaut and a new mother, a singing child and various seekers of silence. We travelled from space to the garden to the soft shingle beach.
I love this group and can’t wait to hear what they write next. Here are a couple of pieces created on the day.
The Memory of Gunfire by Charles Barker-Benfield
The memory of gunfire, now still at midnight;
The crack of a flare, floating silently downwards.
An order, whispered in the hour before dawn;
The chatter of birds, not ready yet to sing.
The comfort of prayer, the promise of plainsong;
Longing for sleep but too soon for a ceasefire.
The last post is sounded, is it time now for peace?
Robin’s Song by Lala Birchak
I watched the Robin perched confidently on the topmost branch of the apple
tree; red breast like a joyful balloon, expanding and contracting with each
breath.
And all around a deep stillness, a holy silence, a pause, before the next
inevitable moment, the silence broken by that first note.
And then it came; the sweetest sound imaginable; notes dancing on the breeze
as a glorious melody pierced the air.
I stood and listened, in awe, as Robin proudly proclaimed his presence to the
world. With every joyful note he seemed to be saying:
“Here I am. I am Robin. This is my song. This is who I am.”
And in that moment, I understood. I finally understood. Life really was that
simple. I thanked him for his gift that day and smiled as I watched him fly away.
Archive
Junior & Young Writers Week 3: Return From The Magical World
Junior & Young Writers Week 2: African Mythology
Problems, Problems, Problems...
Cautionary Tales & Christmassy Opening Lines
You've Gotta Have Pace, Pace, Pace
Junior & Young Writers Week 1: Alien Encounters
Junior & Young Writers: Week 5 - Play on Words Pt. 2
Junior & Young Writers: Week 11 - end of term showcase [build a bard workshop]
Junior & Young Writers: Week 10 - Greek Theatre - chorus stories
Junior & Young Writers: Week 9 - Greek Origin Stories - Spring
Rubber Ducks & Writing Festivals
Junior & Young Writers: Week 7 - Greek Hero Stories [the 12 labours of Hercules]
Junior & Young Writers: Week 12 [Wild Words] - Stuff & Things
Junior & Young Writers: Week 11 [Wild Words] - World Building 2
Junior & Young Writers: Week 10 [Wild Words] - World Building
Junior & Young Writers: Week 9 [Wild Words] - Mystery & Choose Your Own Adventure
Junior & Young Writers: Week 8 [Wild Words] - Spooky Sequels & Potion Poems
Junior & Young Writers – Week 10 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Final Showcase
Junior & Young Writers – Week 9 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Editing & Performance Tips
Junior & Young Writers – Week 8 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Cuteness
Time goes on by Tavinder Kaur New
Junior & Young Writers – Week 7 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Natural Solutions
Junior & Young Writers – Week 6 (Writers’ Inspiration) – The Language of Fruit and Veg
Junior & Young Writers – Week 5 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Adventures In Space
Tinklebobs and Bedraggled Angles
Junior & Young Writers – Week 4 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Our Environment
Fortune Tellers & Future Letters
Junior & Young Writers – Week 3 (Writers’ Inspiration) – Home
Young Writers - Week 10 (The Art of Writing) – Final Week Showcase
Junior Writers - Week 10 (The Art of Writing) – Final Week Showcase
Young Writers – Week 9 (The Art of Writing) – Choose Your Own Adventure
Junior Writers – Week 9 (The Art of Writing) – Choose Your Own Adventure
Young Writers – Week 8 (The Art of Writing) – Sequel Stories
Junior Writers – Week 8 (The Art of Writing) – Sequel Stories
Young Writers – Week 7 (The Art of Writing) – Picture Prompts
Junior Writers – Week 7 (The Art of Writing) – Picture Prompts
Young Writers - Week 6 (The Art of Writing) - Script-writing & Dialogue
Junior Writers - Week 6 (The Art of Writing) - Script-writing & Dialogue
Junior Writers – Week 5 (The Art of Writing) – Poetry
Young Writers - Week 5 (The Art of Writing) - Poetry Potions
Edward The Martyr - A Competition!
Mood Boards and Postcards from Space
Young Writers - Week 3 (The Art of Writing) - PLOT
Junior Writers - Week 3 (The Art of Writing) - PLOT
Moomin Stories and Hollywood Pitches
Young Writers - Week 2 (The Art of Writing) - Genre & Setting
Junior Writers - Week 2 (The Art of Writing) - Genre & Setting
Prompts, Dialogues, and Cliché
Story Structure Part One: Exposition and Beyond...
Young Writers - Week 1 (The Art of Writing) - Character
Young Writers - week 4 - Nature Writing [animals & wildlife]
Junior Writers - week 4 - Nature Writing [animals & wildlife]
Young Writers - week 3 - Nature Writing [trees/plants/flowers]
Junior Writers - week 3 - Nature Writing [trees/plants/flowers]
Young Writers - week 2 - 'fractured fairy tales'
Junior Writers - week 2 - 'fractured fairy tales'
