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30 January 2023

Posted by Tabby Hayward

Characterful Seasons

We began by writing short descriptions/story openings inspired by one of the two paintings attached.

Next, after discussing our favourite kinds of weather, we read two novel openings from The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Spring by Ali Smith and explored the different ways in which both writers used weather/seasons/the natural world. There were then two prompts - one, inspired by 'Spring', to describe your favourite weather/season as a human character, and then to write a short piece from their point of view. And next, inspired by The Road, to write a short description/story opening where a character who is in some way the opposite of the weather/season you were describing is caught in it - and how they respond/react.

This is David's written response to the task:

As the midday sun burnt through the hay bale, he still had his coat on, thick boots and a flat cap, as beads of sweat dripped from his temple. The Earth scorched, but not felt with his thick rubber soles and those steel toe caps. Not a drop of water amongst the dusty horizon. He paused to look up, before putting on his goggles and grabbing a wrench, clanging on what feels like molten lava. He persists with vigour, trying to wrestle it free as it's seized in the beating July heat. Nowhere to hide or muster energy wearing a Sheep's wool fleece.  

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