Altered Perspectives: Challenge #5

Picture someone who travels a lot. They might travel for any number of reasons. It could be their work, as a businessman, or a long-distance courier, or a cargo hauler, or any number of other mobile professions. They might be in the military, always being posted in different places. They might be a habitual traveller, someone who is simply happiest when going to the next new place. They could be a happy backpacker, working random jobs or relying on the kindness of others as they make their way between locales. They could be one of the wandering homeless, drifting between camps and shelters. They might live on a ship of some kind.

It this person male or female? How do they afford to travel all the time? What led them to this particular kind of life? Do they love to travel, or hate it? What is the first thing they do when they reach a new place? What is the thing they most like to do in a new place?

This person has been travelling for years, one way or another. What is the one thing they never travel without? Why? Is the attachment emotional, or practical, or sentimental? What is important to this person?

What kinds of places has this person travelled to? What sort of people have they met? What sort of conditions have they travelled through, stopped in, or dealt with? Do they travel alone, or with a group, or does it vary?

In all of their years of travel, this person has carried the same piece of luggage with them. It has survived countless trips, possibly been repaired a few times, and is still going strong. What kind of luggage is it? Is it big or small? Is it a case, a duffle bag, a sack with a rope around its neck, a purse, a pouch? What’s it made of? What does it look like? What colour is it? What does it smell like? Do its many journeys show, in scrapes or stickers, stains or scars? Is its value obvious?

Fast forward to your traveller’s last journey. How old is your character now? Where are they going? Why is this their last journey? Is it planned to be their last, or does something happen to force it? Where does the character end up – do they make it to their destination?

Tell us the story of the end of this final journey from the point of view of that piece of luggage the character carries with them. Tell us what happens to the luggage after that journey is over.

Finish up: Epilogue

Altered Perspectives: Challenge #4

Think of a religion. It can be real or fictional; your choice.

Think about what the religion values. The things that are important tenets or rules. What are its key teachings? What does it forbid or encourage in its followers?

What kind of people are its clergy? Who are its believers? What is the community that believes in this religion like?

Picture the trappings of the religion, like robes or incense, symbols or gestures. What does its talisman look like, if it has one? Where does prayer happen? Where do its altars live?

Think about the services, rituals, and ceremonies of this religion. Where do they happen? What is the tone of them? Who is involved? What is involved? Is there chanting, or singing, or silence?

Now consider what that religion might consider to be an artefact, a sacred object. What is this object? Is it big or small? What is it made of? Is it a piece of one of its saints, something that once belonged to someone important, or a vessel containing some kind of power? Something else? Why is it of such value to this faith?

How is that object kept? Is it locked away, kept in a glass case, or out in the open? Who has access to it? Is it kept privately or shared with any follower who wishes it? Is it part of a particular ritual? Is it preserved, or allowed to become rubbed smooth by the touch of thousands of hands over the years?

Where has it been in its existence? Does it travel, or is it kept in one place? Has it ever seen the sun? The stars? What has this object been exposed to in its lifetime?

One day, a thief enters the place where the artefact is kept, intent on stealing it. Why? What does this thief hope to gain? Is it money, or power, or something based in belief? Does he or she believe in this faith, or in the power of this particular artefact?

Tell the story of this theft from the point of view of the artefact.

Next up: Challenge #5

Altered Perspectives: Challenge #3

Choose a building where people rent rooms: a hotel, motel, hostel, or an inn. Think about where it is located. What kind of world is this? What era? Is it in a city, out in the wilds, the last stop for miles, or part of a thriving hub of travel and tourism? What is around it? Next door?

What is within its walls? Does it have many rooms? What are they like? Is there a penthouse suite? A honeymoon suite? Is there a restaurant, or a ballroom, or a swimming pool?

This building has been open to the public for many years. Decades, perhaps. What kinds of celebrations and events have been held there? What is the general tone or feel of the place? Is it aging well?

What kinds of people have passed through its doors and slept in its beds? Who is its usual clientele? How do they treat it? How long do they usually stay? Why do they come to this particular hotel, rather than anywhere else? Is it price, or facilities, or a particular feature like a famous chef, or something more nebulous, like a promise of anonymity?

What does the building think of its clientele?

Now think of a particular evening. A celebration is happening. It could be something public, like New Year’s Eve , or a private event, like a costume ball or a wedding.

While this celebration is ramping up to full swing, there’s orange light growing nearby. A fire is making its way towards the building, burning up the city or the brush or woods nearby. It’s out of control, driven by prevailing winds, and eating up everything in its path.

Write this night of celebration from the point of view of the hotel. As an extra challenge, include a conversation between the building and the fire.

Next up: Challenge #4

Altered Perspectives: Challenge #2

Picture a world. It can be in any era you like: ancient civilisation; contemporary and modern; medieval; fantastical; far-future. This world does not have to be Earth, though feel free to stay at home if you wish. It could be an alien planet, a colonised one, an asteroid, or simply an area in the void between worlds. I want you to focus on a particular location. It might be a spot on a continent, or in an ocean, on a mountainside, out in the reaches of space. It is a place of note. A place of importance to the people who live near there.

It is a place where many battles have happened. Armies have crossed this place countless times. They have fought and died there. Perhaps it is a border between two powerful states. Perhaps it is the gateway to a place of strategic advantage, or religious importance. Its wealth might be real and physical, or ideological, or spiritual. Its wealth might simply be a logistical quirk of geography, like the valley that passes between two insurmountable peaks or the proximity of an important stronghold. Choose a reason. Decide why this place has drawn so much battle onto it.

Consider the armies that have clashed here. Whose blood has soaked into the soil or water here, or hangs suspended in the vacuum of space? What did they want? How were they armed? How did it change over time?

What scars does this place have? Does it have any at all? In peace-times, can anyone tell what violence happened here just by looking at it? Has anyone cleaned it up? Are the dead buried here? What about their weapons; are they still here? Vehicles, warhorses, mechanoid helpers? Are there any signs under the surface?

Think about the fabric and atmosphere of this place. How has it been affected by what has happened in its embrace? Is this place vicious? Bloodthirsty? Is it sad and battered? Abused? Is it proud? Peaceful? Haunted by the ghosts of those who have fallen in its arms? Is it tired? Does it wish for peace-time or the thunder of the wardrums?

Now take this place to a time when there hasn’t been a battle in a while. It might have been a few years, or as much as a century. Enough time for it to grow quiet. Distantly, a group approaches. They might be on foot, on mounts, or in vehicles. They are obvious, they are armed, and very soon, they’re going to step into this place.

Tell us of the story of this group, from the point of view of the battlefield they are about to cross.

Next up: Challenge #3

Altered Perspectives: Challenge #1

Picture a sprawling city. It can be any kind of city, from any era: wood and tiles; brick and mortar; glass and steel; plastic and neon. It’s a thriving city, healthy enough to have a bustling warehouse district, though it’s not as busy as it used to be. Parts of it are starting to fall into disuse.

Perhaps industry is starting to move elsewhere, or businesses have found better facilities in other parts of the city, or someone is buying it up to convert it to a different use. Either way, the warehouse district has started to age in patches, creating areas with a rundown feel to them. Trucks or wagons don’t rumble down those streets like they used to. Foremen’s voices don’t ring out over the fences so much. The streets are starting to fall into poor repair as the city isn’t investing time or money in them lately.

In this district, focus on a single building. It was once a busy factory, but it hasn’t been used for that purpose for a while now. Once upon a time, new things were made inside it, packaged up, and shipped off somewhere else. Consider that time, when things were all go here.

What was made in this factory? Was it a complicated process, like building pieces of technology, or something simpler, like bottling drinks or weaving fabric? Were its wares made by hand or machine? Was it powered by anything? Did a lot of people work here, or just a few overseers, or no people at all? What kind of vehicles used to pull up to the big doors to take the goods away?

The sign on the door is faded now, but what did it used to say? If there was a logo, what was it?

What caused this factory to be closed down? Was the real reason the same as the public announcements? Who was the last to leave and lock the doors behind them?

Now, a few years have passed since the industry in this factory was wound down and its doors closed for the last time. Dust has settled and spiders have spun impressive webs.

What is left inside? When it was closed down, was it gutted? Has any of the equipment been left here to age along with the building? Machinery, chairs, looms, tables, a lone broom? Build a picture of what this place looks like inside and out. Is it still hale and whole? Has the weather been kind to it?

What kinds of creatures might have moved inside and made themselves at home? Focus on one type of non-human creature in particular. Are they native to the area or imported? What do they eat, and what effect do they have on the building? Do they live individually or as a group? How many generations have lived inside this old factory?

A person is now approaching this abandoned factory. Perhaps they have a key; perhaps they do not. Either way, they mean to enter the building; they have a purpose here. Picture this person in your head. What do they look like? When they pause to glance up at the building, what expression are they wearing?

Tell us the story of this visitation, from the perspective of one of the creatures who calls the factory home.

Next up: Challenge #2

Altered Perspectives: Prologue

Crazy perspectives are coming your way!
(Picture by Juanita Garcia)

Welcome to the Writers’ Asylum. Settle in and make yourself comfortable; you’re going to be here for a while. Don’t mind the sound of locks turning behind you; that’s the least of your problems now.

The theme of this Asylum visit is Altered Perspectives. Today, you’re going to be challenged. You’re going to be taken out of your own head and placed behind the eyes of someone – or something – else. You’re going to be asked to consider the world from different angles. You’re going to be asked to give a voice to something that does not normally speak.

There are five challenges ahead. You’re going to hear a series of prompts, questions designed to draw a picture in your mind. You’re going to build a world, populate it, and focus it on a particular spot. Then you’ll hear the challenge itself, and step outside yourself to write it.

In the hour that follows each prompt, you need to write at least a thousand words. You can write in first person or third limited, it’s completely up to you, but it must be from the perspective specified in the challenge. You can go off on any tangent your imagination comes up with; the prompt is only a starting point. See where these new eyes take you.

Push yourself. Venture outside your comfort zone. Go as crazy as you like. I will not ask to see your writing, though you’re welcome to share it if you wish. Feel free to post it in the comments on my blog.

But that’s later. Right now, the door has closed behind you. The Asylum has begun. Hold on tight, for the first challenge is almost upon you.

Next up: Challenge #1

The Asylum’s New Home

This is the new Asylum! Isn’t it awesome? And not at all creepy?
Okay, I’m kidding. We’re not really going here.
(Photo: New York Asylum by Jeremy Seto)

I got a message about a month ago telling me that the location we’ve been using for our write-ins for six years has closed down. Abruptly and without warning. It was three days before our monthly write-in. I was in the middle of the craziest period at work. It couldn’t have come at a worse time.

As I madly juggled about seven critical issues at work and attempted to find a place to take our write-in people to, I couldn’t help but think: what about next month? It’s the Writers’ Asylum and I have to find someplace to hold it. It’s bigger than our write-ins, I’ve got to read stuff out to people, and it’s all a bit special.

I couldn’t worry about it just then; there were far more pressing issues. I already had Starwalker on hiatus due to all the shenanigans at work. I threw together some emergency plans with my fellow MLs, and one of my awesome co-MLs took the write-in off my hands. She sorted it out and ran it, and I’m immensely grateful.

By last weekend, the write-in was done and the worst of the work stuff was sorted. So I took my other co-ML and a good friend off on a scouting mission to check out potential replacement venues for our write-ins and the Asylum. We visited a couple of restaurants I had heard would welcome a group like ours (we’re a bit special needs, what with needing to camp out for the whole day, take up a load of space, and plug in laptops). Both of the places we visited welcomed the idea of our group visiting and were very accommodating. No doubt knowing that we’ll all be ordering drinks and meals helped!

Last weekend, I came home with three bits of good news. First, the Asylum has a new home: La Dolche Vita (almost next door to where we were supposed to be!). We’re booked in and good to go. Second, we have a new Coffee Club to try out, which we’ll be doing at our May write-in. And third, our favourite Coffee Club hasn’t closed forever: we saw signs on it that said it was undergoing refurbishment and would reopen ‘soon’. I have no idea when ‘soon’ is but it’s still a huge relief.

So, the first quarter of 2014 has been crazy for me. A lot of ups and downs. A lot of changes. None of it has been easy. But things are falling into place. Despite the stress of the past month, I’ve managed not to get really sick, which feels like something of a miracle. I’m coping – barely, sometimes, but still clinging on by my fingernails. Still here and kicking.

Yesterday morning, I woke up from a dream in which I had gone to the Asylum and realised I had completely forgotten to bring the challenges with me. Nothing was ready, nothing was set up; there were a lot of people sitting and looking at me expectantly, and my brain was empty and… then I woke up. Last night, I went through the challenges (I wrote them up a couple of months ago) and they’re fine. They’re actually less sucky than I remember. Just a few tweaks and they’re good to go. It’s going to be fine.

Like I said: it’s a lot of ups and downs, but I’m doing okay. Things are falling into place. The Asylum has a new home. It has couches. The challenges are written. Today, I’m going to schedule all the Asylum posts on this blog, so they’ll pop up on the day in tandem with me reading stuff out to my people in real life. My plans will work out.

And it will all be awesome.

Writers’ Asylum: Post-mortem

The Writers Asylum may be crazy, but let’s keep an open mind about it anyway.

The Writers’ Asylum has been and gone. I’m still recovering – how about you?

It was a wonderful day. It got off to a rushed start for me, mostly due to traffic, but I got there in time and was sitting down and set up with five minutes to spare. Just enough time to chat to those who were there, ready for the kick-off.

There were a handful of people sitting in the in-person event by the time 10:30 rolled around – five or six of us. They got to hear my halting intro, which was an approximation of the prologue post that went up here on the blog. (Public speaking has never been my forte, but I think I managed to not make a tit of myself.) The intro was much quicker than I had anticipated, which left us with twenty-five minutes to order coffee and get distracted by random conversations.

It’s okay, I had my phone set up to warn me when the challenge time was getting close, with a variety of loud, annoying noises.

I was more worried about the turnout, though. Six people is nice, but it’s not much for an event that took me weeks to organise. I knew of a couple of people were taking part online (and there may have been more, stealthily stalking the challenge posts), however, I had hoped for a decent amount of obvious interest in the Asylum. I’d had so many people say that they loved the idea and couldn’t wait to do it, and many drop out at the last minute, so I was preparing myself for disappointment.

Luckily, that last bit wasn’t necessary. By the time 11:00am rolled around and the first challenge was rising up, there were a solid dozen people at the table. By the end of the first challenge, there were sixteen people spread over two big tables, all typing away. A bunch of that number were new faces, which was awesome (I always love it when I get to meet new people who love writing!). So, in the end, a great turnout.

The day went pretty much like clockwork. I dropped everyone into the deep end with a sexy challenge up first, and drove them through emotional turmoil for the rest of the day. Ahahahaha.

I was unsure about the goal of 1,000 words, but people seemed to hit it fairly comfortably within the hour. We had time to order food and other stimulating refreshments, and it all ticked over as I had hoped it would.

Score for me!

What I found really interesting was how different the atmosphere was compared to our usual write-ins. We were sitting in the same place, at the same time, in roughly the same setup as we usually did, but the Asylum wasn’t the casual ‘get together with writers who sometimes write and hey look at this cool thing I found on the internet and ooo let’s talk about <random topic tangentially related to writing>’ that usually happens. Once I’d done giving the challenge (I read out the prompts that went up here on the blog), a busy silence fell on the table. Keys whispered and clicked. Comments and questions were few and far between. The hush was infectious.

It was a long day, and we were all pretty wrung out by the end of it. Six challenges is a lot, and I saved the hardest for last (comedy is reported to be the hardest to write, after all). I got lots of feedback at the end, which was wonderful, and most of it positive. Seems like everyone who came would love to do it again. (One person asked me if I did this every month. I laughed and restrained myself from saying ‘HELL NO are you insane?’. I am, however, grateful to know that people enjoyed it and want more!)

Overall, I think it was a success and I’m delighted. This was an experiment for me, and I’m so happy that it worked out. But we can’t leave it there! Now I need to know more.

These are my thoughts about the day, but what I’d really like is more from the participants. Will you help me make another Asylum happen? To do that, I’d like to know:

1. What did you think of the day?
2. What did you think of the goal of 1,000 words?
3. Was 6 challenges too much? What would be an ideal number for a single day for you? (I’ve had ‘4 with a lunch break’ suggested, but am open to options.)
4. What did you think of the prompts? Were they specific enough? Too specific?
5. Did you write something unexpected?
6. Which challenge was hardest for you?
7. Which challenge did you find the easiest?
8. Which challenge was your favourite?
9. This Asylum was intended to be across a broad range of topics, styles, and genres. Should it always be broad, or would ‘themed’ Asylums be worth trying? What kinds of themes?
10. Any other suggestions?

All feedback gratefully received. If you prefer, feel free to email your thoughts to me, or just comment here on the blog.

Thanks so much to everyone who took part. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Onwards, to the next thing!

Writers’ Asylum: Epilogue

And the door closes on our day of insanity. What will it open for you tomorrow?
(Picture by thechannelc)

Congratulations!

You’ve made it to the end. You’ve spent time in the Asylum and survived to make it out the other side, stumbling, head wringing, eyes bleary, hands sore.

So how do you think you did? Did you surprise yourself after all? Did you write something for each challenge? Did you get to 1,000 words for any of them? Which one was easiest for you? Which one was the hardest? Did you write something you’ve never tried before? Did you learn anything new?

Did you have fun?

I hope the answer to the last question is ‘yes’, at least. I hope you’ve got a brain brimful of ideas and new perspectives. Maybe even some material you can use somewhere. I hope you will take something of value away from today.

Thank you for joining us. I’d love to know what you thought of the day: of the setup, the challenges, and anything else that comes to mind about the Asylum. Most of all, I’d love to know if you’d do it again.

You are released. May the madness continue, in whatever form pleases you.

Writers’ Asylum: Challenge #6

Think about a character who likes to make other people laugh, who plays with our sense of the ridiculous. This person isn’t necessarily a stand-up comedian: it is someone who can be relied upon to lighten the mood of a gathering; the group’s joker.

Who is this person? Male or female? How old are they? What sort of people are they friends with? Who does this person spend a lot of time with, and why?

Now think about what’s behind their use of humour. Why do they use it so much? Is it a defensive tactic? Do they use it to deflect attention, break uncomfortable tension, or diffuse situations? Is it simply a sense of fun? Is it used to attract attention to themselves, make them the centre of any gathering? Is there something dark behind it? Are they simply seeking to please others by making them smile?

What kind of situations keep them quiet and make them restrain the inner comedian? What sets them off and joking? Do they obey a sense of appropriateness or flout all social conventions? Are they ever cruel? Where are their personal boundaries?

What kinds of things tickle this character’s sense of humour? What kinds of jokes do they tell or make? How do they make others laugh? Is it all about in-jokes with friends or can anyone join in?

The title of this challenge is Comedy. Put this person into a situation where they can’t resist trying to make others laugh and let them run with it. Be funny and make your audience laugh right along with them.

Finish up: Epilogue