September Weekly Creative Writing Exercise #1: discover the story

[vaysh]

In August, I taught a four week online novel coaching course and came up with creative writing exercises for the participants. The exercises were a lot of fun and I thought I'll post them here, every Friday all through September. (Thank you, kitty_fic for giving me permission to post :D). You can write fanfic or original fic.

Creative Writing Exercise #1

1. Chose one of the pictures:


Edward Hopper, Room in Brooklyn (1932)



Jeff Wall, Milk (1984)

2. Write 600 to 1000 words about the picture you've chosen. Don't analyze it, don't put it into a historical or art perspective. Simply describe the picture and discover a story in it. Note specific details and use them for your writing. You may write a description of the picture, or a short story inspired by it.

Post your writing in a comment to this post, no later than Sunday, September 4, 6pm GMT.
Do not write more than 1000 words. (Word Counter)

Comments

[darkravenwrote.livejournal.com]

I really needed this help getting some words out today. You showed up at jus the right time. Er, sorry it definitely wasn't what I was planning on writing and it's no masterpiece lol. You better not be internally grading these lol. I think you can guess i picked the first pick.



Draco's first thought, immediately after the nurse opens the door for him, is that he wishes the room weren't decorated in pastels. The murky green carpet and pasty yellow blinds make the room feel just as sick as Harry, and the pale blue walls -- probably an attempt at neutral cheer -- give the impression of life being leeched. The only real, strong colour in the room is the red cloth draped over an empty table, but that looks like blood dripping, and Draco can still smell Harry’s clogging in his nose from that night. He looks away quickly -- focuses his attention on Harry.

They've left Harry in a rocking chair by the window. A tiny patch of sunlight glares mockingly through the westward facing window. It's a bright afternoon sun in a clear cloudless sky. The beam falls across both Harry and a little vase of budding yellow roses on a small table in the corner. It's cruel the way it make the petals unfurl and the leaves radiate happiness, yet it highlights how wan and weak Harry is.

Harry turns his head at the sound of the door clicking shut quietly behind Draco. There is a deep carved out pit under his cheekbone, the shadow severe like a gaping wound. Draco second guesses his decision to come here today.

"Robards visited yesterday," Harry says, his teeth flashing and the skin around his jaw stretched thin. Harry looks threadbare. "And Perrywinkle came the day before that. And Burry before that. Did you draw the short straw today? I assume you're going through the whole department."

At least his voice sounds as strong and sure as usual.

"You're my partner. I was going to come and visit you whatever happened."

"You're suddenly bad at timekeeping are you? I've been allowed guests for a week now."

"I had to build up the nerve."

"Because you're ashamed or because you feel guilty." There's a grit to Harry's tone now. He's an expert at keeping his temper during interrogations. Draco feels very much like a suspect locked up in one of their boxy questioning rooms.

"Both."

"Good, you should."

"Be ashamed?"

"Feel guilty." Harry drops his chin onto his shoulder, the bumps at the top of his spine prominent. He must be uncomfortable. The light catches his eyes and at least they are still filled with fire -- even if it is with anger. "Both," he amends quickly, letting the word out in a flustered breath.

"I am," Draco murmurs, then repeats, "both of those." The door at his back feels hard and incongruously smooth. He deserves a stake through the heart for what he's done.

"You said you're my partner, but partners don't do that, Malfoy." The return to his Circe-forsaken surname sends a pang spinning around in Draco's chest. "Partners don't leave in the middle of raids and forget to clear entire rooms and fuck up simple shielding charms." Harry shifts them, turning back to the window, dismissing Draco. His whole body quakes with the movement, and his rocking chair bucks worryingly. "Besides, I'm not your partner anymore. You don't have to come and visit. You’re released from your duty. I'm not your responsibility."

"You've requested reassignment," Draco asks, taking an aborted half step away from the door in shock.

"No. It's over for me. Robards said I'll get a good pension and disability though, as if that's going to ease my mind."

"Harry, really, I'm just, I'm so sor-"

"Get out."

Should he stay and fight? Draco doesn't know. All he does know if that Harry once told him his greatest hate is letting people see him cry. And Draco can see a tear reflected in the window.

He glances once at the view Harry will be stuck with for several more months; an ocean of smoking chimneys and deserted rooftops and dirty brickwork. Then he leaves.

[kitty_fic]

Yay! I'm excited to see what challenges you have for us!

And of course! No permission needed! Feel free to post anytime you like!