Weekly write 17 : A-Z glossary
Make up a 26-word glossary of the place where you sit and write - that's one word (or more) for each letter of the alphabet, A-Z. Of course, you can be flexible with J,Q,X and Z - adjectives, nouns, verbs, names - anything goes. Here's a recent example done on a train:
Aisle handles - for trained gymnasts
Brackets and bolts
CCTV and a central pole; compartmentalisation
Digital display screen
Emergency door release
Fold-out desk top (flapping, feeble, flimsy, floppy...)
Glass partition
Harpenden, Harlington, huddled houses
Irritation
Joggle, judder
Kant think of anything - killing time
Litter bin, Luton airport parkway, Leagrave, LED lights
Metro headlines and ads: Murder, May, Montego bay
Newspaper, non-slip surface
Overhea(r)d luggage rack, Overhea(r)d conversations
Passengers, perforated ceiling panels, 'penalty for improper use'
Queer stain on back of seat
Rubber seal
Scratchy seat covers (seriously); see it, say it, sorted.
Transport police, ticket
Urgent electronic beeps when doors about to close
Vents and ventilation, invisible viscera
Window bordered with printed circles of diminishing size
X - the shape of legs, the anonymity of travel...
Youthful exuberance in public space. Yawning
Z - the folded shape of sleeping bodies, zzzz
When you have done this, you may have some thoughts for writing, starting points for a piece of free-writing, or a list poem. At least it will have made you look more closely at your surroundings. (Many classroom applications for developing observant/imaginative writers)
Aisle handles - for trained gymnasts
Brackets and bolts
CCTV and a central pole; compartmentalisation
Digital display screen
Emergency door release
Fold-out desk top (flapping, feeble, flimsy, floppy...)
Glass partition
Harpenden, Harlington, huddled houses
Irritation
Joggle, judder
Kant think of anything - killing time
Litter bin, Luton airport parkway, Leagrave, LED lights
Metro headlines and ads: Murder, May, Montego bay
Newspaper, non-slip surface
Overhea(r)d luggage rack, Overhea(r)d conversations
Passengers, perforated ceiling panels, 'penalty for improper use'
Queer stain on back of seat
Rubber seal
Scratchy seat covers (seriously); see it, say it, sorted.
Transport police, ticket
Urgent electronic beeps when doors about to close
Vents and ventilation, invisible viscera
Window bordered with printed circles of diminishing size
X - the shape of legs, the anonymity of travel...
Youthful exuberance in public space. Yawning
Z - the folded shape of sleeping bodies, zzzz
When you have done this, you may have some thoughts for writing, starting points for a piece of free-writing, or a list poem. At least it will have made you look more closely at your surroundings. (Many classroom applications for developing observant/imaginative writers)