The first thing to do is look at the picture. This may seem very obvious. Then look at the theme. “Match or mismatch?” Without looking back at the picture, did Match or mismatch cause any ideas to enter your mind? Go with any feeling that you instinctively had. This is creative writing & if you are always led by your intellect you will never write a story that will surprise you and entertain others. Next start writing. One of two outcomes. What you write you will be able to easily continue. What you write will be hard work and a struggle. Never throw any of your writings away. What does not work for you now may very well at some point in the future. I start about 5 stories on average before one just works. A lot depends on whether you feel positive (or negative) about the couple in the photo. Bad news sells in this world. Pick up any newspaper – what is it full of? The day they air a happy episode of Emmerdale then I will bet on some horses. So, go with your instinct, but bare in mind that a happy story will be harder to interest readers in. The other consideration is this. Any story must have a plot. Events have to happen. Don’t spend overlong on writing a description. People are not obsessed with detail and what you leave out a reader will happily make up. It’s a story and not everyone will get the same tale from your words. Surprised? The stories every person constructs will be similar but not the same. Each reader’s version is colored by their own life experience. They make the story their very own. So… here are some of my thoughts about the picture.
- Both people are thinking about being somewhere else
- They have had some bad news & neither knows what to say to the other
- Unusually they have had a massive row and are trying to think of a way back to their normality
- The lady has just announced she is pregnant
- They have managed to lose all their money
- It is Sunday night and neither of them like the thought of going to work on Monday.
- The guy is in court tomorrow on a charge of sexual assault
- They are finally getting married this coming Saturday & neither are sure about the future
- The lady has had a huge lottery win and doesn’t know how WE will spend it
- All their dreams have come true and they are planning their life together in a wonderful house they have inherited in The Cotswolds (this is the happy story option)
Read all this rubbish and then do your own thing. Have a Plot. That you carefully plan or makeup as you go along. Guess which plot I employ?
A possible Answer…
It’s Over
Wendy thought “I wonder if he knows?”
Kevin thought “I wonder why she is so bloody quiet?”
It was very quiet and peaceful down by the River. There was very little flow or current today. The birds had no song, they just tweeted every now and again. A soft breeze carrying with it the smell of lemons from a nearby soap factory. The warm sun was out, and the Sky was very blue.
Their two bodies were statically still, there was not a movement from either of them. Each seemed ill at ease and very tense.
Wendy thought “I should tell him.”
Kevin thought “Bugger this! I’m off very soon, it’s far too nice today to hang around here in this gloom.
A small boat came downstream at a slow pace. On the deck were two guys who were animatedly chatting. The diesel engine sound gradually grew in volume taking away the silence.
Now that silence had been split Kevin said, “Sorry I have to go, I just remembered that Lydia asked me to meet her for shopping, I will see you here again on Friday.”
Wendy said, “Oh well, if you have to go to appease her indoors, then I suppose that you had better go.”
Kevin said, “I’ll call you then, bye!” He walked quickly along the riverbank to the car park and Wendy watched him gets in the firm’s Audi. Watched as he shut the door. Above the diesel racket she heard the engine start, and then he sped very quickly away. She watched his car vanish into the distance.
She went to the car park and sat in her own car for a while. Her mobile phone rang. The screen announced it was Adam calling. She tapped the screen.
“Where are you?” the distant voice said urgently.
“Down by the River, usual place.” Wendy calmly replied.
“Have you sorted it out yet?”
“Oh yes. it’s over, we have finished, I dealt with it.”
“Good!!” Adam said. “I forgive you; you can come home now; I have been busy working at the new house. Smells fresh for our new fresh start.”
“Okay. I will be there in 4 hours. Ish.”
Wendy opened her bag. She checked the contents carefully. Inside her bag was a Eurostar ticket, a UK passport, and 6000 Euro. She turned on her Satnav and from favourites selected St. Pancras Railway Station. The passenger door of her car opened. One of the men from the boat got in and sat down. Wendy passed him the money, the ticket and the passport.
“Hurry up! Or I will miss the train. I will let you know when the job is done. I have ordered you a cab. Go home and relax. You’ll soon be a free woman again.”
Wendy stepped out of the car, left the door open for him. A minute later the car was gone, and her Taxi arrived. Wendy got in. “Hello Joe, drop me off at home, be quick, I don’t want to miss my sister arriving for her weekend stop-over.
“Right you are!” said Joe and spared no horses. Wendy mused “When the first man is gone, then I can be happy with the second. Or if he won’t leave bloody Lydia, then the third. Mm, A Richard perhaps?”
(Short Story 550 Words)
