fiction
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“Show Train”
A Josip Novakovich exercise in scene development. Task: Describe a train ride… Objective: To show the experience of travel. Novakovich, Josip. Fiction Writer’s Workshop (p. 41). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Once a year, for few days in August, they’d open the Exhibition Line, and you could take the train right into the Show. The Continue reading
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“Three Places: 1965”
The Task: “Describe three places you have been. Don’t worry about pretty words; mention the important and some unimportant details you remember.” Novakovich, Josip. Fiction Writer’s Workshop (p. 40). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. “Braeside” 1965 There were only two seasons in Far Western Queensland’s Channel Country when Christy and his father went on to Continue reading
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“Three Ordinary Objects…”
…with just a touch of the unusual. A Josip Novakovich exercise from “A Fiction Writer’s Workshop”. Espresso Saucer A scarlet espresso saucer sits, without its cup, on my writing table. It is of soft, thick china that shines, reflecting the late afternoon sun as a small bright light on its raised outer rim – a Continue reading
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“Beaton”
A writing exercise in giving one intense emotion I’ve experienced [anger] to a fictional character. I had to make sure the character is not me, but the emotion should be mine. The task required me to create a scene employing the fictional character and the emotion and to involve another person as an antagonist or Continue reading
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“Written in Captivity at Betaris”
An exercise in interpreting scriptures through filling in gaps in stories. I have taken, for my subject, Joseph Barsabas who is also called Justus – the one passed over in Acts 1:21-26. This is the testimony of Joseph son of Saba, written in captivity at Betaris in the reign of Emperor Galba, in hope of Continue reading
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“My Mother Never …”
Another Novakovich “Fiction Writers’ Workshop” Exercise My Mother never went down to the end of the town without consulting me. But as you may know—if you have read Mr A.A. Milne’s poem—James’ Mother did. James James Morrison Morrison Wetherby etc. etc. that is. She did go down to the end of the town, and quite Continue reading
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“We Are Life Savers!”
Le Père de Christy Est Mort. Another Novakovich exercise. This time the task is to “think about an incident that you avoid remembering—or can’t clearly remember—and write about it. School was over for the year, yet Christy still wore his uniform — long trousers and blazer now that he was in high school. It was Continue reading
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“Schooled”
Another Novakovich exercise. This time, I am sourcing a story from a memory of a childhood fight. Some elements are true; some are made up or altered. There was no reason why it happened. At least, no reason that I knew. Though in later years I speculated that it might have been this or it Continue reading
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“You Can Dunk If You Like”
An exercise in sourcing story from youngest memories. Christy invited me into his kitchen and began to make us both a cup of tea. Will here do?” he asked jiggling the tea bag in the small pot. “This will be great,” I replied. “OK. If I put this cushion on the table?” Continue reading
About Me
An Australian post-lawyer reclaiming creative space and delving into speculative fiction after too long an absence.
Sunburnt Speculations 