It’s been a long time since I had anything creative to add here, but yesterday I did quite a bit of writing, which revealed surprising twists and ideas I wasn’t sure I was capable of. They’re mostly small fragments of stories, and I’ll be posting one every day. To accompany each entry I’ll also be writing an article outlining the creative task behind it and how it might be used and adapted to help you in your own writing.

On the steel desk lay a notebook, fountain pen and an elastic band. Strangers were crowded around, sighing and rubbing their chins. They turned to each other, their eyes swirling with confusion.

“Maybe it was a famous author,” suggested one. “Yeah, it must be. Look in the notebook, he was probably writing his next bestseller. Bet it’s Dan Brown!”

A lady in a pink jacket scoffed and piped up in a shrill voice. “Hardly likely! Look at the pen – no self-respecting writer could use a pen so indulgently decadent. One must have refinement to be a writer!”

“Of course, a pen and notebook means he…”

“Or she”

“…or she could have been a policemen, for example. Maybe… a murder case”

Someone’s fingers reached to flip the book open, but a palm firmly snapped the covers together.

“No,” came a stern voice.

The voice’s arms took the items and slipped them inside her jacket pocket. Her footsteps echod away from the table, then stopped.

An elastic band snapped on the head of the lady in the pink jacket.