@giselle
Active 5 years, 7 months agoForum Replies Created
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A perfect fit
When my yoga teacher organized a desert trek, I signed up immediately. Something in me wanted – needed – a week away from my life. Time off to think, read and write. I bought a new notebook and fountain pen, packed a few books and before I knew it a plane brought our group of 9 yogis to the Sahara.
Between the full moon I couldn’t switch off, giant beetles scuttling about and the howling of jackals in the distance, I barely slept the first night. At dawn, I joined the Tunisian nomads sitting around a fire in native garb. One, Amor, offered me ‘kawa’. Never has coffee tasted so good.
As we hiked into the desert and civilisation disappeared, the group bonded. First between the yogis, then with the nomads, the four men making sure we didn’t sit on scorpions, that we had daily fresh vegetables, and that we stayed in the shade of the dromedaries with perpetually-filled bottles of water. Temporarily released from my responsibilities as a wife and mother, I was just myself, a soul in the desert.
During one trek, Amor spotted a small flint arrowhead and offered it to me. He’d no way of knowing that I’ve studied prehistoric tools for years, to the point of taking workshops to learn to make them. We spoke of the arrow the best we could despite the language barrier. A few kilometres later he stopped the seven-dromedary caravan and indicated a swath of tightly packed sand. Flint chips gleamed in the sun: remnants of prehistoric tool production.
I spotted a palm-sized flint with a few bevelled edges and squatted to hold it, moving it around in my hand. I smiled at Amor: my fingers had wrapped around it perfectly. My thumb, index, major and ring-finger all nestled on pre-determined planes, leaving open a large edge for scraping. Between 3.3 million years ago, and the present, a person had made a tool that perfectly fit my hand.
I could have (should have?), left the scraper in the desert, but I couldn’t. Like the week in the desert, it was a perfect fit, and became the material reflection of the outer – and inner – voyages I’d taken. The Stone Age scraper sits on my desk, and I only have to put it in my hand to remember the closeness of our group and the powerful energy of those vast expanses of Saharan sand.
400 words (excluding title)
Hello all!
I thought about doing NaNoWriMo but I don’t have time to write a sentence these days, let alone 50k!
That being said, I need some motivation so I’d love to do a Denizen’s SloMoWriMo – sounds like perfect motivation, and what great people to do it with!I love this thread!
Richard, wow, brilliant writing. That disjointedness works so well.
Whenever I have to write violence I think of Silence of the Lambs, when you really don’t see/read that much, but the tension is huge. Lots of small suggestions can build on our inner fears.
Janeshuff, so happy that you’ve found the solution! Now, all you have to do is write it. Easy, right? *ducks*
Coming in late as I’ve been plunged in post-York wip modifications.
Mandy, you were brilliant, funny, natural, endearing, strong and gracious. Like many, I’ve followed your journey, but to hear it all, from the beginning to now, was just wonderful.
Seeing so many of you at York really charged my batteries. There were definitely less cloudies this year than in the past few that I’ve been (Jericho miscommunication backlash, I imagine), but the warmth and good vibes were present.
And seeing Mandy up there, keynoting, yeah!!!Thanks all, very useful.
I’m sure many know it, but Mslexia has their children’s novel competition; deadline this september 30th. Just for the women amongst us. I’m polishing up the dragons and submitting.
Wow! Congratulations on all these great events! Your daughter’s just in time to votre for midterm elections if she wants. 😉
What an astounding event. I can’t imagine any NY or Parisian agents heading two hours north to find new talent.
I wonder what the ambiance will be. Writers waiting in little rooms, or a more open event where they can mingle with one another?
@jd73, I asked that very question during York’s “meet the agents” panel. And they were unanimous in saying that if the manuscripts had been revamped then we could repitch, saying as much.
@Juliec, why NOT give it a go. The worst you can do is lose a little time.Good luck to all!
It was lovely to see you again at York, Janette. Bravo for your double-win ! Your story is emotionally rich and poignant without reaching pathos or simplicity. Beautifully done, and a well-deserved victory (victories).
Kaz, this is so exciting – not one bit of good news, but TWO: new agent AND Penguin’s interest! Yes yes yes yes yes!!! Going with the agent you felt the most comfortable with seems the way to go.
I’m so happy for you!
No pressure Helen! 😃 For those not there, Helen’s victory couldn’t be contested, cheering volume wise. Yes, I think Debi did want to do cartwheels!
I can’t wait to hear your speech @skylark! And @Philippa, you’re well on your way. 🙂 I have my first 1-to-1 at 14h00, the agent I chose got changed at the last minute, but by an agent I wanted to see, so all’s ok. So sorry that some of you wonderful people won’t be present this year. @Raine, if the wedding’s boring, skip it and come over. 😄
Philippa, I’ve called him Deads at least 3 or 4 times (hurrying or spellcheck fail) and he’s always been most gracious about it. 😄 Just thinking about your first chapter and pitch success, and Mandy’s keynote speech, makes me doubly happy to go this year.