For my latest monthly post for Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day I must apologise as I am running a few days behind in my head – totally befuddled I am. Mainly because I’m beginning an online Revision Workshop today tutored by the amazing Janice Hardy, and I only decided what to revise yesterday. But I digress.
At least, I had given some thought to this post last week.
March 1 Question: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?
Although I have a few very early scribblings around, mainly from my teenage years, none of those has been recycled – yet. However, I wrote a poem some years ago:
Echoes
by Roland Rafael
Her nut-brown hair hid them,
but something stir
red a childhood memory.
A hinted shape betrayed by the fall of hair
carried echoes of dreams put aside.
Age had seemed to take them away
but now he knew they were just buried
like a treasure unrecognised.
Moon-spun gems reflected
the small curve of her lobe.
Free from under those locks,
that hid their secret from first glance.
Staring deeply he followed the line
to an imperceptible point
like an arrowhead.
He caught her almond eyes –
pools of almost drowning depth,
but sparkling with mischief and wisdom
so ancient and natural.
He felt those sleeping memories
were perhaps not mere fancy.
Eyebrows curving upwards,
slim face so finely sculpted,
those tapered ears.
Of fairy folk,
if this was fantasy,
but in reality
just one of nature’s bursts of poetry.
[January 1998]
This has now evolved into a short story, Flight of the Sister Skein, and that expanded to other stories and then Gossamer Flames, my post-apocalyptic sage. However, that project is in turmoil as there are so many plotlines and I need to re-structure the spiralling outline/story/saga.
Whether I resurrect anything else remains to be seen.
Have you resurrected any writing?
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The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group Day. We post our thoughts on our own blogs. We talk about our doubts and the fears we have conquered. We discuss our struggles and triumphs. We offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling.
Please visit others in the group and connect with my fellow writers.
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
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Our revved up IWSG Day question may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
The awesome co-hosts for this March 1 posting of the IWSG are Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!
You’re a writer – I think it’s totally forgiveable that you’re not always sure which day it is. Of course I may be biased as it happens to me a lot.
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So true, Patsy. I measure my days by writing tasks not be work days and holidays.
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It’s great that you were able to expand your poem to a full story. 🙂
BTW, I fell out of touch. How’s life in Idaho been treating you?
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Poems sometimes have the germ of an idea, I think. Gradually adapting to life in Idaho, but haven’t been out much, yet – except to visit my new neurologist who was encouraging. Roll on the warmer weather when I can work outside.
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I love how you turned a poem into a story! I’m constantly losing track of what day of the week it is, let alone what month we’re in.
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Thanks, Ellen. I only know when the weekend has arrived because the flood of emails becomes manageable.
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Good luck with the Janice Hardy sessions.
That’s cool you took a poem and turned it into a story. Now, keep wrangling those plot lines.
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Thanks, Alex. Wrangling sounds so right.
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I always admire anyone who can write poetry. Not my talent. Good luck with your class.
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So do I. Diane. The muse makes very rare visits here – that was written in a brief period when I even attempted to write some haikus. But I am better at prose.
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