When was the last time you read a book from cover to cover, in one sitting?
When I was young and free of such horrors as a mortgage and being the breadwinner for a young family, one of my favourite past-times was reading a book all in one go. I devoured each one, like a compulsive eater sat in front of the television with a slab of chocolate. Chomp chomp chomp until it was all gone, done. I would emerge, blinking and unsteady back into the real world, disappointed at its mundane normality until the next time something took me away from it again.
Such decadence! Now I snatch my reading when I can, five minutes here, fifteen there, crammed like mortar between the bricks of my daily work. If, like me, you’re struggling to remember the last time you indulged your reading soul so generously, you might want to join in with something inspired by a post over at Joyful Jubilant Learning.
A miniature introduction to JJL
Joyful Jubilant Learning is one of the friendliest communities I have the privilege of participating in, with lively conversation and thought-provoking posts. I have a post there about the journey to podcasting, and more recently thoughts about summer. A rather smashing chap called Brad wrote a piece about sci-fi that attracted great recommendations in the comments, so I recommend that one in particular.
But what was the something to join in on?
Well actually there are two things – something to cradle that obsessive reader in you that demands that cover to cover experience once more, the other is the beginning of my short story club. For the former, take a look the “Boredom is not an option” post on JJL written by the community founder, Rosa Say (an extraordinarily warm soul) which sparked an idea in the comments about setting aside a day to devote to reading. We’re all aiming to set aside special reading time (good grief, it’s so sad that I have to book that into my diary now, what the hell happened to my life?) on the weekend of the 22/23 August. I love the idea of a group activity spread over several continents.
But what about the rest of the time when we only have snatched moments? Well, that leads me on to the second thing for you to join in on: the beginning of my short story club. For those moments between life bricks, perhaps a short story, written just for you, would suffice. I think this is why short stories, flash and micro fiction are so popular online – we’re all in a hurry, and need that wordy mortar.
This is the bit where you inspire me.
So, what I’d love you to do is put any ideas in the comments for a short story for me to write in August.
All I need is a title, or an opening sentence (as suggested so expertly over at Collective Inkwell, just scroll to the end of the post to see the two options) or simply an idea – a ‘what if’ scenario perhaps, or a question. Another possibility is for you to suggest a theme (like ‘uncertainty’ was for the story that new members receive when signing up to the club) or an event. Don’t forget, this is just a starting point for me to write a short story, so nothing more than that is needed.
If you want to read the story that you have inspired, you need to be a member (it’s free), all you need to do is sign up over here. Priority consideration will go to ideas contributed by club members, but if there is a suggestion made by a non-member that seizes me and won’t let go, I reserve the right to pick it. Remember, if I pick your idea, you get to read it before anyone else in the whole world.
If there are any other practicalities that crop up, or if you have any questions, ask in the comments, or if you’re as shy as me, just drop me a line at emma AT enewman.co.uk and we’ll sort it out.
Yay! Let’s go!
Now, she thought, do it now…
(Sort of off-topic, sort of not. But you got me thinking. I’ve realized (thanks to this post) that these days I either read a book in one go or I don’t finish it at all. I’m quite stunned by this revelation.)
My opener: ‘She carried a small claw hammer and seven galvanized box nails wrapped in a handkerchief’.
Here’s an idea I posted over on my blog (http://blog.dawnsrise.com/2009/07/free-plot-idea-53.html)
Imagine a world where people “plug in” when they sleep, and their brains are harnessed to do all kinds of work. Think about it. You could write while you sleep, and then do whatever you want during waking hours. Basically a reversal of normal human activity. You could have a whole second career during sleep, your brain hooked up to a robot or something.
Anyways I’ve developed a whole scenario based on this idea, but I’d be curious to see what you came up with.
What’s this button do?
When I was a child I would more often than not devour books all in one go (then demand to be taken back to the library for more). As a (young) adult the only books I finished in one sitting were Dick Francis novels. But now my reading is sketchy at best. I’m looking forward to the short stories.
My suggestion for an opening line: “It all started after the heart transplant.”
Caroline’s comment gave me an idea:
They pulled his still-beating heart from his still-breathing body. Now he wants it back.
Opening line: “We first met when she taught me origami”.
(No, I have nothing particular in mind for that, it’s just completely random!)
I can’t remember the last book I read straight through. I usually have several going at once in bits and pieces. Hard to get that same thrill isn’t it?
Here’s my choice for a story. You said once to me, “I want you to come to England and sit with me on the Cornish cliffs so that I may introduce you humbly to my ocean.”
I’d like to read a story about the Cornish Cliffs. Something eerie would be nice. Ocean cliffs remind me of Hitchcock movies. The ocean is so mysterious and dark, and deep… kinda makes you wonder what’s in there.
“kinda makes you wonder what’s in there.”
Or who!
Emma, I so love the way you have run with this! Absolute deliciousness.
Similar to this, I will find that many of my recent writing inspirations are coming from pictures with clever captions on Flickr and other places. Here is a sample:
http://tinyurl.com/px2h7a
Emma, I cannot find the words to express how thankful I am that our social media paths have intersected. I love the enthusiasm you bring to everything you do. The JJL idea is brilliant and I love how you embraced it and added your own special touch. I love the short story club. Your writing is so beautiful that I think I would be delighted if you told a story about anything. I loved your recent post on JJL but another image really stayed with me and that is of you dawdling home on a late summer day….
Emma, another Karen here, echoing Karen Swim above me. I too am so glad our paths intersected. I’m seeing a lot of familiar faces over here… we’re obviously all attracted to someone who is enthusiastic, friendly, creative and talented… and we all love to read! I loved your first story about uncertainty and am looking forward to more.
There are books that are easy to read snippets at a time, and then there are those that are impossible to put down. They are the ones we long to read in one huge gulp – diving in head first and hardly coming up for air until the last page is done.
The image/idea that sprang to my mind was about literally losing yourself in a book – physically as well as mentally/emotionally.
I am a book devourer myself. I enjoyed devouring books in my holidays (I am back to work since Monday), spending a whole afternoon reading. That’s a luxury for me.
And now your opening line:
He sat there, looking at the oily water.
I just have to say that I am so immensely grateful, impressed and excited by your comments and suggestions so far. I feel like a Queen, sat at a grand feast, considering which tasty morsel to enjoy first. You are filling me with inspiration, and I am humbled by your creativity. Thank you xx
Hi
I’m going to be busy on the weekend of the 23rd but I will think of you fondly.
Thanks for the podcasts, you are an amazing talent.
I don’t have time for the short story club unfortunately what with my writing and kids, etc. but I wish you great success with it.
I’ll still be a regular follower of your Blog!
Love and best wishes to you and yours,
@RKCharron
xoxo
“I imagined what her last words would be and no longer felt certain of the necessity.”
I think that’d make a good first line.
As for books I read cover to cover, whenever Patricia Briggs comes out with a new book it devours my weekend. I usually prefer to savor a book and not read too much of it at once, but her books are like bags of potato chips for me, I just can’t seem to put them down even when I intend to.
Hi Emma,
I have finally found my way here after a week of wanting to make it here. What a blessing to have had your path cross with ours. I so excited for you to be a part of the Chinese Whisperings project – but more so from a personal point of view, I’m excited about being part of some of the projects you are a part of. Especially the reading one.
When I took up writing again last year I made a pact to read one book a month – as professional development and a few months later upped it to two. Then revised it to two books or 600 pages (given I was reading Quicksilver at 900 pages!) It has meant I always have to find time to put aside for reading … but would enjoy doing it on one weekend with a whole heap of others.
The last book I read cover to cover was The Great Gatsby when I was sick last year.
As for an opening line for a short – I’ll share the opening line of my Fourth Fiction Novella and see where you would go with it.
“There’s two heart beats,” she said looking up, grateful the darkess masked the fear and confusion on her face.