I Received an Honourable Mention in Class

I am into my third week of the F2K creative writing course run by Writers' Village University. I love the fact I am in the Jane Austen classroom. It is name only but it feels good.


I am following a free, six week novel writing course. For me it is being able to join in with a group of writers. We have to give and receive feedback. Many have dropped out already but I am still in for the ride. This week I found I had received an honourable mention in the site's ezine competition. The exercise was for senses. We were given eight. We had to write eight sentences and one paragraph with all senses in 500 words or under.

1. Sound
2. Sight
3. Smell
4. Space
5. Touch
6. Taste
7. Time
8. Unknown

This is my entry.


Part I

1. The recipe called for garlic, basil and caramelised onions

2. It was served with a green salad, tomatoes and yellow peppers on a white porcelain platter.

3. Bitter lemon juice was added to the dressing for that added bite, a true Mediterranean sensation.

4. Chef was furious with the overdone steak, totally the fault of his right hand man for taking a cigarette break.

5. The waitress scuttled in, summoned by the impatient hitting of the order bell.

6. Noticing a party were struggling around their table, she moved them to another.

7. Undecided on what they wanted for dessert , they left it to her to surprise them.

8. At the end of the evening she kicked off her shoes and rubbed her sore toes.


Part II

My very first task on my first day on the farm, was to scrub clean the kitchen. Not sure what I would find I lifted the latch and stepped inside an enormous room. Six months of neglect was evident when I ran my finger along the dusty shelving. Old boots kicked into a corner were caked in fresh dung from the stye indicating it was time to open a window. Finally a well deserved hot sweet cider was called for, and as the hiss from the poker hit the liquid I relaxed knowing my job was complete.


We then had to read a passage from the  James Joyce novel, 'A Little Cloud', and find all senses in as few a sentences as possible.

Part III


He chose the darkest (sight) and narrowest street (space) and, as he walked boldly forward, the silence that was spread about his footsteps troubled him, the wandering, silent figures troubled him; and at times (time) a sound of low fugitive laughter (sound) made him tremble like a leaf.(fear of unknown)


A trifle made him blush at any time: and now he felt warm (feel) and excited. Three small whiskies (taste) had gone to his head and Gallaher's strong cigar (smell) had confused his mind, for he was a delicate and abstinent person.


I found the exercise rewarding. If ever I am stuck for a writing trigger I will try it out on a novel from my shelves. I was inspired by the strong cigar sense to write down something for The Man in Room Eighteen.