“Someone out there is also looking at the same stars and moon I am looking at now.”
Have you heard this before? Write something about your affair with the moon.
This is your writing prompt number 4.
Just like some other people, I love to stare at the moon when it comes in the late evening.
It is calming, gentle, and breathtaking. I feel deeply connected with it because it offers me a complete relaxation and a source of tranquility and ethereal stillness.
And it’s a love affair. It comes every night, wherever I am, to give me light where there is ultimate darkness.
Image by: NicePng.com/moonlight
Now, let me share with you mine.
Here’s an excerpt from my work-in-progress romance novel, “Thinner than Water“.
This is what Russell said to Viven …
“I once had a love affair with the moon. A star fell on my hand, and it glittered like a big diamond. Then the moon told me, ‘I give it to you to light up your paths.’ She kissed me and whispered, ‘If you wanted to see me, just lookup. I will always be on the other side looking at you too.’ When I opened my eyes, she was gone.”
The house is clean, dishes are done, dinner is cooked, so what’s next?
Over the years, you have accustomed yourself doing these routines daily. This is your weekend, but you are stuck with household chores.
You thought about the years – those years you put in towards working to make a living. It was a job that you dreaded sometimes, but you have to get up in the morning and go to work. No matter what your job is about, it paid your bills, your mortgage, and sent your children to school.
You found it hard to balance your priorities between work, family, and doing the job you like to do.
Just like everybody else, you chose family first, and you got yourself doing something you never enjoyed.
Your children are all grown-ups now, but sometimes you feel like you are too old to do anything anymore.
So, what if you are now in your 40’s, 50’s, or in your 60’s. Does it really matter how old you are when it comes to pursuing that dream of writing a book one day?
Are you still stuck on that chair contemplating what it would have been like if you pursued that dream?
Or, perhaps you are still wrapped up with the idea that the right time and opportunity will come. One day maybe, but not today!
That day is NOW.
You reached the prime of your life, your golden years. Everybody deserves something better – YOU, me, and the entire human race.
The opportunity that you have been waiting for has come. Right NOW, TODAY. It wouldn’t knock on your door. It is already there waiting. You need to take the necessary action and do what you have been waiting for a very long time.
This is the moment in your life to be the person you wanted to be and what you always wanted to do.
Write that book. You have so much wisdom to share.
Peel off the old YOU because it’s time for you to shine.
Do not focus on your age. It is just a number and be proud of it. The higher the number goes, the greater the experience and maturity you have within you.
You have so much to offer because your experiences are your lessons. You passed those lessons, and you learned from it, so it’s time to share it and let everyone learn from you.
Okay, I listened to what everyone was saying. I’ve been reading a lot, especially in the genre I want to write. I also read anything I could get my hands to like catalogues in my mailbox and old local papers that were left in the shop’s windows. There are stories and countless advice on the internet too. I’ve learnt to keep a pen and papers handy in case I need them.
After all these preparations, I started wondering what to write and where I should get those bits and pieces of ideas for my story. I was like a tradie equipped with tools but no place of work to go.
So, I went surfing. The “net” is very friendly and has so much to share. Some said I could get ideas just by simply listening in to people talk. Anywhere – in the bus, train, shopping centre, at the coffee shop, or even eavesdrop on people talking on their mobile phones. People speak too loudly while on their mobile phones. Don’t they irritate you sometimes?
I tried the train. It was easy and not very much people use the train after peak hours. After moving around seats and looking for the right spot, I finally found one near the window. A couple sitting behind me were talking to each other. Perfect! It was true, there were nuggets of ideas you could get from people like the words they say, or even what they were talking. So, I took my pen out and my notebook ready.
I pressed myself close to the back of my seat so I could hear them very well. They even whisper but I managed to pick some words, so I started jotting them down one by one.
For me to understand them very well, I closed my eyes, trying to listen very carefully on what they were saying. I wanted to capture every word, every pause, and even their breathing.
What I didn’t realise was, two young girls sat in front of me. They giggled and commented that I was probably so tired, I fell asleep writing notes. I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep. I want to hear everything they were saying about me.
They argued that I was either a teacher or a reporter, or if not, I am a train inspector. Gosh! Really? Then, they started to pick on my looks. They talked about my make-up. Funny, girls always look at the make-up first before anything else. (I wonder what boys look at first, hmm!)
There was total silence after that.
Suddenly, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder, and a tall guy in blue asked me which station I was getting off. Apparently, it was the last station. I looked around, and there was no one except me. Before I got off, he commented, that I was probably very tired, I fell asleep writing notes. Really? Did I? Has it been that long?
It was a long ride back home, but I still have my pen and notebook with me. This time, I was writing down everything I heard and everything that I could remember from those girls. There was some funny stuff, and I giggled too, especially how they argued about it. There were a few slang words that I did not understand, but I could check them out with my children.
I realised that I could find ideas for my book anywhere, even by just looking at myself in front of the mirror.
I could also cultivate story ideas from my spontaneous trip and experience at the train.
If we know where and how to gather information, we will never run out of materials to write.
Sometimes, hanging out with people, even any brief interaction to strangers can give us tons of ideas for our writing project.
Don’t forget too that good old newspapers we used to love to read. It still provide us buckets of information about the daily happenings and incidents in our community.
And lastly, check your favourite book. There maybe a chapter or passages that you like so much, and write down what made you love that story. Use it to come up with your own materials for your story.
My writing journey was not easy and was not hard either, but there were so much to learn and a few things to laugh about.
It wasn’t all hard work, but with a little bit of funny stuff on the side as well. All in all, dedication, tons of imaginations, and commitment kept me from doing what I love to do most.
I am not done yet, but I am learning so much.
So, till next time. I’ve got to catch the bus this time. Fingers crossed, I’ll try not to fall asleep again.
Ninagracia 