Oh my goodness, so here it goes... Up until now I haven't featured any creative writing on this blog. Putting work out there for people to read can be pretty daunting, uncomfortable and difficult to get used to. It seems like sometimes these feelings double, triple or quadruple when it comes to creative writing. (That's not to say that non-fiction blogs or articles can't be creative, mind!) There's just something super vulnerable and personal about a story or poem - though there's also something super exciting about sharing them. I'm the type of person who reads a Facebook post five times over (even though most of the time it's only saying 'Happy Birthday') just to make sure that it's right and that I'm not going to embarrass myself. But sometimes I suppose you can overthink yourself into not pressing 'post' at all. This hesitancy and caution, in measure, is very healthy and wise, don't get me wrong. Too much of it, however, could have the potential to stop you from saying what you want to or sharing what you've made. I'm just going to post it. After an adequate amount of checking, reading and re-reading, here is a poem I wrote this week. (It's okay; I know you guys don't bite!) I'm not entirely sure what the title should be yet. Little birds blustering, flying on the breeze. Getting caught up by the gales, swept up and off their trees. Rustling and tumbling, they soar and then they fall, As though they're on a mission, and then hear somebody call. They don't flit or float or faff around, like this it may appear, But if you watch them closely, they follow what they hear. Determination and direction, fill their bodies, though paper-thin, You join with them mid-journey, never see where they begin. Glints of colour against the changing sky, but they stand out just enough, They assume perfect shapes like perfect specks, but close up are torn and rough. Some crinkled, cracked and worn away, others fleshy, waxy, new, All the same jumped up together, when the wind called them and blew. Who knows what their whispers and dances say, who knows where they all go? But they aren't wasting time as they waste away, whirling to and fro. In case you want a bit of background or are wondering what on earth I'm waffling on about, this poem came to me a few days ago in a beautiful barn in the middle of the countryside. I was surrounded by creative people who are part of a worship school. They were teaching/studying a course in songwriting, leadership and loving God. Outside it was a really blustery day and I saw leaves tumbling around in the wind. I guess these surroundings and observations influenced this poem.
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Hello again. It’s been a while. The past couple of weeks have been quite a contrast ‘blog-wise’ to the frequent posts and tweets of the Literature Festival. You’d think that there would have been a bit of calm, after the wonderful storm of talks, events and workshops. And I suppose that in some ways there has been. However, life has still remained very busy, in an un-busy sort of way. I’m finding it very confusing! Anyway, I have been thinking about this little pocket of the tinterweb, and wondering what I would like my blog to become, now that the Chester Literature Festival is over and done with for another year. What should I write about? What would you like to read? What theme? A location? How often? I suppose that the nice thing about this kind of writing is the freedom of not having to answer all these questions upfront, but instead just going for it and seeing what happens. So, I hope you enjoy reading whatever the results of my creative exploring and inquisition may be. This week, I got a sneak peek at the results of the creative exploration, hard work and dreaming of many people for many years. Kitted out in a rather dapper high-vis waistcoat, a Bob the Builder styled hard hat, and huge wellington boots that made me feel like a Mr Man, I had the privilege of looking around Chester’s new Storyhouse building. Due to open in May, you can clearly see how the building is taking shape, being transformed, and yet is firmly holding on to its vintage ancestor, the 1936 Odeon cinema. It will be a library, theatre, cinema, restaurant, cafe and rocket ship. (Okay, so the rocket ship bit isn’t exactly true, but the building seems to be doubling, tripling, quadrupling up as everything else. Besides, who knows where the storytelling room of the library could transport you – Saturn, Mars, the Moon?) The thing that really struck me on the tour was the fact that, even though there are currently loads of wires hanging from the roof, wooden planks underfoot, and a dusty film of building work all over, walking into the theatre part of the building still gave me that twinkling feeling of excitement. It was like when you climb the stairs and see the deep red curtains, find your seats, and not only hear, but feel the buzz of the orchestra tuning up and the audience milling around on an opening night. Standing there in the theatre, in the shell that is being brought to life, I could imagine and anticipate what’s to come. The many plays, the music, the dance and the community it will bring to Chester. I’m looking forward to it. Although, remind me, when I do go to watch something at the Storyhouse theatre for real in May, to wear something a little more glam; high-vis jackets just wash me out! Tickets are now on sale for performances starting in May. Go to https://www.storyhouse.com/ to book and have a look at what will be on.
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AuthorMegan Kate Chester Archives
June 2017
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