The Prompt
I rarely veer into politics when creating writing prompts, but recent events have caused me to reconsider what motivates, manages and encourages the war machine, so this week’s prompt invites each reader/writer to consider what happens when neighbours conflict.
Have you ever noticed that often it’s neighbours who go to war, whether it’s locally, nationally or globally. Each party takes a side and invites others to join them in their interpretation of the conflict. But we don’t have to take a side, and Charles Eisenstein’s recent essay, Moving Beyond Two Sides-ism, challenges the narrative that says we are either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on which side we happen to have chosen. This simplistic narrative assumes that everything is always black and white and that to consider a broader perspective and nuance is somehow ‘failing your side.’
Take two characters who are broadly similar, generally. This might be where they live, what they do, or their lifestyles, for example. Invent a personal, local, national or global conflict. Each character must have an opinion, and your task is to create a piece of dialogue to find out more.
‘Tom.’ I waited a beat so he could stop what he was doing and give me his attention.
‘Tom.’ I repeated his name, and finally, he acknowledged my presence.
‘What do you want?’
His attempt at sullen almost worked, and I was half about on my heels before I checked myself; walking away was no answer and would just add fuel to the argument.
I smiled, nicely, I hoped, but I couldn’t be sure. It had already gone too far, and I was all done with smiles.
‘Tom.’ I hesitated, and he looked at me expectantly. I was unsure how to begin, how to admit my part in the mess we had co-created.
‘Can I buy you a coffee?’
His look was full of contempt. ‘If you must. But it won’t do no good you know. I’m still taking this all the way.’
I nodded wearily and made my way to the counter to place my order.
Sliding into the seat opposite him, I laid my hands on the table and asked the question I’d been dreading hearing the answer to. ‘Tom, what did I do to upset you so much?’
He looked surprised, flustered almost, looking around the cafe as if searching for a suitable answer.
Our drinks arrived, and he took a sip, nodding at me as if to say thank you.
‘Well, I can’t rightly remember all the details right now, but it were the pots you see. The ones you planted up at the village hall.’
‘The pots? But that was months ago, what about the pots?’ My confusion must have been apparent, and for the first time, his face lightened just a little around his eyes.
He swallowed, cleared his throat. ‘You didn’t ask, you just did it. No by your leave nor checking with no one.’
‘The ones full of weeds, those pots?’ I experienced a sudden dawning, and lowering my voice, I asked, ‘Were they something to do with Amy?’
He nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise.’
‘You never do, that’s the problem. You just take over and never ask anyone why things are the way they are.’
‘Oh.’ I didn’t know what else to say.
‘The village needs people like you, young blood like. But not to take over, not to overturn everything that’s gone before, not to ignore the rest of us.’
‘Okaaay.’ I drew the word out, thinking hard and fast. ‘What could I, should I have done differently?’
‘Well, coffee’s gone a long way to getting started.’ He grinned.
I couldn’t help smiling back. ‘Would you like another so we can chat?’
The Hysteria Writing Competition is in full swing for its eleventh year. This year, there is NO theme, so you can write about almost any subject under the sun (the exceptions are erotica and horror). As usual, there are categories for flash fiction, poetry and short stories. All short-listed entries will be published in the anthology, Hysteria 11, and category winners will be offered a publishing contract with Crystal Clear Books and a £75 cash prize. To enter, head over to the website www.hysteriawc.co.uk or click the image below:
With love, light, and laughter
Linda
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