Finding your Form

Writing in a literary form, be it haiku or sonnet, may look difficult or appear to be too much of a constraint. In fact it’s often something you can learn, and get better at with practice. And something magical happens In the process of writing in a poetic form: while the writer concentrates on structural matters like rhyme, or syllable count (which in itself can be a good distraction from mental health problems), the creative unconscious is freed to come up with all sorts of interesting phrases and ideas.

Alex came to the group for the first time this week, with a published book of poetry to his name, and several notebooks full of work he’d recently written, including his first ever sonnet:

Summer Air

How do I find my way from here

seeking and searching for the light

far from this never-ending fight?

I retire to the bar and have a beer.

My brain‘s awash with useless fear.

I walk like a refugee of the night

looking for an oasis of delight.

The poet’s pen writes words of fear.

A song floats in the summer air.

I rise and sing the chorus line.

The sun shines brightly on this song,

makes you stand up from your chair.

I drink your health with glass of wine.

Time will come, it won’t be long.

Alexander Shand Hudson

The song is another literary form. Alex wrote this one on the morning of the workshop, and we look forward to hearing the guitar accompaniment he composed.

The Sun Shone Down My Way

The days were long and lonesome

the nights were cold and grey

my life felt oh so loathsome

then the sun shone down my way.

My heart was full of grieving

it found no place to stay

my thoughts were all for leaving

then the sun shone down my way.

And the light shines down so brightly

all through the cold stone clay

the truth is felt so clearly and the

sun shines down my way.

Through heaven, hell and slumber

and nights that blow away

through stormy days of thunder

the sun shines down my way.

I walk through this world in silence

my thoughts are far away

no need for hate or violence

the sun shines down my way.

Alexander Shand Hudson

In the Beginning

It’s now a few months since the Creative Writing project started.

There was a ‘Festive Breakfast ‘ launch just before Christmas 2018, followed by an introductory series of workshops in winter-spring 2019 where we tried different approaches to creative writing, and explored different takes on the theme of Survive and Recover, defining and refining this as we went along.

As Claire wrote:

Life takes so much out of you that you need to learn how to survive and recover.

The input of others in the early stage of your existence can appear loving but in real terms can be very deceptive. Just surviving can take all your energy and the remainder of your life.

And Andy reflected:

Well now, let me see, is my mind working the way it should?

Well let me tell you, there's days when my mind has a Laurel n Hardie moment,

that's the days that I never plan ahead or think things through,

which is quite often.

Well now, let me see the days that I do plan ahead

and think things through

it certainly doesn't seem or feel like a Laurel n Hardie moment.

Creative writing is one way we can make sense of our lives, past and present. It can be both a tool for exploring issues and difficulties, and a means of distraction from them.

This blog contains participants ‘ responses to the exercises we do in the workshops, using existing poems and texts, pictures, or music as starting points; responding in our own words to the Erskine building and local environment . . . or just writing down the name of a topic on a blank sheet and seeing where it takes us . . .

In the first session we thought about ‘why write’, building on proven techniques from Victoria Field, and Lapidus Scotland's Larry Butler, and then took the following starting points:

I come from. . .

I’m going to . . .

I write from. . .

Why writing?

Writing is what I perceive to be one of my stumbling blocks.

I can verbally articulate what I want or need to say most of the time.

I need to explore the untold depths within, without the conscious brain getting in the way.

To write openly from the heart: what's in the heart or on the heart.

The inner you??

The feelings, emotions, will - aspects of life itself, our moods whether the situation is good or bad.

I come from a place of ignorance, a place of not knowing, a place of darkness and emptiness.

As I travel along I slowly amass experiences bringing me to a crossroads of familiarity with other travellers and explorers.

Each little lightbulb moment takes me onto a firmer foothold along my journey, filling me to fullness of understanding me my surroundings and the workings of the world.

Once full I start the process of emptying to learn all anew.

I am going to search and stumble, scream and shout, listen and learn, hold and release, move and stay still, hope and despair, laugh and cry.

I am going to live and die.

(Claire)

I'm going to do God's work in the not too distant future. I was baptised on the 30th June 2016. It has always been in my mind and heart to help people. I was imprisoned for a period of 8 years and released in 2014. As time went by I had to get a grip on my own life before I could help someone else's!

(Andy)

CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE ONCE MORE

I’m going to…

Get out my bed and have…

Coffee…walk ‘round the corner…

Catch the 5 bus…

I get dropped off at James Street…

N walk through the Kings Gate…

Went into Poundland tae purchase

A phone cable…I am still able to

Walk to my motor, Parked

At the Glen…opposite the ‘Tavern’

Where I was playing last night…

John Ward Music…a band from Lowestoft

Their playing wis gid…at half time I

Bought raffle tickets…no joy…

I sang ‘Pub With No Beer’…

Crowd sang along…

That wis last night n this is today

Picked up Toyota Yaris n drove…

All the way to old Erskine Church

‘Yes U Are’…brought my guitar…

Had some food…ever so good…

Met all the people’s writing

With Helen, Mark n John n all…

Facebook pages run through…

The brain…easing the strain…

Freeingup space in my brain…

I rest my case

N finish this piece…

It’s good being alive…

Good to survive…

Connecting with people

Once More.

(ALEXANDER SHAND HUDSON)

Why Writing?

I write things down…

To get stuff out of my system

Making sense of the...

Indescribable…Chaos…

Things become clearer…

Changes can be made…

At any time…A record…

Of what I’ve been through…

‘A day in the life’…

A poem a thought an idea

A creation…a map for

Future plans and goals…

A letter to friends or family…

A job application…

A way of navigation

A picture with words

Song lyrics…poetry…

Story telling…nightmares

Dreams…good bad and ugly…

It’s raining outside…

Well that is wonderful…

At least we have plenty water

( Alexander Shand Hudson)

Still Connected . . .

We took two more approaches to writing on the CONNECTED theme: firstly, word-games or acrostics on the word connected itself; and secondly, writing following a relaxation and Mindfulness exercise.

This is an acrostic made up of words supplied by Laura, Matt, Frances and myself:

Community, casual, cuddle

Open, online, others, one-to-one or one-to-many

Need, needed, network, networking

Next, new, nurture, necessary

Engage, entertain, enjoy, ease,

Care, console, calm, creative

Talk, think, ties, trips

Exceptional, experience

Dependable, dedicated

Here is a poem Matt wrote immediately after the relaxation exercise. It shows both how a relaxed state can be difficult to achieve, and how the mind can creatively associate when you're not 'trying' to write:

Unable to stop or take stock,

shaking body will not be stopped.

Breath shallow but slow.

Can't close eyes.

Senses become senseless.

Can't follow or even listen.

Grey words strew the ether.

Forget.

Remember.

Relaxing is a lifetime away.

Coal face looms straight up and above

its crest lost in the mist.

I can't move.

Rooted.

Held captive by my own space.

Frozen lips barely apart.

I am alone.

But I cannot stay

cannot miss

cannot deviate.

I swear with eyes brimming

I will, I will, I will

Some lies are best left undiscovered.

Some truths lie side by side.

I must turn away

let the sun fall where it may.

My footfalls seem so distant to me.

I'm sorry it has to be this way.

And here is a piece of flowing prose from Laura:

Walking slowly, measuredly, putting one foot in front of the other, she walked down to the river bank, down to the very edge, where the water lapped at the verge. Although she couldn’t see it, the smell of wild garlic permeated the air. She breathed in deeply. On her left hand side was a glorious array of purple bluebells, their heads winking gently in the breeze. And on her right hand side, the river, gleaming and sparkling with the rays of the sun. She threw in a stick and watched with content as the river carried it gently all the way to the bend and out of sight.

Frances wrote the following on the theme of CONNECTED:

A Walk with Dad

I never got a walk with dad as he'd always had mum, three sisters and a brother, toddlers and babies all together.

If I were to change it, it would be me holding just dad's hand, walking in the meadows - what precious time that would be, all the care & thoughts on me. Sweets, picnic, play - just us.

Writing Prompts

1. Make your own acrostic - on connected or ay other word you like.

2. If you do relaxation exercises - by listening to a download or CD, or other medium - or practice yoga, or take any other form of exercise, try writing immediately following this.

Does your writing in this state differ from when you just sit down at your keyboard or put pen to paper, or when you try a more 'cerebral' exercise like the acrostic one? How?

Post your responses in the Comments box!