As a teacher and a writer the six-week break to me is golden.
It’s the time I can really get to grips with my writing, get a handle on the story and look at the piece as a whole as opposed to the micro view of an hour every day.
However, writing doesn’t just have to be for people who want to write stories, novels or poems – writing can be for everyone.
I challenge you over the course of the holiday to try at least one of these writing tasks. Do it on a scruffy notepad in the airport departure lounge, or on your phone on the ferry, or sat in the garden mid-way through a glass of Pimm’s.
None will take longer than twenty minutes. Try it and see what you think.
If you would like to share them with me please do, you can either leave it in the comments below or e-mail me directly (luke@lukerichardson.co.uk). I would love to read what you have written.
Five writing challenges for your holiday:
A moment of childhood happiness
It could be from a summer holiday similar to the one you may be on now. Write about one moment from your childhood where eveything was great. Just concentrate on the moment. Zoom in on some details and be specific. Who was there? Where was it? What were you doing? How old were you? What could you smell or hear or see?
Describe a place you love
Write a description of a place you feel, or have felt, completely happy and present. Just describe the physical location, not people or feelings. Your happiness will come through in your description. Focus on the details, allow your mind to roam, don’t worry if you can’t remember the details exactly – you are allowed to improvise and invent.
A person you love
Write a short paragraph about one thing or person you love. Why do you love it? What makes you love it? How does it feel to love it?
A difficult decision
Describe a difficult decision you’ve had to make. Try to picture it like an outsider looking in, use the third person if that helps (he or she rather than I). Describe the doubts that you had about making that decision, why was it so difficult? What was at stake? What did you finally decide and why?
Yourself in the future
Write a description of yourself in two years time. Think about where you would like to be, what you would like to be doing, what you’ll look like. Again do this as an outsider looking in. What will be the same and what will be different? Don’t think about something being unlikely or even impossible – if you picture yourself in a hilltop mansion, then that’s what you should describe.
Have a go this holiday – remember, you don’t have to be a writer to enjoy writing.
