Homework - Characters

Your character is in an art gallery, examining paintings when suddenly he or she becomes dizzy. They discover themselves inside the painting, having to cope with whatever situation is depicted there.

Favourite shoes: Office
Favourite clothes: Betty Jackson
Attitude to tarot reading: for
Most feared object: spiders
Worst memory: the death of her father from a heart attack

God, its hot in here. Haven't they ever heard of air conditioning. Where is the curator, when I need him, this is ridiculous, I paid good money for this exhibition.

Oh, look at that. Bit, more cheerful than her usual efforts, let me get closer as there is no one around. Well, I really am, feeling most peculiar, there are colours flashing around me and what is that noise? Sounds like a bird.

Hello, did you know that you look very much like Frida Kahlo?

Frida, raised her eyebrow, took a drag of her cigarette and said in a heavily accented voice, 'I would hope so'.

What's going on, where's the gallery, what is this hot dusty place, did I pass out. How did I get here?

'Well you did kind of appear out of nowhere. What exactly are you doing in my courtyard? Are you one of Deigo's floozys?'

'Good lord no, I'm a huge fan of yours, not so much a fan of Diego, although I do like a good mural. I'm not sure how I got here, I must have been overcome by the heat.'

'I'm not surprised, wearing all that black. Here, use that chair and I will go and get you some water.'

I sit in the chair, feeling sleepy, my eyelids close. 'Miss? Miss? Are you ok?' The curator is shaking me.

'Yes', I gasp. In the distance I can still hear the parrots.

Homework - Modern Red Riding Hood, prose

Keira thought that Mr Moran, Bob, was great

She rested her elbows dreamily on her desk and sighed

It was,

the best lesson of the day.

She saw him after class, excited, and proud

Singled out, she smiled, rapt at his attention

He was,

curious and interested about her.

Keira divulged her dreams, she thought, were shared

They kissed, sealing her fate

Her future,

was swallowed by his actions.

Therapy helped, she clawed her way back from inside her head

Hopes and fears regrown

Bob, banished

never to return.

Homework - stripper in strange land

Stripper who falls asleep in a remote cave while hiking. They watch the evening star which seems unusually bright. When they wake, they discover themselves on an alien landscape, and there seems to be some sort of conflict going on around them

'Shit its hot', Sophie said to herself. She started the climb down into the canyon as the Vegas dessert heat radiated off all of the surfaces.

She hadn't slept much. She had been so determined to get up and see some of her day off. Spending the whole week in the dark, working nights, was no good for her. She may be a high class stripper, but there was no glamour. Her only pride was in that she had not succumbed to the seeder sides of that lifestyle.

Reaching the bottom of the canyon, she searched for some shade. Other dessert hoppers posting maps, routes and shelter on the internet. You could never be sure who was a credible source though. She always emailed the details to her friend. The instructions being that if she did not reappear, that the police should be contacted.

She was in luck this time. She found the cave. The perfect place for a spot of tea. She was ravenous from her climb, and had come well prepared with food as fuel. She wolfed down her bucket of pasta and started to feel a little sleepy.

Although aware that she should start back to keep the dusk on her side, the hours she kept were creeping up on her. She looked at the stars, they were very bright tonight. One especially seemed nearly surreal, and was accompanied by two others which twinkled in and out of existence. She felt her eyes close, it couldn't hurt.

She woke up feeling disorientated. Everything felt and sounded the same but there was a purple glow coming from the mouth of the cave. She wondered if there was a canyon party going on. A crazy Vegas treasure trail.

She stood up and walked outside. It was night time, but the purple glow was so strong that it lit up the landscape. The glow was centred around a moon. Big and bright. It was complimented by two smaller moons which were rotating around it slowly, but perceptibly.

Sophie slapped herself round the face. 'What the hell!' Unfortunately, she was awake, and it appeared that she wasn't in Kansas, or Vegas, any more.

There was some wind, and it carried the sound of war and bloodshed. She wasn't keen to go towards this sound of chaos, but, it was the only sound of civilisation she could hear. She started to climb the canyon.

Climbing was easier in this purple night. It was cooler and she made good progress. She headed towards the noise and was surprised to see that it came from a single building, seemingly architecturally alone. I suppose she should have been surprised by the bloody big blue dragon that was breathing blue fire at the buildings inhabitants. However, it was so out of her realm of understanding that it took her a while to realise the reality of her situation.

The people in the building were shooting arrows inconsequentially at the dragon. Suddenly, she wished the dessert plain wasn't quite so plain.

There was one of those moments. Like being a stranger walking into a locals pub where everyone turned to look at her. Including the dragon. Luckily, going down a gear to blue smoke as it turned its head.

The dragon, who had, as dragons do, been looking for a damsel in distress, changed target very quickly. It scooped her up and off they went towards the purple moons. Sophie couldn't take any more and passed out.

When she came to, she realised she was lying on the floor of a cave similar to the one she had started off in. Blocking her way though was the afore mentioned bloody big blue dragon. Pretending to be unconscious still she studied it. Its scales, were a brilliant gleaming blue. It was such a beautiful creature. She nearly forgot to be scared, especially as she say a glistening tear in its eye.

Trying not to draw attention to herself she crept towards the creature. She wanted to do something non threatening to make the dragon feel at ease. There wasn't much she could do apart from dance. Six nights a week she did that. Whilst aware of her precarious position and the size of the dragons claws, she visualised the music in her head and started a seductive, slow dance.

The dragon, if dragons can, looked quizzical. She continued, deciding that anything was better than angry dragon. She continued, edging closer to the dragon until she felt sure that it wouldn't hurt her. She felt an irresistible urge to touch it, and she finally gave in. She put her hand on the highest point she could reach, between throat and belly, and gave it a stroke.

The dragon started rumbling, she snatched her hand away and was just about to retreat when she realised that the dragon was purring. She stroked the dragon again and continued until she started to feel sleepy. She could see the dragon getting sleepy too, but, it was more than that. She could feel the dragon getting sleepy, in her head, like she was experiencing it too. It was overwhelming, and for the second time that day she passed out.

She awoke to find her spirit soaring, she realised there was no land around her and she was tucked up inside the dragons claws. She could feel its emotions, its elation, its freedom. It was inspiring, this natural happiness was something she had never been able to attain. They touched down in the dog walking area of the park round the back of her house. She climbed out from its claws and kissed the middle of its palm. A tear fell down the dragons face again.

'Don't cry dragon', Sophie whispered. You have given me a great gift of spirit and fire and I won't waste it. Please don't be lonely. Why don't you try and break free from tradition and befriend the dwellers of whatever land it was we were on.

The dragon purred and started to fill up its belly with smoke. She waved goodbye as it took to the skies, until it disappeared around the one yellow moon which she was more familiar with.

Who am I?

Alice in Wonderland at a Cy Twombly exhibition

Who on earth has scribbled on that wall, what's going on? Highly suspicious, I should say. And, why is that wall so many shades of green? Curiouser and curiouser. I must have been at those magic mushrooms again.

Its so busy in here. People are talking in snooty voices, like they were Kings and Queens. Why are they all so pleased with themselves. I must be dreaming. They mover round the room like they are at a Mad Hatters tea party.

Someone has drawn a line over there with numbers on. Like my school ruler. If I were to draw a line that would people come and stare at it? Maybe they would. Oh, if only I could wake up, I would give it a go.

Where are they all off too? I shall follow. Oh look, its a piece of wood with a real nail in. It looks like it could cause an injury. Its been painted white though. Does that mean something? Would it mean something more in a different colour?

That couple over there look ever so alike. Like Tweedledum and Tweedledee. They are both far to busy disagreeing with each other to pay attention to anything else. This room makes me feel disagreeable too.

If only I could click my heels and go home. But then, that would make me a different fictional character altogether.

Week 3 creative writing course

Character and crime
Character: Women who has been abducted by aliens, but no one believes her
Crime: Possession of illegal substances

'I didn't put it there', she cried, 'I haven't been in possession of my own mind since a week last Sunday, so how can I be held responsible', she told the policeman.

'Anything in my pockets isn't my own, especially that illegal substance anything, you see, I was abducted by aliens and I only came back yesterday.'

'That old chestnut', said the Sergeant, 'It wasn't me, it was the little green men. Why don't you tell me what really happened?' he leaned forward in his chair.

'I can see you're a nice suburban sort, admit it. Its out of character. You'll get off with a caution or a fine. You are only making it worse for yourself.'

'But its true', she said, 'I was having my tea and all of a sudden there was a flash. I came round and I had missed a whole week, it was Monday and I was wandering the streets with drugs in my pocket.

'How did you know I was going to be there? Is it a conspiracy? Did they tip you off? Do I know too much? Except, I know too little. I can't remember.'

She looked confused and the Sergeant looked bored. He spoke into the telephone in the room. 'Better get a doctor', he said.