Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER
The first time I saw a lighter explode was at a fireworks display at a Guy Fawkes’ bonfire when I lived in Edinburgh, 1996-2008, at our mates’ allotment. It was a rather larger one than the wee pink BIC lighter that sits on table in front of me. I wonder about little BIC’s history? What stories could or, would!, it tell about Dev’s party life? Was it there lighting her ciggies when she was reflecting on the quality of the gallery lighting, endeavouring to impress?
On the back of my wee pink BIC lighter is a warning not to keep it lit for more than 30 seconds- that would be rather ambitious one might think- would it have the puff to last 30 seconds? Or would you burn your fingers by then cos it is so wee, hence the warning?
I wonder who invented the lighter- an American? My childhood memory from tele is that old men on US tele shows (black and white of course), were always lighting up with a really! big ,ball-shaped, fist-fitting, fancy lighter… Hmmm, I wonder how long BIC has been making these lighters, and where? Forever and probs China ….
A small cup of tea would be delicious right now. I can feel the warmth of the tea as I move the cup towards my mouth, and I can taste the delicious peppermint tea and I gently and slowly swallow to savour the taste and pleasure. I wonder if my little pink BIC lighter would be able to keep my tea warm,….., nah, perhaps I’ll just use it to light my cigar (Cuban Cohiba, of course)….
A change of course of thought brings me to the history of fire- well! How surprising! I know nothing apart from the rubbing of two sticks together! That leads me to thinking that the “History of Fire” would be a fantastic Mastermind Specialist topic. Note to self- park that idea- it might need yeast…….
What is that smell? Is it my flesh burning from the wee pink BIC lighter being lit for more than 30 seconds- thankfully, no, just a car-backfiring!… Is there a joke somewhere there? (Park, actually abandon!)
And so I’m thinking of my little pink BIC lighter lying alone on the table. I’m back to wondering what stories you would tell about the people you’ve been hanging out with, is there a book there? And as I look around the table of my cohort, who will actually get going on their writing whatever that is: poetry, blogging, novella, novel, whatever form writing takes, will Barny write his environmental crime thriller about political corruption- he so has a great plot! Will the Sci-Fi novels launch, and will Cathy pen her story about the feminist trade unionist? I hope so! I wonder who Dev thinks will graduate to writer not wait-er? Gunna to Dunna?
So,
- “Write the book you want to read”.
Alternatively:
- “Shit or get off the pot”! (… “Motivation follows Action” – whatever that be! ;))