Author commentary on stories featured on my Freely Written podcast in January 2024: Splitting Hairs and Clockwork.
At the end of each month, I’ll shed some light on my writing adventures.
If you’re new to Freely Written, this podcast offers very short stories written from a chosen prompt with no planning and very little editing. These stories are an exercise in letting go of perfection and embracing spontaneous creativity. You may even be inspired to write a story of your own!
Episodes are released every other Tuesday and are around 10 minutes long. Listen with your favorite podcast app or from the links below!
Ep. 106 – Splitting Hairs – January 9, 2024
Listen first to avoid spoilers! Find the story here: Splitting Hairs
The prompt for this story came to mind while driving to get a haircut. My stylist liked the phrase, so I went for it. As usual, I had to idea what I would write.
The story begins with a family gathering. Maybe because it hasn’t been long since Christmas and its thoughts of family festivities. The vague idea of a cozy mystery also came to mind. Or a quirky mystery? For some reason, a detective appeared in the opening paragraph of my a family gathering. Fun! I then immediately second-guessed squeezing a mystery into a 10-minute story. Especially with no planning for what the mystery would be!
But why else would a detective be here? Aha! The idea of an off-the-clock detective being pressed into action during a meet-the-family situation hit me. Still having no idea of the plot, I leaned into character description with a little confusion over who would sit where. That bought some time, but I needed more action. Enter a scream from the kitchen.
That scream needed to lead to a frivolous infraction that could be taken too seriously, letting me play with family dynamics. As my mind started laying out the pieces of the so-called crime, I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to be writing to a prompt! Ack! Enter the conversation about what constitutes a crime, giving Mom a chance to accuse them of splitting hairs. Phew. A stretch? Maybe, but I worked in the prompt, wrapped up the family drama, and managed to bring it back to the prompt in the end!
Ep. 106 – Clockwork – January 23, 2024
Listen first to avoid spoilers! Find the story here: Clockwork
I have a thing for clockwork gears. They show up in my dreams and doodles. Yet Clockwork hasn’t been a podcast prompt… until now.
In my mind, this story was going to begin with a detailed description of the inner workings of a clock. Writing the first sentence, I remembered that I don’t know how a clock works and this is a free-written story where I don’t take the time to research things like that. Sigh. We get an abbreviated hint at the clock’s movement as I shifted to the look of the clock, which includes the introduction of Gustav.
Viewing the shop from the perspective of a little man who lives in a cuckoo clock was a classic creative writing exercise. Limitations can help you narrow your focus, pushing you to create in new ways. As Gustav moves on his little curved track, he cannot move his wooden head. He can only describe what is immediately before him. Which, or course, had to include a glimpse of a beloved wooden girl emerging from her clock at the same time.
The rest of the story, including Gustav’s memories of the shop and his anticipation over seeing Giselle, seemed to write itself. Free writing is often like that for me. I get into a flow of ideas and the words simply flow out. Of course, a story like this isn’t perfect. Writing without planning and sharing without editing leads to a raw, unpolished story. Yet, it doesn’t diminish the joy of creating it.
Have a suggestion for a future writing prompt? Let me know! If your prompt is chosen, I will give you credit in the episode.
Until next time, try a little free writing of your own. Let go of any planning and see where your imagination takes you!