Exercises from the Energheia Writing Course 2024

Hallo, my name is Inigo Montoya

Teacher: Tabea Hawkins (Energheia International Writing Course 2024)

Theme: Developing a character based on the image of a lighthouse

The start of your story

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Ada

She slides out of bed, joints protesting loudly, and leaves the sheets crumpled on the floor. She coaxes her arms up and into the sleeves of a woollen jumper, patched at the elbows. On any particular morning, she only eats what she feels like.

Living alone creates space for luxuries like these. This morning, it’s the thought herring from the box freezer and pickled cucumber and onion salad that makes her mouth water. She leans out of the window and inspects the hanging garden, constructed from pieces of driftwood and fishing wire.

Green shoots emerge from under a fertilizing layer of brittle seaweed and crystallised salt. She sniffs at the wind, loudly. Ada had said she would call today ad she’s just not in the mood. On her way to the box freezer, she flicks the phone off the hook.