Exercises writing course 2024

Original ways to begin a story – In Media res

Teacher: Annelore Hermann

Theme: beginning in the middle of the action

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Felling

The kettle whistles for two minutes and fifteen seconds before my father realises this and makes his way to the kitchen on slipper-heavy feet to turn off the stove-top. Steam clouds the window, still dripping with morning condensation. Sunday croissants are burning in the oven.

It’s nearly 11 – time drags on the days that we have breakfast together as a family. And besides that, Sundays taste terrible. It’s the taste of pyjamas worn too long, teeth left unbrushed, homework piling up, anxiety piling up and burnt croissant crumbs piling up on the breakfast table, which is left uncleared until well into the afternoon.