Done & Dusted

It’s done. And now I’m very dusty. Having just spring cleaned/sprung clean by room.

I have already chucked out most of my degree research, doodles, odd-papers, trial books, drafts, essays, cut-offs, dead pens, crossed-off lists and am now the proud owner of 4 massive black bags of rubbish. I should throw them out but I’m not sure I have the courage to just yet. It scares me to think that so much money and time and tears have gone into getting to this point in my education, and now all it comes down to, is a few books, a few boxes of work and only a vague idea of where I want to go and who I want to be.

One day that revelation will come.

On the plus side, look how tidy my desk is…

The Final Push

So in 10 days time, my degree will be in the hands of my tutors and examiners and out of my hands. It’s okay!

Everything will be fine.

Chain Journey – The Story

MONDAY 16TH FEBRUARY // 08:40 Clapham, London.

Day One. Great start – Packed up the car, left home, all set to go… straight down a dead end into the Patmore Estate. Nice one. We’re going to Asda to get supplies for the whole journey – it’s a lot cheaper this way.

Singing “Ben, you’re always running here and there!” We’re listening to Amelie’s homemade ‘Pop Master’ CD. Oooooo this SEX is on FIRE.

Having spoken to my Dad in my fave place, (Destination No.1 – Pluckley, Kent) he tells us his favourite place is The Royal Geographical Society in London, so we’re going to tweak the chain a bit and head there first.

DESTINATION NO.2 – THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. // 10:00

At the front desk, we chat to Margaret (who knew my Grandad when he worked there a good few years ago) and Annette, who said we should meet David who also used to work with my Grandad in the map room, who is now the curator. He showed us around the RGS, and even took us down into the forbidden basement! We saw Scotts sledge that he took to the Antarctic, dried sealife and a lot of maps.

Lots of maps!

We went to the reading resources room where David showed us maps my Grandad had worked on. Over 2 decades, he came into the RGS, even after retiring as a volunteer to document all the data from over 10,000 copies of 6″ ordinance survey maps of the UK. Incredible. All his legwork is now being used for the basis of an online database. Incredible – I had no idea my Grandad had done this. It felt a bit like being on ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’.We were given a free map and a photocopy of my Grandads work. David’s favourite place is Chartwell, in Westerham, Kent.

DESTINATION No. 3 – CHARTWELL, KENT.

Having left the RGS, I called in advance to check if Chartwell was open. It was not. So I spoke to a girl named Phoebe who told me her fave place was Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire. We’ll go to Chartwell later on the return journey.

DESTINATION NO. 4 – KIRBY HALL, CORBY, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. // 15:30

Having used all my initiative calling Chartwell, it never occurred to me to call Kirby to make sure it was open too. So, with hindsight, turning up at the closed front gates 3 hours later, shouldn’t have been such a surprise. CLOSED DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS. I called English Heritage and got the hall’s number and spoke to a lovely lady called Beryl.
Never underestimate the power of this phrase -“Hi, I’m doing a project…” – as with this said, Beryl amazingly allowed us to wander down the long drive to the Hall entrance to ‘have a chat and take a few pics’. However, on meeting Beryl, she was more than just welcoming, picked up a bundle of huge keys and took us to the Hall, where she started a fantastic personal, private tour of the property and grounds!? AMAZING. Beautiful scenery and building. So nice to escape the city. Kirby Hall is half run down and half a home due to the previous owners, The Hattens, selling the roof to cover a gambling problem. Original floors and windows, and vast rooms which they now use for weddings. Beryl taught us how to identify the original glass from the fake ‘old’ glass.

We saw a peacock.

Beryl’s favourite place is Harlestone Firs, Harlestone. Should be about 45mins away…. we get lost. Have no idea where we are. Stop for cream eggs. Also stop at a pub and ask for directions.

“Northampton – It’s not picturesque by any means of the imagination!” – Amelie

DESTINATION NO. 5  – HARLESTONE FIRS, HARLESTONE, NORTHAMPTON // 17:50

Eventually find the forest. Its dark. Its cold. We’re tired. Tried to take photos but all the incredible trees were just silhouettes. They have a great presence. There is no one around. We are alone. This seems a bit dodgy. However, I can understand why Beryl likes the Firs, it is extremely peaceful but bewildering, I would love to go back and visit when I can actually see where I am.

We decide to visit the pub down the road. The Fox & Hound. We ask inside and speak to a gaggle of barmaids who reel off  a number of possible destinations. Chester? Rich footballer country? Stonehenge? Bournemouth beach? Bristol? An Australian girl, Michelle, loves Bath, and so, WE DRIVE.
Head out of Northampton, towards Oxford, through Swindon, then descend on Bath in the dark. It looks like we’re going into a scene from Lord of the Rings. So surreal! Fog, lights & darkness.

DESTINATION NO.6 – The Fair City of BATH // 20:45

WELCOME TO BATH. We try to find somewhere to stay. Drive through and around and over. Even in the dark the place looks wonderful. FINALLY after getting lost several times, we find a Travel Lodge. And a Hostel. And a Travel Inn/Holiday Inn/Express. Super lost. So funny. Parking on humps, dead-ends, reoccurring girls in pink tights, men with beards,  The Bath Tap bar! I want to sleep in the car but Amelie won’t let me. We check-in to Bath Waterside Travel Lodge to get a good nights sleep. EXHAUSTED.

TUESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY // 8:45

GOOD MORNING IN BATH! Day two. Awesome. We’re going to take things more slow today, so we have time to soak up places we visit and I can draw and document things properly.

“Police Community Support Officers? They think they’re BIG BUSINESS.”

We visit and walk around the city. Photos, drawings… go to Bath Abbey and see a hot builder guy. We go in the crypt and look at dead bodies underground. We light some candles. We go in the Guildhall Market and see funny teapots. We circle around The Circus in the car. Around and around. We look at the Baths, decide its too expensive, and leave. We see the Pump House and visit the Jane Austen Centre.  It feels like we’re on holiday, having a proper break exploring the city. Loving this accent too. The architecture is beautiful, the buildings are made out of grey stone and slate, such a lovely change and aesthetics compared to the redbrick of the South East. We find a Humbug Sweet Shop. Buy some fudge and meet a plumber inside who is fixing their sink. Neil says his favourite place is his home, Corsham, Wiltshire.

DESTINATION No. 7 – CORSHAM, WILTSHIRE. // 13:00

Corsham comprises of a tiny high street. With charity shops, ‘Your Granny’s Attic’ Shop. A cafe/pizzeria. A town hall with Chavs (there’s no escape). A couple of pubs. And a car park. Its very twee. There was also the most picturesque branch of HSBC I have ever seen. We find a Tourist Information Centre, where we are greeted by a lifesize stuffed model of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and two friendly Corshamites; Sandra & Trevor. They talk briefly about Corsham and advise us to go see Corsham Court next to the church. She then talks about her favourite place, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Sandra used to go to school near the abbey there. The locals say Shrews, the people who move there say Shrows. She also told us the town used to be on the border of Wales and so has two bridges, a Welsh bridge and an English bridge. And so after being plied with leaflets and historical information, we check out Corsham Court, see a herd of peacocks (they do get around) and depart towards Shrewsbury.

We get lost in Cirencester.

Here are some road/street/place names we saw along the way:
Birdlip.
Pickwick.
Cold Slag.
Prinknash.
Wigwig.
Cross Houses (funny mental image)
Gay Meadow.
Dogs Pole.
Burton Salmon.
Wangford.

Road Kill Count:
7 Badgers.
2 Foxes.
4 Birds.
2 Pheasant.
2 Rabbit.
6 Unidentified.

“We are HATERS… of INCINERATORS!” – BBC Gloucester Radio.

We stop at Frankley Services. I’ve been thinking. Where do the accents in the country merge? They seem to suddenly change everywhere we go. There must be a point somewhere in the country where the accents meet. An accent division? A meeting of North, South, East & West?

We are stuck on the M5 in traffic. It is closed between Junction 7 & 8. LONG TIME NOT MOVING. We play naughts and crosses. Such a long journey, winding around in the dark. Hilly, bet it is so lovely in the light though.

“We don’t want pie, or ale, or straw beds, but we do want similar” – Amelie on finding somewhere to stay in Shrewsbury.

DESTINATION No. 8 – SHREWSBURY, SHROPSHIRE. // 20:00

We drive around. And around. Again. We find a pub called Yee Olde Bucks Head Inn and settle in. We go exploring, walking around the town and find some fish & chips. £3.50. Bargain. Everyone seems friendlier up here. We go back to our room, munch, watch Traffic Cops on TV and fall asleep.

WEDNESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY // 09:00

Day Three! Drive around, park, walk about, down to the abbey. It’s closed. See fighting tramps and dogs in top hats (the tramps wore the hats, not the dogs, although that would have been cooler) We go into the Shrewsbury Regimental Museum, inside a castle. Again the magic phrase “Hi, I’m doing a project…” works a treat, and we find ourselves wandering *free* around the exhibition trying to find a warden to help us. Guns, and uniformed mannequins and battle paraphernalia. Memorabilia. We come to the exit and ask The Question and we’re immediately pinned to the spot by three passionate Shropshire historians. They want to send us to Tyneside. Hmmm…maybe not.
One old fellow especially, seems to be the worlds sole resource of military knowledge. We couldn’t move. All I remember from his impromptu history lesson was something about Pigs… Blitz Hill… Towers, moats, regiments… military… Darwin… battle… guns… Eventually we escape, we have to leave because the parking has run out due to the epic length of the museum lock-in. We’re driving around trying to find someone, accidentally take a wrong turn (as if this hasn’t happened before?!) and find a KWIK-FIT to check the tyres. In reception, I meet lovely David the Mechanic. I ask him The Question. He likes York. He says there are lots of good places to drink. Pubs. We should get drunk. It’s scenic. He used to be a coach driver so he knows a lot of lovely spots. Amelie is getting one-on-one mechanical engineering tuition on the car, tyres pumped, gauges checked. I chat and flirt. We are OFF TO YORK and with a *free* air freshener too! Before we set off we have a car wash and a vacuum (lots of sandwich and biscuit crumbs…)

We’re on the M6. York is far, far away. M6 Toll? And we have to pay £4.90. £4.90?! Ridiculous. Card in. Card out. Impressive.

Services. LITTLE CHEF. It had to be done. *FREE* lollipops.

DESTINATION No. 9 – YORK, YORKSHIRE. // 16:05

We get to York. KNACKERED MATE. I’m contemplating the project. Why? What is the point? Is there a reason to all this?…. No.

Pretty town. But it’s raining. After a detour to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming. We’re stuck in a traffic jam outside the Yorkshire Auction Houses. It seems that we are surrounded by the whole population of the Yorkshire Farming community.  4×4’s, tractors and trailers.

Thankfully the Tomtom guides us into town (I am still in two minds as to whether I think this bit of technology is pure genius or just plain evil, that and I have a steadfast loyalty to my AtoZ BRITAIN Road Atlas 2009).

We find parking. We find Fenwicks. We find vikings! I ask a viking The Question. His favourite place is York. Ask another Viking…. Ludlow… In Shropshire… Literally from whence we just came… Viking aren’t all they are cracked up to be.
We wander. We see the Dungeons, we see the Castle, and ask a castle lady. York AGAIN. York must be an amazing place? With all its rain and geese and Yorkshire men. We ask a flower woman. She hasn’t really travelled.

I feel disheartened and annoyed. We’re knackered. I want a break. There’s not time to explore and soak up the town. I feel strangely jet lagged. We discover a German market and buy sweeties. The parking runs out, everything is closing up. We drive. Decide to ask in pubs since that is where David the Mechanic said we should go.
I meet a cool barman, Thomas and his friend in a bar called Rumours. We chat and I ask them. They would like to send me to Penzance, Cornwall.

HA – I DON’T THINK SO.

So…. Blackpool? Should we/shouldn’t we. It’s destination number ten. We have run out of time, money and energy.
I hate these decisions. It’s a battle of whether to stick to the project and stay loyal to the system, or to use my artistic license, to slightly ease our situation. Amelie has driven us all this way and we are both close to tears. It’s too much, too rushed, and Blackpool, although isn’t too far from York, it is hugely far from home and tomorrow we would have to trek all the way back. Let’s make a compromise. I did technically find Amelie in york, so she can be Number 10!

“Amelie, as you have been sole chauffeur and fellow intrepid explorer with me over these last few days, where would you like to go? Where is your favourite place in England?”

And so, we drive SOUTH towards Southwold, Suffolk. We see strange things, like something out of War of the Worlds. Huge chimneys in the dark,  with lit up clouds of light pollution. The mood has changed, I can feel the project wrapping up and winding down. I feel relief. Things are happier and calmer. But tired. So very tired.

I realise this project is quite pointless. I want to add meaning. I would LOVE to do this again with more time and more money. Sponsors? British Tourism, Travel Lodge, BP…
Midnight, still on the road, WE NEED SLEEP. All the Travel Lodges are full. We stop 3 times. Redirected to another in Haughley Park, near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. PHEW. Collapse.

THURSDAY 19TH FEBRUARY // 09:30

Refreshed and ready to go! We’re driving through scenic Suffolk. Every town here seems to be a ‘Historic Market Town’. We are also stuck behind a very slow red Nissan Micra. We sing. We whistle.

DESTINATION NO. 10 – SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK. // 11:30.

We made it. Beautiful! Seaside, kids, families, sandcastles and The Pier. An amazing place with such a wonderful atmosphere. Everything here is simple. Life is simple. We walk along the beach, multi-coloured beach huts, and then along the pier reading the plaques on the railings. “In memory of…” People love this place so much and I can see why.

“I flew my kite and lost it here.” – plaque on the pier.

We go in a homemade amusement arcade. Strange, strange amusements. We go in an ‘alternative’ photobooth that blows air on you and flashes lights and makes the seat break under you every time a picture is taken. The reactions and expressions caught are fantastic!
We watch fishermen at the end of the pier and watch the sea. It’s so still you can’t see the horizon, it just blends into the sky. Walking into the small town, I see the lighthouse and the Adnam’s Brewery. The church. Quaint little shops. Families running around. It’s so, so simple and carefree here. We buy sausages in the butchers and also apple juice.

What kind of apple juice? “..Sweet, sweet sweet, dry sweet, medium sweet, medium dry sweet, dry medium, dry dry, sweet dry, medium dry sweet, dry sweet dry medium, extra medium dry sweet….??” – Lovely old Butcher

We buy fish and chips and sit on a pink beach cabin looking at the sea contemplating. What a great end to the chain, so glad that we came here.

I leave Southwold feeling satisfied but also slightly sad we’re leaving and going home. I’ll miss the chain.
We drive and drive into Essex. Stop at Chelmsford Services to Vacuum the rubbish that has lined the inside of the car all week. Popcorn. Crisps. Snack-a-Jacks. Toffees.

The Dartford crossing! Amazing feeling we’re coming home!

FRIDAY 20TH FEBRUARY // 10:15

DESTINATION NO. 1 – PLUCKLEY, KENT. // 10:30

My favourite place. Strange doing the first place last, but great to be back. I go with my dad and brother to the village square for a walk about. We have a look round St. Nicholas’ church, the amazing stained glass. Look at my old Primary School, how its changed and reminisce. Take pictures of the pub where I used to work. I think the essence of a favourite place has a lot to do with good memories of it. Treasured happy times. It’s nice to be here with my family, and actually pleased I got to come back at the end of the journey.

DESTINATION NO. 3 – CHARTWELL, WESTERHAM, KENT. // 11:30

Dad, George and I head to Chartwell. Unfortunately the actual house is closed due to refurbishment, so we were only able to look around the grounds. Its such lovely weather. Lakes and gardens. Snow drops coming through the lawn. We find a sculpture of Winston Churchill and his Wife. I sit on his lap. The lake is beautiful, such an open natural space. Geese and birds flying about, forests all around. Autumnal colours, green, red and gold. Love it.
I take pictures of the boys by the lake and think about what it would be like to actually live in a place like this. Winston was a lucky chap!

In fact, all the places I visited have been quite special. I just wish I had had more time to experience them. To be able to see a sign for something and think YES! Let’s go there now! To be able to be more spontaneous and not worry about the time or lack of money. One day I shall re-do this with more resources.

JOURNEY STATISTICS:

1097 miles
5 days
+ 30hours driving time
10 destinations
10 people
4 service stations
1 Little Chef
2 Abbey’s
1 Forest
2 Tolls
2 Car Vacuum
1 Car Wash
3 Historic Towns
3 Historic Buildings
1 Sea view
2 Travel Lodges
1 Yee Olde Pub
2 Fish & Chips
£176.90 travel
£84.40 Food
£166 Accommodation
£18.85 Extras
2 super tired explorers

Please see a few pics here

Chain Journey!

YES! I am determined to actually take back some kind of control over these projects, and to do that, I want to become part of a chain myself.

Similar to the postcard chain, and to the “Favourite Places in South London” chain I created back in Foundation days, I intend to go on a journey. Taking myself on a tour of the UK’s Favourite Places.

This is the proposed itinerary:

– Go to my fave place (which happens to be home in Kent)
– Find someone there, perhaps a family member, and find out what their favourite place is.
– Document this extensively, and explore the area (illustrations, photography, anecdotes, gathering info in a scrapbook perhaps, film…)
– Depart to the next favourite place somewhere in the UK.
– Once there, repeat the process. Meet someone. Explore. Travel.
– Commence to the next fave place… etc.

I intend to do this for perhaps, 10 favourite places. I will also find a system to link these places. Either with an online community, or by the local authorities, or by the people I meet….

The final outcome for this could be anything from a film, to a book, to a reunion event. We shall see. I’m just extremely excited about going out on the road and getting involved, as up until now, all the projects involve me initiating the idea and retrieving information, rather than creating it myself.

UPDATE: The adventure has been planned for Monday 16th to Friday 20th February. Amelie and I will depart to my favourite place in Kent and start the journey. We’ve also decided, that in the time we have, it is probably a bit ambitious to visit 10 favourite places in the UK in just 5 days…. (considering if someone sends us to Aberdeen, and then someone there sends us back down to Southampton… not very practical!) and so the decision has been made to refine things slightly to…… FAVOURITE PLACES IN ENGLAND (its good to be patriotic!)
I need to plan a lot – how to document, video/camera/drawing/writing… what to take with us….. finances…. journey preparations (maps, on the road music! etc)
I am also quite keen on the idea of linking all the chains I have started so far with this one, by starting the chains along the journey in the different locations. E.g. Starting a photochain with each person I meet at each location in England. Write down ever decision I make along the way…. Might get a bit difficult to juggle all of this though!!

The Travelling Journal

I want to make a book.

I want to start writing a short story and then give it to someone. They would then continue the story themseves and pass it on. The book would travel around, being added to, edited, sculpted and developed by changing authorship.

I like thinking, when I read a book, of where it has been previously, who else has read or enjoyed it, the stories it could tell of the travels it had been on before coming to me. If I was to let loose a blank book, it could write it own stories via the people and places it comes into contact with.

I think I would start it: “Books are the journey of a story, but this one is the story of it’s journey.” Or similar.

“Once upon a time there was a book. A blank book. White pages poised with potential. It was given a chance to make something of itself, and embarked on an unchartered journey of its own. This is it’s story.”

Maybe I could create several volumes. Fiction, Fact, Illustrative….?

Chain Film

Hello!

I have decided to make a short film. It’s to demonstrate how information is passed on and how well communication works.

Watch me try to explain my project here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ZbbVZlh3s

Make a video response to this, explaining in your own words what my project is about, using the info I gave you. Start with “Hannah’s  project is about…….”

Then this starts the chain, and someone can respond to your response, and then someone else to their response and so on….

Please get in touch! It could end up so disconnected and distant from my initial video and ideas.

Postcard Chain

Send an envelope to someone in my favourite place in the UK. E.g. Kent

Inside is a drawing of my favourite place and a blank postcard. On the back is a stamp, my return address, a title “Draw your favourite place in the UK”, and 2 questions “Where?” and “Why?”.

The person draws their favourite place, writes on the back where and why it is,  and then posts the card back to me.
e.g. Their favourite place is Southwold.

I then post their card to someone in their favourite place, along with another blank postcard asking where their favourite place is. E.g. My image of Kent is sent to the Kent person, whose image of Southwold is sent to the Southwold Person…

For a better explanation read below. Here are the instructions I will include in the postcard pack:

Welcome to the Postcard Chain!

This is an invitation for you to become a part of a chain travelling around the country. You have just received an image of where you live (I hope you like it!) created by someone who regards where you are, as a very special place.

The chain itself is exploring the UK’s hidden treasures, playing with the idea of the traditional British picture postcard. I am asking people to think of a place where they have fond memories, a place they hold dear to them, a place that they wish they were once again…

By creating an image of a specific location and sending it back there, it is turning the postal tourist system on its head. The postcards are made by a location’s ‘tourist’ sent back to the location’s ‘local’ – turning “I Wish You Were Here..” to “I Wish I Was There…”.

Please draw, illustrate, create and write about your favourite place in the UK (Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be too arty, just have fun with it!) and post the card back to me.  I will then send it on to someone in your favourite place. to continue the chain with them (if you would like it sent to a specific person please put this on the card too!):

– Draw your favourite place in the UK (on the front of the card)
– Write where it is.
– Say why it is your favourite place.
– Then pop it in the post!

Thank you so much for your participation. I hope you enjoy being such a vital link in the postcard chain and now appreciate the beauty of where you live just that little bit more!

If you wish to find out further information about this chain, and other chains I have created, please visit or email:
http://www.hannahbilcliffe.wordpress.com
hegb86@hotmail.com

I have just posted an envelope to my home in Kent, Pluckley. Inside is a postcard I drew of the village, a blank postcard for my mum to create and the instructions/explanation above. Hopefully she will return my postcard and her postcard back to me, so that I can send it on to the next person in her favourite place.

Does this make any sense? I hope so. I also hope it actually works out.

IDEA // Do an opposing version, “Where is your least favourite/worst place in the UK?”…..Unpituresque postcards???

Literary Treasure Hunt

I would like to organise an event. It will take place within a library (hopefully Crawley Library in East Sussex where my cousin Marianne works). I want to design and orchestrate a literary treasure hunt, where readers accidentally stumble upon the start of a chain in a book that they take out on loan.

There are a number of ways we could take this:

1) The reader discovers a clue in ‘Book One’, which marks the beginning of the chain. If they choose to accept the mission, they must solve the clue, which can only be done by reading the book and finding the answer inside. Once solved, they must ‘check-in’ with a member of the Library staff with the answer, and if correct, the reader will be given the name of the next book to continue the book chain. (The staff member will have a list of the answers and the next linked book on the chain)
Now they are lead to ‘Book Two’, the reader will find the second clue to solve (If another reader has chosen this book as their ‘Book One’, then they can start the hunt too, as the selection of books on the chain can work in a cycle). Once solved, and the next book title retrieved, this leads to ‘Book Three’, and then continuing on to ‘Book Four’ etc. How long the chain is will be decided later.
The idea of the clues is to not only engage the reader, but to also take them on a journey, navigating their way through books that have a common theme, or that are likely to interest them (This can be along similar lines of Amazon’s “recommended” feature, where the reader solves the clues to discover a “recommended” read, which is based on their original choice of their first book)

A few possible themes to work on:
– Design/Art/Media
– Politics/Economy/Current Affairs
– Fiction Chain: a journey through romance, crime, horror and humour etc.
– A Kids Chain: to engage children of different ages to read through the chain with parents or on their own.
– Celebrity Chain: Asking a selection of well-known writers, celebs, & important figures etc. to tell us their favourite reads, or ‘reading list’. Eg. Stephen Fry, Bill Bryson, Gordon Brown, Britney?! OR get well-known characters and experts from different fields of interest to create their own reading journey’s for others to follow.

Once the last clue is discovered, the reader should then approach a library staff member to gain some sort of REWARD or PRIZE, depending on what the Library wants/has to offer – Readers must have a good incentive to complete the chain.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:-
How many books can be on loan at once? 1 chain book per loan?
How to orchestrate the clues leading from one book to another?
Could this be done as a Book Race? First reader to complete the chain of books gets the prize?
Publicity? Is the chain publicised, or kept secret until the readers start to discover the clues?

GOOD THINGS TO COME OF THIS:-
Generates puplicity and interest in the new library and what it has to offer.
Get people involved in learning
Discovery of new reads, challenging the reader, opening their minds to new areas
Fun times!!

Project Shrine

chains, systems, consequences, probability, opportunities, storytelling, chance, control, fate, events, process, decision making, reactions, journeys, narratives

Chain Stories

I would like to use this chain idea to create some stories.

I just emailed Danny Wallace’s agent (I greatly admire his way of working and he is someone who really inspires me and enthused my interest in chain events and systems) inviting him to join me in writing a collaborative short story.

The story would be written between two people (i.e. Me and Danny).

The process of the book begins with a paragraph written by one person. This is then sent (via email or other means) to the other person. They continue the story in whichever way they wish. They then send the developing story back to the 1st person. This process continues until an appropriate ending point is found.

The idea behind this project is to create a chain of events, by passing on the control and authorship of the story. Hopefully from this process, we will produce an interesting, amusing and unique piece of writing, which I hope to possibly illustrate and publish depending on the final outcome.

There are no rules or restrictions to the plot, content or format of this collaboration. The magic is in the unpredictable and spontaneous nature that is the journey of writing.

I have also emailed Quentin Blakes agent, inviting him to join me in a similar project, by creating a illustrated ‘chain’ storybook. Whether this will work as well as the written copy I don’t know, but the idea of mixing drawing styles and ideas with him would be worth a try!

Updates to follow if the agents get back to me. If not, I shall find some other talented individuals to help me!

ANY OFFERS WELCOME!!