By Martina Swift

Writing exercise inspired by this photo. A piece of random graffiti on a bridge on the M25 that circles London has now become a landmark of sorts. But what does it actually mean? This question was explored, and here is one result.

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‘Give Peas a chance’

Peas was an elf who fell out with Father Christmas, he wanted to rule the kingdom in the North Pole. He stole away one Christmas eve, not before sabotaging the toy making factory at Lapland.

Christmas was cancelled for all the boys and girls all over the world. Father Christmas had to issue a statement apologising to every child. Peas’ photograph was posted in many local newspapers. After many weeks of searching for Peas, a £1 000 000 reward was offered for the safe capture of rascal Peas.

All the boys and girls started a facebook petition for Peas, they demanded a pardon. They didn’t really mind going without toys for just one Christmas!

‘Forgiveness’ they pleaded. The petition increased in hundreds of thousands every day and Peas’ mug shot was shared on facebook over and over again.

‘Give Peas a chance!’ they cried.

One dark night , Peas crept out of hiding and wrote the words ‘Give Peas a chance’ on the bridge  he knew Father Christmas would be going past there later the next day.

What could he do? He thought.

He wasn’t really repentant, he wanted to get back in the fold so he could make a better plan to usurp Father Christmas from his mighty throne!

Peas had to think of a cunning plan, a plan which would help him take command, show those spoilt, over indulged children how much hard work went into making toys.

The children sent messages of peace to Peas, offers to mediate between Peas and Father Christmas so they could become friends again.

There were children crying in the news, crying because of the break-up of two good friends not because they had no toys?

Peas was really puzzled!

Dance Like No One Is Watching . . .

By Belle Noire:

I struggle to write. 

I’m sitting here with a blank page in front of me, wondering what in the world I can write that anyone would be interested in reading. Maybe no one will read it; there is a certain freedom in that. But then, what’s the point of writing if no one does? I think that is the central conundrum when you start to write: the simultaneous fear of being ignored and getting attention is a big stumbling block, and not just for writers. It’s all very well to trot out the old line of ‘dance like no one is watching’ but it’s hard to find a reason to dance when no one is watching.

You’ve got two things to do here: you can suck it up and find the self-belief that drives you on in the face of opposition, and you can find people to read for you. The two work better in conjunction, but you need at least one of them to get you through. If you are looking for a few friends to look over your work, you can feel free to drop into our writers’ group, but any group of friends who care enough to tell you the truth would work just as well.

Hang on, did I say you had two options? Well of course, there is another. You can do nothing.

Your call.

Whatever, keep writing.